Brian Damage
06-25-2012, 12:31 AM
http://siouxcityjournal.com/entertainment/television/life-changes-for-the-half-man/article_721394c7-6b45-56a5-8f3e-c328cd04a6a9.html
While many were watching Ashton Kutcher take over for Charlie Sheen last season on "Two and Half Men," something else happened.
The half man grew up.
Now 18, Angus T. Jones admits he's a lot different than the pudgy kid who started the show in 2003.
"I'm about 5'10"," he says. "And I cut my hair. The storylines are different and I'm doing different things. But I wouldn't say that my character is halted in growing. I'm just doing teenager stuff."
Because it's "Two and a Half Men," that's a fairly tame assessment. In the last season, Jones' character got in the kind of trouble that would make most parents scream. (Two women in his bed? It's par for the course.)
And Jones? Don't worry. "I have a normal life alongside the show."
In addition to on-set tutors, the quiet Texas native has gone to "real" schools, done "real" kid things and hung out with friends who weren't in the business.
"I don't know too much different," he says of his unusual life. "I've been acting since I was 4 and I'm utterly thankful for it and the advantages it has given me. I'm sure there are advantages to other lives, but I've enjoyed this."
Graduating this year, the soft-spoken Jones says he hopes to go to college and study music. "I play a few instruments -- guitar and drums -- but I also enjoy making electric music."
Because "Two and a Half Men" often deals with adult subject matter, producers made every attempt to shield him from learning something too soon. "My mom has been with me every day and I have a studio teacher who's there, too. Since we've had the same cast and crew all this time, you realize you're friends with most everyone. It's just a job, really." And, no, it's not a crash course in everything from Adultery to Viagra.
Jones, in fact, says he has gotten college advice from Kutcher, friendship from Sheen.
Even though the Emmy-nominated Sheen had a public feud with "Two and a Half Men's" executive producer, he was always nice to Jones. "Charlie was always awesome on set. He was never not professional and I was never aware of any kind of problem. I knew Charlie as Charlie. He was a super-nice guy to me...super awesome."
The two have talked since Sheen left the show and all is good. Taking sides? "I'm just really along for the ride," Jones says, diplomatically.
Kutcher, he says, has brought a lighter tone to the set. "Toward the end of our eighth season, it was a little darker. But I've had a blast working on the show. It was never to the point where I never wanted to go to work."
While Jones wasn't a hardcore "That '70s Show" fan, he was aware of Kutcher's past. "I never watched ('That '70s Show') regularly because I liked playing video games when I was little."
Now, though, "it's great to get to interact with someone at his level." Kutcher is a "really, really awesome guy."
Acting advice? Jones laughs. Acting isn't that difficult, he says. 'You've just got to be able to act normal. That's it."
And the future? He'll stay with the show -- even during those college years. And he'll consider what might come next.
A tell-all book about "Two and a Half Men"? Don't count on it, Jones says. "I haven't kept a diary. I'm just a normal kid."
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/siouxcityjournal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/c7/2c797784-ed71-5671-b603-b70f05953d57/4fe200678f3e7.preview-620.jpg
While many were watching Ashton Kutcher take over for Charlie Sheen last season on "Two and Half Men," something else happened.
The half man grew up.
Now 18, Angus T. Jones admits he's a lot different than the pudgy kid who started the show in 2003.
"I'm about 5'10"," he says. "And I cut my hair. The storylines are different and I'm doing different things. But I wouldn't say that my character is halted in growing. I'm just doing teenager stuff."
Because it's "Two and a Half Men," that's a fairly tame assessment. In the last season, Jones' character got in the kind of trouble that would make most parents scream. (Two women in his bed? It's par for the course.)
And Jones? Don't worry. "I have a normal life alongside the show."
In addition to on-set tutors, the quiet Texas native has gone to "real" schools, done "real" kid things and hung out with friends who weren't in the business.
"I don't know too much different," he says of his unusual life. "I've been acting since I was 4 and I'm utterly thankful for it and the advantages it has given me. I'm sure there are advantages to other lives, but I've enjoyed this."
Graduating this year, the soft-spoken Jones says he hopes to go to college and study music. "I play a few instruments -- guitar and drums -- but I also enjoy making electric music."
Because "Two and a Half Men" often deals with adult subject matter, producers made every attempt to shield him from learning something too soon. "My mom has been with me every day and I have a studio teacher who's there, too. Since we've had the same cast and crew all this time, you realize you're friends with most everyone. It's just a job, really." And, no, it's not a crash course in everything from Adultery to Viagra.
Jones, in fact, says he has gotten college advice from Kutcher, friendship from Sheen.
Even though the Emmy-nominated Sheen had a public feud with "Two and a Half Men's" executive producer, he was always nice to Jones. "Charlie was always awesome on set. He was never not professional and I was never aware of any kind of problem. I knew Charlie as Charlie. He was a super-nice guy to me...super awesome."
The two have talked since Sheen left the show and all is good. Taking sides? "I'm just really along for the ride," Jones says, diplomatically.
Kutcher, he says, has brought a lighter tone to the set. "Toward the end of our eighth season, it was a little darker. But I've had a blast working on the show. It was never to the point where I never wanted to go to work."
While Jones wasn't a hardcore "That '70s Show" fan, he was aware of Kutcher's past. "I never watched ('That '70s Show') regularly because I liked playing video games when I was little."
Now, though, "it's great to get to interact with someone at his level." Kutcher is a "really, really awesome guy."
Acting advice? Jones laughs. Acting isn't that difficult, he says. 'You've just got to be able to act normal. That's it."
And the future? He'll stay with the show -- even during those college years. And he'll consider what might come next.
A tell-all book about "Two and a Half Men"? Don't count on it, Jones says. "I haven't kept a diary. I'm just a normal kid."
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/siouxcityjournal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/c7/2c797784-ed71-5671-b603-b70f05953d57/4fe200678f3e7.preview-620.jpg