'Two and a Half Men' crew will be paid for 4 episodes, Warner Bros says
The crew of "Two and a Half Men," whose livelihoods had been jeopardized by ongoing issues with star Charlie Sheen, will be paid for four of the eight remaining episodes in the season, Warner Bros. said Tuesday.
Warner Bros. will be footing the bill in compensating the crew members out of work after production of the highly rated sitcom was shut down last month. Paul McGuire, a Warner Bros. spokesman, said the company would not disclose how much this move will cost the company.
Earlier in February, when Sheen was expected to leave in order to undergo rehabilitation, he reportedly offered to pay at least a portion of the crew's wages if Warner Bros. and CBS would split the cost with him. Now McGuire said Sheen was in no way connected with making the decision about compensation or financing it.
The future of the show's staff has been unclear since the decision was made to halt production for the remaining episodes of "Two and a Half Men's" seventh season. It has yet to be determined whether "Two and a Half Men" will return to the airwaves for the fall season.
Although CBS will be losing a schedule staple that was the highest-rated comedy on television, the network's chief executive, Leslie Moonves, said the silver lining is that stopping production would save CBS a considerable sum of money, as reported on our sister blog Company Town.
"Short-term, financially, it is actually a gainer for us," Moonves said Tuesday at an investor conference in San Francisco. "Doing eight less original episodes saves us a lot of money."
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-- Rick Rojas
Photo: Charlie Sheen, left, Martin Mull and Jon Cryer on "Two and a Half Men." Credit: Greg Gayne / Warner Bros.
Charlie Sheen should pay it.
Posted by: zygion | March 01, 2011 at 06:40 PM
hey i charlie sheen is wack crack head, find a better actor who actually doesnt sit on a couch and not talk, find some one good
Posted by: jerimiah greensdiert | March 01, 2011 at 07:11 PM
Maybe Chuck Lorre can pay the crew salary out of his own pocket for the remaining episodes. After all, but for Mr. Lorre's deliberate provocations of an obviously troubled star (the passive aggressive vanity card), the network would not have the problems it has today.
Posted by: ZeeNu2 | March 01, 2011 at 07:35 PM
Just fire Mr Levine who is solely responsible for all this mess and let the show start again Mr. Estesves oup sorry Mr Sheen and all his fab co-actors. The show is great and Mr Levine was just jealous of all this fame. Get rid of him, turn the page and start shooting TWO AND A HALF MEN. The best show ever
Posted by: GUERLOT Sylvie | March 02, 2011 at 10:06 AM
You all must realize that the troubled person here is Charlie Sheen. In his delusional world, he now thinks he is Hugh Hefner, kissing two girls one after another on live television. I changed the channel, I do not need to see this meltdown of this sick sick man.
Posted by: Lin Ting | March 02, 2011 at 02:32 PM
My husband and I love Two and A Half Men. We both know that the show would not be the same if Sheen was replaced. It's one of two shows that we WILL NOT miss. There are not many good shows on anymore. Please don't take this one away. Give Sheen an ultimatum. . Maybe something like get help or retire. Your fans atleast deserve that. Also if you are gonna replace Sheen don't bother. Just cancel the show.
Posted by: Amber G, MA | March 14, 2011 at 06:58 PM