COMMENTARY | MTV News reported Friday that the producers of "Two and a Half Men" announced that Ashton Kutcher would be the man to replace oft-embattled former star Charlie Sheen.
I'm not a big "Two and a Half Men" fan, honestly. That said, there are a few points of interest that arise with CBS choosing Kutcher for the roll, which will be his first TV role since the beloved Kelso from "That '70s Show."
Kutcher seems to be a good fit because "Two and a Half Men" centers around a lot of sexual jokes, frustrations, and discussions. Kutcher, though much younger at the time, pulled off this scenarios well during "That '70s Show." However, with the new role, Kutcher will be taking on an "adult" part as opposed to a sexually frustrated teenager (Re: Kelso).
It will prove interesting to see how Kutcher has evolved during his years away from television and how he fits into a show that has been extremely successful prior to his arrival. According to Vanity Fair, "Kutcher will play the Charlie Sheen character," as opposed to what "8 Simple Rules" did after the sudden death of John Ritter, bringing in David Spade to play a new family member but not replacing Ritter.
Kutcher is also a curious choice due to the obvious contrasts between his and Sheen's styles. Sheen has long possessed (onscreen) a quiet, rather sarcastic sort of humor. His delivery is a calm, controlled one most of the time, which often leads to many of his lines being all the more humorous ("Spin City" comes to mind). Kutcher, on the other hand, is much more in your face. He's loud, out of control, and melodramatic (in a good way).
The two opposing styles may force a drastic change in script writing which could end up sending the show in either direction. Sheen took over for Michael J. Fox in "Spin City" when Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and could no longer do the show. The show was successful post-Fox, but it was never the same. I suspect, to fans of "Two and a Half Men" in its current format, the sentiments will be similar.
Lastly, it will be interesting to watch what the dynamic Kutcher brings to a cast that has been working together for years. Generally, I believe bringing in a replacement character tends to work better than giving the same character a new actor because we, as the human beings we are, just can't get past what used to be.
In "8 Simple Rules," the Hennessy family was in grieving because of Paul Hennessy's (Ritter) death. His death was portrayed as sudden on the show, as it was in real life. It brought closure to his character, both to characters in the show as well as to all the viewers. It also made Spade a more welcome character, as opposed to being seen as a John Ritter replacement. Of course, Sheen is hardly as beloved as Ritter and Sheen didn't die, so perhaps the audience will welcome Kutcher as he settles into his new role.
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