Ashton Kutcher to Play Internet Billionaire 'Walden Schmidt' on New “Two and a Half Men”

The buzz is starting to get intense.

Everybody wants to know what role newcomer Ashton Kutcher will be playing in the new season of “Two and a Half Men”.

We know Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will be returning in a big way. And so will Rose, Berta, and Evelyn – but what about Kutcher?

We told you last week how Kutcher is in charge now, and showed you the new promotional artwork and Ashton’s new two story trailer he has parked on the back lot.

Related: Kutcher in charge at “Two and a Half Men” - Photos

But what everybody is dying to know is how will his character be written into the series and what role will he play?

Well, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler says she has the dirt.

Charlie Sheen’s character of Uncle Charlie is dead.

Dead, gone, in the ground – never to return again ever on the new show.

Rumor is he was killed in a plane crash and already six feet under when the first show airs.

The season opener will start with Alan, Jake, Evelyn, Rose, Berta, Herb, and Judith throwing a memorial service at the Malibu beach house.

We also hear that all of Charlie’s past girlfriends will make an appearance at the memorial.

And despite rumors that Kutcher’s new character will be named Raymond, we now know he will play the role of Walden Schmidt – an internet billionaire who also has a broken heart.

We think the “Raymond” rumor got started because IMDB has updated the “Two and a Half Men” show credits and is listing Kutcher in the role of Raymond.

We also know that the beach house will go up for sale and there will be several cameos by still living, real life celebrities who stop by to look at the property conveniently brokered by money hungry realtor Evelyn Harper.

While Tassler said that Ashton’s new character will NOT be related to anybody in the Harper family, we know that Alan and Jake somehow get to stay in the beach house indefinitely with no strings attached.

We also know that Rose and Berta will play a prominent role during the new season.

Tassler did say that the first episode will be in two parts because the new plot will take time to reveal itself.

Tassler closed her comments by saying,

“The great news is the show will be as irreverent as it’s always been. And there is great value in hiring an actor like Ashton Kutcher. He is extraordinarily professional, talented, gifted actor who comes with a tremendous amount of commitment and enthusiasm.”

We can’t wait.

I think enough time has passed since Sheen’s antics and the public is over the whole tiger blood and hooker thing.

We think the television viewing audience will embrace the new show and won’t miss Uncle Charlie for a minute.

Go get ‘em Chuck Lorre – we can’t wait to see what you have cooked up.

The first show of the new “Two and a Half Men” season will air Monday September 19th at 9pm.

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Uncle Charlie Harper Dies a Tragic Death – Memorial Service Set For September 19, 2011

There is sad news for Charlie Harper – Charlie Sheen’s character on the CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men”.

As we reported last week, CBS and executive producer Chuck Lorre have been hard at work, and moving full steam ahead with the new show format for the upcoming season of “Two and a Half Men”.

And now we have more detail about the new seasons plot now that Sheen is out and Ashton Kutcher is in.

Related: Ashton Kutcher is in charge now - Photos

It appears that on opening night of the new season Uncle Charlie will already be dead – the victim of booze, wild women, and possibly a tragic plane crash.

The show will open with Angus T. Jones who plays Jake, Jon Cryer, and others attending a memorial service at the now infamous beach house in Malibu.

Attending will be all of Charlie’s girlfriends from seasons past as well as a few other notable characters from the shows high points.

We hear that the Malibu beach house will go up for sale during the first show and there will be a host of real life famous people stopping by to look at the property.

Naturally you can imagine who the realtor will be – Mrs. Evelyn Harper played by Holland Taylor of course.

We can also confirm that Kutcher’s new character will be named Raymond and will play an internet billionaire with a broken heart.

We also know that somehow Allan, Jake, and Berta all get to stay in the house after the sale. Not sure how that will be written in but we’re sure Chuck knows what he’s doing.

We also hear that the character of Rose played by Melanie Lynskey will have a role, as will Judith Harper and Dr. Herb Melnick played by Marin Hinkle and Ryan Stiles.

So get ready to see Chelsea, Mia, Mandi, and maybe even Ms. Delores Pasternak stop by to pay their final goodbyes to the lowlife Charlie Harper.

We even suspect with all this family tragedy they are going to need a really good shrink and expect to see Jane Lynch return in full form as Dr. Linda Freeman.

Can’t wait….

But it’s going to be a busy fourth quarter for Ashton Kutcher as he is starring in the romantic comedy “New Year’s Eve” that is scheduled to be released December 9th.

“New Year’s Eve” has almost every A-list Hollywood celebrity in it including Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Robert De Niro, and will follow the lives of several couples and singles in New York as they intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.

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Photo - Ashton Kutcher and Angus T. Jones Appear in First New “Two and a Half Men” Promos

The Fall television season is fast approaching and all eyes will be on Ashton Kutcher and the new season of “Two and a Half Men”.

CBS, Warner Bros., and Chuck Lorre have the huge task of writing out Charlie Sheen and writing in a believable Ashton Kutcher storyline.

Can they do it?

Last week a new photo emerged of a half-naked and shirtless Angus T. Jones, Jon Cryer, and Kutcher standing behind a new “Two and a Half Men” poster.

Executive Producer Chuck Lorre has hinted that poor old Uncle Charley may be killed off in a plane crash so

“He can never make an appearance on the show ever again…”

We suspect there will be tons of interest and lots of people watching the first new episode to see how things shake out.

And this week a new curtain shot photo was released giving us a little preview of Ashton’s appearance for the show.

We were surprised they let him keep his unkempt hair figuring they would want a little more “clean cut” character – but hey, we’re not the boss.

But even with Charlie Sheen gone, we still enjoy watching some of the bloopers from the early days.

Related: Two and a Half Men Bloopers and Gag Reel – Video

For his part, Sheen is still trying to collect a $100 million payday from CBS but insiders say the case could be tied up in court for years and he will probably only get a fraction of what he is seeking – if any.

There is also a rumor that the crazy neighbor “Rose” played by Melanie Lynskey will be returning in some capacity as will Mom Evelyn Harper played by Holland Taylor.

And of course we hear that a sweet spot has been reserved for our favorite housekeeper Berta played by Conchata Ferrell.

The new season will premiere on September 19 at 9:00 pm on CBS.

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Charlie Sheen’s Picture Removed from CBS Studio Lot – New Season Plot Update

Poor Uncle Charley.

It’s seems that CBS called his bluff.

And today they made it official.

After announcing that Ashton Kutcher will be joining the cast starting next season, CBS and Warner Brothers made the first move in changing the shows external look. 

Maintenance workers removed the giant “Two and a Half Men” banner from the studios exterior and replaced it with a more generic banner.

We suspect as soon as CBS gets Ashton Kutcher cleaned up they will install a new banner showcasing the current cast including Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones.

And there is also a bit of news about the new seasons plot and how Sheen may be written out of the show.

TMZ says they talked with a production insider and the dirty deed may actually play off perfectly from the last show of last season.

This was the last episode Sheen filmed before going all tiger blood on us, where he had just purchased two tickets to Paris and was going to take Rose – and ask her to marry him.

Insiders say executive producer Chuck Lorre is planning to use the flight to Paris as the exit for Charley – and that it will NOT be a plane crash.

While subject to change, and it probably will, Uncle Charley just may decide to stay in Paris and say goodbye to Malibu.

There are still a few plot twists that need to be worked out like what happens to the beach house, and how does Rose get back to California while leaving Charley in France.

After all, the show will be better without Sheen but suck if Rose can’t still play in the sand box.

See Also:
Two and a Half Men Bloopers and Gag Reel – Video
Charlie Sheen puts his Beverly Hills Mansion up for sale
Jimmy Fallon does Charlie Sheen – video
More Charlie Sheen Stories

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‘Two and a Half Men’ has 50/50 Chance of Returning Says CBS - Decision Soon.

CBS Network brass is still contemplating what to do with “Two and a Half Men”.

With television sweeps starting next month (May), and up-fronts looming, CBS has to make a decision on what to do with season 9 of the once golden sitcom – and fast.

Ever since Charlie Sheen was fired from the show there has been speculation it might return for another season – with or without Uncle Charlie Harper.

Since his firing, Sheen has been on the road with his “Violent Torpedo of Truth” tour and has been telling his audiences that he desperately wants back on the show.

Not so fast says the show’s production staff.

One insider says that there is a 50/50 chance the show will return for another season. And if it does return – there will be changes.

Here is what we know for sure:

- Charlie Sheen is not welcome back on the show.
- Executive producer Chuck Lorre has a plot workaround to either replace Sheen or write him out of the series.
- No official offers have been made to any new actors.
- A decision has to be made before May 18, 2011.
- CBS really does want to try and salvage the show

Chuck Lorre has been telling the media that he has several ideas on how to continue the show – one that increases Jon Cryer’s role, and another puts Ryan Stile’s “Herb Melnick” character in a lead role.

We have also heard a couple unofficial “plot” ideas, sans Charlie Sheen, that all include using the existing actors, sets, writers, and facilities. Seems like a smart idea to us.

Our favorite has Rose downsizing and buying Charlie’s house after he gets thrown in jail in Bangkok. She then allows recently thrown to the curb Herb Melnick to move in with her, Allen, and Jake. Even Berta likes the idea and agrees to stay on.

One insider told reporters,

“The idea would be Rose buys the house and lets Alan, Herb, and Jake live there. We call it ‘Two and a Half Men – and Rose’. There have been lots of variations but it always comes back to the same fundamental movement of actors and their roles. It would be easy – and funny.”

It does sound like a nice clean, and believable, transition that could actually propel the sitcom into a whole new direction – both retaining the old fans and creating new ones.

We say bring us “Two and a Half Men & Rose”