If you’ve read any of our reviews of CBS’ long-running sitcom Two and a Half Men, then you likely know that Plugged In hasn’t necessarily thought of the edgy comedy as, uh, classic family-room fare. Well, it turns out that we’re not the only ones with reservations. Even the show’s stars have been turning up their noses.
Last year, Charlie Sheen had a very public meltdown and eventually referred to his former TV meal ticket as “dribble” and a “puke-fest.” And recently, the “Half” of the title, 19-year-old actor Angus T. Jones, threw in his own two cents and labeled the regularly raunchy show as “filth.” In fact, in his rather lengthy YouTube “testimonial” with the Alabama-based ministry Forerunner Chronicles, Jones went so far as to not only lament the nine years that he’s been on the series but to also plead with fans to simply say “no” to the show.
“I’m on Two and a Half Men,” the young actor said. “And I don’t want to be on it. … Please stop watching it, please stop filling your head with filth. People say it’s just entertainment. Do some research on the effects of television on your brain, and I promise you you’ll have a decision to make when it comes to television.”
Here’s a short clip from the full interview.
Of course, Jones’ comments haven’t gone unnoticed. There have been criticisms about him biting the hand that feeds him and suggestions that he simply donate his $300,000 per episode salary to charity if he feels so bad about it. And just a day or so after his YouTube critique hit the mainstream, Jones apologized to his Hollywood colleagues.
“I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed,” he said in a statement.
But while he said he was sorry for any hurt feelings, it doesn’t seem like he’s backtracking from his original statement, either.
And really, who could argue that CBS’ stalwart comedy is anything but trashy? The show wears it as a badge of honor. Even star Jon Cryer—now the only original core castmember who hasn’t made headlines for bashing the show—said as much to Entertainment Weekly after Sheen was replaced by Ashton Kutcher: “If you found it deeply offensive before, it’s still deeply offensive,” he said. “That’s a promise we made to our audience and we intend to keep it!”
So along with the criticism, Jones has received a number of nods of agreement from the entertainment/media industry, too.
“It’s no surprise to anyone who watches TV, that Two and a Half Men is one of the most vile and sleazy shows in history,” Dan Gainor of the content analysis organization Media Research Center said in a foxnews.com article. “Take your pick, sex talk, sex positions, threesomes—it’s all there teaching America’s young people this is how adults are supposed to act.”
Well, here’s hoping a few of those young fans are listening now. And that they start hitting the off button.
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