Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Good Riddance: Warner Bros. Finally Cuts Off Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen, whose illogical rantings have won him legions of followers on Twitter (and caused millions more to simply wonder), was fired today by the producers of his hit CBS (CBS) TV show Two and a Half Men. This is hardly a shock.

Sheen's behavior has been both odd and frightening, especially to women. Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner (TWX) finally had enough of Sheen's antics. The producers figured that the show's star -- who was reportedly paid nearly $2 million an episode --- was no longer worth the considerable trouble he created. Still, the move is a financial risk.

Broadcasting & Cable estimates that the studio would lose $80 million if it ends the show right now. It's not clear whether that's going to happen since John Stamos reportedly was in talks to join the cast.. The Hollywood Reporter recently wrote that a permanent shutdown of the sitcom "could jeopardize as much as $250 million in domestic syndication revenue for producer Warner Bros. Television and millions more in lost ad revenue for CBS."

"Dangerously Self-Destructive"

But Two and a Half Men was losing gas anyway. Other CBS sitcoms such as Mike and Molly and Big Bang Theory are flat out funnier. Plus, viewers began to realize that it wasn't clear any longer where Sheen ended and his character Charlie Harper began. As TMZ reported, Warner Bros. told Sheen's lawyers that "Your client has been engaged in dangerously self-destructive conduct and appears to be very ill."

The media now will be counting the days -- make that years -- it will take for Sheen to blow through all his money. Judging from his latest interviews, Sheen doesn't appear to be much of a saver. Also, check out the statement he gave to TMZ, which may be his nuttiest yet:

Let's hope Sheen's family can get him the help he needs.

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