Charlie Sheen Fired From 'Two And A Half Men'

[Travicity]

It's over for Charlie Sheen on the hit CBS comedy Two and a Half Men. The series producer Warner Bros. TV just released the following statement: "After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen’s services on Two and a Half Men effective immediately."

Just like the studio did with its previous statement announcing the cancellation of Two and a Half Men for the rest of this season, Warner Bros. TV stopped short of announcing the end of the series, meaning that continuing the sitcom with a new actor next season is a possibility. Two and a Half Men has one more season under a multi-year pickup at CBS. There has been a lot of speculation about CBS and Warner Bros. TV putting together a wish list of actors to potentially succeed Sheen on the show, with names like John Stamos and Rob Lowe bandied about.

Sheen's termination by Warner Bros. TV follows a relentless media blitz by the Two and a Half Men star who has been taking numerous swipes at CBS, Warner Bros. and the show's co-creator executive producer Chuck Lorre over the past 2 weeks. He also launched a Web-based series, Sheen's Korner, and is in talks with Mark Cuban's HDNet for unscripted/talk show projects.

Today's decision is sure to fuel a new legal war between Sheen and Warner Bros. In preparation, the studio last week hired top attorneys Ron Olson and John Spiegel. Sheen's litigation lawyer, Marty Singer, last Monday fired a letter to the studio demanding that Sheen is paid in full for the 8 unproduced episodes of the show's current eighth season but so far, the actor had refrained from launching a full-blown lawsuit against Warner Bros.

Now Sheen seems determined to take the legal fight to the next level. In his vintage colorful style of bizarre imagery, he reacted to the firing with a statement to TMZ: "This is very good news. They continue to be in breach, like so many whales. It is a big day of gladness at the Sober Valley Lodge because now I can take all of the bazillions, never have to look at whatshiscock again and I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension."

This is a sad end to one of the most successful sitcom runs for an actor. For the past (almost) eight seasons on Two and a Half Men, Sheen reinvigorated his career, amassing a fortune along the way. Under his most recent contract for the show, he commanded $1.5 million-$2 million an episode.

As for trying to replace Sheen, it is a tricky proposition. While it has been done successfully on a workplace show, including Sheen's stint on ABC's Spin City after the departure of Michael J. Fox, switching lead actors on a family sitcom is much trickier. Let's face it, in real life co-workers come and go but family members don't get replaced. ABC tried to continue 8 Simple Rules after star John Ritter died but that proved impossible.

Ironically, Two and a Half Men exists because of Sheen. The project only made it to pilot because Sheen agreed to do it - CBS boss Leslie Moonves had made the pilot order contingent on Sheen, so the comedy wouldn't have proceeded beyond a script without the actor.

DL

[Swinny]

Yeah, no surprises here. Although I do like Two and a Half Men, I don't think they should continue it without him, it wouldn't work.

[The Mac]

i think warner brothers will eventually cave when they realize how stupid two and a half men is witout him and give him tons of cash to come back






Charlie Sheen will sue Chuck Lorre and Warner Bros ... TMZ has learned.


Charlie's lawyer, Marty Singer, tells TMZ, he believes Lorre is behind the move to fire him from "Two and a Half Men" and that Lorre has interfered with Charlie's contract.

Singer doesn't buy Warner Bros. explanation that Charlie committed moral turpitude by admitting to drug use. Singer says when Charlie was going to plead guilty to a felony last year over the domestic violence incident in Aspen, Warner Bros. was not only ok with it, they renegotiated Charlie's contract.

Singer claims the real reason Warner Bros. gave Charlie the boot is because he insulted Lorre, and that's not reason to fire him.

And, Singer says, Charlie isn't the first star who couldn't co-exist with Lorre. Roseanne Barr and Brett Butler also couldn't work with Chuck. On the other side of the coin, Lorre is the most successful producer in TV currently, with three hit shows on the air -- "Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Mike and Molly."

[Kellie]

About damn time .. they cant give in, if they did this guy is never going to learn, he thinks he is invincible and can do what he likes, people like him and Lindsay Lohan need to be taught that they cant

[Kenpachi Zaraki]