'Two and a Half Men' faces uncertain future after CBS shuts down season in wake of Charlie Sheen outburst

Following a stormy month that culminated with wayward star Charlie Sheen attacking his employers in vitriolic rants Thursday, CBS and Warner Bros. announced they would cancel the rest of the season of the hit sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” casting a pall over the fate of TV’s most-watched comedy.

Interviewed on radio’s “The Alex Jones Show,” Sheen, who is said to be vacationing in the Bahamas, called his boss, executive producer Chuck Lorre, “a clown” and referred to him as “Haim Levine” (Lorre’s birth name is Charles Michael Levine). In a later interview with the website TMZ.com, Sheen said, “I violently hate Haim Levine,” and accused Lorre of taking money from him.

Within hours, the studio and network issued a joint statement: “Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen’s statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of ‘Two and a Half Men’ for the remainder of the season.”

The decision will put at least 200 show staffers out of work indefinitely, as well as deprive No. 1-ranked CBS of the anchor of its Monday night comedy lineup. Sheen has a deal that carries him through May 2012, although it’s unclear now whether CBS will risk ordering the show again for next season.

The series was supposed to return to production Monday after Sheen –- who earns nearly $2 million per episode -- completed an unusual home-based rehab program. It was the second time in as many years that the show was forced to halt production due to the star’s substance-abuse problems. But producers believed there was still enough time left this season to complete four more episodes, as opposed to the eight more originally scheduled.

But Sheen over the last few weeks launched an escalating series of tirades and bizarre behavior. Earlier this month, he told radio host Dan Patrick that he was ready to return to work but his employers weren’t. He reportedly partied with baseball stars and headed on vacation with his estranged wife, a porn star and a third woman.

Studio and network bosses, who had urged Sheen to enter rehab after a trip to the emergency room last month, relied on addiction specialists who said that the actor could return to work, with the proviso that he continue treatment for months afterward. But the personal attack on Lorre pushed the studio to switch gears.

Shortly after the network and studio announced they would terminate the season, the gossip site Radar Online quoted Sheen as saying that he would allow them to film his drug test. “That’s how confident I am” of passing,  the star was quoted as saying.

[Updated at 7:30 p.m.] In a letter to TMZ issued after the network decision had been made, Sheen wrote of Lorre: “Clearly I have defeated this earthworm with my words -- imagine what I would have done with my fire breathing fists.”

-- Scott Collins (Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen star in "Two and a Half Men." Credit: Greg Gayne / CBS

Comments

[k]

I've never seen this show, but this sounds a little harsh for the crew and the rest of the cast. Obviously the producers think they can't continue it without Sheen, but somebody whose opinion they respect should set them straight. NOBODY is irreplaceable. Send Sheen's character to rehab...that's where Sheen belongs anyway.

[Oshkosh Packer fan]

From the heartland; this guy Sheen is a real loser. We gave him the right to be a star and now we remove that right because he failed on his part of the bargain which is to go to work do his damn job, support those he works with and go home, just like the rest of us do. He's is replacable. Get rid of him. He ain't funny anymore.

[phoenixandrew]

Good going Charlie! I hope you're proud of yourself!

[Ryan D]

This is a ballsy yet necessary move by CBS. Lorre is a very talented man, much more so than Sheen. Sorry for all the folks out of work.

[inbox1909]

Charlie Sheen is way more honest than any of the "earthworms" that run CBS, and way more interesting than anything "Chuck Lorre" has written.

[Ira in L.A.]

{ }

[Lee B.]

I feel for the crew. In this economy, of all the things they didn't need. Selfish, Sheen.

[Bradford Talamon]

Charlie Sheen's tombstone is going to read:

"Here lies an idiot who had it all...and blew it!"

[mark]

Charles you are an ass. My friends lost their jobs.

[nathan]

Go Charlie! Screw Haim Levine like the sniveling, conniving, scheming worm he is. Don't let 'em lie, cheat and steal from you like they do to everyone else!

[Minnesota Mike]

Coming soon to a bookstore near you: 'How to Ruin a Career Without Taking 12 Steps', by Charlie Sheen (no ghostwriter involved - who'd want that gig?)...

[Michael]

Charlie Sheen is a role model for liberals. They eat up all of his left wing political rants.

[savvydude]

I hope Chuck Lorre fires this immature fool. His character can be replaced.

Here's an idea: Charlie Harper marries Rose and they move to Europe. But he calls a cousin (who is a lot like Charlie) to stay in the Malibu beach house until he decides what to do with it.

Casting for the cousin: Matt LeBlanc? or Keifer Sutherland? There's a lot out there who could fill in and appreciate the chance.

[Desert Cat]

"My fire breathing fists"??? A pathetic rant from a pathetic crack-head. Mr. Sheen should be ashamed of himself for costing so many people their jobs, but since it's all about HIM, he won't ever see that.

[sitdownandbequiet]

Joke

[John L]

Charlie is entitled to his opinion of Lorre, a person with a huge ego of his own ,but the truth is, this show is what it is, because of Charlie it is an outrageous success. Let the ego fall before the show, and get over it Lorre ,you are making money hand over fist !aren't you ? and you would blow the jobs of 200 people over a little spat ? Unreal dude.

[williemays]

Yikes!

He's not ready to put down the shovel.
Hopefully he won't land in the hole he's
digging.

[kbch]

What an idiot. A month or so ago, I was willing to give this guy the benefit of the doubt, thinking, well, he's in rehab because he needs help; now that he's getting it, things may change. Ha. Charlie, sweetie, go back the rehab and stay there for a long, long time. And put a sock in it.

[Finn]

I think his addiction is what is taking his money.

[wbaldwin]

umm.. seeing as how most of the drugs he is probably on go out of your system faster than just pot, i'm sure his drug tests will pass too.