# Sheen-a-thon--Will Charlie's career survive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219 "2011-03-02T15:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/41 "2011-03-03T04:35:24Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > A better question might be: will Charlie survive? Exactly. If Sheen keeps going the way he’s going right now, he’ll be dead in the not-too-distant future. But if he’s able to straighten up, I’m pretty sure his career will recover. He’s a talented actor who’s shown he can deliver the work. And people love a redemption story. If he cleans up, there will be people lining up to hire him again. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/42 "2011-03-03T04:37:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > You’re assuming he _has_ a problem. Recent interviews paint him a very happy man. Does he have sufficient savings to continue his current lifestyle without working? I doubt his current lifestyle will lead to him living to a ripe, old age. You got that right. He’s 46 and looks about 66. His father looks younger and healthier than him. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I voted, “not sure,” but I wouldn’t write him off yet. We’ve seen celebs come back from this kind of thing before. Robert Downey Jr. was widely perceived as irretrievably addicted, and his career seen as dead in the water a few years ago, and since he got sober (how many years has it been?), he’s had a terrific resurgence. I believe Downey has said that it took prison to straighten him out and that nothing else would have worked. Something like that could happen for Sheen. The public loves a redemption story. Downey is very well-liked now. > > … It doesn’t hurt that Downey is hot. Did you see him in Sherlock Holmes? Hubba, hubba. If I try to imagine Sheen in a sexy shitless role I throw up a little in my mouth. As they say, he looks like he’s been rode hard and put away wet. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/43 "2011-03-03T05:22:06Z")
Looking back at his interview after rehab he seemed so… normal. His current interviews are just scary to watch. They should be used as reference material for actors who want to appear crazy. I wouldn’t trust him with a pet rock let alone children. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/44 "2011-03-03T06:02:15Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > The man you see in the interviews is NOT Charlie Sheen. > It is Sacha Baron Cohen, in his greatest role yet!!! Casey Affleck is producing. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/45 "2011-03-03T07:40:40Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Judy Garland was a mess all the way around but she always came back. Bad example. Eventually something happened that even she couldn’t come back from. If Charlie Sheen really is bipolar it could end badly for him and those around him. He could hurt someone and end up in prison. He could burn though all his money and end up homeless. He could commit suicide. If Sheen does get treatment and returns to some kind of normality, it seems likely to me that Les Moonves will forgive Charlie. There’s a difference between someone acting like a jerk because of mental illness, and acting like a jerk because he’s just a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/46 "2011-03-03T07:50:55Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Bad example. Eventually something happened that even she couldn’t come back from. > > If Charlie Sheen really is bipolar it could end badly for him and those around him. He could hurt someone and end up in prison. He could burn though all his money and end up homeless. He could commit suicide. > > If Sheen does get treatment and returns to some kind of normality, it seems likely to me that Les Moonves will forgive Charlie. There’s a difference between someone acting like a jerk because of mental illness, and acting like a jerk because he’s just a jerk. I’ve known many mentally ill people over the years- many many (I used to manage residential facilities for them). With all of them there is a line where their illness leaves off and their personality kicks in, or vice versa, but you can usually tell which ones would be total assholes if they hadn’t been born with the genes for bipolar/schizophrenic/whatever else. For example, most bipolars aren’t really violent or intentionally hurtful when in full on manic sprees: they’re irrational, usually completely self centered, may or may not experience hallucinations that makes them think everything from a car alarm 3 blocks away to the nightly news is about them, but if they’re a decent person when not wrapped in the whirlwind of an episode they’re not usually abusive or assholish when having an episode. With those who are decent people living with an illness; the massive guilt and embarrassment they have when an episode’s over is often crippling. Episodes, the ones I’ve witnessed, are similar to being drunk in that the regular personality is exaggerated and maybe twisted a bit but not totally different: very few ordinarily nice people become major league assholes when they’re drunk. In my completely unprofessional opinion and based on things he’s said and done I think Sheen’s an asshole who also happens to be mentally ill. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/47 "2011-03-03T10:23:56Z")
Chuck Lorre has had his own recovery from drugs, IIRC, so I can’t imagine that he’d be too damning were Sheen to make an honest, concerted attempt to finally get off drugs for good. I think a huge issue right now is that Sheen’s prior rehab attempts were half-hearted and insincere. Until he eschews the notion that one can be a social addict as long as he shows up to work on time, then nothing will change. Despite their assholic behavior, I hope that both Lohan and Sheen experience an epiphany before they kill themselves. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/48 "2011-03-03T11:32:20Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > It doesn’t hurt that Downey is hot. As a friend of mine said the other day, “Only Robert Downey Jr. can pull a Robert Downey Jr. and come out of it smelling like Robert Downey Jr. Charlie Sheen is no Robert Downey Jr.” I emphatically agree with her. Sheen and RDJ are miles apart not only in talent and charisma, but if I recall correctly (and it’s entirely possible that I don’t, correct me if necessary) RDJ at his nadir wasn’t giving batshit insane interviews trashing his employers, let alone _violent_. I hope for Charlie Sheen’s family’s sake that he cleans up and has a nice happy life that I never have to hear about again. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/49 "2011-03-03T11:55:02Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > If I try to imagine Sheen in a sexy shitless role I throw up a little in my mouth. Yeah, what I like best about Two and a Half Men is all the feces flying around. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/50 "2011-03-03T12:10:29Z")
Said in Zombie Monotone: “I have a human brain, therefore I am _incapabile_ of understanding his pure Sheen-nesss.” That said: I’m glad I’m out of the blast zone, worst thing I’ll get is a [del]sun[/del] Sheen tan. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/51 "2011-03-03T14:35:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > You’re assuming he _has_ a problem. Recent interviews paint him a very happy man. Does he have sufficient savings to continue his current lifestyle without working? I doubt his current lifestyle will lead to him living to a ripe, old age. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m sure that’s what Sheen thinks. And as long as he thinks that, he’ll be unemployable. But what is his net worth? Does he have to work? Isn’t it possible he is choosing to live a few intense years (or months) versus decades of a “normal” life? I have a buddy who recently retired. He is 55. He worked hard all his life, put two kids through college and amassed a small fortune. He is a great guy. His wife and friends have all accepted his choice to spend the remainder of his life as a functional alcoholic, a glass in his hand all his waking hours. He understands the consequences. Could Sheen just represent a vastly cranked up version of my friend? Personally, I can see the attraction of spending a night with a coupla porn stars, though I couldn’t live that life 24/7. What if Charlie has evaluated his life and made a choice? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/52 "2011-03-03T14:48:05Z")
Clearly, what is happening is that Mr Sheen is channeling Kenny Powers. [http://www.kennypowers.com/](http://www.kennypowers.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/53 "2011-03-03T15:09:56Z")
I don’t know his current net worth, but I understand he was making about $2M per _episode_ for **Two and a Half Men** , and he must half a big piece of the syndication as well. That doesn’t even count whatever he’s made from his movie career, so I’m guessing conservatively he’s into 9 figures or close to it for total career earnings. Of course, he’s also got some ex-wives, a bunch of child support and a massive coke habit, so who knows what he’s already burned through or what he’s really got left, but he should be able to live extremely comfortably for the rest of his days even if he never works again. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/54 "2011-03-03T16:08:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t know his current net worth, but I understand he was making about $2M per _episode_ for **Two and a Half Men** , and he must half a big piece of the syndication as well. That doesn’t even count whatever he’s made from his movie career, so I’m guessing conservatively he’s into 9 figures or close to it for total career earnings. Of course, he’s also got some ex-wives, a bunch of child support and a massive coke habit, so who knows what he’s already burned through or what he’s really got left, but he should be able to live extremely comfortably for the rest of his days even if he never works again. All that’s true, or at least a good point, but I saw a clip of one of his morning news shows (aside: Sheen’s reminding me of Albert Brooks’s line in “Broadcast News” about Schwarzenegger: he was on all three morning news shows, and live on two of them). The question was a quick one about saving his money. Sheen said something along the lines of “save, schmave”. So even if he’s a billionaire because of the syndication, he apparently doesn’t give a shit about money. Which actually is pretty clear from his current active lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/55 "2011-03-03T16:41:58Z")
A vote for “Other.” I don’t think he has all that much talent but people love to tune in to to see the latest installment from a train wreck. The issue is if he dies of an overdose or in a car wreck or survives living his all id all the time hedonistic existence into a ripe old age. OTOH career wise, his Chiam line may make a few people not want to work with him, no matter how much his infamy would pull in viewers. Maybe he can collaborate with Mel Gibson on something? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/56 "2011-03-03T16:50:04Z")
One Point Eight MILLLLLION Dollars per episode. $1,800,000. Times, what? Twenty-four? Twenty-two? What a disgusting waste. Might as well put [this](http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/charlie_sheen_the_conversational_flow_chart.html) here as well. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/57 "2011-03-03T17:22:29Z")
Sheen’s future depends on a lot of things we don’t know for sure: 1. Whether or not this is real. Sheen’s interviews are so flat-out fucking nuts that you must consider the possibility that he is still on drugs (which can be recovered from) needs to be on some drugs (which can be prescribed) or is insane (harder to deal with.) You must also consider the possibility that this is an act, a sort of meta-performance a la Joaquin Phoenix’s stunt. That seems less likely as we have no supporting evidence it is so and Sheen’s problems with drugs and booze are quite well documented, but, still. 1. How hard Sheen is to work with in the future. Sheen has talent, especially for comedy, but all the talent in the world will not help you if you’re perceived as being too hard to work with to bother. Entertainment is filled with the dying corpses of careers of actors who thought they were irreplaceable and discovered they weren’t. If in a couple of years Sheen is sufficiently de-crazied to be easy to work with, he’ll find work. He’s not PR poison the way Mel Gibson is; nobody thinks he’s EVIL, despite the Chaim Levine bit, they just think he’s fucked in the head, and it’s hardly a stretch to imagine Sheen being a People magazine cover story in 2014 (Headline: “Charlie Sheen: I’m No Longer Crazy”) > [@a35362](#): > > One Point Eight MILLLLLION Dollars per episode. > > $1,800,000. > > Times, what? Twenty-four? Twenty-two? > > What a disgusting waste. What was wasted about it? The show made CBS lots of money in part because of Sheen’s talent. They got their money’s worth. That’s what a famous and skilled B-list comedic actor is worth. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/58 "2011-03-03T17:26:57Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Said in Zombie Monotone: “I have a human brain, therefore I am _incapabile_ of understanding his pure Sheen-nesss.” > > That said: I’m glad I’m out of the blast zone, worst thing I’ll get is a [del]sun[/del] Sheen tan. Unless it’s nighttime, then you’ll just get moonSheen. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/59 "2011-03-03T18:56:00Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t know his current net worth, but I understand he was making about $2M per _episode_ for **Two and a Half Men** , and he must half a big piece of the syndication as well. That doesn’t even count whatever he’s made from his movie career, so I’m guessing conservatively he’s into 9 figures or close to it for total career earnings. Of course, he’s also got some ex-wives, a bunch of child support and a massive coke habit, so who knows what he’s already burned through or what he’s really got left, but he should be able to live extremely comfortably for the rest of his days even if he never works again. Didn’t take La Lohan long to blow through her millions. Nick Cage is bankrupt. And there is always the M.C. Hammer story. Most famous people do not turn into Wayne Rogers. With good management, millions can last a lifetime. But being a STAR is expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219/60 "2011-03-03T18:58:19Z")
If Charlie’s craziness is an act, I guess that means we can’t tell the difference between shit and Sheen-ola. Okay, I’ll stop now … Until I think of another one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheen-a-thon-will-charlies-career-survive/573219.md?page=4)