BURBANK, Calif. — Melanie Lynskey, who left her "Two and a Half Men" role as Rose (Charlie's neighbor/stalker) last season to take a part in the Fox series "Drive," became available again when that series quickly crashed and burned.
"We're bringing Melanie back," Lorre confirmed, although he wouldn't say how and spoil what will apparently be a surprise in the series' 100th episode (the fourth of the new season).
"It's a terrific episode that introduces her back into the lives of our guys," said Lorre, who added that Lynskey will not be a series regular.
"For now it's what's called a recurring relationship with the show," he said. "I hope (she's on) as often as we can. We love her."
JANEANE GARAFALO will be in the cast of "24" when that show returns in January, but first she'll show up on "Two and a Half Men" as a "paramour" for Alan.
"It's going to be one of his bad choices," Lorre said.
YOURS TRULY has always written nice things about "Two and a Half Men," but while the show is a big success in the ratings, it has not exactly been a critical darling. A question about that lack of critical praise was met with a painful silence.
"A shadow fell over the cast," Lorre finally said.
Leave it to Conchata Ferrell to put us in our place.
"I've wiped my bottom with a few newspapers," she said.
And you could hardly argue with Sheen when he said, "When all is said and done, I think your fans are your most important critics."
AT LEAST CRYER is aware that there's no such thing as unanimity among TV critics.
"There have been plenty of critics who were actually very complimentary to the show," he said. "It's funny. For actors and for writers, you invest so much of your personality and you think that whenever somebody finds it lacking for whatever reason, you tend to go 'Oh' in a way that even when they say 'You're the greatest thing ever,' it just bounces off your forehead."