'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

[M/ Parker]

It's time for CBS and the sponsers of this show to stand up and get rid of Charlie. Admiting to Cochaine use on national tv, what an iodit. It's AGAINST THE LAW. Just because he's got so much money, he get's away with it. Of course the show's popular, it sex, and booze. I don't like the portrail of Jake. He' RUDE. But this is just my opion.

[VIRGINIA WELLS]

WE LOVE CHARLIE- HE IS THE SHOW - HE IS OUR BAD BOY AND WE LOVE THE WAY THE SHOW CAST INTER ACTS WITH HIS CHARACTER.
WRITE THIS INTO THE SHOW - HAVE AN INTERVENTION AND SEND CHARLIE TO REHAB AND FILM HIM IN REHABE WITH THE OTHER CAST MENBERS BEING A PART OR HIS THERAPHY WITH JANE LYNCH AS THE GROUP THERAPIST. MAKE FUN AND MAKE CHARLIE THE CENTER OF IT ALL AND WHEN HE IS CURED HE - HE IS THE SAME BECAUSE THAT IS WHO HE REALLY IS. MAKE HIM STILL THE SAME OLD CHARLIE - HE IS THE ONE WE WATCH THE SHOW FOR BUT HIS BROTHER ALAN AND THE CAST ARE PERFECT - DO NOT TAMPER WITH PERFECTION. -- THE WELLS FAMILY - WE WATCH 4 TIMES A DAY ON ALL CHANNELS..

[VIRGINIA WELLS]

TWO AND A HALF MEN IS OUR FAVORITE SHOW - FOR GET RUNNING A NEW MEMBER INTO THE CAST--WE ALSO LOVE ALAN -AND JAKE AND THE HOUSE KEEPER AND THE MOTHER. WHO IS A GREAT COMMEDIAN AND ACTRESS IN HER OWN RIGHT. WRITE IT ALL INTO THE SHOW AND KEEP THE PUBLIC HAPPY - MAKE IT ALL A PART OF THE SHOW. CHARLIE LOSES HIS JOB AT THE JINGLE WRITING AND HIS WOMEN TURN ON HIM AND THE FAMILY INTERVIENES AND SEND HIM TO REHAB AND INCORPORATE REAL LIVE REHAB AND THE SHOWS REHAB AND THAT WILL SHOW A LOT OF PEOLE WHAT DRINK AND DRUGS DO TO PEOPLES LIVES AND ALL THE WHILE FILM AND MAKE THIS A PART OF THE SHOW AND HIS GIRL FRIEND CHELSEA WONT TAKE HIM BACK UNTILL HE COMES OUT CLEAN AND IT MAKES FOR HONEST AND GREAT WRITING AND THEATER. WE LOVE CHARLIE -- WE CAN'T STAND SHEEN WITH DRAWEL - IT IS WORSE THAN A STARVATION DIET - HATE REALITY SHOWS AND AMERICAN IDOL - VOTE THE SURVIVORS OFF THE TV AND KEEP CHARLIE...