Deadline

The University of Florida sent out an email to students participating in their study abroad program in Italy -- which states "any student who does agree to participate in the filming of the show, or who signs a waiver or legal agreement of any sort with MTV, will be dismissed from the program immediately."

TMZ obtained the email -- warning the students that any action deemed potentially embarrassing to the school "will not be tolerated."

The school has also threatened to contact the student's parental units to inform them why the school would be kicking them to the curb.

Funny, we thought the U of F mascot was the Gator ... not the Rat.

UPDATE: The UF is now changing their tune ... TMZ spoke with Janine Sikes, UF Director of Public Affairs, who tells us, "Generally speaking, students may participate in activities outside their Study Abroad program as long as they meet the academic and living requirements of that program."

The gang hit Carnegie Hall to celebrate the upcoming season of "Two and a Half Men" ... sans Charlie Sheen.

During the party, Ashton posted a photo of the new threesome sporting their celebration faces.

As Arnold Schwarzenegger's baby drama exploded ... Maria Shriver was in Chicago with Oprah Winfrey for the taping of her farewell show -- and together they took a blatant shot at Arnold ... to the delight of 20,000 fans.

Maria walked on the United Center stage tonight with Oprah's bff Gayle King -- and declared O had always given her "love support, wisdom, and most of all the truth."

Oprah backed that up by emphasizing, "THE TRUTH!" Our spies say everyone in the arena understood it was a message to Arnold -- and the place exploded with applause.

Other guests at the show -- Aretha Franklin, Halle Berry, Simon Cowell, and Jerry Seinfeld ... and Usher closed the show as confetti rained down on the crowd.

Not shockingly, we're told Chi-town hero Michael Jordan got the biggest ovation of any of Oprah's guests.

The arena -- usually home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks -- is packed to the rafters ... according to our spies.

Oprah's A-list friends -- Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Madonna -- are all expected to hit the enormous two-part stage ... during a taping that could take up to four hours.

No word on what they talked about ... but it's the perfect opportunity for our very first ever TMZ PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST!!!!

Submit your entries in the comments section from now until 12:00 PM PT today.

We'll choose the champion this afternoon. Funniest submission wins a pair of classy TMZ t-shirts!!

Sources tell TMZ ... Oprah met with Maria last week, trying to convince her to become a talk show host on Oprah's OWN Network. We've also learned Maria is going to be a guest on Oprah's final show.

TMZ has obtained Charlie's contract for Season 7 (2010 - 2011). The document -- dated May 17, 2010 -- requires Warner Bros. to pay Charlie $10 million within 10 days of the date Charlie signed. Charlie was then obligated to pay the money back during the first 13 episodes.

To repay the loan, Sheen -- who was getting a base pay of $1.25 million a show -- had $769,230.77 deducted from each paycheck for the first 13 episodes. But then there's this pesky issue of interest. Under the deal, the interest -- calculated at the prime commercial rate -- would be deducted from the 14th paycheck.

Charlie was fired after the 16th episode, so Warner Bros. got its $$$ back.

As for why Charlie needed the money ... unclear. With his profit participation, Charlie was raking in more than $2 million an episode, but it seems he was still burning a hole in his pocket.

Murphy was working as a package wrapper at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills when a talent scout from Paramount Pictures spotted her in a coffee shop.

She went on to star in several films during the 1950's -- including "The Desperate Hours," "Beachhead," "A Man Alone," "Sitting Bull" and "The Mad Magician."

Nicollette Sheridan -- who is suing Cherry for giving her the boot on "Desperate Housewives" -- accused Cherry in in a deposition of saying, "Tony must like boys if he is marrying this -- this little, small girl with no t*ts, that looks like a boy."

Sources who were present at the wedding tell us Cherry unloaded the comment loudly and proudly ... for all 300 guests to hear. In other words, our sources say Sheridan is grossly misleading the judge by insinuating the comment was meant in a serious and mean-spirited way.

In fact, we're told Eva thought it was funny and laughed out loud.

No answer from Ashton, but our sources say Chuck Lorre and Ashton initially agreed on the character, but in the last few days it's "evolved" into something different and is likely to change again.

TMZ obtained Nicollette's declaration in the brutal legal fight she's having with Cherry over her firing on the show.

In the declaration, Nicollette claims, "I was present at Eva Longoria's wedding to Tony Parker, when Mr. Cherry commented that 'Tony must like boys, because he is marrying this -- this little, small girl with no t*ts and -- that looks like a boy.'"

The "Two and a Half Men" star made his first comments yesterday about Ashton coming on board, joking, "Ashton is an extraordinarily talented guy, and his presence will be an asset to our show. We are old friends from our male modeling days, and we're both looking forward to being judged for our comedic artistry, as opposed to our exceptional physical beauty."

Charlie tells TMZ, "Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer ... Oh wait, so am I!!"

Charlie continues, taking a shot at the show, saying, "Enjoy the show America. Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB." Essentially, Charlie is saying the age group that supported him is going to tune out.

TMZ has now further narrowed the range of Kutcher's salary. We've learned it's between $800,000 and $900,000 an episode -- less than the $1.25 million base salary Charlie was raking in.

It finally happened ... The Situation ... Pauly D ... Ronnie ... and Vinny have touched down in Florence, Italy less than an hour ago -- and were greeted with a crazy fan crush!

The Italian paparazzi went crazy -- snapping photos of the boys as they unloaded their bags out of a taxi ... and took their stuff into the building where they will be living.

We're told the guys had to cover the cab themselves -- and had to huddle up before they could figure out how to pay the driver.

Sources tell TMZ, Charlie's base pay on the show was $1.25 million an episode. We've learned Ashton will get more than half -- more than $625,000 -- but less than $900,000.

There are reports Charlie received upwards of $2 million an episode, but that includes his profit participation.

And TMZ has learned, CBS honcho Les Moonves has already signed off and he will announce the show is coming back for Season 9.

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.