Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn. The series ran on CBS from September 22, 2003, to February 19, 2015, lasting for twelve seasons.
The show originally followed the life of Charlie Harper, played by Charlie Sheen, a hedonistic jingle writer who lives in a beach house in Malibu, California. After his brother Alan moves in with him following his divorce, Charlie's life is turned upside down. Alan's young son, Jake, also lives with them. The show was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the most-watched sitcoms in the United States. It was nominated for 10 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning one for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2005.
Two and a Half Men was also controversial, due to Sheen's erratic behavior and his public feud with Lorre. Sheen was eventually fired from the show in 2011, and Ashton Kutcher was brought in to replace him. The show continued for three more seasons with Kutcher as the lead. While a lot has been documented about those events, not a lot is known about Kutcher's relationship with the controversial Sheen.
Here's everything to know about their naturally peculiar relationship...
Why Was Charlie Sheen Fired From Two And A Half Men?
According to Screen Rant, Charlie Sheen was fired from Two and a Half Men in 2011 after a series of erratic behavior and public feuds with the show's creator, Chuck Lorre.
The problems began in January 2011, when Sheen went on a radio show and made a series of controversial statements, including calling Lorre a "stupid, evil, [expletive]" and saying that he was "winning" in his battle with the show's producers.
Sheen's behavior continued to deteriorate, and he was eventually suspended from the show in March 2011. At the time, Sheen's representatives said that he was "taking a leave of absence to seek [his] health."
However, Sheen's leave of absence quickly turned into a full-blown feud with Lorre. Sheen made more controversial statements. He also threatened to quit the show and start his own competing show a little while before his suspension.
In May 2011, CBS and Warner Bros. Television announced that they were firing Sheen from Two and a Half Men. The network said that Sheen's behavior had become "unacceptable" and that he was "no longer able to deliver the show's creative vision."
Sheen responded by suing CBS and Warner Bros. for $100 million, claiming that he was wrongfully terminated. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, with Sheen reportedly receiving $25 million.
Ashton Kutcher was brought in to replace Sheen on Two and a Half Men, and the show continued for three more seasons. However, it never regained the same level of popularity that it had with Sheen in the lead.
Sheen's firing from Two and a Half Men was a major media event, and it was widely covered by the news media. The incident also sparked a debate about the nature of celebrity and the power of the entertainment industry.
Sheen's behavior was certainly erratic and sometimes offensive, but it is also worth noting that he was struggling with addiction at the time. He has since entered rehab and seems to be doing better.
Whatever the reasons for his firing, Charlie Sheen's departure from Two and a Half Men was a major turning point in his career. It remains to be seen whether he will ever be able to regain the same level of success that he had before.
How Much Money Did Ashton Kutcher Make From Starring in Two And A Half Men?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kutcher made a reported $700,000 per episode for his role as Walden Schmidt on Two and a Half Men. This means that he earned over $18 million per season for the three seasons he starred on the show.
Kutcher's salary was significantly higher than Charlie Sheen's, who reportedly made $1.8 million per episode before his firing in 2011. This was due to a number of factors, including Kutcher's rising star power and the fact that he was brought in to replace Sheen, who was one of the highest-paid actors on television at the time.
Kutcher's salary also reflected the fact that Two and a Half Men was one of the most popular sitcoms on television at the time. The show was consistently one of the top-rated shows on CBS, and it was generating billions of dollars in advertising revenue for the network.
How Does Ashton Kutcher Feel About Charlie Sheen's Scandals?
While their relationship may be odd, things aren't all bad between the two A-list actors.
Ashton Kutcher once said in an interview with E! that he does not judge Charlie Sheen for his past scandals and antics. He has said that he believes that Sheen is a "good person" who is "going through a tough time."
Kutcher has also said that he is not friends with Sheen, but that he respects him as an actor. He has said that he believes that Sheen is a "talented" actor who is "capable of great things."
In an interview with Howard Stern, Kutcher said that he was "surprised" by Sheen's behavior during the time leading up to his firing from Two and a Half Men. He said that he did not understand why Sheen was "acting out" the way he was, but that at the end of the day, it really wasn't his business. However, Kutcher said that he has since come to understand that Sheen was going through a lot at the time.
In the meantime, Kutcher has said that he is focused on his own career and that he is not looking to get involved in Sheen's personal life. He has said that he is "wishing Charlie the best" and that he hopes that he is "able to get his life back on track."
