Upfronts 2014: ‘Two and a Half Men’ to end its run after 12th season

“Two and a Half Men” will end its run after its upcoming 12th season on CBS.

CBS entertainment chairman Nina Tassler made the announcement Wednesday during the network’s press briefing ahead of its presentation to advertisers.

“Chuck Lorre is creating a season-long event,” Tassler said. “Chuck is very psyched about this. He’s got some great ideas and very big surprises.”

“Two and a Half Men” will ride out its run on Thursdays in the 9 p.m. slot.

In its heyday, the comedy drew blockbuster numbers -- back when Charlie Sheen was a key player in the sitcom. The long-in-the-tooth series, despite losing steam, is still a strong performer. Its most recent season averaged 9.1 million total viewers, with 2.3 million adults under 50.

But events behind the scenes might overshadow any achievements in the ratings arena. The controversy surrounding Sheen’s antics on set, his feud with creator Lorre and his 2011 firing fueled countless headlines. Ashton Kutcher would be recruited to fill one-half of the man-void, starring opposite original cast member Jon Cryer.

Then there was the fuss surrounding former cast member Angus T. Jones, who badmouthed the comedy and its message. Jones, who later apologized, went from regular to recurring. His last episode was in May 2013.

“Two and a Half Men’s” end gives Lorre a bit of respite. The TV maker has three other series on the network: ratings juggernaut “The Big Bang Theory,” “Mike and Molly” and recent entry “Mom.”

It also gives some relief to CBS’ pockets (if temporarily). The long-running comedy is a big-budget one for the network--with its stars receiving paychecks in the upper six figures.