Kutcher will play Internet billionaire on 'Men'

[August 04, 2011]  BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- Ashton Kutcher will play "an Internet billionaire with a broken heart" when he arrives as the new star of "Two and a Half Men" next month.

CBS Entertainment Nina Tassler shared this tidbit about the much-anticipated cast change on TV's biggest sitcom during a session with television reporters on Wednesday. "Men" saw the stormy exit of Charlie Sheen last season.

Kutcher's character will be named Walden Schmidt and has no family connection to the characters played by continuing stars Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, who portrayed the brother and nephew of Sheen's departed character.

Tassler would not confirm reports that the new season of "Men" begins with the death of Sheen's character, Charlie Harper, and a funeral.

"Men" begins its ninth season on Sept. 19.

[Associated Press; By FRAZIER MOORE]

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