Two and a Half Men (Season 1)

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Two and a Half Men Season 1

The front cover of the Two and a Half Men: Season 1 DVD boxset.
Series Two and a Half Men
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Network CBS
Original run September 22, 2003 – May 24, 2004
No. of episodes 24
DVD release date Region 1: September 11, 2007
Region 2: September 12, 2005
Region 4: February 15, 2006
Next season Season 2

Season one of Two and a Half Men, an American television series created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, that aired its pilot episode on September 22, 2003 at 9:30 p.m., ET/PT, on CBS, a U.S. broadcast television network. The pilot received great reviews and an Artios award nomination for Best Casting for TV, Comedy Pilot (Nikki Valko, Ken Miller)[1]. In the week of October 1, 2008, the series was ranked 7th highest in the top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research, with an average 12.1/18 rating[2]. Thanks to this, the series was able to air another 24 episodes, and was renewed for a second season in 2004[3]. The DVD set was released on Region 2 on September 12, 2005 and on Region 1 on September 11, 2007. It's bonus material included: a Gag reel, Outtakes, a backstage tour with Angus T. Jones and a behind the scenes special, with the cast and crew of Two and a Half Men.

Contents

[edit] Production

The series is set in a large oceanfront home in Malibu, California, however, most of the series is filmed in Burbank, California at the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios at 4000 Warner Boulevard[4], with a fridge that is actually functioning (which is unusual for television shows)[5]. The show features Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, Angus T. Jones as Jake Harper, Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper, Melanie Lynskey as Rose and Marin Hinkle as Judith Harper. Conchata Ferrell had a recurring role in the first season, but later became a main cast member. The opening song, was written by the shows creator Chuck Lorre[5], in later seasons it was lip-synced by Jones, Sheen and Cryer, but they are not the original performers. One of the performers is Elizabeth Daily[5]

[edit] Casting

Originally, actress Blythe Danner was cast to portray Evelyn Harper, but when she started to suggest changes to scenes, she was dissmissed by the producers, one of the bosses commented: "Blythe is a wonderful actress who was put in a part that was not a good fit for her."[6] Most Chicks Won't Eat Veal, the original Pilot, with Blythe Danner as Evelyn Harper, remained unaired[7][8]. According to The Internet Movie Database Charlie Sheen was cast because the creators saw him on Spin City, in which he also portrayed a lonely bachelor afraid of commitment. The show was becoming a huge hit, and breathed much needed life into Charlie's fading career. Before their reunion on the series Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen had both appeared in the comedy Hot Shots[9]. Other connections between the actors are that Taylor, Sheen and Cryer have all appeared in a John Hughes film (Sheen in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Cryer in Pretty in Pink and Taylor in She's Having a Baby)[5].

[edit] Episodes

Episode # Title Original Airdate Prod Code
1 "Pilot" September 22, 2003 101
Carefree bachelor Charlie Harper's life is turned upside down by his divorced brother Alan (Jon Cryer) and nephew Jake (Angus T. Jones) moving in with him.
2 "Big Flappy Bastards" September 29, 2003 102
Charlie begins to learn how to parent Jake (who keeps feeding the seagulls around the house). Meanwhile, Alan attempts to get Judith back.
3 "Go East on Sunset Until You Reach the Gates of Hell" October 6, 2003 103
Alan fears he is losing his son and goes drinking with Charlie.
4 "If I Can't Write My Chocolate Song I'm Going to Take a Nap" October 13, 2003 104
Alan has trouble with Berta, and Charlie needs to get Jake and Rose to follow his suggestions.
5 "The Last Thing You Want Is to Wind Up with a Hump" October 20, 2003 105
After spending a night in Las Vegas, Charlie decides to live up to his promise that he made to Jake about attending his soccer game. During the game, Charlie hits it off with an unattached soccer mom named Kate. Alan sets up a meeting with Gloria (one of the soccer moms) to write a soccer newsletter, but Gloria has other intentions for the evening.
6 "Did You Check With the Captain of the Flying Monkeys?" October 27, 2003 106
Charlie has dated the daughter of Evelyn's new man.
7 "If They Do Go Either Way, They're Usually Fake" November 3, 2003 107
Judith gets worried when Jake draws the tattooed buttocks of a female surfer friend of Charlie's, who walks around his place half naked. Alan feels concern for Judith when she befriends the surfer girl.
8 "Twenty-Five Little Pre-pubers Without a Snoot-ful" November 10, 2003 108
Alan tricks Charlie into joining him and Judith in leading Jake and his classmates in the school's annual music show.
9 "Phase One, Complete" November 17, 2003 109
Charlie wants to dump a female friend that Jake has grown close to. Alan and Rose bond over a game of Scrabble.
10 "Merry Thanksgiving" November 24, 2003 110
In an attempt to prove that he is a family man, Charlie invites Lisa (Denise Richards) over for Thanksgiving dinner. He must also convince his family to join him as well.
11 "Alan Harper, Frontier Chiropractor" December 15, 2003 111
While at the movies, the brothers bump into Judith and her new boyfriend. Seeing that Judith has changed her look, and the fact that Jake doesn't think Alan is as cool as Judith, prompts Alan to realize that if he wants to get back into the dating scene, he's going to have to change his look as well.
12 "Camel Filters and Pheromones" January 5, 2004 112
When Berta is forced to bring her granddaughter Prudence (Megan Fox) to work with her, the boys find themselves a little preoccupied with her.
13 "Sara Like Puny Alan" January 12, 2004 113
Charlie finally gets a chance for a double date with a hot neighbor and her sister (who's a hot soap opera actress), and needs Alan to come along. The problem is that Alan gets sick from Jake, so Charlie takes them to a steam room to help Alan get rid of his flu symptoms. This backfires, as Charlie also gets sick, but he has no intentions of canceling the date.
14 "I Can't Afford Hyenas" February 2, 2004 114
Charlie's accountant Stan (Richard Lewis) tries to explain Charlie's financial woes to him: Charlie spends faster than his royalty checks come in. Alan then coaches Charlie on how to live frugally.
15 "Round One to the Hot Crazy Chick (part 1)" February 9, 2004 115
Against Alan's judgment, Charlie falls for a seemingly crazy woman named Frankie (Jenna Elfman) whom the brothers find smashing up a BMW in a parking lot with a baseball bat.
16 "That Was Saliva, Alan (part 2)" February 16, 2004 116
Frankie tells Charlie and Alan why she and her daughter are on the run; Frankie's daughter has a crush on Jake.
17 "Ate The Hamburgers, Wearing The Hats" February 23, 2004 117
Alan offends Charlie by choosing harebrained cousins as Jake's guardians in the event of his death. Events unveil just how capable Charlie can be at taking care of Jake.
18 "An Old Flame With a New Wick" March 1, 2004 118
Charlie is stunned to learn that an ex-girlfriend, Jill, is now a man, Bill (Chris O'Donnell).
19 "I Remember the Coatroom, I Just Don't Remember You" March 22, 2004 119
Judith's sister Liz (Teri Hatcher) hits on Alan at Jake's birthday party; Evelyn prefers alcohol to cake.
20 "Hey, I Can Pee Outside in the Dark" April 19, 2004 120
Judith believes that Jake is having a hard time dealing with his parents' divorce, after he starts annoying everyone with his non-stop guitar playing. So she suggests that they send Jake to a therapist.
21 "No Sniffing, No Wowing" May 3, 2004 121
Charlie jeopardizes Alan's divorce settlement by sleeping with his attorney, Laura (Heather Locklear).
22 "My Doctor has a Cow Puppet" May 10, 2004 122
Charlie attempts to cure Alan of his recent bout of sleepwalking; Jake sees his therapist.
23 "Just Like Buffalo" May 17, 2004 123
Charlie sweet talks Judith's divorcee support-group into letting Jake continue to spend weekends at his place.
24 "Can You Feel My Finger?" May 24, 2004 124
A woman that Charlie has had sex with thinks she is pregnant. Following this close call, Charlie attempts to get a vasectomy.

[edit] References

  • Sources for episode list:
  1. The Internet Movie Database
  • Other notes:
  1. ^ Casting Society of America, USA: 2004. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  2. ^ Familiar Faces Among the Season's First Top Ten. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  3. ^ CBS announces early 2006-07 season renewals. Tv.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  4. ^ Filming locations for Two and a Half men. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d Two and a Half Men. Trivia. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  6. ^ Gwyneth's Mom Fired from Sheen Sitcom. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  7. ^ Most Chicks Won't Eat Veal: The original Two and a Half Men Pilot. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  8. ^ Most Chicks Won't Eat Veal: The Originial Two and a Half Men Pilot. Tv.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  9. ^ The Two and a Half Men Pilot. Trivia. Tv.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.

[edit] External Links