TCA 2012: Chuck Lorre and Ashton Kutcher on the Future of "Two and a Half Men"

[JamesG]

TCA: Chuck Lorre on the Future of "Two and a Half Men"
1/11/2012
by Lesley Goldberg


Chuck Lorre told reporters he'd like to see CBS' "Two and a Half Men" move on for a 10th season and responded to former star Charlie Sheen's claims that the show's "poop jokes" are lazy.

"Is there a 10th season, or really should we call it Year 2? I don't know. I hope so," the prolific showrunner said Wednesday following the show's panel at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour.







After replacing Sheen with Ashton Kutcher and relaunching the Monday night comedy to a massive 28 million viewers in September, Lorre said he felt the ratings warranted an additional season but the future of the show -- and its cast -- remain unclear. Kutcher signed a one-year deal and co-star Angus T. Jones, Lorre said, will be heading to college.

"CBS has not said anything to us about the future, and again, it's another issue about Ashton and Angus," he said, adding that the serious relationship Kutcher's Walden is embarking on has provided the writers with ample material for another 22-episode season.

(So much material, in fact, that it will see Kutcher shed his long hair and beard.)







Lorre and the "Two and a Half Men" session came days after Sheen, appearing at a Fox TCA party for his upcoming FX comedy "Anger Management", said he didn't want "Men" to be his television legacy and "wanted to do a show and play a character that dealt with more mature themes."

"A lot of times on the other show I felt like we were servicing the comedy and not allowing it to come out of character situations," he told THR of Men's humor, later adding that "Anger Management" would refrain from fart, poop and masturbating jokes.



"It made him a very wealthy man," Lorre said of the show's humor when asked to respond to Sheen's comments, before addressing those -- like Sheen -- who think the show's writing is lazy.

"We're not seeking out the lowest common denominator; we're seeking out a way to make people laugh, that's all."







With three shows on the air, Lorre called the Men a "critical undertaking" and said he remains very much involved.

"This has been such a critical undertaking for me, personally, to try and keep the lights on and not just keep them on, but can we do this? It remains pretty exciting to try and pull this rabbit out of a hat."



Asked how he would do things differently if he could go back a year, Lorre quipped, "I don't know. I did the best that I could."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...kutcher-280531














TCA: Ashton Kutcher Opens Up about Long Term "Two and a Half Men" Plans
1/11/2012
by Michael O'Connell


Ashton Kutcher would not confirm plans to return to "Two and Half Men" when addressing reporters at Wednesday's Television Critics Association winter press tour.

As the CBS comedy's new star nears the end of his one-season contract, he seemed optimistic, even referring to his summer plans as "a hiatus."

"For me, having a show that people like and people want more of, that will dictate my decision," said Kutcher, who admitted plans to film several movie projects over the summer. "Right now I'm looking at it as a hiatus, because I'm having a lot of fun. … I'm interested in coming back if we can work that out."







Showrunner Chuck Lorre, joined by co-creator Lee Aronsohn and actors Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, said the opportunity to work with Kutcher was all that kept him from ending the show after the public drama surrounding Charlie Sheen's 2011 exodus.

"We absolutely considered it," Lorre said of canceling the series. "We never imagined we'd be in a position where we'd have to consider it any other way. It seemed like such a heartbreaking way to end."





Lorre and Aronsohn went on to cite the new addition and the ratings boost as motivators, saying they can see continuing to write the show for the foreseeable future.

"It's been an extraordinary experience rebirthing the show," said Lorre. "Amazingly enough, we have an audience that's stayed with us and grown. … We're grateful that this guy came and kept the lights on."







As for how long the lights will stay on, with or without Kutcher, Lorre was less transparent.

"That's a question you should ask Nina Tassler," he said. "I have no idea. We're having a good time writing the show."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...e-sheen-280517