Is 'Two and a Half Men' becoming 'One and a Half Men?'

The long-running CBS sitcom 'Two and Half Men' is slated to return to the network's prime time line up this Fall and despite rumors of a reconciliation between Charlie Sheen and producer Chuck Lorre, the latest reports say that is not happening.

The celebrity gossip site TMZ.com claims to have the inside track on the storyline for the season's first episode.

Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... Chuck Lorre's plan is to make sure Charlie Sheen can NEVER come back on the show.  Although the first show won't be filmed until August 5, producers have been kicking around scenarios, which include Charlie driving a car over a cliff.

Of course, it would be art imitating life, because two of Charlie Sheen's cars went down a cliff on Mulholland Drive.

As for how Ashton Kutcher enters the picture, there's been talk that he buys Charlie's house after Charlie kicks the bucket.

Sources tell us ... the first script still isn't locked and Lorre often makes changes until close to taping, but it's pretty clear -- Charlie Harper is pushin' up daisies.

And now you know what we know.