Off Rico's list now

Rico says that TMZ has the story, but it ain't good news for those of us who used to like Two and a Half Men:

Ashton Kutcher has officially signed on to Two and a Half Men. Sources tell TMZ that Charlie Sheen's base pay on the show was $1.25 million an episode. We've learned Ashton will get more than half, but less than $900,000. There are reports Sheen received upwards of $2 million an episode, but that includes his profit participation. TMZ has learned that CBS honcho Les Moonves has already signed off on the deal, and will announce the show is coming back for Season Nine. And, sources say, the remaining cast, including Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, will be coming back. We're told Ashton spent time with creator and Executive Producer Chuck Lorre and the two got along great, something that was essential for Lorre, who was at war with Charlie.
Ashton will not be playing the Charlie Harper character. He'll be playing someone new, who comes into the Malibu house.

but Charlie Sheen, for once, is probably right:

Charlie Sheen tells TMZ that Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre is a "sad silly fool", an "A-hole pussy loser", and a "low rent, nut-less sociopath" who is now realizing the show can't survive without him, and Charlie claims the ratings prove his point. Sheen fired off a blistering letter, attacking Lorre in the wake of reports that Jon Cryer will get a bigger role on the show and Charlie will be replaced. He says: "No one cares about your feeble show without me," adding: "The ratings right now are not a fluke. It's a big fat mess. A 2.0 demo. That sucks." Although the number is low, the show is in reruns. But Charlie doesn't stop there, saying: "Not even a phone call to the man that put you on the map. The man that put five hundred million dollars in your pockets... I busted my ass for eight years to support your vision." The letter, which Charlie sent via TMZ to Lorre, gets very personal: "They are planning on voting you off the AA island. Even those clowns have no room for you anymore."
TMZ also broke the story: there's a 50/50 chance that Men will not come back for Season Nine.

Rico says everyone else is coming back to stay on the gravy train, but Rico won't be watching. (But a 'nut-less sociopath'? Come on, Charlie, tell us how you really feel...)