Chuck Lorre Says He Initially Doubted Anna Faris for 'Mom' and Later Felt His Concerns Were Validated
TV producer Chuck Lorre revealed in his memoir that he was hesitant to cast Anna Faris in the sitcom Mom and believes her 2020 departure confirmed his early reservations.
Chuck Lorre, the creator of sitcoms such as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, wrote in his memoir that he was initially unsure whether Anna Faris was suitable for the role of Christy on Mom. Although he eventually cast her, Lorre said his doubts were later vindicated when Faris left the series in 2020, describing her exit as “mysterious reasons that were not mysterious to anyone on the show.”
Lorre noted that his strained relationship with Charlie Sheen, who had a contentious history with Lorre during Two and a Half Men, influenced his hesitation to work with Faris, who had previously co-starred with Sheen in the Scary Movie films. He added that personal matters should not affect casting decisions, stating, “Someone’s personal life is none of my business.”
Faris later explained on a podcast that the demanding schedule of Mom caused her to lose focus and that she had limited experience with long-term television roles. When she announced her departure, she thanked Lorre and the cast, calling her time on the show “some of the most fulfilling and rewarding” of her career.
The Daily Beast was unable to obtain comment from Faris for this article.