Hasn’t lost his sheen with CBS

CBS is defending “Two and a Half Men” star Charlie Sheen’s lucrative new contract, despite his well-publicized personal problems.

The network this week extended Sheen’s contract for two more seasons at an estimated rate of $1.2 million per episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors in television.

In February, he checked into a rehabilitation facility, temporarily halting production of the top-rated sitcom.

In July, Sheen is scheduled to go to trial on domestic violence charges for allegedly holding a knife to his wife’s throat and threatening to kill her during a Christmas Day dispute.

During CBS’ announcement of its fall schedule Wednesday, Entertainment President Nina Tassler was pressed why the network felt it was worth it to bring Sheen back.

“Because the show is called ‘Two. And. A. Half. Men,’ ” she replied, enunciating each word. “It’s not called ‘One and a Half.’ ”

From ugly to desperate

Vanessa Williams is headed to Wisteria Lane next fall on “Desperate Housewives.”

ABC said the former “Ugly Betty” star will play a “wicked new housewife” as the series enters its seventh season.

A tangled web, indeed

James Franco is checking back in to “General Hospital.”

The “Pineapple Express” and “Spider-Man” actor, who guest-starred on the ABC soap opera last fall, will return as the bad-boy performance artist who happens to be named Franco.

Producers said he’s coming back to Port Charles to take care of “unfinished business.”

The birthday bunch

Singer Joe Cocker is 66. Singer-actress Cher is 64. Actor Bronson Pinchot is 51. TV personality Ted Allen (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”) is 45. Rapper Busta Rhymes is 38. Actor Matt Czuchry (“The Good Wife”) is 33.