Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen is Hollywood’s highest paid television actor. Two and a Half Men is a very popular television comedy and Sheen plays a character based loosely off of himself, Charlie Harper. The 45-year-old television star has battled with drug and alcohol addictions for most of his life. Sheen has regularly made headlines for bad behavior. From drugs, rehab and divorces Charlie Sheen has built himself a bad boy reputation, but has he taken things too far? Has Sheen finally hit rock bottom? Or is it all a carefully planned act?
On January 27th 2011 Sheen was taken to hospital for “severe abdominal pain” apparently due to a hernia he has had for several years. Coincidentally the next day Sheen voluntarily started up a rehab program. However, since the hospitalization Sheen has seemingly been on a downward spiral. Two and a Half Men executives have stood behind Sheen for many years through his drug abuse and other incidents. His outrageous personal life has been talked away in order to justify keeping him on the show, as the star makes a lot of people a lot of money. It seems no matter what Sheen does nothing can touch him. But the show has been suspended in its 8th season.
Since the news of the show being cancelled Sheen has gone on a self-motivated media tour. During the interviews Charlie Sheen seems to be in a manic state, speaking quickly and often incoherently. Sheen appears very angry about the cancellation of Two and a Half Men. Sheen plans on suing CBS for violating his contract, which supposedly states no “moral causes” in which the network could dispel the contract early. But the actor assures us that he is still “winning” and that the network will pay for what they have done. And seeing as he is “winning” more publicity than ever before I imagine the show is contemplating the profit they could be making off of Sheen very seriously.
“Winning” is Sheen’s latest catchphrase, one which he has recently tattooed on his wrist. He claims to be on top of the world right now despite everything that has happened. Sheen is currently living with porn star Bree Olson and model Natalie Kenly, his “goddesses” as he calls them, after losing custody of his children a few days ago. Watching Sheen’s story progress the entertainment factor just goes up and up.
Sheen was found in a hotel room, naked, with porn star Capri Anderson locked in the bathroom in October. The porn star claims to have been “scared for her life” by Charlie’s violent drug induced behavior. According to Anderson, Sheen yelled racial slurs at her, and threw a lamp at her as well as grabbed her by the throat. She states that there was a large amount of crack that Sheen was indulging in at regular intervals. Anderson has talked to many media sources about the incident at the hotel and it is unclear what the truth of the situation is. Sheen denies much of the accusations. However, Anderson has received mass media attention and likely a lot of money, which makes one question the truth behind the accusations. Especially since she did not contact the police herself.
Since the hotel incident Sheen has been accused of anti-Semitism, and launched a full scale “media blitz”. Tearing down the shows creator Chuck Lorre with remarks like “retarded zombie” Sheen has made it clear he is unhappy with the decision on cancelling Two and a Half Men.
Charlie Sheen’s recent unemployment has prompted him to seek paychecks in unlikely places. Sheen is receiving endorsements from several companies that he “tweets” about such as Tiger Blood energy drinks. As well he is being paid for his interviews and is experimenting with his own “Sheen’s Corner” a self-produced web cast Charlie put out.
During his interviews Sheen comes out with ludicrous statements about how he is “winning” in life right now and that this is all apart of his plan. Speculation has been made that Sheen may have bipolar disorder or a drug related brain dysfunction based off his manic unpredictable behavior. It is likely that his prolonged drug abuse has created a serious problem with his brain function. However, Sheen is a very intelligent man and everything he is doing seems to be leading him towards bigger better contracts and endorsements.
Due to the erratic behaviors Sheen is displaying he has lost custody of his children. Brooke Mueller had a restraining order placed on Sheen and says she “fears for her children’s safety” when they are around their father. But ironically Mueller has her own issues in taking care of the children, as she can only look after them for four hours a day due to her own rehab program’s limitations.
Sheen’s first interview for ABC was a big hit with viewers. Giving ABC its best ratings in two years. There is no doubt that the public is interested in watching the actor’s crazy behavior. There is nothing more entertaining than watching someone fall from the top. Charlie Sheen broke the world record for most Twitter followers in one day, with close to 1 million people following the actor after his debut on ABC.
Sheen constantly mentions magic, trolls and warlocks. Where this is all coming from is a mystery to viewers and interviewers alike. But as long as he is entertaining audiences around the world, networks like ABC and other respected networks will continue running stories of his demise.
Sheen has become the latest buzz, coming out with quotable catch phrases such as “I’m a rockstar from mars” and his classic “winning!” the actor has certainly gotten our attention. But how long will he be able to hold it? Is it possible for Charlie Sheen to turn himself around and come back on top? Or is this going to be the beginning of the end for Charlie Sheen? It is clear that there is no stopping him now on his media extravaganza. At this point Sheen could go either way, clean up and come back or continue on his self-destructive path and lose our loyalty, and possibly lose some Twitter followers as well. Sheen has captured our attention with his neurotic behavior, and my instincts tell me this was all really a part of his plan. But only time will tell how long our interest can be held with the delusional “rockstar from Mars”.


References
Adams, Richard. (January 2011) “Charlie Sheen Hospitalized for Severe Stomach
Pains” The Guardian Online. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Associated Press. (November 2010). “Porn Star Sueing Charlie Sheen After Hotel Incident” Fox News Online. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Beam, Christopher. (March 2011). “How Will it End, Charlie Sheen” Slate Online. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Bell, Melissa. (March 2011). “Charlie Sheen: The Storyline Missing from the Spotlight” The Washington Post Online. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
Belloni, Matthew and Eriq Gardner. (March 2011) “Sheen’s legal case against studios not so crazy” Reuters Online. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Oldenburg, Ann. (March 2011) “Has Charlie Sheen Hit Bottom Yet on this Downward Spiral?” USA Today Online. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Wikipedia. (March 2011) “Charlie Sheen” Wikipedia. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Whitall, Susan. (March 2011). “Grapevine: Sheen loses kids, gains Twitter” The Detroit News Online. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
ZMandell. (February 2011) “Charlie Sheen Goes Further Off Deep End After Show Gets Cancelled” Now Public Online. Retrieved March 6, 2011.