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 pianoann97

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The important characters are Allen, Allen's mother, Allen's ex-wife, and her husband. I record the show and zip through the parts with Charlie and the grown "half" man.

Friday 25 February

By bond

YOU must be A GAY person Allen is a dork HE lives off CHARLIE HE never trys to get out on his own Jake IS saying THANK GOD IM NOT A REAL SON TO THE DORKY allen IF CHARLIE GOES so does the whole show

By Kenny

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Dump Sheen and let him descend into a life of booze, drugs, bad women, and some disease that makes his private parts grow 3 fold.

Jersey

By Debz

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I love the show W/WO Charlie. I can also speak for the rest of my family and know that they too will continue to watch too.

By debbie

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I truly wish nothing but the best for Charlie Sheen, but I've never seen him as the draw for watching Two and a Half Men. For me the characters of Alan, Jake, Mom and Berta are the show. They are the funniest. I saw an interview where Charlie's agent/manager said that Charlie was probably the best actor on the planet. I don't know what that guy was talking about. I don't think Sheen is acting at all, just being himself.

By Jay Love

I can happily say that I have never seen even ONE FULL episode of this crappy show with that awful actor Sheen!! think about it for one minute, can Charlie Sheen even act whether in T.V. or for movies and still be a viable character actor? I don't think so, he is old, used up with drugs and alcohol, and he never was that great an actor before, just young and cute, which he sure is not anymore? the show is done, stick a fork in it and turn it!!

By Joel

Those who say people "Choose" addiction know nothing of addiction - and probably nothing of choice.

By Chris

Your absolutely right but don't waste your time trying to educate the ignorant or medically unqualified to even locate the bodies organs let alone teach about gene types and chromosomes. Just for the record "genes" are not what you put on to mow you lawn. Charlie goes-shows done nothing to talk about any further.

Thursday 24 February

By Clara

That isn't true. You can choose to continue using or you can choose to be sober. Decide.

By Harbo

There is no show without Charlie. He's the reason we all watch it. For better or for worse, Charlie IS the show.

By pat

I think they could make Jake more grown up and Alan is funny. Berta and the mother are also funny,then give Rose more time on camra She is also funny. But I think without Charle some where in the Show it wont last long.

By cori

i love the show, all the characters is what makes the show. the writers and producers need to look at themselves as to how they have portrayed the character of charlie. life imitating art? maybe? as long as charlie can do the job why get rid of him. he is trying in his personal life which you have to give him kuddos. i am a parent and i would stick with my child no matter what so kuddos to his family. i hope charlie fixes his problems, and has a good recovery. but do not get rid of his character he is the show

By Enough Already

Put the show to rest and move on.

By Bucky the Horse

One word:

AfterMASH

By BarbF

I enjoyed the early 2 1/2 Men Shows but feel that since the show seems to mirror Sheen's life or vice-versa, it gives us an insight as to what we are really laughing at. I don't think he should be replaced but go on without him and keep the current cast in place. There are lessons to be learned from what has happened in his life and others on the Hollywood scene and we should not glamorize them. The remaining cast can remain as entertaining and maybe even more entertaining than in the past when they had to work around Charlie.

By tracy

I have watched it since it came on tv. The funniest show I have ever seen. Is Charlie Sheen a role model, absolutely not. I don't think he signed on to be one. Its high time we in the USA stop making these actors, actresses and singers role models. They are entertainers, that is their job. Two and a Half Men is entertaining. He has made no apologies for the way he chooses to live his life. Will we read about him in the obits someday. Probably. Write it into the show and go down the road.

By patsy berry

Love the other characters but there would still be no show without Charlie.I wouldn't watch.

By douglasaearl

I give it 1/2 a season if they try to replace him. The show works because it is him. Plain and simple.

By Pat4Him

Yes, the show can survive with the right guy in Charlie's role, and yes, I would still watch it. In fact, listening to Sheen, as Charlie Harper, talk about drinking & prostitutes is not so funny anymore. So the show would probably be better with someone else in the role.

By big george

Maybe Charlie's house could burn down as a result of a drunken orgy (there's a reach), and the 1 1/2 men could move in with their psycho cousin, played by me. I'd work a lot cheaper than Charlie, and I neither drink and do drugs, nor partake in orgies. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have a plethora of sarcastic answers/responses, and what is Charlie but a pretty face with a bad attitude. Well, I may not have the pretty face, but my attitude will MORE than make up for it. If you don't believe me, ask my mother-in-law.

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