"What's going on in the head of Charlie Sheen?" That was the question leading off the ABC interview of Sheen on 20/20 Tuesday night, but Sheen was allowed to ramble on incoherently for the next hour without the question ever being answered.
One thing is clear. Sheen is coming mentally unhinged in a very public forum.
Originally the story was an actual news item. CBS had canceled filming on Sheen's sitcom Two and a Half Men for the rest of the season. Then the story began to focus on Sheen's odd behavior. Every major news network, including politically-oriented networks like MSNBC and Fox News, have taken the story and run with it, even as it has turned into something less like a news item and more like a desperate scramble for ratings at the expense of Sheen's mental health.
Celebrity addiction expert Drew Pinsky told TMZ: "It's no joke. He's getting manic. These are bipolar, manic symptoms."
Many medical professionals agree with Pinsky that Sheen is exhibiting bipolar symptoms, although they caution against diagnosing him based on media sound bites.
Whether bipolar disorder is the cause of Sheen's erratic and grandiose behavior, or whether it is caused by drug intoxication or even withdrawal, the question is no longer: "What's going on in the head of Charlie Sheen". It's "What's going on in the heads of TV news executives who report Sheen's manic rantings as news?"
Unlike other celebrities who have suffered similar meltdowns such as Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, no one in Sheen's inner circle is able to reign him in. So he's out there, rambling incoherently, and the news reporters are hanging on every word, laughing at every "joke", as if Sheen is actually making any sense.
The media can be excused for wanting to jump on the ratings bandwagon, but it is clear that Sheen is delusional, and the real question is: "When someone is coming mentally unhinged and in serious need of medical attention, how can it be ethical to enable him by encouraging his delusional behavior?"
What may be amusement for TV viewers is serious business. Unless someone steps in and helps Sheen, the only way this story ends is in complete destruction.
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No. The media is more delusional than Charlie Sheen.
ReplyDeleteIs it the news or is it some bizarre reality show? The media has indeed gone off the deep end. It's time for television execs to make a commitment to broadcast actual news instead of chasing higher ratings by running paparrazi-style journalism. Mr. Sheen needs help, not the attention of a bunch of so-called journalists.
ReplyDeleteHe is a disaster and is obviously manic. Earlier on I figured he would OD and that would be the end of the story. Now it is more difficult to predict what will happen to the guy, but the prognoses doesn't look good. The media finds this lunatic more interesting than the national debt, political corruption, or the Middle East. That's the sad part. I'm tired of hearing about Charlie Sheen. He can take all his money. I'd rather be sane.
ReplyDeleteMany times a sitcom actor will play an exaggerated version of himself on his show. In the case of "Two and a Half Men", Sheen plays a toned-down version.
ReplyDeleteCharlie Sheen is yet another example of an out-of-control celebrity with way too much money. Hey Charlie, can I have some?
ReplyDeletemoney can't buy happiness...or sanity.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a sad, scary and pathetic story. Charlie Sheen is actually a very good actor. The same kind of thing happened to another talent, Robert Downey, Jr.
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the ABC 20/20 "report", but I did see a few clips. My biggest worry is that he'll hurt himself. I don't think he'd ever hurt his children, however. From what I hear, his ex-wife isn't a much better solution, and the media definitely factored into the children being taken away.
It is true that this media fascination of a man falling apart has gone too far, and it has too end. I agree, if something isn't done, if someone doesn't get the man some help, the story can only have a tragic ending.
Well, I don't know...
ReplyDeleteSomeone on NPR this morning was talking about the morality of exploiting Sheen's weird interviews for ratings since he may be mentally ill. However, I've heard his interviews and honestly, he just sounds like a huge jerk. I wouldn't necessary call anything he says incoherent. Maybe he just realized that he had no more need for the 2 million or whatnot per episode he gets paid for his dumb show and wanted to have a little fun and get some attention. If I had to diagnose him, I'd say narcissist, not the personality disorder, just simply narcissist.
Plus, there are too many respecable mentally ill people who probably don't want to be grouped with Sheen... Just saying.
-Kimmie
ps - HI! :)
I agree with the previous comment by Anonymous. Sheen is simply a narcissist. And frankly, I'm tired of hearing about him.
ReplyDeleteI am sick and tired of hearing about Charlie Sheen. That said, I'll be watching intently to the NBC Dateline report tonight. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteTo the Anonymous commentator: At first I thought it was Banksy, then I realized it was the reclusive street artist Kimmie.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, respectable mentally ill people such as myself don't want to be grouped with Sheen.
Please! No more. I'm mad as hell and I can't take it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Don Powell. "Mr. Sheen needs help, not the attention of a bunch of so-called journalists."
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the author: "Unless someone steps in and helps Sheen, the only way this story ends is in complete destruction."
Charlie Sheen fired from Two and a Half Men #winning
ReplyDeletethe meltdown continues http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/08/charlie-sheen-webcast/
ReplyDeleteCharlie's finally found his niche: Cooking show!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bfb12aea47/charlie-sheen-s-winning-recipes
Donald Trump has taken over the airwaves now! You're fired, Charlie.
ReplyDelete