Two and a Half Men: Renewed for Season 10

To no surprise, CBS has renewed Two and a Half Men for a 10th season. The venerable sitcom’s fate was up in the air a year ago but, with Ashton Kutcher replacing Charlie Sheen, season nine has been bigger than season eight.

While many expected Two and a Half Men to fail with Kutcher, the sitcom has been CBS’ highest-rated show all season in the demo. It currently averages a 5.01 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 14.62 million total viewers, just edging out The Big Bang Theory in the all-important demo.

Men had a sizable lead earlier in the season but the two shows’ averages have come closer and closer. If tonight’s season finale of Men registers a 3.9 or higher in the demo, it will hold onto the top spot.

Either way of course, Chuck Lorre is a very happy man.

Here’s the official press release about the season 10 renewal:

CBS RENEWS “TWO AND A HALF MEN” FOR THE 2012-2013 BROADCAST SEASON
The Hit Comedy is CBS’s 19th Series to be Picked Up for Next Season

CBS announced today that TWO AND A HALF MEN has been renewed for the 2012-2013 broadcast season.

The renewal comes after new agreements were reached for next season with series producer Warner Bros. Television and cast members Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones.

Currently in its ninth season, TWO AND A HALF MEN is posting significant year-to-year growth among all key ratings measures, averaging 15.0 million viewers, up +13% from last season, 5.2/13 in adults 18-49, up +27% and 6.5/14 in adults 25-54, up +20%.

Among all primetime comedies, TWO AND A HALF MEN ranks second in viewers and adults 25-54 and third among adults 18-49.

TWO AND A HALF MEN is CBS’s fifth comedy and 19th series to be renewed for next season, joining previously announced comedies HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, 2 BROKE GIRLS, MIKE & MOLLY and THE BIG BANG THEORY.

TWO AND A HALF MEN stars Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Conchata Ferrell and Holland Taylor. The series is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers for Season 10 are Chuck Lorre, Jim Patterson, Don Reo and Eddie Gorodetsky.

What do you think? Did you think the show would survive? Do you think it will see season 11 or be cancelled after year 10?