# Two and a Half Men season 5

The fifth season of the American television sitcom Two and a Half Men aired on CBS from September 24, 2007 to May 19, 2008.
A total of only 19 episodes were aired due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. Unlike the previous seasons, the Season 5 DVD came without a gag reel. The DVD also titled "Tight's Good" as "Shoes, Hats, Pickle Jar Lids", and the "Previously on Two and a Half Men" recap seen in the original broadcast of "Fish in a Drawer" was initially not included on DVD. This was the shortest season in the history of the show until the eighth season ended after 16 episodes due to the firing of Charlie Sheen.

## Cast
### Main

* Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper
* Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
* Angus T. Jones as Jake Harper
* Marin Hinkle as Judith Harper-Melnick
* Conchata Ferrell as Berta
* Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper-Leopold

### Recurring

* Melanie Lynskey as Rose
* Ming-Na Wen as Judge Linda
* Robert Wagner as Teddy Leopold (a.k.a. Nathan Krunk)
* Jenny McCarthy as Courtney (a.k.a. Sylvia Fishman)
* Kimberly Quinn as Donna

### Guest

* Janeane Garofalo as Sharon
* Jennifer Taylor as Nina
* Richard Kind as Artie
* Justine Eyre as Gabrielle
* Cerina Vincent as Lulu
* Christina Moore as Cynthia Sullivan
* Carrie Reichenbach as Alexis
* Kathryn Gordon as Jess
* Hayley Erin as Milly
* Jane Lynch as Dr. Linda Freeman
* Emmanuelle Vaugier as Mia
* Jamie Rose as Sloane Jagov
* Michael Lowry as Wes Tosterone
* Susan Blakely as Angie
* Coby Ryan McLaughlin as Jeremy
* Virginia Williams as Tricia

## Writers' strike

Production on the show was halted on November 6, 2007 because of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which began on November 5, 2007 and ended on February 12, 2008. The show returned on March 17, 2008 with 9 episodes to conclude the fifth season.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 97 | 1 | "Large Birds, Spiders and Mom" | Ted Wass | Story by : Mark Roberts & Eddie Gorodetsky Teleplay by : Lee Aronsohn & Chuck Lorre | September 24, 2007 (2007-9-24) | 13.58 |
| Jake is getting ready to start a new school as he advances to junior high, but his dad and uncle's scary stories might end his academic career a bit early. Alan and Charlie take him school shopping and find themselves in trouble, both there and later. Meanwhile, Charlie has a rash in a most inopportune area. Title quotation from: Alan, to Charlie, naming several of Charlie's fears. |||||||
| 98 | 2 | "Media Room Slash Dungeon" | Ted Wass | Story by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn Teleplay by : Don Foster & Susan Beavers & Jim Patterson | October 1, 2007 (2007-10-1) | 13.24 |
| Charlie ends up having to go to one of Evelyn's firm get togethers, but the event ends up giving the two a friendship. However, Charlie sleeps with Margaret (Jennifer O'Dell), a woman that he met at the party against Evelyn's orders, but she firmly takes this into an advantage. Alan sleeps with a woman (Janeane Garofalo) who behaves oddly the next morning. Note: For this episode, Holland Taylor was nominated for the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Title quotation from: Evelyn, to Charlie, talking about a house she's trying to sell. |||||||
| 99 | 3 | "Dum Diddy Dum Diddy Doo" | Ted Wass | Lee Aronsohn & Chuck Lorre | October 8, 2007 (2007-10-8) | 13.02 |
| Alan convinces Charlie that he needs to date more respectable women and sets him up with a judge called Linda (Ming-Na Wen). The two double date and things do not go too well, with Charlie inexperienced at dating woman his own age. Desperate for a second chance, Charlie goes to great lengths to speak to Linda again, which include allowing himself to be caught by the police and sent to court to see her. Title quotation from: Charlie, giving an example of what the name "Dee-Dee" could be short for. |||||||
| 100 | 4 | "City of Great Racks" | James Widdoes | Story by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn & Don Foster & Mark Roberts Teleplay by : Eddie Gorodetsky & Susan Beavers & Jim Patterson | October 15, 2007 (2007-10-15) | 13.69 |
| Charlie and Linda get closer to consummating their relationship, but Charlie has trouble focusing when he begins to see Rose's face everywhere he turns (the dog walker, the bartender and the house keeper). He visits Dr. Freeman who says that he is only imagining Rose because he is afraid to grow up. Reflecting on that, Charlie ends up on the next flight to London to find out if Rose is still truly there. Charlie does indeed find her there, and they go out for a drink at the local pub. While there, she asks for commitment in a relationship, scaring Charlie back to California as he is already in one. After Charlie and Rose leave to go to the pub, we see wigs and costumes in her apartment, revealing that this was part of Rose's scheme. Note: This was the 100th episode of the show, and all seven of its writers had contributed to writing this episode. Title quotation from: Jake, describing Santa Barbara, or "Santa Bar-BRA," as he jokingly called it. |||||||
| 101 | 5 | "Putting Swim Fins on a Cat" | James Widdoes | Story by : Mark Roberts Teleplay by : Don Foster & Eddie Gorodetsky | October 22, 2007 (2007-10-22) | 13.94 |
| Charlie discovers that he is good with kids while babysitting Linda's four-year-old son Brandon. Meanwhile, the extreme financial hardship at Chez Harper leads Alan to become a guinea pig for medical products, making some nasty side-effects. While babysitting, Charlie comes up with great funny jingles to help Brandon do as he is told, recording a CD for him. Linda's ex-husband hears some of the songs he recorded for Brandon and Charlie is given the job of making children's jingles. Title quotation from: Alan, to Judith, when discussing Jake's algebra tutor. |||||||
| 102 | 6 | "Help Daddy Find His Toenail" | James Widdoes | Story by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn Teleplay by : Susan Beavers & Jim Patterson | October 29, 2007 (2007-10-29) | 13.73 |
| Charlie and Linda attend a function crowning Linda judge of the year, but Evelyn gives him a pill that she believes to be a sedative. It turns out to be a wrong pill and therefore he acts crazy at the function, embarrassing her in front of the crowd. Meanwhile, Jake sneaks out to attend a rock concert after Alan forbade him to, and finds an irate Alan back home waiting for him, along with Charlie, whom Linda left because of the events. Title quotation from: Alan, to Judith, on the phone trying to tell her that Jake is still home after finding out that he snuck out. |||||||
| 103 | 7 | "Our Leather Gear is in the Guest Room" | Ted Wass | Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn | November 5, 2007 (2007-11-5) | 13.80 |
| After Alan and Charlie have a fight about Alan's role in the house, Alan packs Jake up and moves in with his mother. Evelyn and Teddy do not want Alan and Jake in their house and they go to great lengths to reconcile the siblings. Title quotation from: Evelyn, to Teddy, about her problem with Alan staying in the guest room. |||||||
| 104 | 8 | "Is There a Mrs. Waffles?" | Ted Wass | Story by : Susan Beavers & Jim Patterson Teleplay by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn | November 12, 2007 (2007-11-12) | 14.12 |
| Charlie writes children's songs and finds success as Charlie Waffles. The kids and their parents love him, even signing CDs of his jingles. However, Charlie's newfound fame irritates Alan, and Charlie has a high-proof answer to his sudden stage fright, getting drunk, which actually works out, finding a huge fame at the live audience. Note: For this episode, Charlie Sheen was nominated for the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Note: The man on the TV with the guitar and singing/speaking is Raffi, best known for his children's music. Title quotation from: One of Charlie's single-mom fans, asking if he is married. |||||||
| 105 | 9 | "Tight's Good" | Jean Sagal | Story by : Mark Roberts Teleplay by : Don Foster & Eddie Gorodetsky | November 19, 2007 (2007-11-19) | 13.91 |
| Charlie and Alan are introduced to Teddy's daughter, Courtney (Jenny McCarthy), who works as a sales representative for luxury cars. Teddy warns Charlie to stay away from her. Charlie, thinking Teddy is simply being a protective father, starts an affair with her instead, and when he is caught upstairs with her while Evelyn and Teddy are downstairs, she blackmails him into buying a new Ferrari from her. When all is revealed, Teddy tells Charlie that was why he was warning him. First appearance of: Courtney Leopold Title quotation from: Courtney, after Charlie explains that the Ferrari she is trying to sell him does not have much room. Note: When released on DVD, this episode was titled "Shoes, Hats, Pickle Jar Lids", but that phrase is not quoted in the episode. |||||||
| 106 | 10 | "Kinda Like Necrophilia" | Ted Wass | Story by : Jim Patterson & Susan Beavers Teleplay by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn | November 26, 2007 (2007-11-26) | 15.26 |
| Learning Charlie stole away a girl he liked in high school and getting angry about it, Alan gets revenge by stealing Charlie's french girlfriend Gabrielle (Justine Eyre). However, things don't really work out like he planned due to Gabrielle's behavior in bed. But Alan finds out that Charlie wanted to break up with Gabrielle by letting Alan steal her, and, at the same time, sees that Charlie is going out with Alan's high school crush again, causing Alan to be angrier than before. Elsewhere, Jake gets dumped by his girlfriend and he seeks advice from Charlie to patch things up. Note: This was the last episode aired, prior to the 2007–2008 Writers' Strike. Title quotation from: Charlie, about how Gabrielle behaves in bed. |||||||
| 107 | 11 | "Meander to Your Dander" | James Widdoes | Story by : Don Foster & Mark Roberts Teleplay by : Susan Beavers & Jim Patterson | March 17, 2008 (2008-3-17) | 14.06 |
| Alan is unhappy about his sex-life with his new girlfriend, Donna (Kimberly Quinn), but is reluctant to break up with her. So he goes to Charlie for advice on breaking up with women. When he does end up breaking up with her, he is shocked to learn that she planned to have a threesome with her hot friend (Sandra Dee Robinson), sending Alan into tears. Meanwhile, Charlie helps a now-free Jake hit on a girl while the two are out to eat. But it ends badly for Charlie when he gets pepper sprayed in the face. Note: This was the first episode aired since November 2007, due to the 2007–2008 Writers' Strike. Note: For this episode, Jon Cryer was nominated for the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Title quotation from: Alan, to Donna, discussing his fore-play technique after they've had sex. |||||||
| 108 | 12 | "A Little Clammy and None Too Fresh" | James Widdoes | Story by : Susan Beavers & Jim Patterson Teleplay by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn | March 24, 2008 (2008-3-24) | 14.24 |
| Charlie sleeps with a woman who is sick, and Charlie accidentally catches her flu. After nobody in his family is there to help him, Rose (who has returned from England) offers her help, but then hits it wild, making Charlie a prisoner in his own house. Meanwhile, Alan feels Jake is pulling away from him, which makes him feel sad. Title quotation from: Charlie, explaining his condition to Alan. |||||||
| 109 | 13 | "The Soil is Moist" | James Widdoes | Story by : Eddie Gorodetsky Teleplay by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn | March 31, 2008 (2008-3-31) | 14.50 |
| Alan begins dating a divorced woman (Christina Moore) who used to best-couple friends with him and Judith. He's happy until he learns more about Herb and Judith's sex life than he actually wanted to know; eventually she breaks up with him and dumps him on the streets after he starts to question her too much about their sex life. Title quotation from: Herb, describing how he plants seeds, which, to Charlie, sounds like a metaphor about sex. |||||||
| 110 | 14 | "Winky-Dink Time" | James Widdoes | Story by : Mark Roberts Teleplay by : Eddie Gorodetsky & Jim Patterson | April 14, 2008 (2008-4-14) | 13.94 |
| While at the coffee shop Charlie is recognised by a woman he dated, but Charlie cannot remember her name, which becomes a problem for him. Jake falls for the same woman's daughter. Charlie double-dates with Jake and fixes Alan up with a hooker, who can't tolerate him, while Charlie's attempt to hide the truth becomes very difficult. Title quotation from: Alan, asking if the prostitute arriving late will shorten the amount of time he can have sex with her. |||||||
| 111 | 15 | "Rough Night in Hump Junction" | James Widdoes | Story by : Mark Roberts Teleplay by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn | April 21, 2008 (2008-4-21) | 13.36 |
| After seeing Charlie with many females in the space of one day, Alan feels Charlie is unable to control his womanizing ways. Charlie goes to see Dr. Freeman, who makes him realize he is over-dating girls and having sex with them because, the whole time, he is missing the one girl who got away (Mia). Title quotation from: Berta, after seeing Charlie banged up. |||||||
| 112 | 16 | "Look at Me, Mommy, I'm Pretty" | Joel Zwick | Story by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn Teleplay by : Eddie Gorodetsky & Don Foster & Susan Beavers | April 28, 2008 (2008-4-28) | 12.92 |
| Evelyn and Teddy's wedding is under-way, and Alan helps the two make plans for the ceremony. Courtney tells Charlie that they cannot see each other anymore since they are going to be step-brother and sister, but Charlie can't accept it at all costs, and goes to desperate measures to change her mind, with the help of Rose. Title quotation from: Evelyn, to Courtney, making fun of Alan dressing in her clothes as a child. |||||||
| 113 | 17 | "Fish in a Drawer" | Jeff Melman | Story by : Carol Mendelsohn & Naren Shankar Teleplay by : Sarah Goldfinger & Evan Dunsky | May 5, 2008 (2008-5-5) | 13.61 |
| Evelyn's husband, Teddy, is found dead, in this spoof episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The CSIs investigate the death at Charlie's house. During the interviewing process, it is revealed that Teddy and Courtney are con artists who were trying to steal huge money from both Charlie and Evelyn, causing Courtney to be arrested. (Note: George Eads from CSI guest-stars as one of the guests in Charlie's house with a brief role) This was part of a writer exchange crossover with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, with Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn writing the CSI episode "Two and a Half Deaths" that also includes cameos from Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones. Last appearance of: Teddy Leopold Note: This episode was selected as a Primetime Emmy Award submission for Conchata Ferrell for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, but ended up not receiving a nomination. Note: When released on DVD, the recap seen in the original broadcast was not included. Title quotation from: Evelyn, explaining her first cooking experience, which ended up killing her first husband (Charlie and Alan's father). |||||||
| 114 | 18 | "If My Hole Could Talk" | Jon Cryer | Story by : Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn Teleplay by : Eddie Gorodetsky & Jim Patterson & Mark Roberts | May 12, 2008 (2008-5-12) | 13.82 |
| Alan tries to get Jake to complete a book report about The Taming of the Shrew, but Jake keeps losing the book and neglects to do the report. Meanwhile, when they arrive at the library, Charlie seeks relationship advice in the books and finds himself attracted to an older self-help author (Susan Blakely), whom he meets at a book store. Alan is also obsessed with her, thinking of her as a second mother. Title quotation from: Charlie, to Angie, after she says he may have a "hole" in him. |||||||
| 115 | 19 | "Waiting for the Right Snapper" | Jeff Melman | Story by : Eddie Gorodetsky & Don Foster Teleplay by : Mark Roberts & Lee Aronsohn & Chuck Lorre | May 19, 2008 (2008-5-19) | 14.70 |
| Charlie's relationship with Angie becomes jeopardized after he meets her son's fiancé (Virginia Williams), realizing it's not for the first time; she is one of his ex-girlfriends. Things get worse when she tries to hook up with Charlie again, and she leaves her future husband when Charlie rejects her, causing him to break his relationship with Angie. Meanwhile, Alan tries to get Jake to study for his Algebra exam, but Jake has other ideas in mind. Title quotation from: Charlie, to Angie's son, after he says he was surprised nobody had "snapped" his fiancé. |||||||

## US Nielsen ratings

| Order | Episode | Rating | Share | Rating/Share (18-49) | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Large Birds, Spiders, and Mom" | 8.4 | 12 | 4.7/11 | 13.44 |
| 2 | "Media Room Slash Dungeon" | 8.4 | 12 | 4.6/11 | 13.38 |
| 3 | "Dum Diddy Dum Diddy Doo" | 8.1 | TBA | 4.4/10 | 12.98 |
| 4 | "City of Great Racks" | 8.9 | 10 | 4.8/11 | 13.78 |
| 5 | "Putting Swim Fins on a Cat" | 8.7 | 12 | 4.8/11 | 13.74 |
| 6 | "Help Daddy Find His Toenail" | 8.7 | 9 | 5.1/12 | 14.12 |
| 7 | "Our Leather Gear is in the Guestroom" | 8.7 | 12 | 5.0/11 | 14.08 |
| 8 | "Is There a Mrs. Waffles?" | 8.7 | TBA | 5.0/11 | 14.17 |
| 9 | "Tight's Good" | 8.8 | 13 | 5.1/12 | 14.46 |
| 10 | "Kinda Like Necrophilia" | 9.5 | 12 | 5.0/11 | 15.30 |
| 11 | "Meander to Your Dander" | 8.5 | TBA | 5.4/13 | 14.03 |
| 12 | "A Little Clammy and None Too Fresh" | 8.7 | 13 | 5.1/13 | 14.25 |
| 13 | "The Soil is Moist" | 8.8 | TBA | 5.3/13 | 14.34 |
| 14 | "Winky-Dink Time" | 8.5 | TBA | 5.3/13 | 13.83 |
| 15 | "Rough Night in Hump Junction" | 8.3 | 12 | 4.9/12 | 13.28 |
| 16 | "Look at Me, Mommy, I'm Pretty" | 7.1 | TBA | 4.7/11 | 12.86 |
| 17 | "Fish in a Drawer" | 8.5 | TBA | 4.8/12 | 13.61 |
| 18 | "If My Hole Could Talk" | 8.5 | TBA | 5.0/12 | 13.70 |
| 19 | "Waiting for the Right Snapper" | 9.1 | TBA | 4.8/12 | 14.81 |