The Grandma Reviving sitcoms with Netflix & Chuck Lorre

Leanne Morgan had his sights on Hollywood as long as she can remember. Her family had a small grocery store in rural tennessee, and Young Morgan was known for having it in the corridors. Even their teachers recognized their gift and asked them to create announcements and school events. But life ultimately stood in the way of her comedy dreams. Three children and one working husband meant that Morgan could not get it out on the club racing route like many of her male colleagues. For years she decided on a mixture of corporate comedy gigs and the occasional charity, which led to regular overtures from Hollywood that never made up much.

Morgan was ready to hang it up by 2019. Before she did it, she shot a few thousand dollars for a few social media experts in order to be able to reorganize her material for the digital era. It was one last effort and it worked. Her comedy became viral overnight. Suddenly Morgan was the draw in the early 1950s, which she always imagined that she would be. This was followed by a sold-out arena tour, a HIT-Netflix special, a bestseller book and on July 31, a Chuck Lorre-sitcom for Netflix. Now that her 60th birthday appears, the “Grandmama from Tennessee” described by her house in Knoxville, TN to discuss her late success and recurring feedback, which it almost derails.

YBefore that, they had almost sitcoms, but they didn't have their brand great and they didn't trust to push back. When did the latter come?

Oh, darling, I'm still working on it. I worked with precious people in all of these shops, but I would know in my heart how we are not in the south. The church people are not like that. My family is not like that. But if you want something so bad … and they will tell you: “We love you”, but then they want to change you. Hollywood people can't help it. And I don't blame them, they don't know my world. With this sitcom you first tried to find your reason and I was freaked out, but then I thought: “I have to give you mercy. You try to learn myself, just as I am.” And I was finally able to get to a place where I could at the beginning of every week, I could [read through a script and] Go: “We wouldn't say that” or “This is not what would happen.” So I finally get the courage, honey.

Historically, how did the feedback have Stand-up World compared to Hollywood?

Oh, I raised these children first. I wasn't out here and grind. I did a company [gigs] For men who make carpet fibers. You probably spent more for the shrimp than for me.

Company appearances are notoriously hard …

Oh, they are terrible. They suck life out of you. These men played golf all day, they are tired, they probably had alcohol, and I'm up there and talk about Weight Watchers and how I don't like low -cut panties.

But you continued to work. What would you hear from the bookers?

When I tried to pronounce for Aspen or Montreal [comedy festivals] Or as a comedy Central, she wanted Edgy and I was in a kitten sales and a pants with a bird on how someone chastled on a T-Ball field. You would say, “Oh, she's not nervous. She is a Mama comic.” But the people in clubs always booked me. You would go: “Make on. You are unique.” Well, Hollywood? Hollywood loves this mother in the kitten. You would see my new 45 minutes and say: “You wrote a sitcom!” Then I would arrive there and they would go: “Let us make your husband a Hispanic man.” And don't get me wrong, I love Hispanic men. God keep that something happens [husband] Chuck Morgan, I'm with a Latino man. But they would set everything up – “Let your daughter do it on dope, or she wants to make it in a country music and she is in ecstasy” – and I would say: “Have you seen my deed?!”

So what has changed ultimately, you or culture?

Covid Hit and the people wanted to contact people who were real, and there I was on the back veranda about it and talked about repairing my mom something that could eat after her blow. And that's me. I talk about taking care of older parents, starting children, menopause, and it was a niche that nobody filled.

Has anyone pushed her on the way to be an editor on the stage?

Oh, I don't think someone took care of enough. And it's okay. I'm not bitter about it. I should raise my children and I think it's the best thing that ever happened. So many other people can refer to me because I raised these children and I have gone to Weight Watchers and I don't like my stomach and my husband gets on my nerves.

How quickly did Netflix jump on the Leanne Morgan train?

It took a while, but then I got a few big weapons in my warehouse that could say: “You all have no one like you.” In the end I rented my first [hour] For them and they were so valuable to me. I just shot my second for you and a deal for a third in 2027. Then they gave me this show – I and Chuck Lorre went in there and I said something about a weak pelvic floor, I was nervous and they basically wanted: “What do you want to do?

It is not exactly altruism on your side …

No, but if you have seen the crudités and the cucumbers you spend on my press junket! For that I was also nervous. I had a media trainer. As if someone would ask me if I had ever slept with Ben Affleck or anything. And honey, I would have been outside in my 20s!

In the beginning they and Chuck Lorre wanted to make a single camera comedy, no?

Yes. But Netflix said: “Please do a multicam and do that [format] Back? “I thought:” Don't put this stress on. “Then they said:” We'll be greenish if you do it. “

Despite the title, it is not autobiographical. On the one hand, they do not start as a divorce.

That was chuck [Lorre’s idea]. He didn't want to rely on my true family, and he liked the idea of starting from the front because it is a topic that people can refer to. I retired at first, but I think it's the smartest thing we did because I would have really protected myself for my children, my grandchildren and Chuck Morgan. And years ago I met a show runner RebaAnd that was based on [Reba McEntire’s] Really life and it became very protective. It wasn't a good thing.

I wonder if people will assume that it is based on their real life.

You already have. Women on Instagram said: “I knew that Chuck Morgan could not cope with her success!” Or “I knew he didn't want her to make more money!” And then he saw it and said, “Do something!”

I will say her husband is a very good sport.

There was only once that he said to me: “Don't say that.” When I started, I had breastfed a few children and wanted to make my chest and I said I said [on stage]”I want my breasts to be done, but it was a bad year in the mobile home industry.” Chuck Morgan was in the mobile home industry and said to me: “I will always take care of you. I could now write a check about her breasts. I don't want someone to think that I can't make it available for you.” This is his purpose and I never said something like that again.

You have probably seen some of the Netflix data in your comedy. What surprises you the most?

I saw a lot of numbers and [her special, 2023’s I’m Every Woman,] did very well. People watch to the end and then look at it two or three or four times. And they only know that Joe Rogan, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, all these people I admired get these numbers and think: “Who is this woman with the big breasts and the floral dress who talks about her panties?”

In contrast to them, they have never got politically on stage. Have you ever tried?

Darling, if you want to talk about fingernail polish or a spray tan, I'm good at it. I would not know how to talk about politics. I also had my dolly parton I could look up at, and I just don't like it that someone feels uncomfortable.

Before I lose you, you made a film You are cordially invitedWith Reese Witherspoon and wants to make Ferrell and then this TV show. How do you think about Hollywood now?

I'm tickled. I hope this show will be picked up [for additional seasons]. I wrote to everyone an SMS that I know that she had a TV show, like: “What if people don't like it?” But Jerry Seinfeld said to me: “Honey, get ready to worry the rest of your life. That is just a part of it.”

This story appeared in the Hollywood reporter Magazine. Click here to subscribe.