Known for creating sitcoms with live audiences, Chuck Lorre found the process for his latest Netflix comedy, Leanne, to be remarkably straightforward.
In the world of comedy, Leanne Morgan's transition from stand-up megastar to leading actress in Chuck Lorre's new Netflix sitcom, Lorraine, marks a unique and exciting milestone. This series, often referred to as Leanne in working contexts, offers a fresh blend of Southern charm, relatable humour, and heartfelt storytelling.
The creative process behind Lorraine revolves around adapting Morgan's deeply personal, family-centered humour into a scripted, multi-camera format while maintaining her authentic Southern voice. This shift fulfils a lifelong dream for Morgan, representing a significant career advancement as she moves from live storytelling to co-creating, executive producing, and starring in a sitcom that draws heavily on her own life experiences.
Morgan's stand-up style is known for its relatable humour rooted in her life as a Southern mom and grandmother, focusing on family anecdotes and everyday absurdities. The sitcom's premise mirrors this, depicting her navigating life after a separation with the support of her candid, warm family, blending humour with heartfelt moments.
As a co-creator and executive producer alongside acclaimed producer Chuck Lorre, Morgan had significant creative input, allowing her authentic comedic voice to shape the sitcom’s tone and storylines. This collaboration helped translate her stand-up persona into a multi-camera format while preserving her warmth and humour.
After 25 years in stand-up, with a breakthrough Netflix special (I’m Every Woman) and successful tours, this sitcom marks a new stage for Morgan, showcasing her versatility from stage to screen and expanding her audience beyond comedy clubs and specials.
Transitioning involved learning the dynamics of sitcom acting and storytelling within a writers’ room and production environment. Morgan’s experience as a writer (including her bestselling book What in the World?!) helped her craft the show’s narrative voice, which is rooted in her genuine life observations but enhanced for television comedy.
Morgan's distinctive style—down-to-earth, Southern hospitality mixed with unfiltered humour about family and life’s ups-and-downs—remains central, allowing her to connect authentically with a diverse audience through the sitcom format. Despite the shift to acting, Morgan’s warmth and humour remain at the heart of Lorraine.
Chuck Lorre, the creator and producer of Lorraine, is also working on a new season of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage for 2025. Lorraine is a traditional sitcom for Netflix subscribers, following in the footsteps of Lorre's successful productions like The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men.
Susan McMartin, showrunner of Lorraine, found it fascinating to watch Leanne Morgan learning the ropes of filmed scenes. Working with a strong female lead like Morgan was empowering from a women-in-power perspective, according to McMartin. Morgan was open to new suggestions and advice during the filming of Lorraine, making the creative process a collaborative and enjoyable experience for the entire team.
It is unusual for a part of a stand-up comedian's act to be transformed into a live-action sitcom joke. However, the sitcom's jokes were inspired by Leanne Morgan's stand-up act without being solely based on it. Filming a 30-minute episode of TV takes many more hours than a typical stand-up act, but Morgan's skills in stand-up comedy helped make the filming process easier, according to McMartin.
Working with co-star Kristen Johnston helped keep things on track during the filming of Lorraine. The number of sitcoms produced now is less compared to the '90s, but Lorraine stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of well-crafted, heartfelt comedy.
In summary, Leanne Morgan’s transition involved leveraging her rich life experiences and comedic voice into a collaborative television project, adapting her personal storytelling and warmth to the sitcom form under Chuck Lorre’s guidance, which has expanded her career from stand-up stages to mainstream scripted comedy on Netflix.
- Leanne Morgan's upcoming interviews will likely delve into her experience of transitioning from stand-up comedy to acting, as well as her collaboration with Chuck Lorre on the Netflix sitcom, Lorraine.
- As Lorraine progresses, fans can expect a daily blend of entertainment, as the series draws from Morgan's stand-up routines, movies-and-tv references, and heartfelt storytelling, ensuring a unique and engaging viewing experience.
