"Two and a Half Men" boss explains the surprising series finale twist
[WARNING: Spoilers ahead from Thursday's series finale of "Two and a Half Men."]
Looks like things are still chilly between Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen.
The "Two and a Half Men" creator explained why Sheen, who famously exited the CBS sitcom in 2011 following a public feud with Lorre, didn't make a cameo in the show's final episode in his final vanity card for the show following Thursday's one-hour episode.
In the episode, it was revealed that Sheen's character, Charlie Harper, was alive and focused on his whereabouts. The final moment showed the back of a Sheen lookalike approaching the front steps of the house Charlie Harper used to live, before a baby grand piano was dropped on his head. A moment later, Lorre looked into the camera with a smile and dropped Sheen's famous catchphrase, "Winning."
"I know a lot of you might be disappointed that you didn't get to see Charlie Sheen in tonight's finale. For the record, he was offered a role," Lorre wrote.
The 62-year-old super-producer also revealed his original plans had Sheen agreed to return to "Men."
"Our idea was to have him walk up to the front door in the last scene, ring the doorbell, then turn, look directly into the camera and go off on a maniacal rant about the dangers of drug abuse. He would then explain that these dangers only applied to average people. That he was far from average. He was a ninja warrior from Mars. He was invincible," Lorre continued.
"And then we would drop a piano on him."
Lorre admitted that though he and the writers thought the moment "was funny," Sheen "didn't" -- thus, why he didn't appear.
"Instead, he wanted us to write a heart-warming scene that would set up his return to primetime TV in a new sitcom called 'The Harpers' starring him and Jon Cryer," Lorre wrote. "We thought that was funny too."
Earlier in the day, Sheen alluded on Twitter that an anticipated return to 'Men' on the finale was not to be expected.
"If you're looking for my much anticipated cameo on network TV, you'll have to check out 'The Goldbergs' ... I go where the love is," his tweet read in part. (Sheen is reprising his "Ferris Bueller's Day Off'" role in the '80s-set ABC comedy's special Feb. 25 episode.)
He signed the brief message with the hashtag that should've clued us in: "#OfCourseI'mNot."
Back in September, Sheen voiced his desire to make a 'Men' comeback, telling TV Guide magazine that both sides were talking.
"I've reached out to them and they've reached back," Sheen said at the time. "We're trying to figure out what makes the most sense. If they figure it out like I've presented it to them and they want to include me in some final send-off, I'm available and I'm showing up early. If not, it's on them."
"On the record, I would love to [return]," he said.
Are you surprised by Sheen's no-show? Which version of the final scene did you prefer? Tell us your thoughts by tweeting Philiana Ng at @insidethetube, and don't forget that #ETnow hashtag!
Stars Ashton Kutcher and Jon Cryer gave ET the dirt on the series finale. Watch the on-set interview here.