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'Big Bang Theory' stars were 'outraged' over request to take pay cut for new co-stars, Chuck Lorre claims
By Lori Bashian
Published October 15, 2026
Chuck Lorre is spilling all his secrets in his new memoir.
The prolific television producer and writer wrote about his life and his many decades in the industry in his new memoir, "Sitcom," in which he gave tons of behind-the-scenes stories from some of his most popular TV shows.
Whether it was his final days working with Charlie Sheen, him going to bat with the network over casting choices or shocking refusals from cast members regarding salaries, Lorre didn't hold back.
Chuck Lorre spills secrets from his life and from his many sets in his new memoir, "Sitcom." (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)
Here are some of the biggest bombshells from his memoir.
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'The Big Bang Theory'
"The Big Bang Theory" cast members Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Melissa Rauch, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik pose with producers Steven Molaro, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady at the People’s Choice Awards on Jan. 6, 2016, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Smallz & Raskind/Getty Images for The People's Choice Awards)
One of Lorre's most successful sitcoms is "The Big Bang Theory," which had a large ensemble cast.
In his memoir, Lorre recalled bringing in Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch towards the end of season three and upgrading them to series regulars in the fourth season, noting without them, "the show would likely have run out of gas after seven, maybe eight seasons."
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Lorre writes about Charlie Sheen and other actors he worked with in his new memoir, "Sitcom." (Dey Street Books)
After a while, he remembered the network getting pressure to raise the episodic fees for Bialik and Rauch, noting TV executives Les Moonves and Bruce Rosenblum approached the main cast, who were earning $1 million an episode plus profit points, "to ask them to take a 10 percent cut in pay to accommodate that raise."
"I assumed they’d quickly agree, you know, all for one, one for all," he wrote. "That effusive attitude of gratitude actors display at award shows. Wrong again. They were outraged that they would even be asked to take a small cut in order to reward the two newer cast members. Moonves and Rosenblum had to slink out of the room, scrotally impaired."
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for stars Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg for comment.
Charlie Sheen's last day on set
Sheen starred in "Two and a Half Men" for eight seasons. (Tony Esparza/CBS via Getty Images)
Lorre and Charlie Sheen worked together on "Two and a Half Men" for eight seasons before the actor's behavior led to his exit.
In his memoir, Lorre explained that the show "was a blast to do" for the first seven seasons, but "it all began to unravel" during season eight, when Sheen "started calling in sick all the time."
"The typical excuse was food poisoning, usually bad clams," Lorre wrote. "There were a lot of emergency dental appointments. Once I was informed he would not be attending rehearsal because his BIC lighter had exploded and burned off his eyelashes. Another time, his manager bragged to me about having to fly across the country, with a bag full of cash, in order to purchase a home video sex tape starring his client."
Despite his antics, they continued to film the show, with Lorre noting they "worked in a constant state of anxiety," wondering what Sheen was going to do next.
Sheen allegedly couldn't remember his lines and needed help staying upright during his last day on set. (Gale Adler/CBS via Getty Images)
His behavior soon became too much to handle, and it was clear to those around him that his health and wellbeing were at risk.
"The last scene we shot was with Charlie and Melanie Lynsky," Lorre wrote. "He couldn’t remember any of his lines and had to use the furniture to keep himself upright. Melanie was terrified. It was clear to everyone that this man, whom we’d all grown to love, was in trouble. I had no choice but to shut down the show."
Lorre wrote that after refusing to get help for his drug problem and later trashing him on television, Warner Bros. decided they no longer wanted Sheen on their lot, and he was let go.
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Charlie Sheen for comment.
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Casting controversy
Lorre shared that he had to fight for Melissa McCarthy to be the lead in "Mike & Molly." (Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty Images)
During his career as a television writer and show creator, Lorre encountered pushback from studio executives many times when it came to choosing actors to star in his shows.
In his memoir, Lorre explained the casting decisions behind some of the most popular shows from the past few decades, noting executives initially didn't want to cast Jon Cryer on "Two and a Half Men," or Nayyar on "The Big Bang Theory."
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Despite the success of these actors in their respective roles, studio executives challenged him once again when it came time to cast the female lead in "Mike & Molly."
"The casting of Molly was, like with Jon Cryer, a tortuous journey," he said. "Once again, my brilliant casting director, Nikki Valko, brought in a comic genius. Melissa McCarthy. And once again, CBS hated her. Believe it or not, they wanted a hot young woman to play a woman struggling with her weight. It was even suggested by one exec—a female exec—that I consider casting a more attractive actress and put her in a fat suit."
Lorre recalled feeling smart when McCarthy starred in "Bridesmaids." (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Lorre explained that at this point he had learned his lesson and did not take no for an answer, insisting that McCarthy be given the role, "end of discussion," adding that "when 'Bridesmaids' came out, I felt pretty god-damn smart."
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for CBS for comment.
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Scientology
Lorre revealed he was once a member of the Church of Scientology. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
When discussing his life prior to making it big as a TV writer, Lorre revealed he was once a part of the Church of Scientology.
He recalled going to the Church of Scientology in Columbus, Ohio, after being invited by the sax player at a bar. He wrote that he "had no idea what Scientology was," but since he had nothing to do and his car was in a junkyard, he decided to go, and was quickly taken with the "pretty girls" there.
Lorre explained that after taking a communication class, he had an out-of-body experience, and sought out the Church of Scientology when he was in Los Angeles. There, he found himself presented with a one billion year contract to join Scientology's Sea Org.
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"Now, I didn’t want to give up my dead-end music career, but I was broken, outnumbered, and overwhelmed," he wrote. "I caved in and signed. Next thing I knew, I was saving homo saps by passing out free personality test invites to homeless people in MacArthur Park. I lasted two days. Which means contractually, I owe the Church of Scientology a billion years of labor minus two days."
Age gap regrets
Lorre admitted entering into an age-gap marriage was not the best decision. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Lorre touched on his marriage to his third wife, Arielle Mandelson, saying entering into an age-gap relationship was not the best decision.
He explained that when their relationship began, he "convinced myself that age was an arbitrary thing" and that "you're only as old as you think" and that "the heart wants what it wants, but as time went on he came to the conclusion that all that ‘turned out to be bulls---’ and 'sometimes the heart's an idiot.'"
"Age is not only a huge chasm, it widens with time. No bridge can span the distance between Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen," he wrote. "The speed of physical and mental decline between sixty and sixty-five is horrifyingly quick. Between thirty and thirty-five, infinitesimal."
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Lorre claimed that initially he was "wary about the age thing" as he was older than Mandelson's parents, but that anytime he brought that to her attention, "she accused me of being ‘ageist,’" adding, "eventually she wore me down."
Lorre said the two were miserable after seven years together. (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
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"After seven years we were both miserable and agreed to separate. Eight months later we carpooled to a wedding," he wrote. "The night ended with a second consummation, followed by reconciliation, followed by another year of misery. This time we agreed to divorce. She got a whole bunch of money. I got the dog. I like to think I got the better end of the deal. The dog is always happy to see me."
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