Top 10 Shows That Had the Most Behind the Scenes Drama

Even before cameras started rolling, tensions were already high behind the scenes of “Charmed.” Prior to signing on, Shannon Doherty had gained a reputation on the set of “Beverly Hills, 90210” for being difficult to work with. And, to make matters worse, she and Holly Marie Combs’ decade-long friendship made co-star Alyssa Milano feel like a third wheel. The three women acted friendly with each other for the press, but the facade soon fell when Doherty publicly exited the series in its third season. In the years that followed, Doherty got the brunt of the blame for her own departure, but she has since said that it was actually due to Milano’s ego and desire to be “number one on the call sheet.”

Dubbed 2004’s best new drama, “Desperate Housewives” was an instant success, winning seven Emmys and two Golden Globes for its premiere season. The cast featured in Vanity Fair shortly afterwards, with a cover story suggesting all was not well on Wisteria Lane. The network claimed the story was overblown, and Eva Longoria even participated in a sketch poking fun at the ordeal on “Saturday Night Live.” But soon after, real issues began to surface. Nicollette Sheridan claimed to have been assaulted by showrunner Marc Cherry, who was also accused of creating a toxic work environment for his female writing staff. Years later, Longoria would add to the set’s negative perception, describing “torturous” work days in which she was bullied by an unnamed castmate.

Thirteen years after “Lost” ended, film critic Maureen Ryan released a book about the myriad of issues still plaguing Hollywood sets, titled “Burn It Down.” The book featured an interview with “Lost” series regular, Harold Perrineau, who took the opportunity to discuss the racism present behind the scenes. He claimed that his character, along with Daniel Day Kim’s, were not considered as “relatable” as their white counterparts, and their salaries reflected this bias. Writer Monica Owusu-Breen had similar complaints, saying that openly racist remarks were commonplace in the “Lost” writers’ room. The environment was just as unsafe for women, with actor Henry Ian Cusick being sued for sexual harassment, and the writers’ room similarly accused of making sexist comments.

When it was announced that Charlie Sheen would be entering rehab, it seemed like a step in the right direction for the volatile actor. “Two and a Half Men” even accommodated him, going on hiatus until Sheen felt well enough to return. And yet, this moment would mark the beginning of the end of Sheen’s relationship with the series. Following an alleged pay dispute, Sheen publicly ranted against showrunner Chuck Lorre, severing any good will that had remained between the two. Sheen’s character was killed off-screen and given a surprisingly mean-spirited funeral. “Anger Management” allowed Sheen the chance at a meta response, but Lorre ultimately got the last laugh, using “Two and a Half Men’s” final moments to kill Charlie once more.

The impact of “Star Trek” on modern sci-fi is undeniable, despite the on-set conflicts between William Shatner and pretty much everyone else. In her memoir, Nichelle Nichols claimed that the actor used his influence to cut back people’s lines, while James Doohan wanted to punch him. Even Leonard Nimoy, who maintained a good-natured “sibling rivalry” with Shatner, had a falling out with him shortly before his death. The Captain’s biggest critic is George Takei, whose vocal distaste for the actor has spanned decades. The original series wasn’t the only “Star Trek” show that suffered behind the scenes. Gene Roddenberry’s insistence that the Starfleet crew never have internal conflicts led to massive headaches – and constant turnover – for the writers of “The Next Generation.”

In another timeline, this show would not have made this list. Because, in that universe, Chevy Chase was not involved. Showrunner Dan Harmon initially considered actors like Fred Willard, John Cleese, and even Patrick Stewart for the role of Pierce, but Sony was adamant that Chase be cast in the role. Though he was a recognizable draw for audiences, Chase was reportedly difficult to work with, leaving set early and even refusing to perform scenes he deemed unfunny. A tense relationship formed between the actor and Harmon, which ultimately led to Harmon’s firing. The following season was infamously rocky, and Chase’s use of a racial slur on set helped seal his fate. For the show’s final two seasons, Harmon returned and Chase was cast out.

When a show has run for as long as “Grey’s Anatomy,” there’s bound to have been some drama along the way. But it came as a surprise when it was revealed that McDreamy was behind some of the series’ biggest behind-the-scenes issues. Patrick Dempsey was said to be a huge pain on set, showing up late and stopping production. Isaiah Washington was also let go from the series after calling T.R. Knight a homophobic slur during an on-set argument with Dempsey. This forced Knight to come out shortly after, a moment which he suggested spelled the beginning of the end for his time on “Grey’s.”

The four friends at the center of this show may have considered each other platonic soulmates but, in real life, the relationship between the women was far more complex. This is particularly true for Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker, whose dynamic has been tabloid fodder for decades. Shortly after the finale, Cattrall expressed her disappointment in the division of pay behind the scenes. Parker actually stood up for her castmate, initially denying rumors of any feud. However, all pretenses were dropped when Cattrall lashed out at the actress for publicly sending her condolences after her brother’s death in 2018. Cattrall claimed that any attempt by Parker to make it seem like they were friends was simply to aid her “nice girl” image.

If you’re one of many who consider Dana Scully and Fox Mulder to be soulmates, this is just a testament to the talent of their actors. In real life, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny maintained a strained relationship, with Anderson saying she had multiple breakdowns throughout the series’ original nine-season run. On occasion, the two actors would even refuse to talk to each other, only communicating when a script dictated it. One of the primary points of contention appeared to be a salary dispute, with Anderson making significantly less than her male co-star. Fortunately, this injustice was resolved for the 2016 revival season, and Anderson and Duchovny seem to have reconciled any other issues between them as well.

As most fans of this show probably know, actress Lea Michele is at the center of many stories of on-set turmoil. Naya Rivera was frequently vocal about the actress’s behavior, even detailing specific instances of Michele’s poor professionalism in her memoir, “Sorry Not Sorry.” The star was also accused of racism, and rumors circulated that she may have had a hand in Dianna Agron’s troubling absence from the tribute episode following Cory Monteith’s death. Somehow, however, Michele is not the cast member who tarnishes the show’s legacy the most. In the years following “Glee’s” end, Mark Salling was found to be in possession of thousands of illegal images of young people, retroactively ruining any good will fans’ had fostered for his on-screen character.

Did we miss any dramatic set disputes from your favorite series? Let us know in the comments!