Child stardom may seem like the ultimate dream, but unfortunately it can be a difficult experience for young actors. Not only are there enormous adult pressures related to the job, but child stars are often exposed to adult things long before they are, and unfortunately, abuse happens on and around sets. Even if a child star manages to avoid abusive situations, she may struggle with fame and the unusual demands of her job. For example, “Captain Marvel” star Brie Larson was originally hesitant to take on the role of one of Marvel's leading heroes because she was unsure of her identity as separate from the many roles she played during her childhood. No matter how much money a child can make, there are many reasons why a child star might walk away from a bright and shiny career.
Angus T. Jones, the young actor who played Jake on “Two and a Half Men,” became the highest-paid child star on television during the show's seventh season in 2010, with a $300,000-per-episode contract that It guaranteed him millions. The show, starring Jones as Alan's son Jon Cryer, who lives with his brother Charlie (Charlie Sheen), was hugely popular and seemed to last forever. Things got very difficult shortly after Jones was lifted, as Sheen was fired from the series after erratic behavior. His character was killed off after the eighth season, and his character's funeral began in the ninth season. By the end of that season, Jake had joined the military and Jones took on a reduced role before leaving completely in season 10. One might assume that Jones would try to move on to movies or other shows, but he disappeared from Hollywood completely. . So what happened?
How it all started
Jones began her career in Hollywood when she landed a role in Nick Nolte's 1999 comedy-thriller “Simpatico” when she was five years old. Just five years later, at the age of 10, he landed the role of a lifetime as the titular “half” in Two and a Half Men. Unlike the overly articulate or unusually wise children in other sitcoms, Jake was a very typical child in many ways, getting bad grades and avoiding household chores if possible. He wasn't exceptionally educated and could be a bit slow on the uptake, which meant that he was unfortunately the butt of many of the show's jokes. As the series progresses, Charlie's influence on Jake becomes more evident, as he becomes lazier, meaner, and more confrontational with any authority figure, especially his divorced parents.
Another major influence Charlie has is the way Jake treats women, as they become more or less available to him once he reaches dating age. Jones became uncomfortable with the direction his character was taking and released a YouTube video in 2012 denouncing the series in its entirety, saying, “You can't be a real, God-fearing person and be on a TV show like that.” . “I know I can't.” Despite his feelings, Jones finished the season, although Jake would end up in Japan at the end of Season 10 and Jones would not appear in “Two and a Half Men” again until a small appearance in the series finale.
The changing cast of Two and a Half Men
Given that Cryer and Sheen were each on “Two and a Half Men,” there was a pretty big hole in the show's formula when Sheen was suddenly fired. It is occupied by billionaire Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher), who bought Charlie's beautiful beach house after his death and allowed Jake and Alan to live there with him. (Obviously, this is something that only happens in sitcoms because in what world would a stranger, especially a filthy rich person, do this?) The chemistry was a little different, and while Cryer and Kutcher were able to make it work, it was clear . that Jones was ready to do it.
When the actor appeared in the series finale, he looked very different from the chubby kid America knew and loved. He had long hair and a beard and looked fitter than in previous seasons. Despite his good looks, Jones has been honest about his dislike of the series, telling local Texas outlet KHOU that he “was a hypocrite for hire” because he was conflicted about the show's message but was still a part of it. . Although he felt the series was a terrible thing due to his conservative Christianity, he apologized lightly, telling creator Chuck Lorre:
“This is his little son, and I completely insulted him, and to that extent I apologize, but other than that I don't regret saying what I said.”
It's a good thing he recognized how much damage he could have caused his former boss, and as the years went by, Jones began to rethink his position.
Stop thinking about the end of the world
In an interview with People magazine in 2016, Jones stepped back slightly from her distaste for Hollywood, explaining that when she left “Two and a Half Men” she was “very confident” and “going to college was something she was very excited about.” . about.” The idea of living something resembling a normal life was exciting to Jones, who had been very famous for about a decade and just wanted a little anonymity. It's very common for child stars to end up having careers outside of entertainment, and it seems that Jones wants to go in that direction, as he is enrolled at the University of Colorado. He also hoped to spend more time with his family, especially his younger brother Otto. He told PEOPLE:
“I've been mentally facing the end of the world for a long time, but now I'm having fun and enjoying where I am. “I no longer feel like every step I take is a landmine.”
Jones has said he is open to the idea of acting again and had a small role in Louis CK's web series “Horace and Pete”, and in 2023 appeared in Lorre's series “Bookie” as himself, joining the cast. from slightly less Shane of Tiger's Blood, who also plays himself and which aired on the Max channel.
An apology to his former colleagues
In an interview with Us magazine, Jones apologized further to the people he once worked with, saying:
“I apologize if my statements reflect indifference, lack of respect for my colleagues, and lack of appreciation for the exceptional opportunity I have been given. “I never meant that.”
While it appears there is no longer any bad blood between Jones, Sheen or Laurie, co-star Cryer has some reservations about how things will play out, especially regarding Sheen. He told Entertainment Weekly that he “didn't want to work with him for a long time” because he felt that despite being the highest-paid actor on television at the time, Sheen “blew him up.” Despite his obvious love for the series and an appearance at a mini-reunion called “Two and a Half Men” with his on-screen mother, Holland Taylor, at the Emmys, it doesn't seem like Cryer was interested in anything like that. “Two and a half men.” 'Half Men' is getting a reboot soon.
The complicated legacy of Two and a Half Men
Although Jones was a bit harsh with his previous disparaging comments about the series, he had some legitimate concerns about the message “Two and a Half Men” was sending to the universe. Although he's had plenty of big hits, creator Chuck Lorre has been criticized for the misogyny of his shows, especially “Two and a Half Men” and the geeky, long-running “The Big Bang Theory.” Both shows often treat women as objects, existing only in the margins to serve the male characters' stories and occasionally provide a bit of eye candy. While it is noticeably more evident in “Two and a Half Men” as Charlie is a womanizer, it is unfortunately prevalent throughout Lauer's work, which can be very frustrating for audiences who find his work entertaining.
Although there are some fun episodes throughout “Two and a Half Men,” the show is so complex and its legacy so distorted that it can be difficult to fully enjoy. It will probably live forever in syndication, but hopefully future audiences will understand that the characters aren't supposed to be role models of any kind. Sitcoms tend to age worse than regular TV series because of the need to push boundaries, but when you add in Sheen and Jones leaving and all the problems with “Two and a Half Men,” it really sucks.
