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25 April 2024

Is it sour grapes for Charlie Sheen?

Charlie Sheen and Ashton Kutcher (AFP/AP)

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

The swords are out and the verbal sparring between two of US television’s most talented stars is out in the open for the world to have its dose of daily gossip and for the media to simply have more news to talk about.
 
Ashton Kutcher’s replacement of Charlie Sheen in the show, “Two and a Half Men” has clearly not gone down well with the latter actor, who, amidst his stand-up comedy tour of North America, has taken time out to chat with TMZ.com and tell them what he really thinks of the move. 
 
He said: “Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comic performer...Oh wait, so am I!! Enjoy planet Chuck, Ashton.” Sheen was clearly referring to the show’s creator and his nemesis, Chuck Lorre.
 
“There is no air, laughter, loyalty, or love there,” he added.
 
The actor also predicted a steep drop in the ratings. “Enjoy the show America. Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB (producer Warner Bros),” he said.

Kutcher, preferred taking the high road, and in his official statement, said: “I can’t replace Charlie Sheen, but I’m going to work my a** off to entertain the hell out of people.”
 
The “No Strings Attached” actor added: “I can’t wait to get to work with this ridiculously talented team and I believe we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers’ homes.”
 
A day later, a more demure Sheen took to micro blogging site Twitter, to say: “#Winning Congrats to the cast and crew, CBS & WB! My best to @aplusk [Kutcher]. The show must go on. You got the right guy! [sic]”
 
Kutcher responded: “#2.5 @charliesheen Thanks man. Always been a fan, always will be! BTW you were “born big” [sic].”
 
It has been reported that Kutcher will earn between $900,000 and $1 million per episode, however it is unclear if that includes a percentage of the back-end profits from re-runs.
 
The final number is still less than what Sheen was reportedly earning, which was allegedly a whopping $1.25m per episode, making him one of the highest paid actors on television.