Charlie Sheen joins Twitter and users brace for his messages

You knew it had to happen, and now it has: Charlie Sheen has joined Twitter.

Although as of this writing the suddenly voluble star of "Two and a Half Men" had not actually tweeted any messages, the waiting game has begun. Sheen, whose @charliesheen account is listed as "verified" on the service, was quickly accepted by the Twitter community, with more than 100,000 followers and counting within hours of signing up Tuesday.

Some have speculated that Sheen intends to live-tweet Tuesday night's airing of his interview with ABC News, which he has called "slanted."

But whatever he decides to do, the bad-boy actor has received a warm welcome from the Twitterati.

The widely followed social media blog Mashable wondered what Sheen would decide to tweet. Time critic James Poniewozik wrote that, by Sheen's joining Twitter, "the gauntlet is thrown" to Kanye West, the rapper who's become a fixture on Twitter for his outrageous, sometimes incomprehensible musings.

Novelist Walter Kirn offered a "Wittgensteinian investigation" that said Sheen has become an unparalleled "social media binding agent." Although Kirn did not say so, evidence of that came Monday night when CNN's Piers Morgan delivered his second-highest ratings ever (behind his premiere with Oprah Winfrey) with a Sheen interview that received virtually no promotion except from word-of-mouth on Twitter.

But Daniel Fienberg of Hitfix.com was a naysayer, predicting that Sheen would be retweeted "more obnoxiously than Conan" O'Brien.

Are you following Sheen on Twitter?

Full Show Tracker coverage of Charlie Sheen

--Scott Collins (Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Charlie Sheen in 2010. Credit: Rick Wilking / Reuters

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Sheen has also been asked to host next year's Oscars! The Academy chose him because they're hoping to cut the show from 4 hours to just 17 minutes. (via Kwipster)

Posted by: Kwipster | March 01, 2011 at 03:39 PM

And he's just posted his first photo: he and one of his "bosomy" goddesses, plus a bottle of milk. Our caption: "Two and a Half Jugs" The pic: http://twitpic.com/455ly9

Posted by: Kwipster | March 01, 2011 at 03:50 PM

Haha, I love that Winning! photo of him + Bree Olson. Hotdamn, she's a hot one, that one.

Posted by: The.Watcher | March 01, 2011 at 06:39 PM

Ignore the trash and rants and raves.

Sheen is obscene!

Posted by: wowlfie | March 02, 2011 at 12:22 AM

Having trouble understanding what the hell 'unemployed winner' @charliesheen is talking about? Say hello to @SheenTranslator on Twitter. Hilarious!

Posted by: Magenta | March 02, 2011 at 07:53 AM

Where are your kids now, Chuck? Who's winning now, Chuck? I've seen guys like you all my life, Chuck. And every one of them was "Big hat, no cattle." I used to beat them up regularly in high school. You know why? Just because. Maybe I'll come party with you in your trailer in ten years, you miserable excuse for a life form.

Posted by: pugger | March 02, 2011 at 08:11 AM

GIVE ME A BREAK..........IS THIS WHAT IT MEANS WHEN ONE HAS TOOOO MUCH MONEY? THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO! GET A REAL JOB CHARLIE, GET OFF THE CRACK, STAY SOBER ALL THE WAY AROUNG AND SHOW YOUR FATHER SOME RESPECT. U R NOTHING LIKE HIM. STAND UP AND BECOME A MAN ( A REAL MAN THAT IS ) AND START THINKING WITH THE HEAD ON YOUR SHOULDERS INSTEAD OF THE ONE IN YOUR PANTS.............

Posted by: denise l | March 02, 2011 at 01:34 PM

He cracks me up. He is having fun. Good for him.

Posted by: SmackSaw | March 02, 2011 at 02:08 PM

finally, his twitness has an outlet suitable for his tiny little mind.
bet most of his rants will now get cut short for "character" assassination

Posted by: eahostudio | March 02, 2011 at 02:09 PM