# Two and a Half Men season 12
**Two and a Half Men season 12** is the twelfth and final season of the CBS sitcom *Two and a Half Men*, airing from October 30, 2014 to February 19, 2015 and closing a run of 12 seasons and 262 episodes.[1](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12) • [2](https://cbs.wiki.gg/wiki/Two_and_a_Half_Men) It stars [Ashton Kutcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashton-kutcher) as Walden Schmidt and [Jon Cryer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-cryer) as Alan Harper, with [Conchata Ferrell](https://www.edgepedia.org/conchata-ferrell) as Berta, Amber Tamblyn as Jenny Harper, and Edan Alexander as Louis.[1](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12) The season's central storyline has Walden, after a health scare, decide to adopt a child, leading him and Alan to marry so that a couple can qualify, and the season ends with a one-hour finale built around the unclaimed royalties of Charlie Harper, the character played by Charlie Sheen until his 2011 firing.[3](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/two-and-a-half-men/5932152507239380112/seasons/12/episodes/of-course-hes-dead-episode-16/6c404eb9-d998-3b50-98aa-a191289fd906) • [4](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-and-a-half-men-co-star-jon-cryer-reflects-on-final-season/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Order and renewal | Renewed on March 13, 2014, with CBS subsequently announcing it would be the final season[1](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12) • [2](https://cbs.wiki.gg/wiki/Two_and_a_Half_Men) |
| Run | 16 episodes, October 30, 2014 to February 19, 2015[3](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/two-and-a-half-men/5932152507239380112/seasons/12/episodes/of-course-hes-dead-episode-16/6c404eb9-d998-3b50-98aa-a191289fd906) |
| Premiere and finale | "The Ol' Mexican Spinach" (October 30, 2014); "Of Course He's Dead," a one-hour two-part finale (February 19, 2015, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)[1](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12) • [5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/?view=41421) |
| Main storyline | After a cardiac scare, Walden decides to adopt; he and Alan marry so a couple can be considered, and Walden fosters six-year-old Louis[3](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/two-and-a-half-men/5932152507239380112/seasons/12/episodes/of-course-hes-dead-episode-16/6c404eb9-d998-3b50-98aa-a191289fd906) |
| Star salaries that season | Kutcher $700,000 per episode, Cryer $620,000 per episode[6](https://time.com/99046/two-and-a-half-men-ending-finale/) |
| Critical reception | 33% on the Tomatometer from 12 critics; 29% on the audience Popcornmeter[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/two-and-a-half-men/s12) |
| Series total | Ended February 19, 2015 after 12 seasons and 262 episodes[2](https://cbs.wiki.gg/wiki/Two_and_a_Half_Men) |
## Renewal and production
CBS renewed the series for a twelfth season on March 13, 2014 and announced at the same time that it would be the last.[1](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12) • [2](https://cbs.wiki.gg/wiki/Two_and_a_Half_Men) *Time* reported that the show, then the longest-running live-action sitcom on broadcast television, had slipped in the ratings after losing [Charlie Sheen](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-sheen) and [Angus T. Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/angus-t-jones) in earlier seasons, and that the costly contracts of the remaining stars were a likely reason for ending: Kutcher was the highest-paid sitcom actor that season at $700,000 per episode, with Cryer at $620,000.[6](https://time.com/99046/two-and-a-half-men-ending-finale/) The season aired Thursdays at 9:00 PM.[6](https://time.com/99046/two-and-a-half-men-ending-finale/)
In December 2014 CBS scheduled the conclusion as a special one-hour finale on February 19, 2015, followed in the schedule by the premiere of *The Odd Couple* and a move of [Chuck Lorre](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-lorre)'s *Mom* to Thursdays at 9:30 PM.[5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/?view=41421) The network's release noted that the show had ranked as television's most watched comedy for five consecutive seasons, from 2005-2006 through 2009-2010.[5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/?view=41421) James Widdoes and Jon Cryer directed episodes, and the executive producers were Chuck Lorre, Don Reo, and [Jim Patterson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-patterson).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/two-and-a-half-men/s12)
## Storyline
The season opens with Walden costumed as zombie Elvis for Halloween suffering a minor cardiac crisis; during his recovery he decides his fortune is worthless without an heir and, given his dating history, turns to adoption, where he is told only couples are seriously considered.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/two-and-a-half-men/episodes-season-12/1000108453/) Alan, who had hoped to be named Walden's heir, instead receives the offer of a marriage of convenience, and the two straight men wed to improve their odds of adopting.[4](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-and-a-half-men-co-star-jon-cryer-reflects-on-final-season/) Walden then fosters a six-year-old named Louis, and much of the season follows the adoption process, the couple's need to present themselves as loving partners to a social worker, and Walden's doubts and growth as a foster father.[3](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/two-and-a-half-men/5932152507239380112/seasons/12/episodes/of-course-hes-dead-episode-16/6c404eb9-d998-3b50-98aa-a191289fd906)
Jon Cryer said he was skeptical when he first heard the storyline but was won over once it was explained, and he maintained that the show was not cheapening same-sex marriage but would handle it tastefully.[1](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12) Speaking to [CBS News](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-news) before the premiere, he described the show as "an unapologetic sex farce" while noting that the final season showed a softer side.[4](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-and-a-half-men-co-star-jon-cryer-reflects-on-final-season/) A contemporary review in *Sitcoms Online* observed that the season abandoned season 11's use of Charlie's daughter to justify the title and instead adopted the pretend-marriage arc to restore the premise of two men raising a child.[9](https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=464682)
## Finale
"Of Course He's Dead," broadcast February 19, 2015 as a one-hour two-parter, has Alan informed that millions of dollars in royalties for Charlie remain unclaimed, with Rose then revealing crucial details to Alan, Walden, and Evelyn.[3](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/two-and-a-half-men/5932152507239380112/seasons/12/episodes/of-course-hes-dead-episode-16/6c404eb9-d998-3b50-98aa-a191289fd906) *Time*'s review described a bawdy, self-referential hour that recapped the show's history, included an animated sequence filling in Charlie and Rose's time in Paris, and brought on [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://www.edgepedia.org/arnold-schwarzenegger) to declare that "this whole thing has been going on waaaaay too long."[10](https://time.com/3716503/review-two-and-a-half-men-finale/) Charlie Sheen did not appear; a stand-in for his character was crushed by a falling piano, and Lorre himself appeared on screen to deliver Sheen's catchphrase "Winning!"[11](https://time.com/3716408/two-and-a-half-men-finale-chuck-lorre/) The same article framed the ending as a victory lap for Lorre, whose comedies had come to dominate CBS's schedule.[11](https://time.com/3716408/two-and-a-half-men-finale-chuck-lorre/)
## Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes the season holds a 33% Tomatometer from 12 reviews and a 29% Popcornmeter score from more than 100 audience ratings.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/two-and-a-half-men/s12) The site's critics consensus calls the season an unpleasant end that continues to revisit the Charlie storyline while running what it describes as an offensive subplot.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/two-and-a-half-men/s12) [Individual](https://www.edgepedia.org/individual) critics differed: James Poniewozik of *TIME* wrote that the show ended true to its nature, "going for the punchlines, laughing at death," while Daniel Fienberg of HitFix called the finale an amusingly self-conscious conclusion, and Gil Ozeri of Vulture criticized the season for spending its last hours settling scores rather than sending off the characters.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/two-and-a-half-men/s12)
## References
1. [Season 12, Two and a Half Men Wiki (Fandom)](https://twoandahalfmen.fandom.com/wiki/Season_12)
2. [Two and a Half Men, CBS Wiki](https://cbs.wiki.gg/wiki/Two_and_a_Half_Men)
3. [Two and a Half Men Season 12 episode list, Peacock](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/two-and-a-half-men/5932152507239380112/seasons/12/episodes/of-course-hes-dead-episode-16/6c404eb9-d998-3b50-98aa-a191289fd906)
4. ["Two and a Half Men" star Jon Cryer reflects on final season, CBS News (October 30, 2014)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-and-a-half-men-co-star-jon-cryer-reflects-on-final-season/)
5. [CBS announces Two and a Half Men will conclude its 12th and final season with a special one-hour series finale, Paramount Press Express (December 5, 2014)](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/?view=41421)
6. [Two and a Half Men to Make Next Season Its Last, Time (May 14, 2014)](https://time.com/99046/two-and-a-half-men-ending-finale/)
7. [Two and a Half Men: Season 12, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/two-and-a-half-men/s12)
8. [Two and a Half Men Season 12 episode guide, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/two-and-a-half-men/episodes-season-12/1000108453/)
9. [The Five Best Two and a Half Men Episodes of Season Twelve, Sitcoms Online](https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=464682)
10. [Review: Two and a Half Men Stays True to Its Wicked Heart, Time (February 20, 2015)](https://time.com/3716503/review-two-and-a-half-men-finale/)
11. [After Two and a Half Men, Chuck Lorre Still Runs CBS, Time (February 20, 2015)](https://time.com/3716408/two-and-a-half-men-finale-chuck-lorre/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › American sitcom seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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