Charlie Sheen's Anger Management Panned

It looks like the critics needed some anger management after watching Charlie Sheen's new show. Anger Management premieres tonight on FX at 9:00pm EST/PT, but several critics who caught a preview were far from kind in their assessment. The Daily Beast says that the show is essentially a rehash of Two a Half Men, calling it "entirely episodic and intentionally repetitive, lazy situational comedy writ large." The New York Times wasn't much kinder in complaining that the debut episode was filled with "raucous recorded laughter and predictable one-liners." However, the harshest critiques of Anger Management are offered by The Huffington Post. "Let me be clear: If Sheen wants to continue to act, that's fine," writes Maureen Ryan. "I never expected him to end his career after his various scandals and non-apology tours. But what he is doing now is not for the benefit of anyone but himself and the companies bankrolling him. Acting in a lazy, stiff, laugh-track sitcom is Charlie Sheen doing something for himself and his corporate partners. That's all." Charlie Sheen has sounded a more conciliatory note about his excesses in some recent interviews—but still reportedly refused to submit to drug testing requested by FX. It looks like this show is in danger of becoming the eccentric star's biggest trainwreck moment yet—and that's saying something.