Ever imagine Alan Harper (Jon Cryer from Two and a Half Men) swapping punchlines for photon torpedoes in a sci-fi series? Cryer actually passed on a role in Sackhoff’s iconic space saga, leaving fans wondering what could’ve been.
Did he miss his chance at sci-fi glory? Now that’s something we gotta find out!
The Sci-Fi Face-Off: Jon Cryer Reveals the Show He Passed Up for Two and a Half Men!
Jon Cryer, the very same actor who gave us the delightfully villainous Lex Luthor in Supergirl, recently revealed a mind-boggling fact on X. He almost traded sitcom laughs for epic sci-fi in Battlestar Galactica.
Back in 2003, when Two and a Half Men was just setting sail on its 12-season journey, Cryer was faced with a tough decision. He had the chance to play the cunning Gaius Baltar on the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, a role that eventually went to James Callis. But in the end, the allure of sitcom life with Charlie Sheen (pre-meltdown, of course) proved too strong (via Looper).
“In order to do my final network test for Two and a Half Men, I had to turn down a test offer to play Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica,” Cryer tweeted. On declining the opportunity to play Gaius Baltar on Battlestar Galactica, Cryer remarked, “I loved Two and a Half Men. It worked out fine for me.” Ouch. A sci-fi cult classic versus a laugh-a-minute sitcom? Talk about a Sophie’s Choice for any actor.
For the record, it worked out fine.
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) May 19, 2021
I loved doing Two and a Half Men, and I think Battlestar Galactica is one of the best sci-fi shows ever on TV and that @jamescallis is one of the reasons why.
Thankfully, there are no hard feelings. Jon Cryer went on to praise Callis’ performance, calling Battlestar Galactica “one of the best sci-fi shows ever on TV” (phew, that’s a close one) And let’s face it, Cryer’s portrayal of Alan Harper in Two and a Half Men did make him popular, earning him two Emmy Wins.
So, while the audience sorta never perceived Cryer as a cunning Cylon supporter, everything did turn out pretty nicely for all parties. Callis became a byword for Baltar, Cryer found success in sitcoms, and Battlestar Galactica cemented its position in sci-fi history. Win-win, won’t you say?
Two and a Half Men Reboot? Cryer says, “Nope!” (and Sheen Might agree.)
Forget about packing your bags for a Malibu beach house reunion, folks. Jon Cryer, the sitcom veteran, recently poured some serious shade on the possibility of a reboot.
While appearing on The View a few months back, Cryer threw up a big ol’ “not interested” sign when the topic of a revival came up. “Oh gosh, oh gosh, I don’t know how that happens,” he remarked. Seems like those beachside shenanigans might be a thing of the past.
But the thing is: Charlie Sheen, who happens to be Cryer’s ex-co-star (and OG troublemaker), seems to kinda be on the same page. Cryer acknowledged, “He blew it up,” referring to Sheen’s very public meltdown that led him to leave the show. But the now-59-year-old also emphasized Sheen’s doing great these days.
“I love him; I wish him the best,” Cryer continued, “but I don’t know if I want to get in business with him for any length of time.” So, looks like both Cryer’s hesitance and Sheen’s past behavior will likely shatter any reboot dreams.
However, Jon Cryer did offer a glimmer of hope. As of yet, he’s starring in the upcoming NBC series Extended Family, so at least we’ll get to see some comedic gold on-screen. Now, that’s good news!
Watch Two and a Half Men on Amazon Prime.
