Over the course of its eight year run, the CBS program Two and a Half Men has proven one of the most successful television comedies of all time. The show has been nominated for 30 Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, thanks to the talents of its cast and writing staff. However, though it’s now entering its ninth season, big changes on-set leave the show’s future in doubt.

The show’s lead actor Charlie Sheen was fired from the program last March due to his over-the-top antics and increasingly negative public image. The show ended production on its eighth season early.

After a short time, Ashton Kutcher was announced as Sheen’s replacement. Kutcher joins the two remaining stars, John Cryer and Angus Jones. The ninth season premiered Sept. 19, ushering in a new era for the show.

Kutcher plays Walden Schmidt, an Internet billionaire suffering from a bad divorce. After an attempt to kill himself, Schmidt meets Alan Harper ( Cryer ) and offers to buy the Malibu beach house that Alan was left when his brother Charlie Harper, played by Sheen, died.

Tiffany Pires , a freshman in psychology, enjoyed the season premiere.

“I really liked it because they didn’t just replace Charlie’s character,” Pires said. “It was interesting to see how they worked in Ashton’s role. I’m a big Ashton Kutcher fan, so I’ll watch it, but I think Two and a Half Men will do great because it’s just a very successful show in general.”

Aryn Bramhall , a freshman in biology, thinks that the show has a bright future.

“I think [ Kutcher ] is… way more appealing than Charlie Sheen,” Bramhall said. “He’s younger, more attractive, and not insane and on drugs.”

Bramhall said that Sheen’s fan base may watch the show’s new season in its early stages to see what Two and a Half Men will be like without him, but they would most likely stop watching the program if his absence detracts from the show.

As it is, Sheen continues to draw attention outside of his role on the sitcom. Earlier this month, the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen aired, where roasters poked fun at his crazy lifestyle covered in the tabloids, as well as his departure from Two and a Half Men.

Amber Jones, a sophomore in international politics, said she thinks the show will lose a lot of Sheen’s fans with him gone.

“I just feel like a lot of people watched that show because of Charlie Sheen,” Jones said, “and now with him off of it some of those people may stop watching [the show].”

However, Kutcher’s role on the show may create an entirely new fan base for it.

“[ Kutcher ] has a larger fan base in general,” Bramhall said, “and his fans will want to see how he does television as compared to movies, because it’s been a while since he was on TV.”

Emily Matthews, a sophomore in religious studies, said that Kutcher’s fan base will follow him onto Two and a Half Men.

“The people who watched That 70s Show when it aired have grown up,” Matthews said, “so that would be the demographic that would watch him on Two and a Half Men.

Chrissy Bacak , a sophomore in biology, said that Kutcher’s role on That 70s Show makes her believe he will be successful on Two and a Half Men.

“I’ll be happy to see him back on TV,” said Bacak . “It will actually probably make me start watching Two and a Half Men. Ashton was so funny on That 70’s Show, so I have high expectations for him on the new show.”

David Meyer, a sophomore in business, is not so optimistic about the show’s future.

“I think it will be hard to replace Charlie Sheen, since the show was mostly based off him,” Meyer said. “I think [ Kutcher ] will play the part well and [the show] will continue for a season or two, but the best years of the show are over.”

Whether the show will succeed in the post-Sheen era is yet to be seen. For now, those interested in seeing Kutcher’s return to television can find Two and a Half Men at Monday at 9 p.m . on CBS.