CBS and Warner Bros Television, pressed by a deadline to keep TV's most popular sitcom alive after it was derailed by Charlie Sheen's personal troubles, has announced that Ashton Kutcher would replace him in Two And A Half Men.
The show resumes production this summer and will be on CBS’ autumn schedule, with Kutcher playing a new character, not Sheen’s Charlie Harper.
The deal apparently came together quickly, following reports earlier this week that negotiations with actor Hugh Grant to join the show had fallen through.
Kutcher is familiar to television audiences through his role on Fox's That 70s Show, film roles like the romantic comedy No Strings Attached and for producing and hosting the prank show Punk'd.
A deadline on deciding whether the show would continue was looming, with CBS set to unveil its autumn schedule to advertisers in New York next Wednesday.
Kutcher is not as well known as Sheen but is 12 years younger and has a huge following of fans who check in on his every utterance on Twitter.
He said he believed that “we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers’ homes”.
“I can’t replace Charlie Sheen but I’m going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people.”
Kutcher’s quote was the only mention of Sheen in last night’s news release.
Warner cut short the show’s eighth season and sacked Sheen two months ago following his public implosion through hard partying and angry criticism of show creator Chuck Lorre.
“We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family,” said Mr Lorre, also the show’s executive producer.
“Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together. If I was any happier, it’d be illegal.”
Neither Mr Lorre or CBS executives made themselves available to address what sort of character Kutcher would play or how he would be integrated into a show where Sheen’s character was the comic centre, portraying an advertising jingle writer with a playboy lifestyle not unlike the actor’s own.
Jon Cryer portrays Sheen’s brother, and Angus T Jones plays Cryer’s son.
Sheen (45) offered his replacement a backhanded welcome.
“Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer ... Oh, wait, so am I,” he said.
“Enjoy the show, America. Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB.”
Sheen used TV lingo to predict failure for the revamped Two And A Half Men. He referred to a 2.0 Nielsen Co rating among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic that advertisers often seek. This season Two And A Half Men averaged a 4.1 rating in that group.
Sheen, in his statement, advised Kutcher to “enjoy planet Chuck ... There is no air, laughter, loyalty or love there”, in a reference to his feud with Mr Lorre.