... Ashton Kutcher isn't just taking over Charlie Sheen's role on Two and a Half Men, he's taking Charlie's slot as TV's most overpaid highest-paid actor. And that's before a single episode of his has aired. Kutcher will make $700,000 per episode this season, or as Charlie Sheen called it: about enough to pay for drugs and hookers over a two-night "light holiday" in Vegas. In case you were wondering, Sheen made $1.2 million per episode before he was fired, so CBS got a real bargain in Kutcher. [TV Guide]
... A pair of House executive producers, Garrett Lerner and Russel Friend, are working on a new NBC show that also features a shambling, lanky, grumpopotamus. The duo is working on a drama featuring a modern-day Frankenstein. Might I suggest Bachelor Brad Womack to play the lead? [Deadline Hollywood]
... It's about time that we, as Americans, yelled at our own snot-nosed brats instead of relying on some Brit to do it. Lifetime has ordered America's Supernanny, a new version of the ABC show Supernanny that featured UK star Jo Frost as a pro who adjusted the attitudes of tantrum-throwin' rugrats. Maybe this new American supernanny will make the kids brush their teeth for a change. Stereotypes... fun! [Deadline Hollywood]
... Chuck continues to cast from the Comic-Con set, nabbing two actors who appeared in Lost and Smallville. Jeff Fahey, who unironically wore Hawaiian shirts on Lost as Frank Lapidus, and Justin Hartley, who played the Green Arrow on Smallville, will both be appearing in the second episode of Chuck. [TV Line]
... Body of Proof's Dana Delaney is trying to return to Desperate Housewives to wrap up her storyline as Katherine Mayfair. Better do it quick, girl! [NBC]
... Scott Wolf will guest star on the upcoming season of NCIS, playing FBI agent Casey Stratton (now that's a solid FBI-sounding name!). He'll potentially recur on the procedural, which would mean he could make ends meet without having to appear at Jimmy Goodman's 2nd Annual V Convention, featuring Jimmy Goodman and Scott Wolf having an awkward dinner at the Charlotte Holiday Inn. [TV Line]
... Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is working on a new project for ABC. ASP (as we call her) is adapting the 2002 novel The Nanny Diaries for television (it was previously made into a movie). The book follows nannies who work for rich Manhattanites. [TV Guide]
... In more adaptation news, ABC is looking to adapt The Lincoln Lawyer into a television show. I object! [Variety]
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
No more Lawyer shows or shows set in hospitals! Please, just stop. We need more action shows damn it, good ones.
Wow, a show about a Lawyer? Doing Lawyer things?! This will be a defining moment in the history of television, mark my words.
hahahaha
In a time when so many are unemployed and struggling to stay afloat, giving a no-talent hack like Kutcher that kind of money (before he's even made his debut on the show) seems downright criminal.
You socialist. But really, it's not like he's the only grossly overpaid man in America. Lowering his pay isn't going to help anyone but CBS execs.
wow ashton getting paid that much is a little steep. i wonder why he's going back to a tv series since near the end of That '70s Show he was barely in the last season.
Kutcher is a funny dude, but he's still not worth that much money.
So smart for chuck lorre to cut off his nose to spite his face. I give 2 and a half men 1 season. Charlie sheen is that show
Kutcher the highest paid actor on TV?? That is so unfair!! With great shows like Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, Dexter and Justified who all have emmy-worthy actors, that a-hole Kutcher is the highest paid before even starting? Bring on the apocolypse.
It has nothing to do with the quality of the actor, it's because 2 1/2 Men makes a ton from syndication. How well could any of those other shows do in syndication? Not very.
Without Charlie it will suck balls.
A lot displaced anger for Kutcher here. Why all the haters? Heck if you hated Ashton you wouldn't even watch one episode. So why watch to "see how to goes?" Maybe Ashton will do better than you think maybe? May be.
For the same reason people stare at an accident scene. Morbid curiosity
Well, I did enjoy the Butterfly Effect.
I'm all for rewarding talent and/or rewarding profitable stars, but Ashton is as of yet untested in the 2.5 men series so why give him so much before confirming that the series remains highly watched.
Kutcher better save some of that money because after he kills the show, he is going to find it very hard to find work, and with this being Entourages final season, he won't even get a chance to have a small roll there.
He is in way over his head trying to take over from Sheen. As others have stated, I will also watch the first few episodes to see how they write him into the script but that will probably be all I can take of him
I agree don't get to happy because the show will be over before you know it. Probably giving Ashton that much money just to rub it in Charlies face probably. This will be the last season. I may watch the first two episdes see how they get rid of Charlie and introduce this clown then that be it.
whew! 700k an episode??!!! Goodluck!
if charlie sheen isnt in two and a half men then i wont be watching it and i`m not alone, charlie sheen IS two and a half men and the producers just dont seem to get that through their skulls, yes he`s a bit (ok, a lot) eccentric but he made the show great because his character is as close to his real life persona as you can get, so he gets wrecked on drink and drugs and hires hookers? at least he`s honest about it unlike those producers who do it in a closet....
Ashton, don't go blowing those first few $700,000 payday's, because that's all your going to get.
it will be a flop, and the rest of the news is horrible.
This no talent jerk is making $ 700,000 an episode and yet Tom Selleck only gets $ 130,000 an episode for Blue Bloods. And what is even more disgusting is the obnoxious little twerp who plays Jake ( does anyone even know his real name? ) is making $ 250,000 and episode. What is wrong with this picture? CBS should be ashamed.
watch the ratings bomb...
I;m with you BOMB!
you should've put "(and not worth it)" in that picture under the other words... lol. I was a big fan of Gilmore Girls, i haven't read the boob but I actually liked The Nanny Diaries movie (Laura Linney, ScarJo, and Chris Evans. neat) so i might check out the new show. don't think i care about the rest.
Nice for Kutcher, over 15 million for one season! (assuming there will be over 20 eps). Isn't that too much?
For a series where every episode makes 5 million profit for CBS? I don't think so. It has never been about how much an actor deserves, it's about how many viewers he attracts.
Yeah, it made 5 million profit with Sheen. Will it make the same with Kutcher? I have my doubts.
cool about Chuck casting and the Frankenstein show
cool about frankenstein show hope del torro is still gonna do the munsters remake after he does the hulk tv show