Source: CBS Pondering a 'Men' Without Charlie Sheen

By Rob Shuter Posted Feb 23rd 2011 02:50PM

Has CBS finally had enough of Charlie Sheen's wildman ways? You bet they have, and now sources tell me the network is having internal discussions to ponder if his mega-hit show 'Two and a Half Men' can possibly survive without him.

"CBS stock has been taking a beating during Charlie's recent meltdown," a TV insider tells me. "Charlie has become too big a risk to not have a backup plan in case he has another incident and forces production to be shut down."

Every time Charlie ends up in the hospital (or in home rehab), the network takes a hit because production of the show is impacted. According to media buyers, a 30-second spot on 'Men' goes for around $200,000 and generates more than $3 million per episode. That's money CBS doesn't want to lose because of one actor.

Of course, we're not talking about just any actor. This is the star of the show and the most well-payed actor in all of television.

"The big question is can the show survive without Charlie," an insider tells me. "Would the show take a big hit? Yes, but if they found the right person to replace him it would survive and maybe even grow."

CBS declined to comment for this story.

What do you think? Would you watch the show without Charlie? Could it still be No. 1? With Chuck Lorre at the helm, I wouldn't bet against it.

While 'Men' and CBS may not always be there for Charlie, we learned today that his famous father and brother will never waver with their support. In an interview with Sky News, acting legend Martin Sheen and his other son, Emilio Estevez, opened up about how Charlie's struggles have affected their lives and how they're hoping to help him through.

Martin said, "He's an extraordinary man. If he had cancer, how would we treat him? The disease of addiction is a form of cancer, and you have to have an equal measure of concern and love and lift them up, so that's what we do for him."

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Tags: Charlie Sheen, Two and Half Men

Comments

(704)

Wednesday 23 February

By gjb

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Please, you don't choose cancer but you do choose to be an addict(sex, booze, whatever)so don't give me that bunch of C_ _ _ . He is spoiled and is use to everyone being a yes man to him because he is the man with the money. The show would be better without him. I tired of all the sexual innuendos. If it weren't for the other cast memebers there would be no show. I bet even they are tired of him and his behavior. It is obvious HE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE!

By stu

the new charlie=Dennis Leary.
is Rescue Me still on? that show got lousy after season 2.

By Lynn

I doubt anyone chooses to be an addict, but you are right. It is nothing like getting cancer. I think the show has pretty much run its course. The character of Jake can hardly be considered half a man any more, and Charlie is a train wreck. The show was funny, the cast of characters great, but time to put it to bed.

By Susan

Agree. I get sick and tired of those who CHOOSE addiction trying to claim it's a 'disease'. These are just weak-willed, spoiled, self-involved people who can't just say 'no' to booze, drugs, gambling, overspending, cigarettes - whatever harmful habit they've taken up. It's ALL ABOUT THEM, and never about anyone else.

You have to admit the Charlie character has looked like he's been 'rode hard and put up wet' for the last year. It's hard to see him as being attractive to any female character. Guess that's why they have him with so many hookers anymore, paying for his 'fun'. What's improbable, though, is that in real life, a guy who drinks as much as Charlie's character does, could never even have sex often, if at all. I know all about this because I was married to a chain-smoking, gambling addicted alcoholic about 18 yrs ago. He's dead now, but hey, he did it to himself.

Thursday 24 February

By john

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well sounds to me your jerlous of him cause he has money and the show wont last that long if hes not on it period plain and sinmple sure the other actors r great but hes the star

By isoroku

Please get help-my poodle can write better than you.

By Mary

You don't choose addiction, but you can choose sobriety.

By greg

You're absolutely right! I have patients who are terminal with cancer and are fighting for their last breath. Charlie, on the other hand, is boozing it up, coking it up and having threesomes with porn stars and hookers on a daily basis if you believe the reports out there. I have a hard time feeling sorry for someone who is enjoying his activities as much as he seems to be on the video I watched. How much of it is addiction and how much of it is being a guy with too much money who likes orgasms and will pay girls to get it daily?

By Clara

Cancer and addiction isn't the same thing. While it is somewhat fair to ask yourself how you would treat a sick person, because an addict is mentally, physically and spiritually ill, there is a huge difference between cancer and addiction. People that equate the two are simply covering their own enablling behavior. Get to Alanon, Martin.

By nanjo

you are an idiot. if you had a clue about life you would know that addiction is not chosen. I would never choose it yet I am one and although I am clean today it wasn't easy. and hey if you don't like the man so much what the hell are you doing watching his show.. go crawl back under your rock.

Plus I know someone that knows Charlie and said he is doing well. this is just a filler article by someone who had to write something.

By jbrock

there would be NO SHOW without him.

By joe

your wrong...w/out charlie the show will die

By bdyftns

The show would be worthless without Charlie Sheen. What he does with his private life doesn't concern me....or any other actors, athletes etc. Your parents should be your role models, not actors.

By STAR

I would love to hear they gave him the ax.
I would start watcheing again.
Just hope whoever replaces him is not another "type cast" personality. I bet his co-workers would love the change too.

By MaggieMae

I stopped watching it years ago... to treat a woman like a dog is disgusting!!

By Charlie

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No one chooses to be an addict.

By rich

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I agree you do not chose cancer. However Addiction is a disease and you do not choose to have it as well. Once caught up it is very powerful, hard to stay clean and sober. The choice is do you want to work to stay healthy. apparently it is too easy for him to slide back, having no consequence. Now if he is dropped well that will be a major bottom for him. Maybe then he will have the desire to work at it. It is not a choice though, and it is not cureable, only treatable. You have a better chance at cureing cancer than addiction.

By wb7ptr

I can imagine what it would be like to work on set with that guy! Sounds like Charlie needs to grow up a bit. I don't care if he's a superstar ... still needs to grow up. Him, and several others I could name if I felt like it ...

By Robert Cape

I'm afraid Charlie has already made this decision. He sits there, on screen, looking like a dying man, trying to mouth his lines. The scripts are starting to repeat years-ago themes, and the bimbos look like they're afraid to touch him.. can you blame them? The guy looks like a walking-dead disease ad.
Let it go, put the energy, or even the characters into a new show. Two-and-a-half is history.

By clairelisa617

Yes, I think TV has to replace Charlie, I wouldn`t want my child looking up to him as a role model,shame on him, how many times now???? Grow up, or move on....I can`t believe they took him back after the last time...His kids will have nothing to brag about the bad doesn`t make up for the little good he`s done.....

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