Charlie Sheen's Chicago Stop Looming
CHICAGO (AP) – Within a couple of days, certain ticket holders in Chicago will know whether they're "duh, winning" – or losing.
Exiled television star Charlie Sheen's nationwide tour kicks off Saturday in Detroit, followed by a stop at the Chicago Theatre on Sunday night.
Few details have emerged about the format of his scheduled performances, although the unemployed, 45-year-old actor did say during an appearance on WKQI-FM in Detroit that rapper Snoop Dogg will be at the historic Fox Theatre on Saturday night.
And a former porn actress is one of two women whom he selected to sing the national anthem.
"Detroit, you've been warned," Sheen said during the radio interview.
Publicist Larry Solters hasn't said what the show entails, and a message seeking comment was left on Friday with Karen Cullen, a spokeswoman for Ilitch Holdings Inc. Olympia Entertainment, a subsidiary of Ilitch Holdings, operates the Fox Theatre.
Sheen, the son of actor Martin Sheen and brother of actor/director Emilio Estevez, rocketed to stardom in the 1980s thanks to a series of memorable roles in major films including "Wall Street," "Platoon," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Major League." He found small-screen success later in his career in "Spin City" and "Two and a Half Men."
In recent years, Sheen has also made headlines for tabloid-worthy marital discord and wild partying.
The wayward star's off-set behavior finally became too much for Warner Bros. Television, which earlier this year shut down production of "Two and a Half Men" before firing Sheen from the CBS smash on March 7.
Sheen alleged breach of contract and sued the show's producers for $100 million and, despite being out of work, has kept an oversized profile over the past couple of months, yakking to TV interviewers, ranting on YouTube and tweeting on an hourly basis.
Sheen boasted about his "epic" partying, glorified himself as a "rock star from Mars" and a "warlock" with "Adonis DNA" and talked about his home life with two women he nicknamed his "goddesses," both of whom he said would be at the Detroit show.
His unique banter and catchphrases -- others include "tiger blood" and "duh, winning" -- have spread rapidly over the Internet and onto T-shirts.
Now, he's found a new vehicle with which to interact with his fans -- whom he calls Sheen's Cadre.
"I am bringing `My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option' show out to you in the battlefield," Sheen said in a video announcing the tour. "If you're winning, I'll see you there. Trolls need not apply. ... Buy your ticket. Take the ride. And the ride will take you."
As for tickets, Sheen crowed on Twitter about selling out the Detroit show and Sunday's gig in Chicago "in minutes."
In the days before the show, however, secondary sellers such as StubHub.com had hundreds of tickets available, with some singles going for $30 under face value.
Susie Steele is one of those who decided to take a pass when the Sheen machine rolls into Detroit.
"In my opinion, buying a ticket to this show and attending it is choosing to support Charlie Sheen's walk down a path that will end up in defeat for him and his family, and I choose not to do that," said the 36-year-old physical therapist from South Lyon, Mich.
"I think the draw for those who have chosen to attend this show is the unpredictability of this phenomenon," she said. "Will Charlie Sheen be wildly entertaining, captivating the audience with his creative use of language and prophetic remarks? Or will he mumble incoherently, stumbling around the stage incapable of maintaining anyone's interest for the duration of his show?
"No one knows, and everyone is waiting to find out, and some people want a front-row seat whichever way this goes down."
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