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TagsBY PAULA SCHWARTZ
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Charlie Sheen returns to Comedy Central U.K. in the fall with his new sitcom “Anger Management” according to a press release from Lionsgate’s international television division. This news comes just a week after the show’s U.S. debut last Thursday on FX at 9 p.m., where it broke cable TV records as the most-watched series premiere, with 5.47 million viewers, including 2.65 million in that all-important 18-49 age group.
“Anger Management,” Sheen’s comeback, was picked up by Comedy Central UK at the Los Angeles screenings in May and coincidentally joins their top-rating show, “Two and a Half Men.” Sheen got kicked off of “Two and a Half Men” after insulting the show’s creator Chuck Lorre and following drug arrests and violent episodes against women.
All is forgiven if not forgotten now that Sheen has a hit show, which pokes fun at the actor’s past problems.
The show opened with a close up of Sheen. “You can’t fire me, I quit,” Sheen said wild-eyed into the camera. “You think you can replace me with some other guy, go ahead. It won’t be the same.”
In “Anger Management,” Sheen plays a former baseball player who gets fired because of his uncontrollable rages. His co-stars are Shawnee Smith (“Saw” franchise) as his ex-wife, Selma Blair (“Cruel Intentions”) as his therapist and Daniela Bobadilla as his daughter. Bruce Helford (“The Drew Carey Show") heads up the writing team and is the showrunner.
“'Anger Management’ was the funniest show from this year’s screenings – Charlie is back and in incredible form,” said Chris Collie, Director of Programming for Comedy Central, about the decision to bring the show to the U.K.
Lionsgate International has already sold “Anger Management” in Canada, Latin America, German, Scandinavia, Benelux, Australia, New Zealand and Poland. Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury syndication company sold the show to FX Network in the U.S. and will be selling its second syndication rights to FX as well.
Even as his life was a train wreck, Sheen cashed $40 million dollars worth of checks from May 2010 to 2011, making him the highest paid actor on TV, according to Forbes.com. Sheen has an ownership stake in the “Anger Managerment,” which should inspire him to stay reasonably sane.
