Two and a Half Men is an Emmy Award nominated televisionsitcom centred around a hip single bachelor whose lifestyle is interrupted when his newly separated brother moves in. Charlie and his nephew form an "unsuspecting bond" with each other. Two and a Half Men was the highest rated sitcom on the season of 2005-2006 in American television.
Charlie is a successful mid-thirties single guy who apparently has a career writing TV ads and jingles. He lives in a large house in Malibu, California and is a typical womanizer. The plot begins when his uptight brother Alan becomes divorced from his wife Judith, loses his house to her and has to move in with his brother. His 10-year-old son Jake often stays for weekends and at other times. Alan also, at one point, thinks that his ex-wife Judith is a lesbian.
A particularly stupid character on the show is Rose, Charlie's zany neighbor and female stalker. We learn Rose had a one-night-stand with Charlie shortly before the show started and keeps on entering his house through the patio in the most inopportune moments, expressing her ambition of obtaining Charlie, and often serving as a good albeit crazy friend and advisor.
In one episode, Rose's father, Harvey, (played by Charlie Sheen's real father, Martin Sheen) appears to ask Charlie what are his intentions with his daughter after an apparent second one-night-stand between the two. Harvey then meets Charlie's and Alan's mother and has an affair with her, stalking her and popping in just like his daughter does. We then learn from Harvey´s mother that "that's what happens when you marry a first cousin", explaining Rose's family's dementia soon after Rose revealing the one-night-stand was not real, they only woke up together.
Another important recurring character is Berta, the sarcastic and somewhat rude housekeeper with a ferine tongue.
One of the show´s main themes however is the mother-son relationship, whereby the Evelyn character (played by Holland Taylor) enters the picture as the hip early-sixties many-times-divorced slightly slutty controlling mother of the brothers. Charlie and Alan attribute their life's problems to the dark manipulative force their mother manages to exert upon them even now, adding to the caustic humor of the show in the situations where they try everything to avoid seeing her, usually failing.
Another recurring theme in the show is the conflict of personalities between the two diametrically opposed siblings, the relaxed, good-life, woman-catching commitment-phobic Charlie and the uptight self-conscious nerdy Alan.
At Current Warner Bros have not released Two And A Half Men on DVD In North America, however Season 1 is available in Europe, and Season 2 is scheduled for release on August 28, 2006 in Europe.
The show debuted on Monday, September 22, 2003, at 9:30 p.m., EST/PST. In its third season, starting September 2005, it moved to Mondays at 9:00 p.m. (taking Everybody Loves Raymond's time slot).
In an episode of Two and a Half Men it is shown that there is a hate mail website for Charlie Harper called www.charlieharpersucks.com, and is a functioning website on the Internet.
Jon Cryer was Michael J. Fox's choice to replace him on Spin City. The role ended up going to Charlie Sheen.
Jon Cryer was also a favorite to play the part of Chandler Bing from the hit sitcom Friends. He wasn't able to make it to the auditions, so the role was given to Matthew Perry.
Unlike traditional sitcoms, Two and a Half Men doesn't have episode titles. Instead, a quotation from the episode is used — e.g., "Go Get Mommy's Bra"
At the end of each episode, a message appeared on the screen for a brief moment, so that it is readable only to those who record the program (using a VCR, for example) and pause it. These "vanity cards" were written by producer and show co-creator Chuck Lorre, and express his personal views on a variety of subjects. A complete archive of his vanity cards is available at Chuck Lorre Productions
After Charlie's night with a girl is ruined due to Alan's interuption, Alan moves in, being kicked out of his house by his "suffocated" wife: Judith. The next day Alan brings over his son, Jake while he and Judith can talk about their marraige....
Two and a Half Men: Episode 2 -
Big Flappy Bastards
While spending time with Jake, Charlie finds it hard to enforce rules that Alan has set out for him. It gets to the point were Jake lures a folk of sea gulls into his room, and Charlie gets very upset. This prompts Jake to try and get Charlie to...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 3 -
Go East on Sunset Until You Reach the Gates of Hell
After spending a day at Disneyland, Jake gets sick and wants to go to his mothers' house, to have her take care of him. This sends Alan into a state of misery, as he realizes he's losing his wife, and son. Charlie suggests that they go drinking,...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 4 -
If I Can't Write My Chocolate Song I'm Going to Take a Nap
Charlie is very unhappy with his housekeepers' decision to quiet, after she experiences Alans demanding ways. Alan then offers to take on the role of housekeeper, but this situation doesn't work at all. So Alan decides to get the housekeeper to...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 5 -
The Last Thing You Want Is to Wind Up With a Hump
After spending a night in Los Vegas, Charlie decides to live up to his promise that he made to Jake about attending his soccer game. During the game, Charlie sets up a play-date with an unattached mother named Kate, and they hit it off. During one...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 6 -
Did You Check With the Captain of the Flying Monkeys?
Charlie tries to teach Jake to avoid certain calls that Charlie doesn't want to deal with, like his mother (Evelyn) for one. Evelyn gets so frustrated with not being able to talk to Charlie, that she decides to drop in while in the neighbourhood....
Two and a Half Men: Episode 7 -
If They Do Go Either Way, They're Usually Fake
Judith gets worried when, for a school assignment, Jake draws the tattooed buttocks of a female surfer friend of Charlie's who is in the habit of walking around his place half naked. Then Alan gets
worried about Judith after she becomes...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 9 -
Phase One, Complete
After meeting Wendy, a one-night stand of Charlies, Jake befriends her. Charlie doesn't like this situation, as he believes Wendy is using Jake to further their relationship, and he has no intention
to keep it going. It gets to the point...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 11 -
Alan Harper, Frontier Chiropractor
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...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 13 -
Sara Like Puny Alan
Charlie finally gets a chance for a double date with a hot neighbor, who is out for revenge on her cheating husband, 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...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 20 -
Hey, I Can Pee Outside in the Dark
Judith believes that Jake is having a hard time dealing with his parent's divorce, after he starts annoying everyone with his non-stop guitar playing. So she suggests that they send Jake to a therapist. Alan doesn't agree at first, but after...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 3 -
A Bag Full of Jawea
Charlie tries to save Jake from school suspension for giving his teacher (Missi Pyle) the finger by romancing her, but his several attempts fail every time.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 4 -
Go Get Mommy's Bra
Jake is very impressed and can't stop talking about his mother's new boyfriend, Dr. Melnick, which annoys Alan. While Evelyn borrows Charlie's car to help her impress a Saudi prince, because she wants to sell him real estate. When Charlie gets his...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 6 -
The Price of Healthy Gums Is Eternal Vigilance
Alan denies having shoplifted a toy as a child and fears he has a dark side, until Charlie admits he planted the toy on Alan to stay out of trouble himself.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 8 -
Frankenstein and the Horny Villagers
Alan meets a woman named Nancy at a grocery store, who fulfills every single one of his desires, forcing Charlie to take care of Jake. After knowing Nancy for a few days Alan decides to ask her to
marry him, prompting Charlie to try and talk...
When Charlie leaves the house to avoid a date that he can't stand, he ends up at a coffee shop, where he meets his old girlfriend Lisa. He finds out that she broke up with her husband, and now has a
child. Now he must try to convince Lisa...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 10 -
The Salmon Under My Sweater
Charlie tries to get Jake's approval on a theme song that he is hired to write for a television show, which is based on a comic book that Jake is a fan. While Alan finds out more about Rose
(including how smart she is), when he spends more...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 11 -
Last Chance to See Those Tattoos
After getting unusually turned down at a bar, Charlie learns that a website has been made dedicated to exposing his lifestyle. Charlie sets out to find who created the site, making amends to all
those he stood up, but it's harder than it...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 13 -
Zejdz z Moich Wlosów a.k.a. Get Off My Hair
After an earthquake hits, Judith's house is damage and she needs a place to stay. So Alan decides to invite her to stay with him and Charlie, without getting Charlie's permission. Charlie isn't happy
with this, but accepts it. Alan becomes...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 14 -
Those Big Pink Things with Coconut
The brothers throw out their mother, after she insults the way Alan is raising Jake. When Alan and Charlie ignore her phone calls, to get their attention she ends up in the hospital. When Alan and
Charlie show up at the hospital they aren't...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 16 -
Can You Eat Human Flesh With Wooden Teeth?
When Judith decides to take a vacation, the brothers have to take care of Jake during the week. Alan finds it challenging, and even forgets to pick up Jake from soccer practice. When Alan finds out
that he has to go to the I.R.S. because...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 17 -
Woo-Hoo, A Hernia-Exam!
After Charlie has back pain, Alan decides to take him to the Hospital. While there Charlie can't stop hitting on the doctor who is examining him. The only problem is that he has a history with her
that he can't remember. Berta is feed up...
Charlie is invited to a party hosted by a gay ad-executive named Eric, so Charlie asks Alan to pretend that he's his life partner. While at the party, Charlie meets Eric's ex-wife Pamela, and tries
to sleep with her without Eric finding out.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 19 -
A Low, Gutteral Tongue-Flapping Noise
After Charlie takes Alan to an eye doctor, they end up at cafe where they bump into Charlie's ex-girlfriend, Sherri. While there Alan shows an interest in Sherri, and decides to ask her out. The
problem is that Alan can't get over Sherri's...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 21 -
A Sympathetic Crotch to Cry On
Evelyn reads in the obituaries that her second husband, Harry has died. They all attend the funeral, including Jake who is excited at the opportunity of seeing a "dead guy". Charlie is excited by the
opportunity of a newly single widow, and...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 22 -
That Old Hose Bag Is My Mother
Evelyn buys Alan a new Sports car causing Charlie to claim that his brother has sold his soul to the Devil. The next day, Evelyn extracts payment by insisting that Alan go on a blind, double date
with her, her new beau and his daughter. At...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 23 -
Squab, Squab, Squab, Squab, Squab
When Evelyn learns that Jake spent his entire spring break with his grandparents, she pressures Alen into letting Jake stay with her for the night. Conserned that Evelyn will destroy Jake the way she
destroyed their lives, Alen and Charlie...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 2 -
Principal Gallagher's Lesbian Lover
Jake gets suspended from school after drawing an offensive picture of a girl in his class that has large breasts. Meanwhile, Charlie is asked to watch over Alan's chiropractic office after pulling an all-nighter.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 3 -
Carpet Burns and a Bite Mark
Charlie finds out that Alan hasn't been dating other women, but infact has been seeing is ex-wife. To keep Jake from finding out, Alan tells Charlie not to tell him because he doesn't want Jake to get his hopes up. Charlie then tries everything he...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 5 -
We Called It Mr. Pinky
Charlie learns he can't be in a long-lasting relationship because of unresolved issues he has with his mother. Jake asks Charlie for advice about a girl at school.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 7 -
Sleep Tight, Puddin' Pop
Charlie wakes up with Rose the morning after her birthday party. Her irate father (Martin Sheen), comes to ask Charlie about what the future holds for him and Rose, but the unexpected happens when Evelyn shows up.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 15 -
My Tongue is Meat
Charlie has trouble keeping up with Mia's healthy lifestyle, so he begins to sneak beers, cigars, and burgers behind her back. When Mia finds out what he was doing, Charlie has to decide if he is truly in love with her or just whipped.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 16 -
Ergo, The Booty Call
Alan has trouble deciding if he should bring his younger girlfriend to Jake's birthday party to meet his mom and his ex-wife. Rose tries to get her boyfriend to act more like Charlie.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 17 -
The Unfortunate Little Schnauser
Charlie is nominated for an advertising award, but he decides to boycott it because his arch nemesis always wins. The rest of his family tries to trick him into going. Rose is having relationship problems with Gordon and seeks help from Charlie.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 18 -
The Spit-Covered Cobbler
Alan starts to have financial problems when he starts paying for his girlfriend's bills, so Charlie tries to get him to break up with her. Meanwhile, Judith is after Alan because he is late in paying his alimony check.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 1 -
Working for Caligula
Now that newlywed Alan has moved out, Charlie returns to his bachelor lifestyle.
In the wake of his second divorce, Alan melts down. Charlie, family and friends are no help.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 2 -
Who's Vod Kanockers
Charlie finally tells Alan the truth about why he broke up with Mia, and a famous neighbor causes problems.
Alan feels guilty when he learns that Charlie and Mia didn't tie the knot because she had wanted him and Jake to move out....
Two and a Half Men: Episode 3 -
The Sea is a Harsh Mistress
After nearly drowning, Charlie is convinced he saw his late father.
Charlie attempts surfing in order to impress a beautiful girl -- with disastrous results. He later tells Alan that when his life was hanging in the balance, their deceased...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 4 -
Hey, That's My Kimono
Alan and Kandi become embroiled in an unconventional custody battle.
Alan is determined to gain custody of his and Kandi's dog after she walks away from their split with both the condo and the car. Having also lost everything to Judith...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 5 -
A Live Woman of Proven Fertility
Alan and Charlie bond with Judith's new fianc in an effort to improve his relationship with Jake.
Alan is overjoyed that he'll no longer owe Judith alimony when she marries Herb. When their marriage plans are threatened due to Jake's...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 6 -
Apologies for the Frivolity
Charlie cannot see that he's dating a younger version of his mother.
Though Charlie despises his sharp tongued, passive aggressive mother, he's strangely attracted to Lydia, an attractive, blonde high-end real estate agent -- just like his...
Two and a Half Men: Episode 5 -
A Jock Strap in Hell
The guys bump into Jake's former teacher who became a stripper after a fling with Charlie. Charlie tries to help her out by giving her a room and a job, but things spiral out of control.
Two and a Half Men: Episode 9 -
The Mooch At The Boo
Jake disappears with the daughter of Charlie's neighbor, a former NFL player, and Charlie is left to cover his back. Meanwhile, Alan scores a hot date with the help of Charlie's Mercedes.