Nellie Andreeva

He’s back! After a month-a-half hiatus, Two And A Half Men co-star Angus T. Jones is returning to the set of the CBS comedy next week to film his first episode following the release of his controversial religious testimonial, in which he slammed the racy series as “filth” and urged viewers to “stop watching it.” In a sign that there are no hard feelings between 2.5 Men producers and Jones, whose character has been stuck Skype-ing from the Army for most of this season, he is getting a meaty storyline in his first episode back. Emmy winner Jaime Pressly has been cast as a new love interest for Jones’ Jake. She will be introduced in the episode, which starts production on Monday. In a guest starring and potentially recurring role, the My Name Is Earl alumna Pressly will play Jake’s “cougar” girlfriend from the sticks of SD.

In red carpet interviews at the People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday night, Men executive producer Chuck Lorre confirmed that Jones will be back at work on Monday and indicated that the controversy over the actor’s viral anti-Men rant has blown over and all has been forgiven. “He’s part of our show. He’s part of our family. We love him,” Lorre said. “He’s 19, man. Cut him some slack.” Lorre even supported Jones’ most explosive comment. “I can’t really disagree with him — the show’s kind of filthy,” Lorre quipped. “What he said wasn’t wrong… We hope it’s funny, as well.”

Pressly, Emmy winner for NBC’s My Name Is Earl, recently starred in the Fox comedy series I Hate My Teenage Daugter and reunited with Earl creator Greg Garcia with an arc on his latest series, Fox comedy Raising Hope. She is repped by CAA, Mosaic and attorney Dave Feldman.

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