One and a Half Men?

After a string of alcohol and drug fuelled violence and health incidents, Charlie Sheen has again checked into rehab. But Sheen’s recent mishaps – which include his hospitalisation in October 2010 after yelling and furniture throwing were reported from his room at New York’s Plaza hotel – only add to a long list of domestic violence and substance abuse allegations that began in 1990.

The latest incident on January 27, 2011 saw Sheen again hospitalised after complaining of severe abdominal pain. His move to rehab suggests that rumours of his unruly behaviour being drug and alcohol fuelled are true.

Currently, according to TV Guide, Sheen is the highest paid sitcom star on TV for his role in hit show Two and a Half Men, earning US$825,000 per episode. But with continual health and substance abuse issues, can Sheen continue to maintain his role within the popular show and sustain the support of his viewers?

Two and a Half Men first aired in 2003, and has continually ranked in the top 20 TV shows. In the show, Sheen plays Charlie, a self-indulgent jingle writer. Charlie’s uptight brother Alan, and his son, Jake, move in with Charlie after a divorce. The show follows the relationship between the three, and is set to continue at least into the 2011-12 season.

While Sheen remains in rehab, filming of Two and a Half Men has been put on hold, with executive producer Chuck Lorre releasing a statement that said “We are profoundly concerned for his health and well-being, and support his decision”.

But with his unreliable track-record, could Two and Half Men be set to downsize? ‘One and a Half Men’ just might not cut it…

Timeline of Sheen’s incidents prior to 2010:

1990: Sheen accidently shoots his fiancé of the time Kelly Preston in the arm.

1995: Sheen is sued by a UCLA student who claimed he struck her in the head when she refused him sex.

1997: Sheen is given a year’s suspended sentence for battery charges to former girlfriend Brittany Ashland.

1998: Sheen is admitted into a lockdown rehab after he is hospitalised for a drug overdose.

2005: Wife Denise Richards files for divorce, calling Sheen’s behaviour “inappropriate”.

2009: Sheen is arrested when wife Brooke Mueller tells police he threatened her with a knife. He is released on bail.

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Bio: Charlie Sheen continues to feature in news and gossip columns following his unruly behaviour and drug and alcohol induced health issues. Two and a Half Men DVDs are available online to see Sheen in the role that earns this falling star the highest sitcom salary in the world.

What’s In Store for the 2010 Fall TV Season?

Summer television is frivolous and fun and silly. It’s great. However, fall television is much more engaging. Even the comedy shows have dramatic twists and interesting plots during the fall season. And 2010 is shaping up to have some very fascinating shows for us.

Top New Network TV Shows to Watch For

The shows that many people are anticipating most are the new pilots that are about to air on the leading networks. Some of the ones to watch on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are:

• No Ordinary Family. This new ABC show features a superpower crime-fighting family that is also dealing with their own normal human problems. This sounds like a lot of funny drama in the making!
• Better Together. ABC also has another family comedy that looks appealing. It’s the tale of two sisters who approach love very differently and reveal the silliness of humanity in the process.
• Raising Hope. Another intriguing family comedy is Raising Hope, the story of a young family taking on a new baby unexpectedly and dealing with what life throws at them as a result.
• Criminal Minds Spinoff. In the middle of the season CBS is going to be launching a spinoff show of the popular crime drama. Think CSI: Miami and CSI: New York but for Criminal Minds lovers.
• Defenders. Another pilot for crime show lovers to watch is this CBS show about two Las Vegas defense attorneys.
• Off the Map. Also mid-season we can look forward to a new medical drama from ABC. Its special twist is that it’s set in a small South American village.

Additional pilots that might be worth noting include Chase and Outsourced on NBC, Bob’s Burgers (animation) and Mixed Signals on FOX, Mike & Molly and Bluebloods on CBS and My Generation and The Whole Truth on ABC.

Interesting Plot Changes on Favorite Network TV Shows

Of course, people watch their favorite networks channels because of the old shows that they’ve grown to love. Some of them are looking forward to some truly interesting plot twists. Ones worth keeping an eye on in fall 2010:

• Criminal Minds. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in the sixth season of this popular psychological crime drama especially since it will have to vie for attention with its own spinoff show.
• Bones. The new season of this comedic crime show will hopefully show Bones and Booth making a final decision one way or another about their ongoing romantic relationship.
• House. The popular medical drama hasn’t failed to keep taking plot twists with its characters’ lives. The 7^th season should be no different.
• Desperate Housewives. What will these crazy ladies do next? And who will be the mystery person to follow in the new season? We’re on the edge of our seats.

Other leading network TV shows that return in the fall and may surprise us with great plot twists include Law and Order: SVU, Brothers and Sisters, Lie to Me, Glee, Private Practice and The Office.

Leading Cable TV Shows to Watch

There are so many channels on cable that it’s tough to keep track of the best things to watch in any given season. However, there are some must-watch shows for people who are avid satellite or cable TV watchers. For HBO lovers, those shows include the new season of In Treatment. Unfortunately, viewers will have to wait until next Summer to see new episodes of Hung, Entourage, and True Blood. If you’re a Showtime fan then you’ll want to set your TV to record Weeds, Dexter and the new series The Big C with Laura Linney. On Lifetime, you don’t want to miss the new season of Project Runway as well as the new spinoff show Austin and Santino on the Road.

What Fall 2010 TV shows are you most looking forward to?

About the Author: Vera is a blogger, writer, tweeter, and avid television viewer. She’s obsessed with her direct sat TV programs, and can’t live without it them!

David Letterman Affair – Extortion & Embarrassment Prompt Candid Discussion

The Late Show‘s own David Letterman candidly acknowledged and provided some damning details about affairs he had with employees of his own show.  While specific names of the female employees at CBS and The Late Show were not disclosed for privacy purposes, Letterman did provide details that the extortion attempt was real & that the supposed individual (a ’48 hrs’ investigates employee – also at CBS) did provide proof of the sexual relationships.

David Letterman acknowledged on Thursday’s show that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort him over the affairs.

During the taping of his CBS late-night show in New York, Letterman discussed receiving a threat to either pay million or risk the relationships being made public.

In a release from the show’s producer, Letterman said he referred the matter to the Manhattan district attorney’s office and that an investigation ended in an arrest Thursday. Letterman did not identify the person he said was arrested.  Read the full story at AccessHollywood.com

I can’t say that Letterman’s actions were any different than a lot of men in a position of power, but that does not make them right either.  I would have expected some response from CBS also that his actions, in some way, are not inline w/ the network’s corporate structure and/or rules, but so far (from what I’ve seen), they are simply taking Letterman’s side on the subject.  No suspension, no slap on the wrist… nothing.

The moral here… when the cash cow gets in trouble – protect it.