Sandy-gram

[#1]

Discussions around water coolers have been monopolized by the antics of Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen. Everyday there’s new material. We watch while he self-destructs, and the tiger blood running through his veins doesn’t seem to be helping much. But perhaps the real question is…why are we so fascinated?

If you Google^tm him, you’ll get about 560 million pages of results. Let’s face it, Sheen has been a big star for a long time with huge hits like Platoon, Wall Street, Major League and Hot Shots!  As if that wasn’t enough, he successfully made the move to the small screen in Spin City and the incredibly lucrative Two and a Half Men—for which he reportedly makes almost $2 million per episode. Not a bad job if you can get it.

Perhaps that’s part of the fascination with his meltdown. Many of us won’t earn $2 million in a lifetime, much less in a week. Plus he’s had beautiful wives, has a cool family and healthy children…

I suppose all that would be considered winning, but no…in the sideshow world of Charlie, winning is an elusive target. What exactly is he trying to win?   I can’t quite make it out from all his ramblings via every possible web and media outlet available. (I think TMZs stock just went up again…)

We’re also used to the actions from past celebrities who have experienced meltdowns. After Britney shaved her head, she was quickly removed from the media spotlight and whisked into therapy. Upon her return, a few doe-eyed photos assured us that she was good to go again.

Lindsey Lohan’s antics pale in comparison to Sheen’s…a stolen necklace and a tight dress for court? It’s nothing close to Sheen’s over-the-top behavior. I bet Lohan’s PR folks are breathing a sigh of relief that she’s been relegated to page three mentions…if that.

You have to admit, Sheen has made this whole thing entertaining. Where does he come up with this stuff?  On his way to awesomeville via 20/20, Sheen shared some of his current views on life…

"I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen. It's not available. If you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

(About drugs) "I probably took more than anybody could survive. ... I was bangin' seven-gram rocks and finishing them because that's how I roll, because I have one speed, one gear. ... I'm different. I have a different constitution, I have a different brain, I have a different heart. I got tiger blood, man. Dying's for fools, dying's for amateurs."

(On his life) "It's perfect. It's awesome. Every day is just filled with just wins. All we do is put wins in the record books. We win so radically in our underwear before our first cup of coffee, it's scary. People say it's lonely at the top, but I sure like the view."

(On his two girlfriends) "You've read about the goddesses, come on. They're an international sensation. These are my girlfriends. These are the women that I love that have completed the three parts of my heart. ... It's a polygamy story. All my guy friends are gonna like throw tomatoes at me. It's like an organic union of the hearts."

…And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, his bizarre quotes and actions just keep on coming—and keep us riveted…at least for now.

[#2]

Perhaps people are fascinated in the same way they are by a train wreck. I don't mean to be facetious. I think his situation is pretty awful and he seems to be suffering from addiction on many levels. He really is self-destructing in front of our very eyes. I believe he's tried to get rehabbed but to no avail so maybe the current situation in which his children have been taken away from him will be the necessary "hitting bottom" that may trigger recovery.  I'm no expert, but that's certainly the theory you always hear. 

My husband was asking me the other day where his father is in all of this? Has he come out to speak on his son's behalf or are they estranged?  Or maybe he prefers to keep this private and provide his support behind the scenes -- who knows. Unfortunately, Charlie Sheen has been in the limelight so long that he's not going to be able to be treated to very much privacy. I hope he finally gets some help that sticks.  

[#3]

The problem with being famous is that every foolish thing you say gets broadcast worldwide. Even worse, if you're suffering from substance abuse, you have double trouble. I feel sorry for Charlie Sheen and wish someone would intervene and tell him not to talk to the media. It's like a feeding frenzy with blood in the water. 

[#4]

It really does seem to me like he is in the manic phase of bi-polar disease, which is often exacerbated by addiction.  However, what bothers me the most (and what keeps me from feeling sorry for him) is that apparently he has regularly been abusive and threatening to the women in his life, twice pleading guilty to such charges.  His ex-wife has a restraining order against him.  His issues are not a free pass to terrorize the people closest to him. 

As for his father, he has been dealing with this for many years, and has more than once moved to get Charlie into rehab.  I read somewhere that his family is waiting for an opening to do that again.  They probably have to wait until the manic phase starts to pass, because they can't force him to do this against his will without a court order, which is really hard to get.  My greatest sympathy is for his kids -- having a father with these kinds of problems is not an easy thing.

[#5]

I'm not really sure I feel sorry for someone who is that self-destructive (and destructive, as well, to the people around him). And I have to admit, I don't find the whole situation fascinating. I very rarely watch television and even more rarely read magazines about celebrities. Honestly, I just don't care. I don't know him personally, I don't work for him, he has no bearing on my life. And it's not like a global situation that has affected thousands of people (like the tsunami in Japan) or the downing of the World Trade Towers - those situations deserved our compassion and thought. This man just needs to be admitted to a clinic. Without all the tasteless media and stupid quotations.

[#6]

I can't agree more.  The crisis in Japan really puts everything in perspective. Fortunately for us, rich bad boys don't seem to be occupying the airways much anymore.

My heart truly goes out to those folks who have lost everything, including family and friends.

[#7]

What has happened in Japan is truly devastating, and deserves our compassion the way a spoiled, self-destructive celebrity does not. I cannot even imagine what the people of Japan are going through, mourning thousands, still searching for loved ones, losing everything. My heart goes out to them. I commented separately on it, but I have to say again that I really appreciate Sandyk's blog about concrete ways to help the tsunami victims. The list is comprehensive and will give me a place to start.

[#8]

although i basically agree with the comments above, what i don't know is if charlie sheen is mentally ill...if he is, then i don't think it's just a matter of him being spoiled and rich....this also makes me think of the horrors in japan and the likelihood that many of the mentally ill no longer have their medications or access to more....

[#9]

I don't know if he's mentally ill, but I just read an article about how common it is for substance abuse to be linked to those who suffer from mental illness. Obviously only experts in both conditions would actually know, but it certainly sounds like a possibility. 

[#10]

What is just as disturbing as Sheens madness or addiction or both is the willingness of the corporate decision makers to latch onto him and maximize the revenue stream.  I think they ride this horse into the ground, regardless of the effects on Sheen, his family or his children.  Is there really no such thing as bad PR?

[#11]

I agree with rafferty64. The corporate machine is eating this up and they don't have the excuse of madness or addiction!

[#12]

Wow,such a bummer. I met Charlie Sheen when I was living in LA. Okay, well I only met him briefly when I was serving him a sandwich, but he seemed so nice and funny. Who knew he was so sick and twisted and like, on all those drugs and stuff. You just can't tell with some people, I guess. This is so sad.

[#13]

So, honeybuns, what made you leave LA? It sounds like it was such an appropriate venue for you.

[#14]

Back to Charlie Sheen, I hate the fact that so many people all over the country are supporting his attempt to capitalize on his own awful behavior. Although I believe he is a victim of either mental illness or drug/alcohol abuse, I don't believe he should benefit from his behavior. He should get help -- yes -- but not be supported or even revered for his terrible choices.

[#15]

I heard Rob Lowe talk about the old days when he and Charlie were breaking into movies together. Even then Charlie was apparently a bit paranoid and into conspiracies. But he also seemed genuinely passionate about acting. 

[#16]

What irritates me is that if he was having a breakdown in a way that people normally associate with mental illness, like if he became obviously depressed or tried to kill himself or something, the public reaction would be so different. It would be seen as a tragedy. But because he's just being self-destructive in an obnoxious attention-seeking way, everyone thinks it's funny... or they just blame it on the drugs, or they call him spoiled and arrogant. I'm not saying he isn't any of those things, but I definitely think he's bipolar. I've known a few people with BPD and this is classic manic behavior (have you seen those interviews??) Maybe when he finally comes down from that high people will start to feel sorry for him instead of turning him into an internet meme.