ow that self-proclaimed "winner" Charlie Sheen has been officially fired by Warner Bros. Television, producers have to decide what is to become of their hobbled hit show 'Two and a Half Men.' Worry not, all you Jon Cryer fans, insiders are telling me that every effort is going to be made to continue without Charlie.

"Finding a replacement will not be easy, but you can bet they are going to try," one TV executive tells me. "It would be too difficult to replace Charlie's character, which is why discussions are being had in which a friend or relative of the main character would arrive and Charlie leaves."

The track record of changing lead characters is a mixed one. Back in 2000, everyone assumed 'Spin City' would end after Michael J. Fox left the show, but producers decided to carry on with -- ironically -- Charlie Sheen as the new deputy mayor. Ratings plummeted for the final two seasons, and it went from being the 33rd most watched show on TV to No. 78.

A similar situation occurred when NBC carried on with 'NewsRadio' after Phil Hartman died in 1998. He was replaced with Jon Lovitz for season five, and although the show saw a slight bump in viewership, it was canceled.

But unlike those sitcoms, which were never huge ratings hits, 'Two and a Half Men' was still essentially on top of its game, up until it was shut down due to Charlie's erratic behavior.

The talk around the network and Warner Bros. is that they owe it to the show's loyal viewers to not give up.

"The show is a monster hit with huge profits, so no way is everyone just going to walk away from that without at least trying to make it work without him," an insider tells me.

CBS has not returned my requests for comment.

Producers are also mindful that without Charlie and his nearly $2 million-per-episode paycheck, the show would be leaner and likely still profitable, even with the inevitable drop in viewers.

Way back on Feb. 23, I reported that CBS was having internal discussion to ponder a 'Men' without Charlie, so they should be rolling out their plans any day now. Will it be John Stamos? I'll just go ahead and throw out a couple more names while I'm at it ... David Arquette and, oh yeah, Emilio Estevez.


http://www.popeater.com/2011/03/08/two-and-a-half-men-without-charlie-sheen/

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2011/03/2halfmen590ap.jpg

Ahhhhh...the soap opera continues.

it could work if they found the right actor, and created the right character. otherwise, it would be like the last season of Laverne & Shirley (where Shirley left the show after the 2nd episode, although they never outright replaced her character, just used more of the supporting characters.)

This may be the biggest leap since Fonzie "Jumped the Shark"!:lol:

Personally, I think Two and a Half Men should have ended at least two-
and-a-half years ago. (LOL)

This may be the biggest leap since Fonzie "Jumped the Shark"!:lol:

Agreed. Replacing Charlie will be a big mistake if they try. The show's had an eight-season run. Let it go.

^ :yeahthat:

Give it a final season, and just try it! Move something new to the 9pm timeslot (Mike and Molly perphaps) and put Two and a Half Men at 9:30pm, or even on Thursdays.

Couldn't be any worse than how "Chico and the Man" went on after Freddie Prinze's death--more than a year and a half, bringing in numerous ridiculous regulars and guest stars. Then they didn't even address the idea of the character's death for a year. If they handle Charlie's absence in a plausible way right from the start--and only bring in the one new person to replace him, and maybe the occasional "girlfriend" as usual--it might work for even more than one season. Not that it probably should--I still say it is not as funny now that Jake understands the dirty jokes LOL! And it occurred to me--does anyone think the tipping point for Charlie Sheen was somewhere in the story arc about his character really starting to settle down, or to regret that Rose was "married"? That couldn't have been as much fun for either the actor or the fictional guy....

It's over. I hope the producers and CBS eventually accept this and put the show to rest.

^ They won't, because what you said makes sense!!!

Since I would hate to see any more 4+-season series end without a proper series finale, I would say just find a good replacement for Charlie Sheen, make Season 9 the final season, so it can end the right way. No season 10.

^ They won't, because what you said makes sense!!!

The problem with TV executives is that they see the shows as product that helps sell ad time. If they cancel the show, they can't get a premium price for ad placement during the show.

But from a creative standpoint, the show will not be the same without Charlie. They have tried this before with Chico And The Man, The Sanford Arms and we all know how those shows ended up doing in the ratings.

They have tried this before with Chico And The Man, The Sanford Arms and we all know how those shows ended up doing in the ratings.

I know of ONE TV Series that successfully got through a crisis simular to the one that's befallen Two ans a Half Men. Not just once, but FOUR times over its 19 year run.

LASSIE!

And I'm not talking about the Dawg either!:lol: (Although that happened several times as well.)

For the first three season Tommy Rettig played Lassie's Master, but after Season Three he indicated he no longer wanted to be in the Series. At the beginning of Season Four we were introduced to "Timmy" (John Provost), who had ran away from home and ended up living with Jeff and his Family. Then when the Actor who played "Gramps" (George Cleveland) Passed Away the Producers worked that into the Series, having Jeff's Mother getting a new Business Oppurtunity in the City. She Sells the Farm, which is purchased by a Couple, the Martins, who adopt Timmy as their own Son. Before Jeff Moves away with his Mom, he gives Lassie to Timmy, who becomes the Master for the nexy seven years. Then John Provost also decided he had enough of this Series, so once again the Producers looked for something thay could work into the series, when they found Australia had a STRICT Quarentine Law regarding the importation of live Animals they had the Millers get a Business Oppurtunity there. Since they couldn't bring Lassie to Ozzy-Land the Dawg gets left behind, he ends up with the Forest Rangers, who keep her until Season 16. For all of Season 17 (The Last Season for CBS), for reasons unexplained, Lassie "Wanders", then when the Show went into Syndication Lassie ends up at a Ranch.

The problem with TV executives is that they see the shows as product that helps sell ad time. If they cancel the show, they can't get a premium price for ad placement during the show.

But from a creative standpoint, the show will not be the same without Charlie. They have tried this before with Chico And The Man, The Sanford Arms and we all know how those shows ended up doing in the ratings.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!! :eek: