Chuck Lorre

Chuck Lorre was born on the coast of Long Island New York in 1952. He attended the State University of New York at Potsdam but then dropped out. For several years Chuck worked as a song writer for many artists including Debby Harry. In 1986 he changed his focus from music to television. He began writing animated scripts for companies like Marvel Productions and slowly worked his way up to being a creator, executive producer and writer for over twenty years. He has worked on shows such as Two and a Half Men and Dharma and Greg. He is currently married to Karen Witter and has two children. Chuck Lorre, the creator, executive producer and writer for both Two and a Half Men and Dharma and Greg has a specific signature to his shows that include the sequence in which the episode airs, uses family as the subject line, and uses editing and camera shots to tell the story.

Chuck Lorre uses similar relationships in Dharma and Greg and Two and a Half Men which is part of his signature. These two shows have characters that complement each other by being different. Alan from Two and a Half Men and Greg from Dharma and Greg are similar in the way that they are both very type A personality and want to have everything done in a specific way. They are anal retentive and always strive to achieve success. The mannerisms between these characters are also similar in the way that they walk around busily looking for something to do and always want to have their ducks in a row. Dharma from Dharma and Greg and Charlie from Two and a Half Men are free spirits. They constantly do what they feel is best for them no matter how it effects other people in their lives. They also both are very blunt with the people in their lives and have chosen to live doing things they love like grooming dogs and playing music. These two characters are constantly seen relaxing around their homes doing things they enjoy.

Secondly, Chuck Lorre uses family and family problems as a thematic motif in both Two and a Half Men and Dharma and Greg. Two and a Half Men and Dharma and Greg are similar in the way that there is always a new or recurring conflict that is always being attempted to be solved. Both shows have mother characters that are wealthy and harsh to their sons. They have the same short bob for a haircut and also wear the same dress and pant suits. Both mothers also have a sarcastic humor to them making it hard to tell if they are ever being serious. There are characters who do not hold back anything on their minds such as Dharma who refuses to tell a lie and Charlie who has usually been drinking therefore having no inhibitions. Both shows surround themselves in the families’ homes with everyday situations like going to soccer games and whether or not to shower or take a bath. Part of Chuck Lorre’s signature here is that he is using family and their conflicts during every episode.

Lastly, Chuck Lorre uses similar relationships between parents and children. Since the mother characters in each show are the same, there has been a same result in the relationships that the mothers have with their children. In Two and a Half Men the mother treats her children like they don’t know anything. They came from money so she expects a certain attitude from them. The banter between the mother and her children Alan and Charlie is sarcastic and appeals to a more adult audience. They constantly use jokes that have a smart ass connotation to it. In Dharma and Greg Greg’s mother is also wealthy and expects her son to act like he is wealthy also. Her comments to him are always smart ass and sort of back handed. The relationships between the parents and the children in these shows are the same while the reaction the children have to their parents is not.

Chuck Lorre uses thematic motifs in his television shows to mark his signature. Such motifs include relationships with mothers, parents and children, and the similarity between the main characters. Lorre uses these things to connect with his audience and make them like his shows.

Sources: http://www.natpe.org/conference/speakers/bios/index.jsp?speaker_id_string=3854:K3Xm7v7ldM$Wbu42XN$-KA**

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Chuck_Lorre