Can Charlie Sheen and his "Two and a Half Men" bosses afford to let the show die?
Both sides have every reason to act like they would continue to thrive without the show -- especially in the near term. And while that may be true for its network and studio, the professional outlook isn't as bright for Sheen.
Even if "Two and a Half Men" has wrung out its last laugh about Uncle Charlie being a man-pig, the show will go down as a massive hit for CBS and a billion-dollar asset for Warner Bros. TV.
Also read: Charlie Sheen's Latest: CBS, Warner in 'Beach of Contract'
Sheen doesn't sound like he would have any regrets -- TV's highest-paid actor has enough money to fly in ballplayers from across the country for fun. He also insists that he has other offers. But at least one of them -- a reported show with HBO -- has already turned out not to exist.
CBS and Warner Bros. called the actor's bluff on Thursday when they refused to roll over after he ripped "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre. Hours after Sheen (pictured above with Lorre in happier days) bragged that he had embarrassed Lorre "in front of his children and the world," CBS released a statement saying the show was canceled for the season.
There were no guarantees it would be back after that. Sheen, who has ridiculed his bosses even as he has claimed he wants to get back to work, said Friday they were in "breach of contract" for shutting down the show, and suggested he would find a way to "deal with these clowns and take all their money."
Also read: Sorry, Charlie: 'Two and a Half Men' Cancelled for Season
The series is built around other characters reacting to Charlie (the name of Sheen's character) misbehaving. No one seems to believe the show could go on without Sheen.
"It can't press on without him," said Brad Adgate, senior vice president of research at Horizon Media. "It's not an ensemble cast. You need him."
If the show can't return after this shortened season, it will still have a long life in re-runs and remain a cash cow. Warner Bros. still retains the syndication rights, and the show is watched almost as much in syndication each week as it is in primetime.
"Great would be an understatement," said one studio insider asked to describe the show's success, who said the show remains on-track to be a billion-dollar asset for Warner Bros. "This is one of the most successful sitcoms in the history of television."
Gary Carr, executive director of national broadcast for media-buying agency Targetcast TCM, said CBS would recover quickly if it lost the show.
"If anything, CBS is the one network that has good bench strength and plenty of shows," said Carr, whose company has bought time on the show in primetime and syndication.
