Director James Widdoes, a Pittsburgh native, still hopeful about 'Two and a Half Men'
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James Widdoes: "It's been a particularly interesting 24 hours." -
Charlie Sheen, shown here at right in 2005, had some unkind words on Thursday for Chuck Lorre, executive producer of "Two and a Half Men." Warner Bros. and CBS have since announced production of the show has been discontinued for the remainder of the season.
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After Charlie Sheen spent Thursday making a string of nasty and nastier remarks, CBS and Warner Bros. pulled the plug on this season's remaining episodes of his hit sitcom, "Two and a Half Men," which was expected to resume production Monday.
"Men" has been on hiatus for a month following concern over Mr. Sheen's health after reported drug binges and parties with porn stars. He reportedly was receiving at-home rehabilitation.
On Thursday Mr. Sheen called a fringe radio show, claiming he was ready to work and assailing the show's executive producer, Chuck Lorre, who recently wrote on an end-of-show vanity card: "If Charlie Sheen outlives me, I'm gonna be really pissed." Initially, Mr. Sheen seemed to appreciate the gallows humor, but he turned angry in Thursday's comments.
"I didn't care about that vanity card. I went straight home and dispelled that. That was actually one of the few compliments that clown has paid me in frickin' almost a decade," Mr. Sheen said, before turning the topic to his own rehabilitation. "I embarrassed him in front of his children and the world by healing at a pace that his un-evolved mind cannot process. I've spent, I think, close to the last decade, I don't know, effortlessly and magically converting your tin cans into pure gold. And the gratitude I get is this charlatan chose not to do his job, which is to write."
Later in a call to TMZ.com, Mr. Sheen reportedly said, "I violently hate Chaim Levine." Mr. Lorre's real name is Charles Levine. Some, including the Anti-Defamation League, viewed Mr. Sheen's use of the Hebrew name for Charles as borderline anti-Semitic, a charge Mr. Sheen denied in a subsequent call to TMZ on Friday. "He's a stupid, stupid little man and a [expletive] punk that I'd never want to be like. ... That's me being polite."
Warner Bros. produces "Men" for CBS to broadcast, and the two companies released a joint statement late Thursday: "Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of 'Two and a Half Men' for the remainder of the season."
"It's been a particularly interesting 24 hours," said Squirrel Hill native James Widdoes, the director of "Two and a Half Men," in a phone interview Friday morning. "This is a game-changer."
First Published February 26, 2011 12:00 am
