Ah, nothing like a good old-fashioned actor feud to spice up a TV show, right? Sure, we all love watching our favorite characters bicker and banter on-screen, but what happens when those fights spill over into real life? Chaos, my friend. Pure chaos.
Let’s talk about that time when two co-stars got into a heated argument over “creative differences”, and that time one actor criticized the showrunner so badly that he was fired and replaced.
But don't worry, we're not here to spread drama and negativity. Instead, we want to take a closer look at some of the most interesting actor clashes, explore the root causes and how they could have been avoided. Also, let’s highlight some of the creative solutions that showrunners and producers came up with to keep their shows on track, even when their actors couldn't stand each other.
So grab some popcorn, and get ready for the ultimate showdown of thespian tantrums.
"That piece of shit took money out of my pocket, my family's pocket, and, most importantly, my second family - my crew's pocket. You can tell him one thing. I own him," he said. Unfortunately for Sheen, Hollywood is not forgiving, and he was ultimately fired from the show and replaced by Ashton Kutcher.
The tension got so bad that Tori Spelling, another cast member, asked her dad, who was the showrunner, to fire Doherty. Spelling later regretted the decision to fire Doherty and acknowledged that it cost her her livelihood.
23 years later, in response, Hubert criticized Smith's success and called him out for his decision to boycott the Oscars. Despite the controversy, the show continued with a new actress playing Aunt Viv and many memorable episodes in the later years.
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin had “creative differences” while working on the hit sitcom 30 Rock. Baldwin expressed frustration with not being consulted on the show's storylines, while Fey compared working with him to dealing with a child.
Despite their clashes, they managed to maintain a professional working relationship and the show went on to become one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history.
Shonda Rhimes, the showrunner, didn't take kindly to this and gave Heigl's character a terminal illness, writing her out of the show without any real resolution. Moral of the story: don't mess with the boss lady.
In 2012, Chevy Chase left a voicemail for Community creator Dan Harmon that sounded like he'd swallowed a thesaurus of profanity, all in the name of insulting Harmon's talent. The voicemail was leaked online, Harmon got fired, and Community's quality took a nosedive.
In a twist worthy of an episode of Scooby-Doo, Chase kept whining about the writing even after Harmon was gone. But when he dropped the n-word as part of his complaints (which is, you know, not cool), he was given the boot and Harmon was brought back. The show got marginally better after that, but let's be real, Chevy's ego was always going to be the real star of the show.
The tension grew so thick that Katic finally decided to call it quits after eight seasons. Maybe they should have stuck to solving fictional crimes instead of creating real-life drama.
Let’s talk about that time when two co-stars got into a heated argument over “creative differences”, and that time one actor criticized the showrunner so badly that he was fired and replaced.
But don't worry, we're not here to spread drama and negativity. Instead, we want to take a closer look at some of the most interesting actor clashes, explore the root causes and how they could have been avoided. Also, let’s highlight some of the creative solutions that showrunners and producers came up with to keep their shows on track, even when their actors couldn't stand each other.
So grab some popcorn, and get ready for the ultimate showdown of thespian tantrums.
#1 Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre - Two and a Half Men
Source: Greg Gayne / Warner Bros
"That piece of shit took money out of my pocket, my family's pocket, and, most importantly, my second family - my crew's pocket. You can tell him one thing. I own him," he said. Unfortunately for Sheen, Hollywood is not forgiving, and he was ultimately fired from the show and replaced by Ashton Kutcher.
#2 Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth - Beverly Hills 90210
Source: Aaron Spelling Prods / Everett Collection
The tension got so bad that Tori Spelling, another cast member, asked her dad, who was the showrunner, to fire Doherty. Spelling later regretted the decision to fire Doherty and acknowledged that it cost her her livelihood.
#3 Janet Hubert and Will Smith - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air
Source: Chris Cuffaio / Getty Images
23 years later, in response, Hubert criticized Smith's success and called him out for his decision to boycott the Oscars. Despite the controversy, the show continued with a new actress playing Aunt Viv and many memorable episodes in the later years.
#4 Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Source: Courtesy of Ali Goldstein / NBC
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin had “creative differences” while working on the hit sitcom 30 Rock. Baldwin expressed frustration with not being consulted on the show's storylines, while Fey compared working with him to dealing with a child.
Despite their clashes, they managed to maintain a professional working relationship and the show went on to become one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history.
#5 Katherine Heigl and Shonda Rhimes - Grey's Anatomy
Source: Getty Images
Shonda Rhimes, the showrunner, didn't take kindly to this and gave Heigl's character a terminal illness, writing her out of the show without any real resolution. Moral of the story: don't mess with the boss lady.
#6 Chevy Chase and Dan Harmon - Community
Source: @Sony Pictures Television
In 2012, Chevy Chase left a voicemail for Community creator Dan Harmon that sounded like he'd swallowed a thesaurus of profanity, all in the name of insulting Harmon's talent. The voicemail was leaked online, Harmon got fired, and Community's quality took a nosedive.
In a twist worthy of an episode of Scooby-Doo, Chase kept whining about the writing even after Harmon was gone. But when he dropped the n-word as part of his complaints (which is, you know, not cool), he was given the boot and Harmon was brought back. The show got marginally better after that, but let's be real, Chevy's ego was always going to be the real star of the show.
#7 Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Source: @FOX
#8 Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic - Castle
Source: ABC Studios / Kobal / Shutterstock
The tension grew so thick that Katic finally decided to call it quits after eight seasons. Maybe they should have stuck to solving fictional crimes instead of creating real-life drama.