While writing the pilot script for their new Max comedy series “Bookie,” co-creators Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay realized that adding a real-life Hollywood star as a gambling addict would be a fun addition. Sebastian Maniscalco stars as the Los Angeles sports betting bookie who encounters high-roller celebrities during his travels.
In the early drafts of the script, the character was labeled as “TBD” or to be determined. However, Lorre had an idea for the perfect actor to play the role. He suggested that it should be Charlie Sheen, who was known for his own involvement in sports betting. Despite not having spoken for over a decade following their public falling out in 2011, Lorre reached out to Sheen’s representation.
To Lorre’s surprise, Sheen was open to making amends. Meeting up again was a healing experience for both of them. Sheen was willing to make fun of himself in the script, which included references to his past problems and his replacement on “Two and a Half Men,” Ashton Kutcher.
The reunion between Lorre and Sheen was not without its concerns. However, at the table read, Sheen’s performance was exceptional, as if no time had passed. The script did not hold back, but Sheen took it in stride.
One concern Sheen had was the portrayal of a drug-addled version of himself in the original script. Lorre agreed to tweak the character so that Sheen was still running a poker game but not in a rehab facility. The goal was to create comedy out of people’s perceptions rather than take a dark approach.
Sheen appears later in the season, offering marital advice to Maniscalco’s character and trying to settle a debt with Joe Namath’s old fur coat. The presence of Sheen in the show will undoubtedly increase interest and draw attention.
“Bookie” was inspired by Bakay’s experience in the sports betting world, and Lorre saw potential in creating a sitcom based around Maniscalco. The show focuses on characters who live and work in a gray area, outside of the conventional rules and office jobs.
Maniscalco plays Danny, a bookie who knows his career may be coming to an end once sports betting becomes legal in California. His best friend and enforcer, Ray, is played by Omar J. Dorsey. The show also stars Jorge Garcia, Andrea Anders, and Vanessa Ferlito.
Bakay, as a betting expert, wanted to accurately portray the business without perpetuating stereotypes. The show addresses the misconceptions and highlights the complexity of the industry.
“Bookie” does not shy away from the dangers of gambling, showcasing a gambling addict being thrown out of his house due to his debts in the very first scene.
Lorre has always been fascinated by topics like addiction, and recovery has been a recurring theme in his other shows such as “Mom” and “The Kominsky Method.”
Overall, the addition of Charlie Sheen to the cast of “Bookie” brings excitement and adds depth to the show. It serves as a reunion and an opportunity for both Lorre and Sheen to move forward and create something special.
