If you're tired of hearing anything that remotely relates to the words "Charlie" and "Sheen," don't worry. The focus of this article is to examine the fate of Two and a Half Men, the show from which Charlie Sheen was fired earlier this month because of his ridiculous and highly-publicized antics. Now the show must deal with replacing a major star after eight seasons, similar to the situation The Office now faces with Steve Carell's departure. Rumors about a replacement for Sheen have begun to circulate, with John Stamos or Rob Lowe being considered to fill the role, although the network has yet to officially comment on the show's future.
Two and a Half Men originally aired in 2003 on CBS. It follows the life of Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), a middle-aged bachelor whose character is likely based on Sheen's own personal life. Charlie's carefree lifestyle changes when his brother, Alan (John Cryer), and his son, Jake (Angus T. Jones), move in after Alan's divorce. The show quickly developed a broad audience, and is now one of the highest grossing shows on television. Sheen, meanwhile, was the highest paid actor on television, earning $1.8 million per episode. Since the show already has aired for eight seasons - a relatively long life for a network show - some wonder if it's even worth continuing without Sheen. But because of the show's large audience and its appeal to most age groups, it is possible that the show will be able to successfully continue in the wake of Sheen's absence.
Not all shows recover from losing a main cast member. After Mischa Barton's decision to leave The O.C., a decision that resulted in her character's death, the show suffered from low ratings and was canceled only one season later. Following the death of John Ritter, 8 Simple Rules never was able to recover from the loss of such an integral character.
Yet Two and a Half Men's large audience likely will work to its advantage, with a less concentrated and very broad fan base. Shows with large audiences in the past successfully have been able to move on after losing a big star. Take ER, for example. George Clooney left the main cast after five seasons, and the show was able to maintain a 15-year run with the introduction of new and appealing characters. Sheen himself is no stranger when it comes to stepping in as the new star. He successfully filled the role of Michael J. Fox in Spin City after Fox's departure.
How Two and a Half Men will explain Sheen's absence from the show and how his role will be filled will play a vital role in the show's future success. Whether his absence never is mentioned again or becomes a part of the storyline, it will change the show's dynamic. Introducing a new character with as much appeal and introducing a new storyline will continue to attract viewers. With this in mind, Two and a Half Men may just be able to continue "winning" without Sheen.
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