Nine million people still watch “Two and a Half Men,” which will take its final bow on Thursday. The hourlong finale follows what is easily classified as a troubled, yet incredibly successful, sitcom. After premiering to 18 million viewers in 2003, the show became one of the past decade’s two most-watched comedies (alongside “The Big Bang Theory,” another show created by Chuck Lorre). It survived Charlie Sheen’s outbursts and subsequent firing in 2011, netted 20 acting and three Outstanding Comedy Series nominations from the Emmys. Somewhere along the way, it also became the laughing stock of broadcast television.
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So, as the curtain at last falls on “Two and a Half Men” and its contentious final season, in which Cryer’s heterosexual Alan married Ashton Kutcher’s heterosexual Walden so the two can — umm, what? — adopt a child, don’t let this blight on modern television act as a blinder. “Mom” is a great show that highlights its leads’ talents, upholds feminist underpinnings and offers genuine laughs. It now airs right before “Two and a Half Men,” on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., but will move to the 9:30 p.m. slot after “The Odd Couple” premieres, meaning it’s bookended by yet another show about shallow white men’s pesudo-problems. Even if CBS doesn’t know what to do with it, you should. “Mom” is a winner.
