‘Two And A Half Men,’ Sheen Scores Record Ratings

“Two and a Half Men” had its most-watched episode ever Monday – without Charlie Sheen. The sitcom drew 27.8 million total viewers to its Season 9 premiere, which introduced Ashton Kutcher as Sheen’s replacement. It was the best number ever for “Men,” which suffered a shortened eighth season earlier this year after producers fired Sheen. Kutcher was introduced mid-episode in “Men” as Walden Schmidt, a lovelorn Internet billionaire who had tried to commit suicide by walking into the ocean near the Malibu beach house once owned by Charlie Harper (Sheen). The episode’s opening revealed that Harper had died after a girlfriend had learned of his infidelity and, it was assumed, pushed him in front of an oncoming train. Meanwhile, Sheen appeared Monday as the “victim” of a Comedy Central roast that reached 6.4 million people. It was the second most-watched telecast in the cable network’s history, behind only Jeff Dunham’s holiday special in 2008.