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When should we expect a Melissa McCarthy exit from 'Mike & Molly'?
Photo credit: AP | Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone attend the after-party for the world premiere of “Identity Thief” at the Mann Village Theatre Westwood in Los Angeles. (Feb. 4, 2013)
Set aside the Grammys for the moment, and the big winner of the weekend was one Melissa Ann McCarthy, a farmer's daughter, fearless stand-up, and now queen of the box office, whose “Identity Thief” had a nearly $37 million open, and which automatically sets in motion this question: How much longer will she be on TV?
It's the old Steve Carell law of physics -- get huge movie hit, must travel. McCarthy's “Mike & Molly” remains a solid top 10 performer for CBS (just under 11 million viewers in recent weeks) and with “How I Met Your Mother” leaving after next season, there is a network premium placed on performers like this.
So McCarthy, who's already had a few screen hits ("Bridesmaids"), has an especially busy season looming. With “Thief” a winner, she has “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock in the spring, and then -- maybe fall? -- the movie in which she has a personal stake in: “Tammy.” She co-wrote this one with her husband, Ben Falcone and it stars Shirley MacLaine.
A prediction: If this one is a winner, then McCarthy -- a big talent destined for much bigger things than a Chuck Lorre sitcom -- will most likely be moving along.
Tags: melissa mccarthy , identity thief , mike & molly , cbs
