Charlie Sheen's Ballistic Episodes Continue

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright February 25, 2011
All Rights Reserved.                                             

                 Dealing with another erratic talent, CBS suspended indefinitely its popular sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” after its 45-year-old star Charlie Sheen publicly bashed show creator and producer Chuck Lorre with ethnic slurs.  “What does this say about Haim Levine [Chuck Lorre] after he tried to use his words to judge and attempt to degrade me.  I gracefully ignored this folly for 177 shows . . .  I fire back once and this contaminated little maggot can’t handle my power and can’t handle the truth,” Sheen posted in an open letter on TMZ’s website.  Sheen’s behavior grew progressively more erratic winding up Jan. 27 at the ER of Cedar Sinai Medical Center with “severe abdominal pains” after a night of carousing with two unnamed women.  On Oct. 26, 2010, Sheen was removed by New York Police from the Plaza Hotel after a drunken, drug-filled binge, causing $7,000 in property damage. 

           Despite getting “rehab” after the NY episode, Sheen’s problems escalated until his Jan. 27 incident, prompting him to go back to “rehab” Jan. 28, forcing the network to take action.  “Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen’s statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of ‘Two and a Half Men’ for the remainder of the season,” read the CBS press release, stating the obvious, that even-profit driven networks have their limits.  No one doubts Sheen’s talent or star-power—that’s never been questioned.  But when celebrities go over the deep end, they ultimately tarnish the corporate image.  CBS has known for some time that their very talented star had big problems.  They knew about Charlie’s long history of domestic abuse, culminating Christmas Day 2009 in assaulting his third wife, real estate investor Brooke Mueller.

             Charlie pleaded guilty on a plea bargain Aug. 2, 2010 to misdemeanor assault, agreeing to “anger management” classes and 30 days of “rehab.”  Months later he’s back to the same old behavior, taking out his anger on his producer.  “I wish him nothing but pain his silly travels especially if they wind up in my octagon.  Clearly, I have defeated this earthworm with my words—imagine what I would have done with my fire-breathing fists,” sharing far too much with the public.  His vindictiveness, pettiness and need to take his beef with Lorre public backfired.  Sheen’s reference to Lorre’s as “Haim Levine” is beyond ironic because Sheen changed his Latino name from Carlos Irwin Estevez.  His angry outbursts indicate that his prior “anger management” training and “rehab” have done very little to address his borderline-like personality, leaving him a liability to CBS or any other media outfit.

            Charlie told “Good Morning America” today in text messages that he was “100% clean,” in reference to either drugs or alcohol causing the latest flap with CBS.  Judging by Sheen’s angry outbursts, his “past” use of drugs, alcohol or excessive carousing, his personality problems are far more serious, currently plaguing otherwise talented celebrities like 24-year-old actress-model Lindsay Lohan, facing grand theft charges in Los Angeles.  Like Sheen, Lohan’s career has been sabotaged by intemperate outbursts and alcohol and drug abuse, leaving her career in shambles.  No matter how gifted or popular, Sheen’s recent outbursts increase his liability to any publicly traded company.  When Sheen calls Lorre as a “maggot” and wishes him “pain” for “degrading” him, it reflects a deteriorated ego nearing a breakdown.  CBS can’t be blamed for suspending its most popular show.     

             When network executives and producers look to hire talent for TV or film, they have to take into account their mental health status.  Sheen’s recent outbursts indicate that he’s a bad corporate risk, far too erratic to count on to complete without incident contracted work.  Calling Lorre a “clown” and “loser,” Sheen insisted he’d show up on set Tuesday for “Two and a Half Men,” showing not only his defiance but denial that the show was cancelled.  When stars like Sheen let their egos balloon out of control, they can’t see that they’re valuable employees, accountable to upper management.  Charlie’s incendiary statements about Lorre’s ethnic background also raise red flags, hurting the network’s reputation and image.  Sheen thinks CBS’ corporate profits for “Two and a Half Men” far outweigh his intemperate episodes, and, more recently, his anti-Semitic-tinged rhetoric.

            If there’s any chance of Sheen resuming “Two and a Half Men,” he needs urgent psychotherapy to begin dealing with his borderline-like personality problems.  Corporate executives can’t stand on eggshells wondering or second-guessing their star’s next ballistic episode.  Any competent psychiatrist and psychotherapist can help Sheen regain the control needed to advance his career and develop a more stable personal life.  Recent turnarounds by actor Robert Downey Jr.—once plagued with drug abuse and erratic behavior—prove that good therapy can help lead to career success and personal stability.  “Watch your ratings, dude.  Watch your stupid ratings,” said Sheen, warning CBS about trying to replace him on “Two and a Half Men.”  What Sheen doesn’t get is that he’s pushed CBS too far.  No one is truly indispensable.  Before it’s too late, Sheen needs to get some real help.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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