One minute he’s allowing us to witness his canoodling lifestyle with two hot, blond goddesses and the next he’s locking lips with Jimmie Kimmel. Charlie Sheen says he’s not on a downward spiral but, rather, is, as we’ve all heard far too often, “winning,” due, in no small part, to his “tiger blood.”
The last few months have been eventful for the once highest-paid actor on TV. He was hospitalized after trashing a hotel suite during a wild night with a prostitute, who later threatened to sue him. He was arrested and spent Christmas in jail after a fight with estranged wife, Brooke Mueller. He was found in a restaurant bathroom naked and covered in cocaine. His publicist, Stan Rosenfeld, quit after one of Sheen’s rants on “The Today Show” and a bizarre interview with TMZ. His kids were removed from his home after Mueller filed a restraining order. He was fired from the hit TV show “Two and a Half Men.” He bragged about a 36-hour cocaine and ecstasy binge. A virus spread on Facebook claiming he was dead. A strain of marijuana has been named after him. Gary Busey is praying for him and Mel Gibson is trying to save his life. Can it get any worse than that?
But, in spite of it all, Sheen has managed to break records on Twitter, sell out his “Violent Torpedo of Death” tour in several cities, and get Mueller to drop her restraining order. And CBS wants him back on “Two and a Half Men.”
So, is it time for a Charlie Sheen comeback?
If he needs any advice on how to pull it off, there are plenty of celebrities with great comeback stories that Sheen can talk to. Here are some of the best:
Robert Downey, Jr. was a rehab regular. Arrested many times for felony drug possession, he was eventually sentenced to three years in prison. He was fired from the show “Ally McBeal” after getting arrested for wandering around an alley under the influence of a controlled substance. He once passed out in a stranger’s house while in a drug-induced daze and was blackballed from much of Hollywood.
Now Downey is a blockbuster regular. Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man” and sequel catapulted his comeback to an epic success story. These days, anything he touches turns into a must-see blockbuster, and he has earned the respect of the public and Hollywood bigwigs.
Mickey Rourke was out of work for 10 years after his self-destructive behavior made him a Hollywood outsider. His violent temper led to fights with movie execs, run-ins with the police and an arrest for domestic assault.
Rourke got professional help for his anger problem and found solace in his love for boxing. Then director Darren Aronofsky pegged him for a new film, “The Wrestler.” Rourke put his past behind him, gained 35 pounds and subjected himself to grueling daily workouts. His hard work earned him Oscar buzz and a Golden Globe for best actor.
Hugh Grant was arrested for lewd conduct when he was caught in a compromising position with a prostitute in his BMW. He pled no contest and was sentenced to two years probation. Grant’s mug shot was plastered everywhere next to the shockingly unflattering picture of his accomplice, Devine Brown.
Grant publicly apologized repeatedly on the talk show circuit. He didn’t shy away from an interview or an uncomfortable question. He admitted his mistake and learned to laugh at himself. His refusal to make excuses earned him the respect of the public and helped make him one of the most popular rom-com leading males.
Let’s hope Charlie Sheen follows some of these examples and gets his act together before CBS hires one of the rumored replacements to take over on “Men.” Maybe he should stop getting his love and support from Mel Gibson.
