4 major TV series undergo cast changes
From left: Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher and Angus T. Jones (Getty) Credit: From left: Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher and Angus T. Jones (Getty)
TV's revolving door is about to spin this week, as four major series undergo key cast changes. Here's a breakdown of how these big guns might be affected:
Two and a Half Men
Monday night at 9, CBS/2
Whether you love or loathe this series, "Men" launched Sept. 22, 2003 with one of the best sitcom pilots of the past decade. Vulgar and funny, "Most Chicks Won't Eat Veal" established exactly what this was to be: Anal-retentive younger brother Alan (Jon Cryer) moves in with debauched older brother Charlie (Charlie Sheen), with his deadpan son, Jake (Angus T. Jones), in tow. Among major characters, only Conchata Ferrell's Berta would come later in the first season.
Otherwise, "Two and a Half Men" was a song that remained mostly the same. The Oscar-Felix dynamic changed a little over the years. Charlie became more depraved, Alan got girlfriends and Jake grew to become a deadpan 16-year-old. But what viewers loved the first day, they got -- until the day Sheen was fired in March.
Enter Ashton Kutcher, as Walden Schmidt, an Internet billionaire who buys Charlie's house after his death, in tonight's relaunch. Walden has had a bitter breakup (Judy Greer, as his ex, also joins the show).
Benefits An aging show gets to take a dip in the fountain of youth, with a younger (33) lead. Kutcher should get terrific support from the very funny Greer ("Arrested Development") and the beloved originals. The tone (raunchy) should remain intact, although CBS did not preview the episode.
Risks Other than Michael Kelso on "That '70s Show," Kutcher's TV résumé is paper thin, and his big-screen run is undistinguished. He may be hilarious here -- but what is "here" now? At its core, "Men" was a show about family dynamics, but no longer. Also, Charlie is about to be killed off. TV funerals can be funny -- "Chuckles Bites the Dust" on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," for example. But Chuckles was a clown. Charlie was this show's dark heart.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Wednesday at 10 p.m., CBS/2
Ted Danson replaces Laurence Fishburne as D.B. Russell, the team's new head.
Benefits Danson has been a major TV star for 30 years. He's also a smart, subtle stylist who should add irony, something that's largely been missing since William Petersen left.
Risks None. The show has been in decline, and with Marg Helgenberger leaving by season's end, that should continue.
Law & Order: SVU
Wednesday at 10 p.m., NBC/4
Christopher Meloni leaves after 12 seasons, to be replaced by Danny Pino ("Cold Case"), as Det. Nick Amaro.
Benefits "SVU" has weathered changes for decades. Pino's well known and he should offer a smooth transition.
Risks The franchise is also in decline.
The Office
Thursday at 9 p.m., NBC/4
James Spader joins as Robert California, chairman of Sabre, parent company of Dunder Mifflin.
Benefits Spader is one of TV's best actors ("Boston Legal"), and his "Office" cameo in the finale was a season standout. His character should add a whole new dimension.
Risks None. He's not replacing Steve Carell -- the role of DM's Scranton boss remains to be filled -- but Kathy Bates, whose Jo Bennett was a pleasure.
