Will Sheen-less ‘Men’ begin with a funeral?

Los Angeles Times

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

CBS dropped a few details Wednesday about its newly refurbished “Two and a Half Men” — but somehow neglected to bring along the new star of its No. 1-rated sit-com, Ashton Kutcher.

Speaking to reporters at the TV press tour in Beverly Hills, Entertainment President Nina Tassler revealed that when the former star of “That ’70s Show” joins the “Men” cast this fall, he’ll play Walden Schmidt, an Internet billionaire with a broken heart. Kutcher, whose character will be introduced in a two-part season premiere, is replacing Charlie Sheen, who was sacked from the show earlier this year after suffering well-publicized drug problems and openly tangling with the producers.

Kutcher has been walled off from the prying questions of reporters, at least for now. Although CBS dedicated an entire day to marketing its shows at the press tour, it did not include a panel for “Two and a Half Men,” the most-watched comedy on TV, which is undergoing the most high-stakes revamping of any series in years.

Tassler explained the lack of a “Men” session by saying that the show is in production. “Men” did its first table read earlier this week and is due to shoot the season premiere Friday.

“When everyone walked on that set on Monday, you could cut the air with a knife,” Tassler said. “Do you pay extra special attention to the first season? Absolutely.”

Keeping viewers in the dark is an important part of getting them to tune in to see how Sheen’s exit is handled, she added. She declined to confirm stories that have suggested the premiere will open with the funeral of Sheen’s character, swinging bachelor Charlie Harper.