Angus T. Jones of 'Two and a Half Men,' who at one point seemed to be taking a torch to this place, will return to 'Two and a Half Men' next season.(Photo: Robert Voets, CBS)
The half is back.
Angus T. Jones, whose future on CBS comedy Two and a Half Men
was thrown into doubt in late November after he trashed his show on a
viral YouTube video, is being welcomed home with open arms.
Men's
creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre said Wednesday that Jones
will be back shooting shortly. "He's coming back next week. He's part of
our show. He's part of our family. We love him," Lorre said.
MORE: 'Men' star Angus T. Jones comments on viral video
Speaking
on the red carpet at the People's Choice Awards, Lorre said he spoke
with Jones after his comments. "I was concerned about him continuing
with us, but he's entitled to his journey," he said. "He's a sweetheart.
He's fine."
He continued: "He's 19, man. Cut him some slack."
Jones
has played Jake Harper since the hit sitcom premiered in 2003, though
he has had less screen time this season after his character enlisted.
In
religious testimony given as a video interview with a small group
called The Forerunner Chronicles in November, Jones said: "If you're
watching Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I'm on Two and a Half Men.
I don't want to be on it. ... Please stop filling your head with
filth." The video, recorded in his trailer on the Warner Bros. lot,
quickly went viral.
MORE: 'Two and a Half Men' star Jones rips sitcom for 'filth'
Soon after he expressed regret in a statement:
"I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and
disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the
extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended
that," he says.
Lorre joked Wednesday that he didn't disagree, at
least partly, with Jones' earlier statement: "The show's kind of
filthy. We work hard. We hope it's funny, as well."
In Jones'
first episode back, his character, Jake, gets a new girlfriend. "The
episode we're (shooting) next week introduces his new girlfriend, an
older woman with three kids, a tattoo artist, played by Jaime Pressly,"
he said. No air date has been set.
Men relaunched in fall
2011 with Ashton Kutcher replacing the fired Charlie Sheen after his
vicious public battle with Lorre. It remains one of TV's top-rated
series in its 10th year, averaging more than 14 million viewers this
season.
Lorre said the situation was in no way similar to the
controversy with Sheen. "He is a beloved member of the cast," Lorre said
of Jones. "He has been a great, great young man for 10 years."
USA Today