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Former Olympic hero Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to 5 years in prison for killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2013.

Under South African law, Pistorius will have to serve at least 10 months before he can ask for parole.

In addition, Pistorius was given a 3-year suspended sentence on a firearms charge (unrelated to Steenkamp), but it was suspended for 5 years, so long as he's not found guilty of another crime where there's negligence involving a firearm during that period.

Pistorius had previously been found guilty of culpable homicide in the death of Reeva Steenkamp. He maintained throughout the trial he thought she was an intruder.

David Letterman's famous cue card guy on "Late Show" was given the boot this week ... after he says he cussed at the famous TV host backstage -- then attacked one of the writers.

Tony Mendez says he was given the boot this week over an incident that took place on Thursday ... but the real problem started the day before during a rehearsal for the show -- according to the NY Post.

Tony says he's had a problem with show writer Bill Scheft for a long time ... and during the rehearsal he snapped when Scheft interrupted his convo with Letterman -- so he told the writer to get off his back.

But when Letterman got angry at him for it Tony snapped ... telling Dave, "You're the one who has a sour disposition, mother****r."

Tony claims he was stewing all night over what happened ... and when he came into work the next day he immediately approached Scheft, then rougly grabbed him by the shirt. Sources told the Post he threw the writer up against a wall.

He was immediately removed from the building and terminated from his position -- but offered severance ... his full salary and health insurance until the show ends in May.

Teresa Giudice has paid approximately half of the restitution she owes as a result of her criminal conviction ... and it seems more than coincidental that she came up with the loot on the heels of a post-conviction, exclusive interview with Bravo.

TMZ has confirmed ... Teresa paid $200,000 that will go toward the $414,588 restitution ordered by the court. Although there are reports Teresa paid the money Tuesday, we've learned it was paid before then.

What's interesting ... just a week ago Teresa and Joe sat down with Andy Cohen for a 2-hour interview ... and our sources say Bravo lined their pockets handsomely.

Translation ... crime doesn't pay ... but it can definitely help you get back in the black.

"August: Osage County" actress Misty Upham has been reported missing in Washington ... and her family fears she may be suicidal.

The actress was last seen walking by herself from an apartment Sunday near Auburn ... and her dad says Misty told them she was going to visit friends.

Her dad told the Hollywood Reporter Misty had been dealing with erratic behavior and recently changed her meds. He says when they last spoke Upham told her parents they didn't need to worry about her anymore.

That's when he got nervous and contacted police ... he was worried she might kill herself.

Trigz -- a famous tattoo artist who has worked with the likes of Chris Brown -- was shot and killed in broad daylight Thursday.

According to police, Trigz got into a verbal altercation with a man outside Black Derby Smoke Shop in North Hollywood. Police say the man (described as a Hispanic male) then shot Trigz and took off ... leaving Trigz to die on the scene.

According to his Model Mayhem profile, Trigz worked on music videos for the likes of Mobb Deep, Travis Barker, Wiz Khalifa and Tyga.

Fear of Ebola led to the scary scene in this video and it should be a lesson to everyone these days -- NEVER say "Africa" right after sneezing on a plane ... because you could be removed by men in hazmat suits.

A US Airways flight from Philadelphia landed in the Dominican Republic Thursday, and was immediately greeted by health officials after a passenger decided to make a stupid joke.

According to passengers the man sneezed and then said he'd just come from Africa. Flight attendants immediately reported it ... even though the man pleaded with them that he was only joking.

In reality he had NOT been to Africa, and as he was removed he said ... "I ain't from Africa. S**t!"

Dumb joke to make, and his fellow passengers were not amused. You can see them hurling taunts and boos as he walks off the plane.

Kevin "Pig Virus" Metheny -- the inspiration for Howard Stern's nemesis in "Private Parts" -- has reportedly died at the age of 60 from an apparent heart attack.

Metheny's feud with Stern in the '80s was chronicled in both Howard's book and movie. The character of Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton was played by Paul Giamatti -- and it launched his career.

Metheny was still working in the radio biz ... and was most recently the Operations Manager for two different stations in San Francisco.

Teresa Giudice has just been sentenced to prison for 15 months ... she was hysterical, but it could have been a lot worse for her.

She will begin serving the sentence January 5. She'll complete her sentence and then Joe will begin his.

Teresa made a plea to the judge to give her house arrest instead of time behind bars so she could care for her kids. Her husband Joe will spend 41 months behind bars, and she says their 4 kids will have to be split up among their relatives if they both serve.

But the judge said the sentences would be staggered, so when one is in prison, the other can perform parental duties.

Before sentencing ... Teresa begged the judge for leniency, saying she is in a deep depression and her life is now ruined. She says all she cares about is her kids and she has no interest anymore in TV shows.

She also said she didn't care about handbags ... a reference to the fact that she was photographed last month with a really expensive bag when she was monkeying around with bankruptcy.

The judge wasn't buying it, saying ... "I need to send a message. In the eyes of the law it doesn't matter who you are. There are consequences to pay."

1:55 PM PT -- Teresa's sentence was just announced.

1:15 PM PT -- The prosecutor has requested a 21-month sentence for Teresa. The judge has taken a short recess and they will be back shortly.

Joe Giudice has been sentenced to 41 months in a federal prison for wire and bankruptcy fraud -- but Teresa Giudice is still waiting to hear what her fate will be.

Joe must also pay $414,588.90 in restitution and enter an alcohol treatment program in prison.

Before handing down the sentence ... the judge chewed out Joe and Teresa for being dishonest with their finances -- pointing out the government had to dig up details they should have disclosed up front.

Both Joe and Teresa dissolved into tears as the judge tore into them.

The judge said ... if she sentences Teresa to prison, she will stagger the sentence so at least one parent will be free to care for their 4 daughters.

As we told you ... Teresa's game plan was to beg the judge for leniency -- she could get more than 20 months in prison.

Former NFL wide receiver Reche Caldwell now admits he shipped and received more than a kilo of molly through the mail -- and he's facing SERIOUS jail time for it.

Caldwell pleaded guilty Wednesday in Tampa to possession and intent to sell a huge stash of ecstasy pills, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say the plea was part of a deal Caldwell hammered out with them -- but details of the deal were not immediately released.

As we told you ... Caldwell was busted in May for trying to send 2 separate packages in the mail filled with the party drug. The ex-Chargers, Patriots, and Redskins player faces up to 20 years in federal prison. That's the max, but considering he worked out a deal ... that seems unlikely.

NBA star Joel Embiid says he doesn't understand why everyone is making such a big deal about the celeb nude hacking scandal -- saying, "I mean we've all seen a woman's body."

The Philadelphia 76ers rookie just tweeted moments ago saying he finally got around to checking out all of the naked photos that were hacked from various celebrities ... and doesn't get the big hoopla.

"Why is everyone always acting crazy when pics are leaked???" Embiid tweeted ... "I mean we've all seen a woman's body."

State Farm has folded like a cheap suit ... pulling the plug on its commercials featuring Rob Schneider ... after health groups trashed him for being anti-vaccine.

The insurance company began running ads last month ... featuring Schneider resurrecting his classic "Richmeister" character from SNL ... to sell insurance.

Several health groups immediately went on a social media campaign ... pointing out that Schneider's views run counter to what they claim are sound health insurance policies.

An anti-Schneider video posted last week pleaded with the company to drop Schneider, saying, "State Farm provides health insurance, and nothing ensures public health more than getting vaccinated."

State Farm bent to the pressure and will 86 the ad.

Sugar Bear is standing up for himself in the break up with Mama June ... insisting he has not been online dating and has NOT cheated.

As TMZ first reported, Mama June kicked Sugar Bear to the curb after finding out he has a profile on the dating site plentyoffish.com

This weekend in Georgia ... Suge was asked about his online dating adventures and stood up for himself. He's tight-lipped on details, but adamant he's not a cheater.

He also says he's "not allowed" to talk. Question is ... who's trying to muzzle him -- producers or June?

Former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas -- Terry Bradshaw's son-in-law -- died Saturday night after he lost control of his SUV and crashed into a line of trees.

The Metro Nashville PD says Bironas was traveling fast in his 2009 GMC Yukon Denali when he lost control in a curve shortly after 11 p.m.

Cops say the SUV veered off the road and struck a bunch of trees before it flipped over. Bironas was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Cops also say there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs. They believe Bironas was heading home ... because the accident occurred less than a mile from his house.

Rob married Terry Bradshaw's oldest daughter Rachel back in June ... and even though Bironas was no longer a Titan -- Terry jokingly told our photog before the wedding Rob still had permission to marry her.

Veteran actress Polly Bergen -- a.k.a. Stella Wingfield on "Desperate Housewives" -- died Saturday morning at the age of 84.

Bergen passed away around 11 AM at her home in Connecticut from natural causes ... according to her rep -- and was surrounded by family and her longtime manager.

Bergen's career launched in the '50s when she appeared in a Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis flick ... and since then, she starred in many TV shows and movies -- including the original "Cape Fear."

She also famously played the part of Mrs. Vernon-Williams in the cult Johnny Depp classic "Cry Baby."

In lieu of flowers, her rep says donations can be made to Planned Parenthood.

The Minnesota Vikings have reversed their decision on Adrian Peterson and decided to bar him from all team activities until his child abuse case is resolved.

Vikings owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf announced they were placing Peterson on the NFL's exempt/commissioner's permission list, saying in a statement, "After giving the situation additional thought, we have decided this is the appropriate course of action for the organization and for Adrian."

The team had deactivated Peterson for last week's game following the allegations against their star running back, but on Monday announced their plans to play him this coming Sunday.