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To say that Charlie Sheen’s exit from Chuck Lorre’sTwo and a Half Menwas shocking would be an understatement. Considering the sitcom was built around Sheen’s Charlie Harper, who reportedly scored a whopping $1.8-$2M per episode at his peak, many felt his exclusion would contribute to the sitcom’s premature cancellation after season 8.
Fortunately, instead of canning the sitcom, and in turn, 100s of potential jobs, Lorre opted to take a bold approach with the future seasons by incorporating a brand new lead. Although Lorre wasn’t initially sold on the prospect of bringing in Ashton Kutcher, his stance would swiftly change.
One Meeting with Ashton Kutcher eliminated Chuck Lorre’s doubts
While most reasonably feared that the show was on the verge of cancellation as Charlie Harper was the heart and soul ofTwo and a Half Men,Chuck Lorrewasn’t ready to yield. Instead of folding into the situation, the showrunner was ready to bring in a replacement for the sitcom’s lead role.
Chuck Lorre: “I think it was a writing problem” on the Real Hero Saving ‘The Big Bang Theory’ From Imminent Cancelation
However,Ashton Kutcher, whose Walden would prove to be an immaculate addition opposite to Jon Cryer, wasn’t initially on Lorre’s list, as the showrunner confessed to eyeing a fortysomething peer for Cryer. But his sentiments shifted once he met Kutcher in person, asThe Big Bang Theorycreator expressed that he couldn’t have been more wrong with his assumption (viaTHR).
I was completely convinced that we needed a fourtysomething costar who would be a peer to Jon, It was obvious my assumption was wrong. Here was a guy with great comedy instincts, tons of experience and who is totally fearless. Taking the job proves that.
As the story goes, not only Kutcher’s casting was received well among fans, but this move from Lorre revived the sitcom, which went on to run for an additional four seasons.
Two and a Half Menco-creator was fearful about Ashton Kutcher’s inclusion
Although it didn’t take Lorre long to entertain the idea of Kutcher as the new lead, series co-creator Nick Bakay was initially taken aback byThe Big Bang Theorycreator’s decision, which is understandable given Sheen’s impact. But following Lorre’s stature in the realm of sitcoms, Bakay was cautiously optimistic about this bold approach, adding (viaVariety):
It was a thunderbolt. You know when you’re onto something good, because it scared me. But also, I know Chuck well enough to know all that this meant. I knew everything that was below the waterline of that iceberg. And I knew there was a part of him that was ready to do something to turn that page on a more significant level.
On the flip side, Sheen, who went on to star inAnger ManagementafterTwo and a Half Menfiring, found himself amidst atussle against FX, even though he apparently aimed to make $75-$200M from it.
“Nothing groundbreaking but…”: Chuck Lorre Uses the Same Winning Formula in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage That Worked Wonders for Young Sheldon
Two and a Half Menis available to stream on Max.
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
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Ashton KutcherCharlie SheenChuck Lorre
