By Kayla DeKraker
Comedian Leanne Morgan shared what it took to bring her new sitcom, LEANNE, to life on Netflix.
“[Producer Chuck Lorre] flew from California to Tennessee and to Knoxville and had lunch with my family and held my grandbaby on my back porch,” Morgan told Deadline’s “Comedy Means Business.” “And what I heard — the lore was was — he didn’t want me to fly to LA and, you know, think that it was empty promises, I guess, because I have had television deals in the past that did not make it didn’t even go to pilot.”
She added, “And so, he came to my house and said and went through my Netflix special and told me what he loved about it. And I was floored, and my family was floored, and it was one of the most special times in 25 years of doing stand-up in my career.”
Lorre knew Morgan had what it takes to make a sitcom succeed.
“There’s an honesty to her stand up that struck me,” he said. “It was singular.”
“There’s nothing contrived, there’s nothing borrowed from anyone else,” he said. “It’s her take on life. And when you see a true original, at the very least, take a moment to appreciate it. Enjoy it.”
Lorre explained that when meeting someone as gifted as Morgan, that person should be appreciated.
“You may not develop a situation comedy around it, but you certainly can appreciate, you know, that the effort and the enormous amount of time, years, years and years of work to go into crystallizing that voice, making that voice, you know, self-aware,” he said. “And that’s not to say that there are not other great stand ups that could carry a show…but this is the lady I found, and I was overjoyed when I watched.”
Related: ‘PINCH ME!!!’: Clean Comedian Leanne Morgan Celebrates Netflix Sitcom Premiere Date
The sitcom follows the titular character after her husband of 33 year leaves her for another woman.
“This unexpected twist sets up conflicts that will sound familiar to fans of Morgan’s stand-up: Starting over when you’re a grandmother and in menopause isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but with the help of her family, she will face this new chapter with grace, dignity, and Jell-O salad,” a description reads.
Along with Morgan, the series stars Kristen Johnston, Hannah Pilkes, Graham Rogers, Ryan Stiles, Celia Weston and Blake Clark.
But despite the amazing opportunity, Morgan wasn’t willing to compromise her values.
“I don’t want to cuss…I’m a southern mama. We don’t say ugly words in front of our children,” she explained.
Lorre was happy to honor the comic’s principles and learned more about the culture she comes from, even including church scenes.
Morgan added, “They were really sweet about the church things they want. They knew that was important to me, to not, you know, stereotype people going to church. All of that was just really gracious.”
Season 1 LEANNE is available on Netflix today, July 31.
Read Next: Clean Comedian Leanne Morgan Calls Career ‘A Blessing From Heaven’
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