Charlie Sheen awaits word on new series: will it be renewed?
TORONTO — Charlie Sheen says he’s looking forward to getting the big phone call that would prove his naysayers wrong and make himaprimetime TV fixture once again.
Next Thursday marks the broadcast of the 10th episode of his new comedy Anger Management on the U.S. cable network FX (the show’s pilot aired on CTV following the closing ceremony of the London Olympics and will have its official Canadian premiere on Sept. 11).
Coming after being ousted from the top-rated Two and a Half Men and his subsequent public breakdown, Sheen picked Anger Management, based on the 2003 film of the same name, as his big comeback project, hoping to make people forget about his admittedly self-destructive and wacky “tiger blood” period.
FX agreed to a 10-episode trial run of Anger Management and pledged to air 90 more if ratings were strong enough.
Critics haven’t been overly kind and ratings have dropped since Anger Management’s record-breaking U.S. premiere.
But FX president John Landgraf has hinted that the show hit the threshold it needed to get the big renewal.
“As with any comedy, I think it’s got more growth in it creatively, I think it’s still developing, but generally speaking, I’m real happy,” Landgraf told reporters last month in Beverly Hills during a Television Critics Association press tour session.
“I would say the odds are overwhelming that it will ultimately earn that renewal.”
Sheen says he’d love to hear something a little more official from Landgraf, but understands that he may have to wait until next week. after ratings are in for the 10th episode. for the confirmation.
“It’d be nice,” he said during an interview in Toronto earlier, while in town to support the Joe Carter Classic Celebrity Golf Tournament.
“I guess they have to play the game out though and that’s fine. That’s the deal we made and that’s the one they’ll honour and we’ll honour. But I think ultimately the fans want it.”
Sheen said he has no problem envisioning a long run for the show and has no shortage of ideas to get through 100 episodes — and maybe beyond.
“There’s so many characters that matter and there’s so many scenarios that if you go into a three-episode arc about someone … look at how you can start stringing this thing out,” he said.
“I think there’s 1,000 stories there, we’ve just got to tell 100.”