Melissa McCarthy is trending after Chuck Lorre revealed that CBS executives initially resisted casting her as Molly Flynn in the sitcom Mike & Molly.
The casting dispute is detailed in Lorre’s memoir, Sitcom, and was discussed in a recent interview. He said one network executive suggested choosing a thinner actress and using a fat suit to portray Molly.
Lorre rejected the proposal, insisting that McCarthy was the right actor for the role. “Melissa was gonna be my Molly. End of discussion,” he wrote.
He described the resistance to McCarthy as “crazy”, adding: “She is truly one of our great comic actresses, and she’s done dramatic stuff as well that’s extraordinary.”
Lorre also said McCarthy knew about the network’s concerns and was “fine” with him including the story in his memoir.
Melissa McCarthy’s role in Mike & Molly
Mike & Molly starred McCarthy opposite Billy Gardell. McCarthy played Molly Flynn, a Chicago schoolteacher, while Gardell portrayed Mike Biggs, a Chicago police officer. The pair meet at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting and fall in love.
The sitcom ran for six seasons before ending in 2016, with Katy Mixon, Reno Wilson, Swoosie Kurtz, Louis Mustillo and Nyambi Nyambi also among its cast.
McCarthy had already appeared in television roles including all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, as well as Private Practice and Samantha Who? But Mike & Molly gave her career a significant boost.
She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011 and received two further nominations. Around the same time, her film career expanded after her appearance in Bridesmaids, followed by roles in The Heat, Spy and Identity Thief.
Reflecting on the success of Bridesmaids, Lorre wrote: “Forgive me for being a little smug, but when Bridesmaids came out, I felt pretty ******* smart.”
