Friday, February 25, 2011

Two and a Half Men: Without A Laugh-Track

If you are not familiar with the show, [Two and a half Men] is about the trials and tribulations of Charlie Harper, who has allowed his younger brother, Alan Harper, to come live in his home after being divorced by the mother of his son, Jake Harper, who counts as the half to Two and a half Men.  To say that the show has met with great success is an understatement of Biblical proportions.  For it has [reportedly] scored in the Top Twenty most popular shows of all kinds each of its first seven seasons.


Getting more into the nitty-gritty, Charlie Harper is played by [Charlie Sheen], and Alan Harper is played by [Jon Cryer].  Yes, the same Jon Cryer, who played Lex Luther’s side-kick in [Superman IV].  What?  Did you miss that one?  Well, I probably should not have mentioned that I didn’t.

Anyway, Jake Harper is played by [Angus T. Jones], who signed a contract last October that [reportedly] guaranteed him $7.8 million for the next two seasons of the show—plus a signing bonus of $500 thousand!  Not bad for a 17 year-old, especially when he usually doesn’t have all that much of a part in each episode.  Are you starting to get an idea of just how successful this show is?

The principle role is reserved for Charlie Sheen’s character, who is a forty-something drunken whoremonger, who has become “filthy” rich by writing jingles for commercials and the occasional television show, along with writing, recording and performing children’s songs.  Other than the part about how he became so rich, is any of this sounding familiar?

Hence, the “Without A Laugh-Track” part of the title to this piece.  For Charlie Sheen is Charlie Harper!  Although, there is no mention of heavy cocaine abuse by the character on the show.

The rest of it sure applies.  For Charlie Harper spends thousands upon thousands on booze and hookers, and apparently, so does Charlie Sheen.

Alas, it is arguable that my wife and I have been enablers in his downward spiral.  For we have laughed until we cried many, many times while watching the show.  In fact, my wife and her mother have seen each and every episode of the first seven seasons at least six times.

Be assured that it has ceased to be as funny lately.  For before, we thought Charlie Sheen was basing the character on how he used to be, and now, it would appear that there is no “used to be” about it.

No, there are no judgments being made here.  For unless you have been living an extremely sheltered life for the last couple of months, you know that Sheen’s “stuff” has been out in the open for all to see, and the latest hit the proverbial fan [yesterday].

Please, be assured that I hope he wants to get better before it is too late.  It should be rather obvious to him by now that the bottom is coming up fast.

Please Also Visit:
And

6 comments:

Mike Golch said...

after the way Charlie Sheen was mouthing off about the shows exectives I do not see that show remaing on the air at all,if it does look for charlie to be gone from the show.

Unknown said...

Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Mike!!! I am sorely afraid that you are right. For it sure looks like he has went way past the point of no return, but...

Rational νεόφυτος said...

I've long considered this show idiotic and inane, and indicative of the decline of western civilization.

Unknown said...

Yeah, you most definitely got me there, Lavender Darwin. For I really shouldn't have been such a big fan of the show in the first-place, but with April Bowlby, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Denise Richards, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Gail O'Grady, Heather Locklear, Jenna Elfman, Jennifer Taylor, Jenny McCarthy, Jeri Ryan, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Kelly Stables, Liz Vassey, Megan Fox, Tricia Helfer and a host of other rather homely-looking ladies on the show...

Anonymous said...

misleading title. I like this show, but the laugh track annoys me beyond belief. Is it much more prominent and bold, aka louder and/or more frequent than in many other sitcoms??? Perhaps it's just this laugh track, I guess they are like music, fit into many genres, or any other possible reason... maybe it's just me? IDK.

Unknown said...

Thanks for stopping by, my dear Kadie!!! It's funny, but the laugh-track they use never bothered me until I had seen an episode a couple of times or so. It then became unbearable. Are you looking forward to the new show with Ashton Kutcher? We're not.