Who Could Replace Charlie Sheen on 'Two and a Half Men'?
Everyone and their mother has been auditioning in jest to be the replacement Charlie Harper on 'Two and a Half Men' now that
Charlie Sheen has
officially been axed from the show. Replacing a beloved character is tricky business, though. Some shows fail miserably. We are indeed talking about the time 'Roseanne' replaced one blonde actress with another back in 1993 and simply expected no one to notice. But other replacements add value to the show. While Michael J. Fox was certainly missed from the cast of 'Spin City' when he left that show to spend more time with his family, Sheen of all people proved to be an excellent substitute.
Now we don't expect Warner Brothers to try to pull the wool over our eyes and simply create a new Charlie Parker out of whiskey and pixie dust and pretend nothing happened (although we hear Matt Dillon is available). But if the show continues someone will need to step in to bolster the one and a half remaining men. Who could possibly be up for the job?
1. Rob Lowe - He seems to be the money shot for 'Men' producer Chuck Lorre, who has reportedly already taken meetings with the actor. We love Rob. But we don't know if he is just right. Sure, he has a bad boy past, but it is so in the past that it is practically buried. The role requires someone just a little bit grittier, naughtier and we'll just say it, less pretty. No one wants to see Cryer and that kid's mugs next to someone so chiseled and pristine as Rob Lowe -- except for Sheen himself, who gives the actor his endorsement. "Rob's an old friend and a brilliant actor. And he's a beautiful man," Sheen told
PEOPLE.
2. Andrew McCarthy or Judd Nelson - Is it unfair to lump these two together? Not at all. "If producers are looking for casting ideas to fill the gaping Sheenless hole of 'Two and Half Men,' they need to look no further than 'Pretty in Pink' -- the movie that made Sheen's co-star, John Cryer, beloved by all teenage girls in the '80s," says
Yahoo Shine's Piper Weiss. "It should so obviously be Andrew McCarthy. If producers haven't approached Duckie's former nemesis they're not doing their job. Andrew could channel his 'Weekend at Bernie's' persona, the laid back type, that perpetually aggravates the straight Jon (be it Silverman or Cryer)." If McCarthy isn't available, we think his brat pack counterpart Judd Nelson could fill Sheen's shoes. "Nelson would be quite believable as a bloated, past-his-prime lothario," says
Crushable Editor-in-Chief Lilit Marcus.
3. Andy Dick - Yeah, that's right, Andy Dick. Because who's crazier than Charlie Sheen? Andy Dick is. "AD was just caught having sex in a bathroom and then seen doing blow in his car, so I think he can continue the 'bad boy' tradition," says radio host Cooper Lawrence. "Plus he's really funny."
4. Emilio Estevez - Crazier things have happened. "Charlie Sheen's career got a huge pump of adrenaline with 'Two and a Half Men,' and it's only fair that Emilio should get a shot, too," says Ronnie Karam, senior editor at
TVGasm.com. "If he's too unstable, Scott Baio could do it, too. Charles has been waiting to be back in charge."
5. Heather Locklear - When all else fails you can't go wrong with a blonde. She was ratings gold for 'Spin City' and 'Melrose Place,' old and new. She could definitely pull off a long lost cousin on 'Men.' "I might even start watching if that happened,"
HollywoodLife.com Senior Editor Chris Spargo told us. "Plus hiring a woman might be a pretty smart PR move for CBS and Warner Bros."
See fans suggest who could be the next Charlie Sheen -- both on 'Two and a Half Men' and in the headlines:
A Slumping Mad Men Heads to Its Season Finale
Who Should Play Christian & Anastasia In 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'?
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And the girl who played Chelsea, Charlie's girlfriend, also played a mom at the doctor's office and as a girlfriend Charlie dumped on the episode where he found out a website was made about him and he went apologizing to all girlfriends he hurt. Apparently that girl must be sleeping with someone because she didn't give up until she got a bigger part!
And Heather Locklear was Alans lawyer.
I give Judd Nelson my vote as a replacement. He's a cool, dry witted bad boy who would do just fine. On the other hand, Heahter Locklear would give it an awesome new flair so viewers aren't expecting the same show only to be dissappointed.
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Have the Charlie Sheen character be in am accident that would need facial restructuring and bring in John Stamos to fill the shoes of Charlie Sheen. Stamos is better looking of course, and of the same physical structure as Sheen.
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Recasting would show Old Charlie that he's replaceable, but if you do that, you better get the right person or it could blow up in your collective faces. I've never seen Two and a Half Men, but from what I've heard and read about it, Andrew McCarthy might be a helluva good fit.
But also, as this article points out, Heather Locklear has saved at least a couple other shows from plummeting ratings/cancellation, and a sleezy blonde female version of Sheen's character might just wake this production up.
Just my nickel's worth...
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Sory guys, it won't work. No Charlie Sheen, no Two and a Half Men, that is all she wrote!
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Anyone notice the author said Charlie Parker? It's Charlie Harper!! Who edits these things anyway!?
Now we don't expect Warner Brothers to try to pull the wool over our eyes and simply create a new Charlie Parker out of whiskey and pixie dust and pretend nothing happened (although we hear Matt Dillon is available).
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I saw that...what a maroon!
Anyway, what they need to do if he's really actually fired for good is have his funeral. At the funeral his illegitimate son appears screwing Alan out of getting the beach house and all of Charlie's worldly goods.
The funeral episode could have all the women and actors that have done cameo scenes over the years to help bolster the ratings and boom another season is off and running!
Now, just need to find a twenty something good looking bad boy to play Charlie jr.
I know how lame!!!!!
I could see Matt Dillon, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe and a few others moving in. Emilio...um...no. And if they put in a female (don't care who), I'm done. Heather Locklear should stay away...from any TV show.
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Let me guess, you're a jealous woman. No Heather Locklear, why not? She's tv gold.
I LOVE CHARLIE SHEEN BUT HE RUINED IT FOR HIMSELF WHOEVER IS CHOSEN I WILL STILL WATCH THE SHOW UNTIL THE END I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL STILL TUNE IN NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY AS LONG AS HIS REPLACEMENT CAN PLAY CHARLIE ROLE I THINK JOHN STAMOS IS THE ONE.
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i have never liked the show to begin with so i say just take it off the air and give us a breath of fresh air with a new fresh idea......if tv executives have any....
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I never liked the show either, because of Charlie Sheen. It always seemed like he was high on something. I only watched it a few times when it was first introduced. I think John Cryer could do a good job. IU
rob lowe is always sent in as the calvary - and is always the best choice .
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My vote is for Judd Nelson and if he's not available how about Stephen Baldwin.
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Now there you go.....Awesome choice!! Way to go!!!
like the scenerio joan , but how to explain the muscles after operation - need a less buff actor here ya' think -
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I FEEL ROBERT DOWNY JR COULD TOTALLY PULL THAT ROLL.................
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I would love to see Robert Downey Jr. on this show. He'd be a great addition. He can do witty, charming, and is so easy on the eyes. Also I like the suggestion of John Stamos, or Rob Lowe. All good choices.