'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
what a loser....Sheen get out of the business while your head is above the water. You are make lots of enemies and soon your star won't be shining.
Posted by: Alex | February 24, 2011 at 09:11 PM
What a scumbag. I feel so bad for the people he put out of work.
Posted by: zygion | February 24, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Charlie, Lindsay and the rest of the high profile dopeheads in the U. S. deserve to be sentenced to unclogging sewers in Calcutta for a year.
Posted by: mediocre | February 24, 2011 at 09:19 PM
Trash.
Posted by: Michael | February 24, 2011 at 10:14 PM
The producers of Two and a Half Men are right to halt production. Charlie Sheen is a spoiled egomaniac. He has had more chances than most and still has little respect for himself or others. As long as he has been a star I have been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. I have had the same job and have not been arrested for 25 years,I have not destructed property nor abused any person. Funny he can call AA a troll hole? I would give anything to have inherited the opportunities that he has. My guess if given the chance i could star on that program and do as good a job as he has. after all AA is a program that makes a person WHOLE. No doubt who is the HALF MAN of that show. I wish the Times would put this letter in the editorial section.
Posted by: Barry P | February 24, 2011 at 10:27 PM
Charlie Sheen has been a sick and troubled man for a very long time. He has plenty of company. Millions watch his vulgar, sexist comedy, making it the #1 rated show, and making Charlie the highest paid actor in TV history. When Charlie goes on a bender, abuses women, destroys cars and hotel rooms, and gets arrested, the ratings skyrocket. The comment boards of every newspaper are filled with admiration from idiotic fans, who think his debased lifestyle of drugs and promiscuity is one long party they would like to attend. Chuck Lorre profited handsomely from enabling substance abuser Sheen. No one associated with the gravy train of "Two and a Half Men" had the moral fiber to fire Charlie or end the show. Instead, in a childish cheap shot, Lorre used his "vanity card" at the end of last week's show to ridicule Sheen, once again making a joke of addiction and mental illness. Now, after Charlie's latest public outburst attacked Lorre personally, the show is finally shut down. Let's hope Charlie gets the long-term treatment he needs before he kills himself or someone else.
Posted by: chicagoan | February 24, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Charlie is self-destructive, sure. But let's be honest here, the show is a huge success because of him. I doubt if they can build a show around Allan Harper and Jake. I have no problem if the show end, but at least give it a proper send off. Give us a nice ending for Charlie and the rest of the cast. I hate it ending with Charlie going on vacation with Rose. There were a lot of highs during the series' run, I hate it ending with a whimper. Too bad they decided to cancel 4 episodes (from the original 8). Just 4 shows folks, which the network thought was necessary to make a statement on who is boss? Come on! They could have ended the series with the 4 episodes, and there, everybody could have went their merry ways.
Posted by: Spidey | February 24, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Let's examine this the situation; What if Charlie sobered up-like the bosses and family wanted-and if he were to pass the Monday drug test-then CBS pulled the plug on the biggest money maker and most popular show on TV, because their cash cow star is a fool with a big mouth? That's gotta be the first time that's ever happened in the annals of Hollywood. Where are the agents, managers and lawyers, who are supposed to be working behind the scenes to spin this tempest back into its proverbial teapot? If he were making these dumbass phone calls from Betty Ford clinic, would they have reacted differently. He sounds to me like every other recovering addict in his or her first 30 days of sobriety: totally full of anger, resentment and and a ten cent head. The loss of revenue and work hurts everybody. Come on captains of the movie and tv industry, let's get back to work.
Posted by: MWP | February 25, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Martin must be SO proud!
Maybe they could rewrite the show and have the premise be that Charile got a sex change operation and they could have the part played by Lyndsay Lohan. Wait, that would be the same show - but they could still call it "Two and a half Men", since the kid is grown up now and could count as the other man.
I bet MTV has someone on a plane right now to the Bahamas to sign Charlie for a reality show, which would be ..... well, just like "Two And a Half Men", without the other men and a bunch of porn stars. The only thing would be that instead of making $2 Mil per show, he would have to settle for "Snookie" money, which wouldn't work, since Charlie spends more than that on hookers and porn stars.
I guess Charlie may have just entered who gives a cr@p territory.
Posted by: Gandlaf47 | February 25, 2011 at 01:06 AM
Personally, I believe the show could have gone on without Charlie. All he did anyways was drink and sleep with woman and he is just playing out this role in real life. So, kill him off in an accident and go on with the show. Allen and Jake and the rest of the actors surely DO make the show. Bring in a long lost brother.....
Posted by: Lydia | February 25, 2011 at 01:57 AM
Glad they finally stepped up and pulled production on the show - and for all those "poor people" who are out of work - they bought into Charlie Sheen's ego and helped make him the "ass" he is.
I can't believe they waited this long, but if he has "true friends" they need to get him help and force him to stick with it. If not soon and really soon we will read about an accident or drug overdose and it will be too late for him.
If CBS had any balls, they would cancel his contract and force him into a rehab program. They are part of the problem as well, but it all starts with Charlie.
Posted by: JLE | February 25, 2011 at 04:33 AM
Take this sick man off TV..........our children do not need him as a role model.
Posted by: Celia | February 25, 2011 at 05:50 AM
Charlie has lost all attempts at soberiety, and is destined for a quick trip to the grave. My heart goes out to his children, family and co-workers because there is nothing anyone can really do for him. It's a shame because I love the comedic chemistry of Sheen and Cryer, and find it comparable to Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis.
Posted by: T. Beckham | February 25, 2011 at 06:01 AM
Oh Charlie!! It's all coming out now. We now know your Daddy Martin, and whoever your mother is, had spoiled you dearly in your childhood.
And no. We will not watch a talk show hosted by you, to have you make five million an episode.
Posted by: waldobinney | February 25, 2011 at 06:39 AM
The crew will be fine. It's pilot season, and new shows are starting to form and will need crews.
CBS and WB had to do this. It was the right thing to do.
Posted by: Rocco | February 25, 2011 at 06:54 AM
This show has been pretty tired for a while; good riddance. (Actually both shows: 2.5 Men and When Will Charlie Pee in His Food Dish One Time Too Many?)
Posted by: terrapin | February 25, 2011 at 07:33 AM
Gotta feel for his kids. How embarrassing!
Posted by: Julie | February 25, 2011 at 07:42 AM
finally !!....somebody stands up the the white bread, jewish idiots who control tv programming...........every show is the same with retread actors and ideas....these guys have dumbed down tv and its a shame the cost has risen to view a few quality programs
Posted by: cantstandit | February 25, 2011 at 08:09 AM
His acting can´t be that good...neither the rest of the crew, that show is like Conan compared to Jay Leno´s The Tonight Show, doesn´t fit the premiere league. Ok, CH plays drunk saying funny things and we see some chicks and the Ralph Laurent shirts but other than that it´s so mediocre compared to Jay Leno intertainment show...
Posted by: Nuno | February 25, 2011 at 08:13 AM
Who cares, the show is terrible and I have no idea why it is so popular. I have tried to watch it but it is just not funny.
Posted by: jeremy | February 25, 2011 at 08:24 AM