It's probably a forgone conclusion that the executives at CBS will renew Two and a Half Men. The comedy, which stars Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, is consistently in the Nielsen ratings' top 20 and is about to reach the magical syndication mark. In addition, it is one of the more popular comedies (How I Met Your Mother being the other) on the drama-heavy network.
And yet, there may be some apprehension amongst the CBS suits about renewal because of the recent antics of star Sheen. First the actor divorced his on-again off-again wife Denise Richards, then Richards obtained a restraining order against Sheen due to, among other things, alleged verbal and physical abuse, excessive gambling, and his frequent visits to child porn sites (maybe he needs to be a guest-star on Law & Order: SVU). To top it all off, he was sued by a woman who claimed that the character he portrays on his sitcom was based on her.
So, needless to say, Sheen has a bit of baggage to carry into the filming of a new season. This may raise a flag to many executives; if he's juggling all of this will he be able to perform his duties or will there be a lot of solo episodes with just Cryer and Jones. There is also a chance that the show could begin to lose advertisers and audience if Sheen's legal troubles continue to mount.
So, armchair executives, I leave the decision up to you: do you renew the show and take the risk that Sheen's problems will simmer down, or do you cancel the show for fear of negative feedback from advertisers and viewers? Or, as a third option, do you take a cautious approach and renew the show but hold off the premier until the beginning of 2006, when Sheen's turmoil will hopefully calm down? The choice is yours to make.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-12-2006 @ 8:13PM
RFRY said...
I think it's important to understand that it's not the "Two and a Half Men" is 'one of the more popular comedies on CBS' or however you phrased it. It is, in fact, THE most watched comedy on all of TV.
To not renew the most popular comedy on all of TV would be a death knell, I think, for the entire genre, regardless of Sheen's personal life.
So, to answer the question, I would renew it.
Plus, I think it's really funny.
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5-12-2006 @ 9:25PM
Brian said...
I really don't think they have a choice but to renew "Two and a Half Men." Have you seen the ratings for "How I Met Your Mother" lately? It's actually one of CBS's lowest rated programs.
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5-12-2006 @ 9:50PM
TedSez said...
If people think Sheen is a juvenile, amoral womanizer, so what? That's pretty much the description of his TV character, too -- and the audience seems to love that guy. Denise Richards, meanwhile, seems more like the brother's nagging ex-wife.
Plus, I agree that the show's really funny. Give credit to the writers for being among the few in Hollywood who really know how to craft a joke. And to that kid actor, who's freakin' hilarious.
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5-12-2006 @ 10:35PM
MosquitoControl said...
According to the Futon Critic, for the week of May 10th How I Met Your Mother does just a little less than Earl, better than The Office, and considerably better than Scrubs.
I never realized how poorly those shows do.
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5-12-2006 @ 10:47PM
Will Teullive said...
I think CBS should renew?with one stipulation. Charlie Sheen either goes white socks with sneakers or dress socks with shoes and slacks. No more of these white socks with shoes and shorts.
Do the 'hos dig that look or something?
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5-12-2006 @ 11:47PM
George Costanza said...
Forget Sheen. They can't cancel a show with a chick as hot as the one that plays Alan's girlfriend Khandi.
Oh, the show does have some clever writing, too. I say it's a keeper.
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5-13-2006 @ 1:53AM
Thomas said...
Renew it!! It has to be one of the funniest shows on TV. Right up there with Family Guy. :D
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5-13-2006 @ 2:18AM
Frank Falstaff said...
To not renew the best SitCom that C...BS has in its genre roster would be insane, I could not care less about Carlos'...errr...Charlie's personal issues, after all, we're not talking about a "family show", but rather, a very well written and performed adult oriented show that just happens to be on network TV, the challenge that the writers, producers and actors face dealing with the limitations placed upon them by the censors is significant, the outstanding end-results (the show & its high ratings) are a credit to the qualifications, dedication and caliber of everyone involved with this SitCom.
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5-13-2006 @ 7:30AM
BrianS said...
Each week this show gets better and better. The Writers and the Actors are just coming into their own with the series. CBS should make the investment of renewing the series.
The show pushes the limit each week. Its great entertainment. There is no show like it. RENEW
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5-13-2006 @ 12:57PM
Jimmy said...
Viewers don't give a damn what's going on is Charlie Sheen's private life. The only people that would are those who already hate the racy comedy. Two-and-a-Half Men is the most watched comedy CBS has. They would be stupid to drop it just because Charlie Sheen can cut the Internet porn habit. Moreover, the show wouldn't surivive without him.
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5-13-2006 @ 6:02PM
Jaymez said...
Cancle it. Hell, I'd cancle every sitcom on television if I had the power. Watch a sitcom or pull the hair out of my nuts with tweezers? Pass the tweezers.
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5-13-2006 @ 8:20PM
doc said...
The list of options leaves out the detail that there are more than likely existing contracts in place for many of the players involved in the show. So, not only would the executive in question be cancelling the highest rated comedy on network tv, it would cost the network millions of dollars to do it. I can't see that happening.
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5-15-2006 @ 12:28AM
Nance said...
This is THE best show in a very long time. And who cares what Charlie does off stage...he makes me laugh weekly...and isn't that what it's all about? Kudos to the writers!! Perfect combo with cast and crew. Renew many times over!
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5-16-2006 @ 11:42AM
Christina said...
I agree that what's going on in Charlie's personal life would not have an effect on my decision to watch or not. BUT what I'm so VERY disapointed in is that the show seems to have really gotten so raunchy this season. It was such an EXCELENT funny show to start. I love the sassy house keeper and the son, but think Candy's roll is just too stupid, although she is good looking the whole story line with her and the whole total continue sex theme talking about masturbation and such is getting way out of hand and now bringing a young boy into it, is really lowing the the quality of show it used to be! Why the trend to always go in that direction is beyond me. To bad that such a GREAT show, so funny has lost it's oringal humor and has decided to go into the gutter with their story lines! I'm really so dissapointed this season. Is there any body that agrees?
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5-16-2006 @ 2:04PM
Maria said...
I love the show, I don't work Monday Nights so I can watch it. If I am sad or just need a laugh, I just think about this show. I give it 5 stars.
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5-16-2006 @ 4:22PM
Phill Gillespie said...
Until last night this was a dead cert to be renewed. Then the series finale happened. What happens when you bring back a character that dragged the series down (Mia), steal main plot lines from Seinfeld (The Fake Phone Number) and Frasier (Lilith wants another child) and mix them together with no real laughs and script Charlie *totally* out of character? I think you'll find you get something comparable with the final poor episodes of Frasier. Mid-series if was as if the main producers took a holiday while Mia was introduced and nearly ruined the show. They arrived back suitably tanned and said WTF have you done with our show? Instantly ditched Mia and brought Charlie back to form. Should have ended on a high an episode early...
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5-24-2006 @ 1:17AM
Sue said...
"Two and a Half Men" is THE funniest sitcom on TV! It's pretty close to being the ONLY funny sitcom on TV these days!
BTW, Charlie Sheen plays a CHARACTER on this show, and why are all of you so concerned about his private life?
Get a grip on your own lives; also, learn how to spell!
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5-31-2006 @ 5:25PM
Mike said...
naturally it should be renewed.....it is one of the better written shows on television
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8-02-2006 @ 10:40AM
Dave Hill said...
Its a great show makes me have a chuckle or two..I watch every week
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