“Wouldn’t have been so bad if Ashton was a ladies man like Charlie”: It Wasn’t Ashton Kutcher’s Fault, No Other Actor Could’ve Replaced Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men Either
Two and a Half Men was the most popular sitcom of its time, powered by the charming screen presence and electric comedy timing of lead star Charlie Sheen. In the series, Sheen played a hedonistic jingle writer forced to live with his parasitic, divorced younger brother and the latter’s young impressionable son.
Ashton Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men (Credit: CBS).
However, after Sheen was famously or rather infamously fired from the series, Ashton Kutcher inherited the Malibu beach house, which was the hot spot for some prime-time laughs. Nonetheless, many fans feel that Sheen’s exit led to the show’s slow decline but it has nothing to do with Kutcher’s work. Instead, fans feel Sheen was simply irreplaceable, and here is why.
Two and a Half Men Fans Agree Charlie Sheen Was Irreplaceable
Two and a Half Men is one of the most famous examples of a series seeing a decline in its form after the departure of its lead star. For eight seasons, Charlie Sheen‘s performance as Charlie Harper in the sitcom entertained audiences before the actor was unceremoniously fired because of his off-screen issues.
Fans think no one could’ve replaced Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men (Credit: CBS).
Ashton Kutcher was selected as his replacement and kept the series going for another four seasons. However, many fans agree that Kutcher was not on the same level as Sheen and part of the reason might be the similarities between the latter’s on-screen and off-screen persona.
On Reddit, fans discussed whether it was ever possible for any actor to replace Sheen given his brilliant performance which earned him four Emmy nominations. Here is what fans had to say about any other actor replacing Sheen in the sitcom without it feeling like a letdown.
Comment byu/MrPoststhings from discussion inTwoandaHalfMen
Comment byu/MrPoststhings from discussion inTwoandaHalfMen
Comment byu/MrPoststhings from discussion inTwoandaHalfMen
Comment byu/MrPoststhings from discussion inTwoandaHalfMen
Comment byu/MrPoststhings from discussion inTwoandaHalfMen
As the fan comments indicate, it was nearly an impossible task to replace Sheen, primarily because he was so entwined with the character he played.
Related “Hot but a full blown b**ch”: Chuck Lorre Really Did a Two and a Half Men Character Dirty Who Was Charlie Sheen’s Mortal Enemy On-Screen
Moreover, while some fans did not have an issue with the Kutcher-led seasons, they felt the execution of his character’s story morphed the show into something completely unrecognizable. Therefore, it is safe to say that Two and a Half Men in its truest sense was a vehicle only an actor like Sheen could drive.
Hugh Grant Almost Replaced Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men
After Sheen was fired from the show, many big-name stars were reportedly in discussions to replace the actor who was at the time one of TV’s highest-paid stars. However, as the fan reactions suggest, stepping into Sheen’s Malibu beach house and filling his shoes was no easy task.
Hugh Grant was considered as Charlie Sheen’s replacement (Credit: Dungeons & Dragons | Paramount).
According to reports, actor Hugh Grant was one of the names considered as Sheen’s replacement on the show. Sheen’s longtime co-star and onscreen brother, Jon Cryer made the following comment on Grant accepting the role at one point before backing out (via CinemaBlend):
They negotiated a contract, he was signed. I got confirmation from Chuck: ‘He’s on the show.’ He had second thoughts and said no.
Cryer went on to explain the concept of Grant taking over Sheen’s place on the sitcom, revealing that the Four Weddings and a Funeral star would’ve played a British character who finds himself in Malibu.
Cryer stated that Grant’s character would’ve initially appeared as a straightforward family man and later revealed to be a con man. As a result, Cryer thought the idea was fun but did not come to fruition.
Related One of the Worst Rated Two and a Half Men Episodes Could’ve Brought Back Charlie Sheen: But Chuck Lorre Had to be Petty
Grant’s struggles with legal issues have been documented in the media and his personal life has also been greatly discussed, including his relationship with women. Therefore, Grant might have been an ideal pick to replace Sheen. However, in a perfect world, Robert Downey Jr would have certainly elevated the series beyond its basic premise.
Two and a Half Men is streaming on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
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