Two and a Half Men: Will Charlie Sheen’s Problems Cause the Show to be Cancelled?

Actor Charlie Sheen has voluntarily entered a rehab facility, following the actor’s highly publicized legal problems. As you may recall, Sheen allegedly threatened his wife, Brooke Mueller, by holding a knife to her throat in Colorado on Christmas Day 2009. He was charged with second-degree assault and menacing and was subsequently released on $8,500 bail. He’s scheduled to return to a Colorado court on March 15th.

Sheen didn’t come to work yesterday and a statement was released a couple hours after he didn’t show up for work today. Sheen’s publicist, Stan Rosenfield, released this brief quote, “As a preventative measure, Charlie Sheen has entered a rehabilitation facility. He will take some time off his series Two and a Half Men. He has asked that his privacy be honored. No further statements are planned.”

Sheen’s absence is said to be unexpected by CBS and the show’s producers. Production had been business as usual since the cast and crew returned from their winter break.

The cast and crew of Two and a Half Men were supposedly scheduled to film their 18th of 24 episodes for this season. It’s unknown how long Sheen will be out of commission but this could potentially lead to a shortened season for the hit CBS sitcom.

How will Sheen's problems affect the show? Ratings will do down somewhat. Ratings will go down a lot. Ratings will go up. They won't affect the show at all. View Results  Loading ...

It seems unlikely at this point however that Sheen’s problems will result in the show being cancelled or going off the air. Sheen has had several well-publicized problems in the past and they don’t seem to have affected the series’ ratings.

Sheen is currently the highest paid actor on television and is paid more that $800,000 per episode. It’s a hugely successful program for Warner Bros. Television and for CBS so neither will willingly let it go. It’s already been renewed through the 2011-12 season.

A joint statement of support from CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, Warner Bros. President Peter Roth, and executive producer Chuck Lorre said, “CBS, Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre support Charlie Sheen in his decision today to begin voluntary in-patient care at a treatment center… We wish him nothing but the best as he deals with this personal matter. Production on Two and a Half Men will be temporarily suspended.”

What do you think? Will Sheen’s personal problems lead to the cancellation of the sitcom or is this just another temporary bump in the road?