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Les Moonves: Angus T. Jones Drama Is 'Piece Of Cake' Compared To Sheen's Exit

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — CBS President and CEO Les Moonves is speaking out after "Two and a Half Men" star Angus T. Jones called the network's hit show "filth" in a YouTube video.

"It's been an interesting time as it always is in television," Moonves told Wall Street Journal Deputy Editor-In-Chief Gerard Baker in a video posted online Tuesday.

"I don't know what our status is with him," Moonves said. "We took this boy who started with us when he was 8 years old and it seems to be what happens with child stars over the course of time. He's now making over $300,000 per week, which is not a bad salary for a 19-year-old kid, and he went on a religious channel and urged people not to watch the show because it was filth. You know, by the way, he's still collecting his $300,000 a week."

When asked if CBS is looking for "another half," Moonves made it sound as if Jones, who issued an apology last week, will be staying with the show.

"We have other plans; I don't think it's quite been resolved, but after going through what we went through with Charlie Sheen, this is a piece of cake," he said.

In the YouTube video posted last month, Jones professes his religious beliefs, as well as his feelings about the show.

"Jake from 'Two and a Half Men' means nothing. He is a nonexistent character," the 19-year-old actor said of his role. "If you watch 'Two and a Half Men,' please stop watching 'Two and a Half Men.' I'm on 'Two and a Half Men' and I don't want to be on it."

In the video, Jones is seated next to televangelist Christopher Hudson, whose sermons appear in YouTube videos called "The Forerunner Chronicles."

"Please stop filling your head with filth, please," Jones said.

His religious comments are consistent with an interview he gave on his 19th birthday in October, when he sat down with Connie Jeffery at the Adventist Media Center in Simi Valley to talk about his new-found beliefs.

"I basically had the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit…I felt like I was being hugged inside and out and…it was the best feeling ever," Jones said.

Jones told Jeffery that he got into drugs when his parents divorced and was never very religious. Last year, when he was unsure if he would return to the show, he questioned his course and found God.

Jeffery released a statement that said, in part: "The Adventist Church in North America was pleased to learn that Angus T. Jones recently began attending one of their churches in Southern California and became a baptized member."

Jones released the following apology after coming under fire for his comments last week:

"I have been the subject of much discussion, speculation and commentary over the past 24 hours. While I cannot address everything that has been said or right every misstatement or misunderstanding, there is one thing I want to make clear. Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on Two and Half Men with whom I have worked and over the past ten years who have become an extension of my family. Chuck Lorre, Peter Roth and many others at Warner Bros. and CBS are responsible for what has been one of the most significant experiences in my life to date. I thank them for the opportunity they have given and continue to give me and the help and guidance I have and expect to continue to receive from them. I also want all of the crew and cast on our show to know how much I personally care for them and appreciate their support, guidance and love over the years. I grew up around them and know that the time they spent with me was in many instances more than with their own families. I learned life lessons from so many of them and will never forget how much positive impact they have had on my life. I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended that."

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