Apparently, there is money to be made, lots of money, in portraying fathers as morons in sitcoms. CBS helped network television sink to a new low for fathers on Monday night, October 16, 2006. Its highly rated Two and a Half Men, starring Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer, redefined male impotence and groveling.ÂÂÂ
For those of you unfamiliar with the show, Charlie Sheen — now the highest-paid star of comedy TV — plays Charlie Harper, a composer of commercial jingles who lives in a beachfront bachelor pad in Malibu. A boozer, gambler, and endless carouser, Charlie shares his pad full-time with now-twice-divorced brother Alan, an unemployed chiropractor played by Jon Cryer, and part-time with Alan’s son, Jake, played by Angus T. Jones. Hence, the 2.5 men.
Since the show began, Alan, a total wimp, has been a pathetic doormat to women — especially his mother and first wife, Judith, who endlessly browbeats him for child support and other payments he’s not required to make. Notwithstanding that, and, with no way to support himself (which is why he lives with his brother), Alan wisely decided to bed and then marry 22-year-old, unemployable, bubble-brain Kandi, played by April Bowlby. As predictability would have it, Kandi, who hasn’t the brains to change a lightbulb, figured out how to divorce Alan and take him for the $500 grand he had just won at a Vegas slot machine.
I had hoped that, with the 2005 finale of Everybody Loves Raymond, another top CBS show with a moronic father as lead character, might come the end of showing disdain towards men on TV. But, it was not to be. Coincidentally, Ray Romano, star and moronic-father-in-chief of his namesake show, has, until Charlie Sheen’s new contract, held the record for highest-paid sitcom star. There’s gold in them, thar WimpyWood Hills.
So, as I sat down to watch Two and a Half Men this Monday past — as in Raymond, the writing and acting in this sitcom are superb — I was appalled at the plot that would unfold. Alan learned that ex-wife Judith, played by Marin Hinkle, would be remarrying — to Jake’s former pediatrician. Alan was celebrating in advance the end of his alimony payments. One wrinkle: Jake didn’t want his mother to remarry; Alan could not sit idly by.
To iron out this unacceptable wrinkle, Alan sprang into action, as any self-respecting man would: he requested his son, Jake, to henceforth address him as Alan and paid him actual money to hug and express love for his future stepfather — and call him Dad. I almost vomitted with disgust.ÂÂÂ
What are the CBS execs thinking? Why is the audience laughing? How much misandry exists in this country? Can you imagine the same treatment of moms on TV? When hell freezes over. It will never happen. Is life imitating art, or the other way around? I can’t tell anymore. I just know that America looks at its men as a sea of Rodney Dangerfields.
About the Author
Marc H. Rudov is an investment banker and business consultant residing in Silicon Valley, CA. He is the author of 30 articles and the book, The Man’s No-Nonsense Guide to Women: How to Succeed in Romance on Planet EarthTM (ISBN 0974501719).
Rudov’s book, articles, blog, and podcasts are available at http://www.TheNoNonsenseMan.com/.
Copyright © 2006 by Marc H. Rudov. All rights reserved.

