In the wake of CBS deciding to suspend production on the hit television show Two and a Half Men because of the erratic behavior of its star, Charlie Sheen, there are a lot of people taking shots at the troubled actor.
This isn't helped by the fact that Sheen seems to show absolutely no remorse for his behavior, and even went on a radio show to blast CBS and the producer of his show for using him to make money and then disposing of him.
I certainly don't defend Sheen's behavior, but I think it's important to point out that the network and the producers are, in fact, to blame here as well--the same way enablers contribute to addiction, these people contributed to the monster that has become Charlie Sheen.
It's understandable to keep a show going after the first or second incident of violence, drug abuse, felonies, and/or overall poor behavior, but CBS has backed Sheen for far too long, and I have a feeling he isn't far off when he says it's about how much money the network was making on him.
Rather than replace him with another actor, CBS did polls to see if people cared that Sheen was destroying his life and making the lives of the people he works with a living nightmare. The response? Nobody cared.
That's right. The audience for Two and a Half Men were perfectly content with watching a violent criminal make jokes every week so they could get a half hour of what most would consider poorly written and badly acted television. It doesn't surprise me. The show is the televised equivalent of fast food. The people who watch it don't want to think about Sheen's indiscretions. They just want to hear a few lousy punchlines and then go to bed.
Well, shame on them too. Don't those people have children? Don't they realize that we've created a celebrity culture without repercussions? What does that say to the next generation? Become famous, or rich, or powerful and you can do whatever you want?
How many of us would have made it to the fifth or sixth transgression before we'd lose our job? CBS has played the "kind and compassionate" boss for years now, but the fact of the matter is, Sheen's cons finally outweighed his pros, and at this point, they're probably thinking they can swap him out for another actor.
It might seem like arrogance that Sheen has said the show won't survive without him, but what other message would you get from the fact that not only have they not fired him, but they've actually given him raises.
I won't say I feel bad for Sheen, because I don't. It's hard to feel bad for someone who is worth more money even without a job than I'll ever be worth in my entire life, but I refuse to keep one finger pointed squarely at him.
Nowhere but in the entertainment industry would this sort of behavior be tolerated. Maybe we should be less focused on Charlie Sheen, and worry more about the fact that we all knew what was going on, and some of us chose to sit back on our couches and enjoy the show.
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Kaleb Blake
John S
Ben Russell
Preston Lawhorne
Sam Maggee
Max the Communist
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If you actually read my post, you'd see that I didn't say Sheen should be absolved of blame. I think anyone who watches that show should be ashamed because it's poorly written and badly acted, but in addition to that, you've been watching and giggling at the antics of a drug addict.
I've been watching the downward spiral that is Charlie Sheen's life for what seems like forever. Such much enabling from all the sycophants that surround him....all with their hands out. Loved the "Hot Shots" movies and a few other pieces but I think it is time for" 1 and 1/2 men. " If he can't pick his ungrateful ass up off the floor then he needs to stay there until he sees that he too is fallible and that he can easily be replaced.
Perhaps he and Lindsay can team up on a sitcom?
anyway this is a balanced view. ratd.
The assumption of this twaddle is that Sheen - and by extension other celebrities - are above the law. Tell that to Robert Downey, Jr., who spent two years in state prison for possession for use. Better yet, tell it to Lindsay Lohan, who is about to do hard time for having stolen merchandise in her possession, which is to say shoplifting. Or lets go back a few years and imagine what John Landis might have to say about it, given that he came a whisker away from landing in state prison for a couple of decades on a negligent homicide rap when someone died on his set, meaning he wasn't even directly involved. Or perhaps you could ask L'il Kim or any one of a number of rappers - some of them now dead - who have done time. No, I'm sorry, that argument just doesn't fly.
As to Sheen's alleged drug and alcohol addiction, I would say that it's none of anyone's business until such time as he seriously breaks the law and/or begins to *actually* fail to do his job - precisely as it would be for any of us "average" folks. This move by CBS strikes me as typically authoritarian and bizarre, something that Sheen doubtless saw coming, hence his outburst on Jones's radio show.
My point? This whole thing smells to high heaven like a set-up. I don't doubt that Sheen is "difficult"; most stars are, no matter what they say or you hear to the contrary. If that makes him unemployable, get ready for darkened theatres and blank TV screens, kids. In the meantime, grow the hell up.
While you say entertainment is allowed to run rampant I see a lot of authoritarianism in the world today. Why do actors have to be ordered by courts to get help with problems and how does that affect the treatment?
In Florida they have a rehabilitation program in prisons that is faith based. That means Christian based. It's religious and only that one religion which I assume would not tend toward Catholicism down here. It's a beat the child kind of fix to me.
Many yogis claim to have enormous success with addictions and dependancies but the famous aren't going there? Is it because we in the West don't agree with their philosophy? They are always depicted as charlatans and money grabbers. Rarely do I see a serious reflection on the what the East is all about or any of alternative religion.
There is nothing but this moment! Imagine that! Clear your mind. Thought is just ignorance. You can't say that in America, they might shoot you, or better yet, lock you up or just destroy your career.
"You said you didn't believe in materialism so I am going to drive you into poverty." How America takes advantage of its innocent citizens who are trying to understand. It's amazing.
Charlie Sheen may have a problem but it may be more with his health than with character problems. The same thing exists here with sex and drugs that happens with alcohol. We call it a sin, we mock the abuser, we call him violent and insane, we give him/her drugs to detox him and then we force him to confess in public his shame. It's stupid.
I am aware of the incidents of which you speak. Are you aware of the law in our country? It states that one is innocent until proven guilty. The incidents of which you speak were *alleged.* In two cases Sheen was help pending an investigation, but in neither case were formal charges filed by the DA. So until the man is actually charged, tried, convicted and sentenced I think I will refrain from calling him a "violent criminal", thanks very much.
I see you're point completely.
"Anti-semite?" Yeah, he went and deliberately dropped Lorre's real name (Charles/Chaim Levine) a half-dozen times or so in his tirade and I highly doubt that was accidental, or simply an attempt at being funny. This POS can't be funny, or even make sense, without a script.
But we should hold CBS responsible as an enabler. They are in the business of making money. He held the show hostage a year or so ago to wrangle that ridiculous contract, then he shit on them.
Best Wishes,
Blittie
http://open.salon.com/blog/blumondayz/2011/01/29/what_would_charlie_do
WWCD works amazingly well - just takes true commitment to apply it to all situations
Charlie Sheen is an actor - an entertainer - and in all of his work he has managed to perform - whether it be Platoon or the serial TAHM - as viewer I got my money's worth and am happy. I dont care what he does in his bedroom. Just as I refuse to let anyone else interfere with what I do in mine. He works hard, supports himself, delivers the goods, and deserves the life he created for himself.
Also, as a non American (but brought up on American history, literature, movies, bling, kitsch, slangs, jeans, pizza, etc ever since I could read ABC - that would forty odd years I think) watching Two and a Half Men - I think this is ONE soap that is extremely dangerously close to what is the worst and the best of American way of life, its values, and the american psyche.
Every episode leaves with some food for thought and I take it back to class and we always find something from it that leads us right back to where a good show should - REEXAMINE the way we live and think or what we value.
I think the script is excellent, topical, contemporary, relevant, brings out layers in the character of Charlie - he is portrayed as a man struggling to come to terms with what he thinks is right and what he sees around him. He sleeps around like crazy yes, but is not without feelings or sense of responsibility and he definitely is not a fool to not realize what he does and what goes on around him. All in all the essence of a modern man.
(I remember a scene where his brother wants to speak to his mother about something imp and goes and rings the bell at her house. Does she come out? No. She is having sex and speaks to her son through the door - I would never ever forget the expression on the son's face as he tries to figure out exactly how he should feel or think - and that my dear friends is the problem with our lives, our children's lives ) .
In comparison F-r-i-e-n-d-s and Sean and the other serials come off as ultra super TRASH. Huge mistakes and obviously populist and confused and unrealistic and mixed up about what they want to say or do!
Who knows - maybe Charlie was actually encouraged to live the way he does bec it is in keeping with the character he played? And they made money out of the headlines he unfortunately made ?
Everyone knows that in the entertainment industry the bigger you are the more you are boxed in and are forced to live like bacteria under the constant scanner.
He didnt hurt me - and his producers took off the show when it did not suit them putting the cast and crew in trouble - so I leave him alone and give him his space.
I don't think he is any worse than Clinton and so many others - and at least his work is still flawless most of the time.
interesting that not a single person has mentioned his 911 truth activism. a post on that in my blog yeah, you guys dont really know much about him do you? hes been interviewed on infowarnews a few times and his views are incendiary.
he dares to deny that 1+1==3.
sheen went on charlie rose over a decade ago or so and admitted that he liked to hang out with prostitutes. paradigm shifting at the time.
For most people, only real consequences will move them toward real change, and that's what Charlie Sheen has been receiving, consequences of increasing magnitude.
Addiction usually takes people a minimum of two treatment episodes for any lasting benefit, and I've worked with people who are on their tenth or twelfth.
Only people who don't understand addiction can be angry with Charlie for his behavior or the network for trying to help, even if that help means suspension of the season.
It would be nice if the substances of choice wouldn't anesthetize the rational mind, but that's really the point of them, isn't it? Addicts don't have their wits about them and have a lot of trouble making better choices. That is the nature of the problem.
The only power we had was to stop watching the programs, thereby reducing its viewership. I don't watch the show and never have, but was his deterioration apparent on camera? There's something engaging about watching a human meltdown, and if you watch Celebrity Rehab, you know what I mean.
pop·py·cock
–noun
nonsense; bosh.
Origin:
1840–50, Americanism ; perhaps