Even though CBS would really like Two and a Half Men to return to their schedule and hinted that Charlie Sheen may be welcomed back, Chuck Lorre and Warner Brothers said in no uncertain terms that he will not be returning no matter what the network wants. TMZ is reporting that Lorre is having meetings to figure out what to do, whether to replace Sheen, or to just let the show die a proper death. There hasn’t been any word as to what has been decided, if anything.

With no chance of Charlie returning (which is what a spokesperson for Warner Brothers has said), the next stop for Lorre and Sheen will probably be in arbitration over the contract clause that says that they have to pay Sheen whether he works or not for the remainder of his contract. Both sides claim breach, so it will be up to an arbitrator to figure that all out. Sheen was suing for millions, but an independant council that decides on the validity of cases for the court, ruled in Lorre’s favor that Sheen did not have the case to be heard in a court.

Rumor of Charlie’s return started after he met with CBS, but ultimately Warner Brothers and Lorre have the final say. All involved stand to lose a lot of money in the deal, so it was hoped that they could put aside their differences and go on, but that doesn’t seem possible. Losing the number one show will put CBS in a hard place to fill it and some estimate it may cost the network $250 million.

So I guess Charlie isn’t winning this battle. Good thing he has that warlock thing to fall back on. Actually his tour is doing so well, he stands to probably make more doing that than the show he was in, at least in the short term. He’s yet to actually perform, still writing the touring show.