14 DAY TRIAL // Chuck Lorre and CBS wanted to play the ultimate prank on Charlie Sheen (to put it in very mild terms), by bringing his character on “Two and a Half Men” back from the dead but not casting him in the role.
As fans must know, Sheen, Lorre, CBS and Warner Bros. parted ways on very unfriendly terms, which led to Sheen's departure from the show at the end of the previous season.
His character on “Men,” Charlie Harper, was subsequently killed off at the beginning of the current season.
However, fans will be seeing him again on a March 30 episode, though not in the form they were accustomed to.
Instead, Harper's ghost will be played by Kathy Bates, in what Lorre and CBS thought would be one final jab at Sheen, TMZ writes.
If so, it's failed, because he's actually happy with their choice of a replacement.
“Charlie Sheen is telling friends he's 'honored' Bates will be playing his old character. In case you didn't know – Charlie Harper is scheduled to make a cameo on 'Men' on April 30th, and exec producer Chuck Lorre thought it would be funny to cast Kathy Bates instead of Charlie Sheen,” TMZ writes.
“But the jab backfired, because sources close to Charlie tell TMZ, the Warlock LOVES Kathy. We're told Charlie thinks she's an incredibly funny, talented actress – and is 'honored' the two now share a connection,” the same report says.
In fact, Charlie is so hyped about Katy's take on his character that he's dying to see the March 30 episode, which he'll make sure he'll be seeing with friends.
As we also reported yesterday, producers didn't explain why they're bringing Charlie Harper back precisely now, but word online has it that they're trying to milk the almost forgotten scandal for that final drop, for a boost in ratings.