This weekend, I sat down with my popcorn, drink and Two and a Half Men: The Complete Eighth Season, even though I was still disheartened over the recent decisions in the Charlie Sheen/Chuck Lorre sitcom battle. Apparently, two of the greatest giants of sitcom television bucked heads (and egos) and someone had to win. But who won? Was it Charlie Sheen? Chuck Lorre? Apparently, it wasn't the audience because Sheen's bad-boy portrayal of the misguided Charlie Harper can never be duplicated. And even the greatest writer can't breathe life into a show whose death was publically broadcast on all major networks. Hopefully, Sheen has proven his popularity through Two and a Half Men's unparalleled runaway hit, and it is my hope that he will find something of an even greater success in the near future.
I was one of the show's greatest fans. I thought the cast was brilliant, and thought the show's star, Charlie Sheen, was stellar. But when a star falls -- there's not enough power to keep the aura aglow. In my opinion, charming as he is, Ashton Kutcher will never replace Charlie Sheen. If the last episodes of Season Eight are any indication of what's in the offing -- it's a bleak cry screaming in the night. Although professionally acted, Sheen's tension was apparent in these last episodes and its chemistry was completely misaligned. More focus was placed on Charlie's brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), and he just cannot pull it off by himself ... you know, he gets into that nervous twitter.
Maybe Lorre doesn't like it, but Sheen was paid $1.2 million an episode because he was the star that kept them ALL in orbit and the demise of his character will probably be remembered throughout TV history as one of the most costly sitcom faux pas decisions ever made. Sort of like "cutting off your nose to spite your face," and killing the show completely, regardless of the vain efforts to keep it alive. Sometimes the formulas just don't work, guys, when you destroy the energy source.
I do believe that Two and a Half Men: The Complete Eighth Season's episodes peaked more than usual into the perverse with righteous Alan extorting money from family and friends, Charlie's sexual adventures delving beyond normal curiosity, and Jake's stupid Jackass-esque stunts to attract potential video advertisers. Perhaps the whole ballgame has gone out of the ballpark. Maybe for the morality and safety of the TV viewing audience, its failing could, by some moralists, be considered a good thing.
"Goodby Charlie." It was not only a nice run ... but a great run! I'll miss the show more than ever, (because you are the show), but its comforting to know that I can always revisit the exhilarating experience with my set of DVD's -- unless -- Charlie Sheen can be coaxed into returning to the show for maybe another eight seasons?
