Two and a Half Men season cut after Charlie Sheen calls creator a 'stupid little man'
Television network CBS has cancelled production of its comedy Two and a Half Men for the rest of the season after the star, Charlie Sheen, unleashed an expletive-filled attack on the show's producer.
The decision came days before Sheen, the highest-paid actor on US television, was due to return to the set after his third stint in rehab in 12 months.
In an interview on a syndicated radio programme and in remarks to the celebrity website TMZ.com on Thursday Sheen called the producer and co-creator of Two and a Half Men, Chuck Lorre, a "charlatan [who] chose not to do his job", a "piece of shit" and a "stupid, stupid little man".
Sheen also belittled Alcoholics Anonymous and claimed he had cured himself "with my mind" after four weeks of drug and alcohol treatment.
"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," the network and the show's makers said.
Sheen fired back an open letter, given to TMZ.com, that again referred to Lorre in a derogatory fashion.
"I urge all my beautiful and loyal fans who embraced this show for almost a decade to walk with me side-by-side as we march up the steps of justice to right this unconscionable wrong," Sheen said.
Production of Two and a Half Men was suspended in January when Sheen, 45, was persuaded to seek help after a 36-hour party at his home that ended with him being hospitalised. Four of the final eight episodes for the current TV season, ending in May, were axed because of the delay.
Two and a Half Men is a huge money spinner for the broadcaster and production company, and earlier this year the network said it was "highly concerned" about Sheen.
The actor was involved in a series of drug and alcohol-related incidents throughout much of 2010 and in August pleaded guilty to an assault on his now former wife. But he signed up for two more seasons in May 2010, and got a pay raise that brought his salary to a reported $27.5m a year for a role as hard-drinking womanising bachelor Charlie Harper that in many ways mirrored his life.
Sheen appeared to be tempting fate when he told the syndicated Alex Jones Show on on Thursday that "I was told if I went on the attack, they would cancel the show".
He also made a dig at his producer's Jewish background, calling him "Chaim Levine". Lorre was born Charles Michael Levine. He could not be reached for comment.
In remarks later to TMZ.com, Sheen was quoted as saying of Lorre: "I violently hate Chaim Levine. He's a stupid, stupid little man ? that I'd never want to be like."
Two and a Half Men attracts about 15 million US viewers a week.
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