No, it's not April Fool's Day. I feel like it's important to stress that fact right away because of the severe oddness of this story. Charlie Sheen's character is coming back to Two and a Half Men, only Sheen himself won't be back. Instead, Kathy Bates will take on the role.

In the April 30 episode of Two and a Half Men, Alan (Jon Cryer) will have a heart attack and he will have a ghostly vision of his brother, only he'll be played by Bates.

This is supremely strange and confusing for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Sheen and Bates aren't the same gender. It's also weird because Bates is currently starring on Harry's Law, a TV show on a rival network.

As someone who never watches Two and a Half Men, I'm mildly interested to see how on Earth they'll do this. On the other hand, I'm aware that this is the kind of big stunt the producers are doing for the sole purpose of attracting people like me who don't regularly watch.

Two and a Half Men is one of the few CBS shows not yet renewed for a new season, due largely to ongoing contract negotiations with star Ashton Kutcher.

The Kathy-Bates-as-Charlie-Harper episode of Two and a Half Men airs Monday, April 30 at 9pm on CBS.


(Image courtesy of CBS)