Anger Management is an American TV sitcom that ran from 2012 to 2014 for 100 episodes. The series is based on the 2003 film of the same name and stars Charlie Sheen in a variation of Buddy, the character played by Jack Nicholson.
Charlie Sheen stars as Dr. Charlie Goodson, who was a minor league baseball player until a fit of anger wrecked his knee and ended his career. He's now an anger management therapist in a complicated relationship with fellow therapist Dr. Kate Wales (Selma Blair). He is also a divorced father of a neurotic daughter Sam Goodson (Daniela Bobadilla) and has a friendly relationship with his ex-wife, Jennifer Goodson (Shawnee Smith).
The series provides examples of the following tropes:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Nolan is undeniably attracted to Lacey and throughout the series is trying to find different ways to win her over—while also stalking her too.
- Actor Allusion:
- Sheen has previously played a ballplayer: Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn, in the film Major League.
- In the final episode, Corbin Bernsen played "Roger", the general manager of Charlie's old team, who addresses Charlie as "Wild Thing". Bernsen had played a "Roger" in that movie too.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: When Lacey accuses Nolan of only liking her for her body, he tells her that her "crazy big boobs" is definitely not one of the reasons he's attracted to her.
- Evil Brunette Twin: Jordan's sister Jessica sleeps with Jordan's husband in one episode.
- Everyone Has Standards: As uncontrollably sex-crazed as he is, Charlie never tries anything with Lacey, with Lacey hitting on him several times, making it clear that all she needs to do to have sex with him is for him to ask, kissing him and showing herself completely naked to him.
- Fatal Flaw: Charlie simply can not refuse to have sex with a woman, no matter how much trouble it will get him in.
- Geek Reference Pool: An episode featuring a nerd named Monica fell squarely into this trope. All actual geek references were very basic Star Wars references, and Monica's cosplay outfit (while superficially inspired by Yoko Littner) was allegedly from a Show Within a Show called "Gina X".
- He Is Not My Boyfriend: The relationship between Charlie and Kate as he clearly wants more while she believes it would only over-complicate the good thing they have going.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: In some form or another, every episode's title begins with "Charlie".
- Kinky Cuffs: "Charlie Gets the Party Started" has Charlie cuffed to Michelle at the wild party, but he's already two hours late for a meeting with a boss and can't find the key. He brings her along and tries hiding the handcuffs.
- Love at First Sight: Nolan falls for Lacey the instant he sees her come into one of the meetings and when she nearly hits Ed thinking that she was given permission to do so. While she's not reciprocal towards his crush at first, she does like the obsessive attention he gives her too though.
- Opposites Attract: Lacey is very brash and aggressive while Nolan is very meek and passive.
- Real Life Writes the Plot: Selma Blair was written off the show for complaining about Charlie Sheen's behaviour.