Warner Brothers executives announced Monday that they have fired Charlie Sheen from his hit comedy “Two and a Half Men.”The terse official statement read, “After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen’s services on ‘Two and a Half Men’ effective immediately.”
The studio, which owns and produces the series, will decide about the future of the show at a later date, a spokesman said.
Mr. Sheen released a statement to TMZ.com saying, in part: “This is very good news. They continue to be in breach, like so many whales,” adding, “And I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension.”
Mr. Sheen has given numerous interviews in recent days protesting the decision by Warner Brothers and CBS, the network that broadcasts the show, to cease production for the remainder of this season. The companies shut the show down for the rest of the season in late February, citing Mr. Sheen’s repeated instances of drug use as well as vituperative statements he made about the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre.
At the time, neither Warner Brothers nor CBS would comment on what the decision meant for Mr. Sheen’s future status. He was under contract to finish eight more episodes this season and 24 more next season. Mr. Sheen’s lawyer sent a letter to CBS and Warner Brothers asserting that they were obligated to pay him under the terms of the contract.
Neither company responded directly to that letter. But Leslie Moonves, the CBS chief executive, said in comments at an analyst conference last week that he was not foreclosing the possibility that “Two and a Half Men,” which has been the most popular comedy on television for much of its eight-year run, might return.
But when asked about the show’s future, Mr. Moonves pointedly said, “I hope it’s back.” He did not say “I hope he’s back,” referring to Mr. Sheen.
Mr. Lorre has said on numerous previous occasions when the show ran into production issues because of Mr. Sheen’s behavior that he would not restructure the show if Mr. Sheen became unavailable, saying he had no desire to write a show called “One and a Half Men.”
But Mr. Lorre said that well before Mr. Sheen’s comments in recent weeks, in which he denigrated Mr. Lorre, indicating that only because of his star quality did the show become a hit. Mr. Sheen said he had turned Mr. Lorre’s “tin can of a show” into gold.
CBS has not yet commented on the decision to fire Mr. Sheen.