Ashton Kutcher Replaces Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men"

It seems that the top rated CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men will not be One and a Half Men or find itself canceled after all. Ashton Kutcher, well known for his role on That 70's Show, returns to television replacing Charlie Sheen. After Sheen was fired in February for his constant partying as well as his alcohol and drug use, and bashing of network executives, the show was put on hiatus with its future up in the air. The world has watched Sheen create a media fire storm since March, bringing back terms like "bitchin" and "gnarly" and claimed to be "Winning." He has even been on tour with his stage show "My Violent Torpedo of Truth," which has received mixed reviews.

So, it wasn't former Full House star John Stamos who replaced Sheen. The question is, how will the writers incorporate Kutcher into the show. In the past, shows have had to replace a key character who left for some different reason. One of the first was on the 1960's sitcom Bewitched. The character of Darrin saw Dick York replaced by Dick Sargant after York fell ill. The popular NBC sitcom Cheers saw Shelly Long who played Diane Chambers leave at the end of the fifth season. She was replaced by Kirstie Alley, who was written in as Rebeca Howe, the new owner of the bar after Sam (Ted Danson) sold it to a corporation. Sheen actually was a part of a character change on Spin City. Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox's character on the show for the final two seasons.  

But in the case of replacing Charlie Sheen on the show, it could be a challenge. For those who have watched the show during its run, or those who have starting watching since his meltdown, it's obvious to see that the show was based around Charlie Sheen being himself. A womanizing, hard drinking jingle writer who took in his divorced brother and his underachieving son into his Malibu beach house. How will they write Sheen out and Kutcher in? As much as Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones have been a big part of the show, Sheen is the straw that stirs the drink. Without him in the mix, it will not be the same. I do know that when the show resumes in the Fall, millions will watch the first show back. Hopefully it can work, but then again, it could be a disaster.