BY MIKEY MIGO
This past week I found myself watching random episodes of “That 70’s Show” on ABC Family. I used to love that show, but over time and over too many viewings I became annoyed by it. I think I saw every episode at least three times. It’s just on TV too much for me. Being an avid TV watcher certain good shows go this route. Another example is “Scrubs”. Loved it, will always love it, but if I am forced to flip channels around another rerun I’m going to need medical assistance. Any way… “That 70’s Show”. I had two sessions with it this week, stuck in a waiting room and then the next day I tapped out to the TV gods and tuned in on my own.
Fast forward like 72 or so hours. In a twist, Ashton Kutcher is named as the official replacement for Charlie Sheen on the CBS hit show “Two and a Half Men”. Shows have done this in the past and have had various degrees of success. “The Office” is doing the same thing, but in different backstage circumstances. It’s all the same though when you think about it. Sure “The Office” is better. It’s funnier, the cast is funnier, the writing is sharper, and I’ve seen way more episodes of it than anything on CBS without the word “Mother” in its title. Hell, it was Charlie Sheen that replaced Michael J. Fox on “Spin City”. I’m sure that gig lead to him getting the “Two and Half Men” role to begin with. At first I wasn’t too sure, but after a day or so of settling in I am a fan of the idea. You automatically think the show is going to flop. They’re replacing the key star of the show. It doesn’t matter who replaces Charlie Sheen because no matter what the dynamic of the show will be completely different. I’m not the targeted demographic for this show. The show has its charm, but it’s too cheesy and hokey at times for my liking. It’s a good ol’ fashion sitcom, made like the old ones that I used to love, but time has moved on and so have I. I like my laughs a little less conventional and piped in.
That said, I think Ashton Kutcher is going to rock on the show. I may catch some shit from people pretending that “Major League” is their all time favorite movie right now as well as those who are all on board the Sheen train. I don’t care. Right now, in 2011 Ashton Kutcher is better than Charlie Sheen. Let’s look at the facts here. He’s only 33. He’s a bit quirky, but he’s hip. He’s married to Demi Moore. He’s STILL a movie star. His movies may not be monster hits, but he’s still getting those top billing roles in bigger movies. People like the guy and enjoy seeing him. He seems down to earth, funny, and a cool guy. This is opposed to over the hill, train wreck, and douchey-coolness of Sheen.
It’s a win-win for Kutcher. He’s implanted into one of Hollywood’s biggest ongoing stories, the show still gets HUGE ratings, and he’s getting paid fat stacks to come in and make Jon Cryer and that Angus kid funnier. The worst case scenario is that the show only lasts one more season before being pulled. Kutcher gets paid, gets attention, and gets another season of syndication money to fund his trucker hat collection. No one expects the show to be any good now that Sheen is gone so if it’s spun the right way it can be “Kutcher was on a sinking ship from the start”. Then if the show succeeds Ashton is deemed its savior, he’ll make more money, get more attention, more syndication money, and more name stock come his next sigh-enducing rom com. Who’s winning now, Charlie? BURN!
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