Will Ashton Kutcher's new role lead to an Emmy for 'Men'?

Believe it or not, the crass, lowbrow "Two and a Half Men" has actually performed fairly well at the often snooty Emmys. Former lead actor Charlie Sheen netted four Emmy nominations between 2006 and 2009, while costar Jon Cryer won for supporting actor in 2009. Three times it was nominated for best comedy series (2006-2008). Now that Ashton Kutcher has propelled the series to its highest-ever ratings (27.7 million), award pundits wonder: Could Kutcher win "Men" its first lead actor Emmy?

The last time a TV series switched out its main star and received awards attention was when James Spader replaced Dylan McDermott on "The Practice." Spader went on to win the lead drama actor race in 2004, and when his character was spun off to "Boston Legal," he won two more trophies (2005 and 2007). Ironically, when Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox on the sitcom "Spin City," Sheen went on to win a Golden Globe.

Award shows clearly take notice whenever lead actors are replaced, and no replacement has received more buzz, attention and ratings recently than Kutcher. The former "That '70s Show" star has never been nominated for a major award, though he has reaped a slew of Razzie nods including: worst actor for "Cheaper by the Dozen" (2004), worst screen couple (with Brittany Murphy) for "Just Married" (2004), worst screen couple (with Cameron Diaz) for "What Happens in Vegas" (2009) and worst actor for "Killers" (2010) and "Valentine's Day" (2010).

While the jury is still out on whether Kutcher's role as lovelorn Walden Schmidt on "Two and a Half Men" is worthy of a serious award, critics who watched his highly anticipated return to television Monday night had mixed reviews. Snippets:

Ken Tucker (Entertainment Weekly): "It’s easy to see how Kutcher is going to fit into the ensemble. He’s part-contrast-to-Charlie (he ordered ginger ale, not liquor, while out at a bar with Alan), and part-Charlie 2.0 (he beds women with ease, but in a nice, horny-puppy-dog kind of way). Welcome to Charlie Sheen’s world, Ashton Kutcher. You’re living the dream."

Lori Rackl (Chicago Sun-Times): "Filling the void left by a well-established character isn't easy, but Kutcher mostly succeeded.... After eight long seasons, the show might end up being better off with some new blood -- of the non-tiger variety."

Eric Ditzian (MTV): "Nothing's changed. Ashton Kutcher may have joined the cast, but the same collection of writers is still churning out jokes about threesomes, venereal diseases and flatulence."

Joe Flint (Los Angeles Times): "I thought Ashton Kutcher was fine on 'Two and a Half Men,' but I'd be lying if I didn't say I missed that Vatican assassin Charlie Sheen."

David Eckstein (Zap2it): "The only question no one knows the answer to yet is whether the Ashton Kutcher experiment will work. Time will tell."

RELATED:

Emmy upsets: Which was the biggest? [Poll]

Emmys 2011: What was the worst award snub? [Poll]

Emmys: Did 'Bridesmaids' help Melissa McCarthy pull off an upset?

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Ashton Kutcher with Jon Cryer in "Two and a Half Men." Credit: CBS

Emmys: Will a 'Modern Family' star win best supporting comedy actor?

The race for best supporting comedy actor at this year's Emmys comes down to which "Modern Family" actor is most helped by his costars' submissions. Four actors from the comedy are nominated this year, more than any other show has ever earned in this category, which means that voters will be watching four submissions in which all four men appear. That's why shows with multiple nominees in a category usually win, instead of splitting the vote.

Last year's winner, Eric Stonestreet, will probably not repeat. When he won, he had submitted the episode "Fizbo," in which he defends his boyfriend's honor while wearing a clown suit. But this year he has entered "Mother's Day," in which he complains about being treated as a woman in his relationship with Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). He complains in most of the episodes submitted by "Modern Family" actors, which may not play well to voters. But his bigger problem may be that his costars' scenes in his episode may be better than his own: Ty Burrell and Ed O'Neill have touching, funny scenes in which O'Neill is embarrassed about crying over his late mother.

O'Neill submitted "The Kiss," in which his wife (Sofia Vergara) tricks him into performing strange rituals during a dinner preparation. He later expresses regrets over raising a son who is afraid of intimacy. But that episode's main storyline helps Ferguson, who is uncomfortable being kissed by his boyfriend in public.

Ferguson submitted "Halloween," in which he struggles to get out of a Spider-Man getup when he discovers that he's the only one who has come to work in costume. Appearing in costume helped Stonestreet last year, and the physical slapstick stands out against his costars' performances, though Burrell does have a strong subplot in which he fears for the security of his marriage.

Burrell's episode gives him the benefit of playing against type. In "Good Cop, Bad Dog," his happy-go-lucky character must reluctantly play disciplinarian to his disobedient teenage daughters, until he goes overboard by leaping onto their car and taping their computers shut. In O'Neill's subplot, he must deliver tough criticism to an eager entrepreneur, but proves to be a big old softy when he adopts the entrepreneur's dog. And Ferguson must figure out how to leave for a Lady Gaga concert while Stonestreet is sick in bed.

Emmy contenders: Can Jon Cryer pull off an upset again?

Two years ago no Emmy pundit on the planet predicted Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men") would win best supporting comedy actor. Nonetheless, he pulled off an upset over Kevin Dillon ("Entourage"), Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Jack McBrayer ("30 Rock"), Tracy Morgan ("30 Rock") and Rainn Wilson ("The Office").

Now pundits are dismissing Cryer's latest bid opposite Chris Colfer ("Glee") and four "Modern Family" stars: Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O'Neill and Eric Stonestreet. Are they foolish?

There's an enormous amount of sympathy across Hollywood for Cryer these days in the aftermath of Charlie Sheen's meltdown. Cryer seemed to have it all just before the crash. He costarred in TV's top-rated comedy, which was still hugely popular during its eighth season. When Sheen wigged out, it looked like the TV series might be kaput. Currently, hopes run high that Ashton Kutcher may save it, but, of course, he may not. Cryer remains vulnerable and in need of a hug.

Emmys are all about hugs, of course. Do you think voters will embrace him again? He competes with the episode titled "The Immortal Mr. Billy Joel" in which he puts on Sheen's bowling shirt and pretends to be his brother when trying to pick up a gal.

-- Tom O'Neil

RELATED:

Emmy contenders: Will Laura Linney continue to go undefeated?

Emmy contenders: Jane Lynch has a secret advantage

Blame Michael Scott if Steve Carell loses the Emmy again?

Photo: Jon Cryer in "The Immortal Mr. Billy Joel" episode of "Two and a Half Men." Credit: CBS

Poll: Will Ashton Kutcher be a real winner on 'Two and a Half Men'?

Charlie Sheen was nominated four times for best comedy actor at the Emmys and twice at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards for "Two and a Half Men," but he didn't win for that role. Now comes news that he'll be replaced by Ashton Kutcher, who was never nominated for "That '70s Show" -- or for much else, for that matter. Kutcher isn't quite a darling of showbiz awards unless, ahem, you count that Razzie he "won" earlier this year as worst actor for "Killers" and "Valentine's Day."

But now we must wonder: Could Kutcher be nominated -- and, egads, even win a serious Hollywood award -- in place of Sheen on "Two and a Half Men"?

The idea isn't as preposterous as it may seem at first blush. Sheen won a Golden Globe when he replaced Michael J. Fox on "Spin City." So maybe Kutcher might nab a Globe nom or win, if he fails to reap Emmy or SAG love?

In our message boards, I asked our readers if they think Kutcher might score Emmy attention. Sample responses below. See more here.

seanflynn: Kutcher is a very talented comedy actor -- certainly far more than Sheen was before getting on this show. He has been burdened by inferior movies for the most part, and I'm not saying that with Cary Grant material you'd ever approach that level, but to the question, sure I think he could easily be an Emmy contender.

Brilliance inmorbid: The only reason "2.5 Men" received the Emmy recognition it has is because at one point it was by far the highest-rated sitcom on TV. Times have changed, and with the exception of Jon Cryer and Holland Taylor voters aren't looking for this show any longer. However, lead actor in a comedy has been so weak these past couple of years that Kutcher could slip in there. There are too many variables to guess right now.

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Ashton Kutcher in "That '70s Show." Credit: 20th Century Fox TV

Emmy inside track: The race for supporting comedy actor

There's a very good chance that all six of last year's Emmy nominees for best supporting comedy actor will return. That means the "Modern Family" trio likely will be back: Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and 2010 winner Eric Stonestreet. But, hey, what about their poor costar Ed O'Neill, who's never nabbed an Emmy nom, not even back during his "Married With Children" heyday?

If O'Neill finally sneaks in along with his "Family" members, that means one of the other 2010 nominees must go. But recent Golden Globe champ Chris Colfer ("Glee") is so red hot right now that he's a lock for a spot, of course, and could finally win because he's way overdue. And nobody's bumping 2009 Emmy victor Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men"), who gets a big sympathy hug for all the tiger blood he's had to swallow of late. That leaves Neil Patrick Harris, who finally won Emmys last year, not for "How I Met Your Mother" but for guesting on "Glee" and for hosting the Tony Awards. He's overdue to win for "Mother," so surely he'll be nominated.

Knocking very hard on this category door are Mike O'Malley ("Glee") and  Oliver Platt ("The Big C") plus a few others. Below, my handicapping.

-- Tom O'Neil

BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR
(Front-runners)
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Chris Colfer, "Glee"
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
Nick Offerman, "Parks and Recreation"
Mike O'Malley, "Glee"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"
Oliver Platt, "The Big C"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

Steve Carell: Goodbye, 'The Office' -- Hello, Emmy?

Steve Carell has never won an Emmy, but now four of our six forum moderators believe he'll finally prevail for his final season in "The Office" -- Marcus Dixon, Darrin Dortch, Rob Licuria and Matt Noble. According to their newly updated rankings in the Emmy race for lead comedy actor, our moderators are split on who else may be out front to win: Chris Beachum believes two-time champ Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock") will triumph again while Matthew Cormier is betting on the return of last year's champ Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory").

Of course, it all comes down to the strength of the sample episode that the nominees decide to submit to the Emmy jury. Most of our pundits are betting on Carell because they assume he'll submit Michael's sweet marriage proposal to Holly (Amy Ryan) or else, if it's strong enough, his final farewell to the Dunder Mifflin gang.

Notice how many of our Emmy pundits believe Ed O'Neill ("Modern Family") will move up to the lead race after he failed to be nominated last year in supporting. Such a switch is speculation, not official. Also notice how none of our pundits includes past nominee Charlie Sheen ("Two and a Half Men") in their rankings. How telling is that, eh?

-- Tom O'Neil

LEAD COMEDY ACTOR	Beachum	Cormier	Dixon	Dortch	Licuria	Noble
Alec Baldwin, ‘30 Rock’	1	2	3	2	3	3
Steve Carell, ‘The Office’	2	3	1	1	1	1
Matt LeBlanc, ‘Episodes’			6		5
Danny McBride, ‘Eastbound & Down’	6		5			3
Joel McHale, ‘Community’	4			6	4	5
Matthew Morrison, ‘Glee’	5	4	4	4		4
Ed O’Neill, ‘Modern Family’		5		5
Jim Parsons, ‘Big Bang Theory’	3	1	2	3	2	2
Matthew Perry, ‘Mr. Sunshine’					6
Jason Schwartzman, ‘Bored to Death’						6
William Shatner, “.... My Dad Says’		6

Photo: NBC

Emmys: Should Jon Cryer move up to the lead comedy actor race for 'Two and a Half Men'?

After reading my recent riff on the question of whether "Glee" star Chris Colfer should jump up to the lead Emmy race from the supporting comedy actor competition, our forums moderator, Matt Noble, pondered another possible category switcheroo.

Should Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men") -- who won best supporting comedy actor two years ago -- move up? There's a lot of room in the lead-actor category. Only three contenders look like shoo-ins for a nomination: Steve Carell (who's never won for "The Office"), Alec Baldwin (won twice for "30 Rock") and last year's champ Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory"). Matt Noble sends us his thoughts below:

With three open slots in the lead actor race, it seems like it could be a category worth competing in. There is talk that Chris Colfer and Ed O'Neill should perhaps take advantage of the field and promote themselves. However, it seems like the best person to step up to the plate is actually Jon Cryer from "Two and a Half Men."

Firstly, Cryer has always had a prominent role in the series. The argument has been made every year that, as one of the show's "two men," he was entitled to the lead category.

He has already won once in supporting and likely wouldn't be able to beat the tough field there to win again. His chance of winning lead actor is also minimal, but he has little to lose by going up.

Charlie Sheen's public self-destruction makes this a smart move. Sheen has been nominated three times before, but missed out last year. Now voters aren't going to flock to him after his meltdown. With all the "Two and a Half Men" drama over the past year, Jon Cryer can be the person the academy can rally 'round. Giving Cryer a nom over Sheen is a way out of the current fiasco –- it acknowledges "Two and a Half Men" in a top category without rewarding Sheen.

It would also work well for CBS, which may be trying to promote the show next year without Sheen.

It seems like a move up would mean that Cryer, the Academy and CBS could all end up "winning" even if all Cryer gets is a nomination.

RELATED:

Is Chris Colfer really a lead actor on 'Glee'?

Emmy inside track: The race for TV drama actor

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Jon Cryer with his Emmy in 2009. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Poll: Should 'Two and a Half Men' dump Charlie Sheen at the Emmys?

Every year, Charlie Sheen's name gets submitted for Emmy competition by Warner Bros. TV, which produces "Two and a Half Men." The studio and CBS don't have to submit his entry form to the TV academy. Considering that they just fired Sheen from the series, should they even bother? Heck, they'd save the $200 entry fee.

Sheen has been nominated four out of the first seven seasons of the show (2006-2009), so it is certainly possible that Emmy voters might nominate him again. Would that be a good thing for producer Chuck Lorre and the top brass at Warner Bros. and CBS?

Can you imagine Sheen's comments on the Emmy red carpet or in the weeks leading up to the ceremony? If he gets a nomination, he might claim that it's the industry's endorsement of Team Sheen over Team "Men." Would an Emmy bid help him in his legal battle against the studio and network? The lack of placement on the ballot could be considered a slap at their leading star and the highest-paid person on any series.

Of course, Sheen doesn't have to rely on anyone to submit his name for Emmy competition. He or his reps can do it. Quite a few stars handle the responsibility themselves, but they must be attentive. Tim Allen and Rebecca Romijn were famously left off the ballot in years past because they forgot to fill out the paperwork.

The ultimate snub could come from Emmy voters, however. Indeed, they ignored him last year after nominating him the previous four years.

Two days ago, The Envelope asked Warner Bros. execs via email if they plan to submit Sheen's name this year and so far they have not replied.

RELATED:

Uh oh, Russell Brand professes love for Charlie Sheen

Poll: Can 'Two and a Half Men' finally win top Emmy without Charlie Sheen?

Remember Charlie Sheen's 'sober acid trip'?

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: CBS

Poll: Can 'Two and a Half Men' finally win top Emmy without Charlie Sheen?

It's official. Charlie Sheen has been fired from "Two and a Half Men." That could be terrible news for the TV show that already had rotten luck contending for top Emmys.

Of 39 past Emmy nominations, "Two and a Half Men" has won five times: one for Jon Cryer as best supporting actor and four tech prizes. Charlie Sheen has lost four times as best comedy actor (2006-09) and the show itself lost three times as best comedy series (2006-08).

Now if the show continues without its superstar on board, will the CBS laffer be forever doomed at the Emmys?

Or maybe "Two and a Half Men" will have much better luck without Sheen? A few days ago, when he was still employed by the TV series, we ran a poll asking if the rascal would be nominated for lead actor again. About 64% of our readers said no. Only 12% said they believed Sheen would be nominated this year and win.

 RELATED:

Poll: Will the Emmys snub Charlie Sheen again this year?

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Charlie Sheen. Credit: CBS

Poll: Will the Emmys snub Charlie Sheen again this year?

As Charlie Sheen's scandals began to build in recent years, you could see the effect at the Emmys. After reaping nominations for best comedy actor for four consecutive years (2006-2009), Sheen was suddenly snubbed last year. "Two and a Half Men" was no longer nominated for best comedy series either, after scoring previous bids in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Clearly, Emmy voters were singling out Sheen and his series for disapproval because they continued to nominate elements of the show in other categories. Last year, it received six bids: three for acting (Jon Cryer, Holland Taylor and guest star Jane Lynch) and three for crafts work (cinematography, hair styling and sound mixing).

Sheen has never won an Emmy and wasn't nominated for his previous TV gig on "Spin City." Two years ago, his "Two and a Half Men" costar Jon Cryer won in the supporting race.

But maybe Sheen can return to Emmy contention this year. The Emmy, after all, is a peer-group prize just like the Screen Actors Guild Award. Surprisingly, Sheen got nominated for that trophy this year after being shut out in 2006 through 2009. Previously, the only SAG bid he received for a solo performance was in 2005 for "Two and a Half Men."

-- Tom O'Neil

 Photo: Charlie Sheen. Credit: CBS