Chuck Lorre felt vindicated when Anna Faris left ‘Mom’ for ‘mysterious reasons’

See more of our coverage in your search results. Chuck Lorre suggested his reservations about Anna Faris starring in “Mom” had been “correct” when she left the show for “mysterious reasons.” The co-creator of the hit CBS comedy reveals in his new memoir, “Sitcom,” that he was initially hesitant to cast Faris, 49, in the lead role, despite her being the network’s first choice to play Christy Plunkett. “I wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material,” Lorre, 73, writes in his book. “Then I thought about how badly I’d bungled my working relationship with Charlie Sheen.” Chuck Lorre says he was initially hesitant to cast Anna Faris in “Mom,” despite her being the network’s first choice to play Christy Plunkett. (Lorre and Faris are pictured above at the celebration of the sitcom’s 100th episode.) Penske Media via Getty Images “I wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material. Then I thought about how badly I’d bungled my working relationship with Charlie Sheen,” Lorre writes in his new memoir, “Sitcom” (seen above). Dey Street Books In his memoir, Lorre claims that Melanie Lynskey was “terrified” of Sheen while filming the final episode of “Two and a Half Men” ahead of the actor’s 2011 exit from the show. He also writes that the cast and crew were in a “constant state of anxiety” around Sheen. Sheen, 61, would later tell Lorre to “suck his f–king butt” during a radio show tirade over his “firing,” but the pair eventually mended their relationship when Lorre realized Sheen would be perfect for a role in his HBO comedy series “Bookie.” Lorre claims in his memoir that Melanie Lynskey was “terrified” of Sheen while filming the final episode of “Two and a Half Men.” (Lorre is pictured above at the Los Angeles premiere of “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” in July.) Getty Images Reflecting on his experience with Sheen, Lorre says he reconsidered his reservations about Faris, writing in part, “Someone’s personal life is none of my business.” (Lorre is seen above at San Diego Comic-Con in July.) Getty Images for HBO Max Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! Reflecting on his experience with Sheen, Lorre says he reconsidered his reservations about Faris, writing, “Someone’s personal life is none of my business. The mom in ‘Mom’ would be, and should be, Anna Faris.” The “Scary Movie” actress went on to star alongside Allison Janney, who played Bonnie Plunkett, from 2013 to 2020, before exiting the series ahead of its eighth season. “As the years went by, it became apparent that my initial reluctance to hire Anna was, in fact, correct,” Lorre writes in his memoir. “After six years, she left the show for mysterious reasons that were not mysterious to anyone on the show.” Lorre praises the show’s later seasons, writing that “‘Mom’ found its true voice” by showing that “there is hope, and there is laughter in overcoming the seemingly fatal disease of alcoholism.” Looking back on Faris’ exit from “Mom,” Lorre writes, “As the years went by, it became apparent that my initial reluctance to hire Anna was, in fact, correct. After six years, she left the show for mysterious reasons that were not mysterious to anyone on the show.” (Faris is pictured above with her co-star, Allison Janney, in Season 2 of “Mom.”) ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection Although Lorre praises the show’s later seasons, writing that “‘Mom’ found its true voice,” he also criticizes CBS for canceling the series, saying the network canceled “a show starring Allison Janney,” whom he described as a “national treasure.” (Lorre is seen above with Faris and Janney at the celebration of the sitcom’s 100th episode.) Getty Images He also criticizes CBS for canceling the series after eight seasons in 2021, writing, “CBS decided they could live without a perfect cast led by a national treasure. They canceled a show starring Allison Janney.” Faris would later open up about her decision to leave “Mom” during a June appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. “I do think the intensity, like, towards the end, I think I started to lose my focus,” Faris said. “I’d never had a job, besides waitressing, for over three and a half months before,” she added, noting that her decision to leave came during a “complicated time.” Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil. 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