‘Two and a Half Men’s producer Warner Bros. TV has confirmed that the hit sitcom hasn’t been submitted to compete in the Best Comedy Series at this year’s Emmy Awards, Deadline is reporting. This year’s eighth season of the comedy series aired 16 episodes, enough to be considered in the category. However, producers felt the controversy surrounding now former star Charlie Sheen in recent months would hurt the show’s chances.

The news of the race withdrawal comes after ‘Two and a Half Men’ was suspended in January 2011 when Sheen was admitted to the hospital. He then went on numerous television and radio shows and attacked the comedy’s co-creator Chuck Lorre, as well as Warner Bros. and CBS. The show was then shut down for the rest of the season, and the last original episode aired on February 14, 2011.

Sheen was then fired from ‘Two and a Half Men.’ He was later replaced by sitcom veteran Ashton Kutcher, after producers launched an extensive search to find someone to fill his spot; actors considered also included Rob Lowe, John Stamos and Hugh Grant.

With the exclusion from the Best Comedy category, Warner Bros. are heavily campaigning for the show’s stars who are nominated, including Jon Cryer, Holland Taylor, Angus T. Jones and Conchata Ferrell, who have fared better in their respective categories in the past. Cryer most recently won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2009.

Written by: Karen Benardello