The clock is ticking for 'Two and a Half Men' and Charlie Sheen

Is "Two and a Half Men" going to come back next season? The answer seems to change hourly and depends on the news outlet giving the update.

The Hollywood Reporter published an exclusive report Thursday that detailed a supposed plan by executive producer Chuck Lorre to bring back TV's No. 1 comedy -- minus Charlie Sheen, who was fired by Warner Bros. after months of erratic behavior and admitted drug abuse. This Lorre plan would involve beefing up the role of costar Jon Cryer and casting a as-yet-unnamed new character. According to the Reporter, "industry speculation" has it that "the show will almost certainly return."

But wait! Gossip site TMZ isn't so sure. Citing unnamed sources for its own exclusive, the site says there's a "50/50" chance the CBS sitcom won't come back at all. In fact, there aren't offers on the table for a replacement actor, TMZ says. What is known for sure is that Sheen won't be coming back.

But even that assumption isn't totally safe. Agents have been buzzing that bringing Sheen back remains at least a remote possibility, although it's unlikely Lorre and the actor would be able to work together as they did in the past. 

So what does it all mean? Some sort of deal needs to be worked out in the next two weeks before CBS announces its new schedule to advertisers in New York. It's possible CBS could give the series a limited order of, say, 13 or 18 episodes rather than the full season of 24. And the comedy could go Sheen-less for the first few episodes and then ease in a new character later, which would buy even more time. Sources close to the situation hint of fluid circumstances that are changing by the minute.

But it's a safe bet the show will return in some form. Warner Bros. needs the extra episodes to fulfill its syndication commitments with local stations. And, of course, "Two and a Half Men" is a big hit. In the TV business, you just don't walk away from one of those. No matter what.

What do you think, Trackers? Should "Two and a Half Men" come back? And if it does, should Sheen come back too?

RELATED:

Charlie Sheen and Warner Bros. in a war of words

Charlie Sheen says he wants back on "Two and a Half Men"

 -- Scott Collins

Twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT

Photo: Charlie Sheen in Toronto earlier this month. Credit: George Pimentel / Getty Images

Comments

[gusonweb]

Two and a Half Men will not come back with Sheen. That's a given.
And it won't come back -- not successfully -- without him. Sheen is identified in the public mind with his character. Anyone else wouldn't do.
But we have seen a side of Charlie Sheen that is grossly and even viciously at odds with the "lovable scoundrel" of the sit-com. We would be constantly reminded of the clash.
Borrowing one of Sheen's own favorite phrases: Dogspeed, Charlie!

[Aften]

I want 2 1/2 men to come back. I will NOT watch it without Charlie Sheen. It would NOT be the same without him. I believe Chuck Lorre should apologize to Charlie and stop acting like such a baby!! GROW UP and entertain the public!!! I watch 5 episodes of 2 1/2 Men every day....it certainly would NOT be the same. I wrote to Warner Brothers and asked them to PLEASE be adult and GET CHARLIE SHEEN BACK!!!

[sam]

For sure the show will not be as successful without Sheen but they will try.
It is too bad their ego won't let Charlie Sheen to come back..this show was based on him..well anyway i just wish success (and support) to Charlie in every new career adventures he will have.

[PopCultFreak]

So your whole purpose of writing this was to tell us what OTHER media outlets are saying? Why don't u try finding out yourself? Sad what's happening to my hometown paper. Remember journalism?

[cara]

BRING SHEEN BACK!!!!!!
Without SHEEN the show is a waste of everyones time!

[DG3]

I think the best they could do is a spin-off with Cryer's character and the supporting actors. So it would be the same but different.

[DG3]

Aften, you need to get out more. Seriously.

[canadian fan]

Make Chuck Lorre apologize and alter the way he works with Sheen and bring back the show. If he laid off ripping Charlie sheen and wrote some half decent scripts that didn't demean Sheen even i would watch again.

[Harold]

I will not watch a show with Jon Cryer only. Bring Sheen Back!! He is 2-1/2 Men!!!

I watch every chance I get and I try and support the sponsers of the show, so it can remain on.

[Ohmy]

Five episodes a day, Aften? Man, that's funnier than anything I've ever heard on Two and a Half Men.

[PS in LA]

With Charlie? Sure; why not? The show was a big hit and funny as hell (most of the time). It wouldn't be tough for Lorre to write something that would cover the reality, and I'm sure a way could be found ($$$, most likely) to allow the two of them to work together.

[Superfreak]

Lorre do not want Sheen. The show will not be successful without Sheen. The best way to launch the show next season: 1) BRING BACK CHARLIE SHEEN. 2)then have Lorre be retained as a creative consultant/producer and credit him as creator, pay him the same salary he is getting without him actually doing anything except have his name on the credits, and even give him those vanity cards at the end of the show if he wish... Problem solved. This way, Lorre gets paid no matter what, he doesn't have to work with Charlie, and the show goes on the way it's supposed to....Or, in the alternative, CANCEL IT, because it will not work without Charlie Sheen.

[Melodie]

I sure hope the show comes back, BUT only if Charlie Sheen does. I feel the show won't have the same success or comic appeal if it is Sheenless.
PLEASE LET CHARLIE BACK !!!
COME BACK CHARLIE !!!

[Kate]

Why does anyone like this piece of crap show?

[Smyr]

Here's how this works: Fast forward 5 years: introduce Charlie's unknown son. He gets all of the royalties and the house. He's worse than Charlie. Somehow Cryer must remain in the house because he wasn't in the will. His son still lives there too. Cryer becomes the 1/2 man and the laughs continue.

[valblucat]

2 1/2 Men has been my favorite for years. With all the reality and contest shows it is great to have a entertainment show. The last two years the writing of the show had began to go downhill. It is no wonder he was not happy being there. I will miss the show but it will not be the same without him and will not be as good as it was if the writing does not improve. Whoever this Chuck Lorre is needs a reality check. The show does not exist without Charlie Sheen. There is no replacement for him. My hope is Charlie Sheen will get other opportunities and will take advantage of those and not go back to this show. Charlie Sheen's talent should not be wasted with a low level producer who does not appreciate what the success of that show (mainly due to Charlie Sheen) has done for him.

[Big_Cadillac]

Aften, I have a suggestion for you; to avoid embarrassment, do not eat Cheetos while watching Charlie Sheen in your "5 episodes of 2 1/2 Men every day".

[tw]

Just replace Sheen with someone else....the storyline could be that Charlie over dosed and at his funeral, his son appears, a kid he didn't know he had..........he could be the same kind of guy..womanizer, drunkard, musically inclined....it would be terrific
and the cast and crew would love to work with someone whose ego is in check...
there is alot of talent out there...just bring in the right guy....

[Eric In Adelaide]

And Charlie's latest Tweet, to add fuel to the fire:

"in light of the 2 1/2 news JRoss
and I are going to sit down and
discuss it.
All of it."

[Darbo]

Two and a Half Men will be a complete bore without Charlie Sheen hell he is the show let's put personal beef's aside for the sake of entertainment PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!