Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Charlie Sheen Loses on 'Two and a Half Men,' Wins with Sitcom Deal (BLOG)

COMMENTARY | Charlie Sheen, an actor whose off-screen antics have proved to be even more entertaining than his onscreen roles, has proved that one can both lose and win when it comes to playingthe Hollywood game.

The producers of "Two and a Half Men," a show that Sheen was unceremoniously fired from several months ago, have hit upon a story line that will explain why Sheen's character, Charlie Harper, is no longer going to be with us.

He is going to die messily. According to TMZ, "Two and a Half Men" show runner Chuck Lorre, with whom Sheen has publicly feuded, hit upon the death story in order to make sure that Sheen never returns to the show. Scenarios are being kicked around, but one that seems promising will have Charlie Harper drive his car over a cliff. Apparently Sheen has accomplished this feat twice, both times surviving.

No doubt Lorre, who has been the object of vicious attacks by Sheen, will derive some satisfaction with this bit of vicarious revenge.

In the meantime, Sheen need not worry about the loss of income from getting the royal order of the boot from "Two and a Half Men" entails. According to Radar Online, Sheen has signed a deal withLionsgate Productions to develop and star in a new sitcom. The character will be similar to the one he played on "Two and a Half Men," only "racier." Already a number of cable networks, including TBS, are bidding for the rights to air the show.

The deal Sheen negotiated is interesting. He will make less than the $2 million per episode he made on "Two and a Half Men." However, Sheen has a much more generous back end deal that in the long run would be more lucrative.

This means that Lionsgate and whichever network chooses to air the show would not be out as much money if the show flops or Sheen has one of his famous real life episodes involving drugs and porn stars. The deal provides at least a little incentive for Sheen to behave. If he can manage it, perhaps he will wind up "winning" after all.

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