Byron Scott Fine With 'Winning Time' Getting Canceled ... 'I Wasn't A Big Fan'

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GOOD RIDDANCE
TMZSports.com

Byron Scott won't be shedding any tears over "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" getting shelved anytime soon ... 'cause the Lakers champ tells TMZ Sports he wasn't tuning into the series anyway.

We caught up with Byron just days after HBO announced the fate of the show based on the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers after just two seasons ... and asked him if he was bummed the storyline never got the chance to shine a light on his tenure with the purple and gold.

Safe to say he's not losing any sleep over it ... 'cause Scott told us straight up, "Nah, I'm good."

"I wasn't a big fan of the show because I know a lot of it was fabricated in certain ways just to make it more interesting for the fans which is cool, that's TV. That's Hollywood. That's what they do."

Scott -- who won 3 NBA championships with the Lakers -- said he, Magic Johnson and his former teammates don't even discuss the show ... and if it's ever brought up, it's their wives doing the talking.

Of course, it's no surprise the real Showtime Lakers are saying "good riddance" to the series -- Magic, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have all spoken out against it.

Byron -- who entered the picture (for real) in 1983 -- said he didn't feel as strongly about it as his teammates ... admitting he didn't care all that much.

We also asked Byron who he'd want to play him if any production companies decide to give the Showtime Lakers another shot on the screen ... and his answer's pretty great!!

Young Batman In 'Batman Begins' 'Memba Him?!

American actor Gus Lewis was just 12 years old when he played the kid version of Batman -- who had a fear of bats after falling into a cave and encountering the animal -- in "Batman Begins" back in 2005.

Lewis shared the big screen with Hollywood legends like Christian Bale -- playing the adult version of Batman, Cillian Murphy as the vicious psychopath who is afraid of Batman, Scarecrow and Katie Holmes as the town of Gotham's district attorney and Batman's love interest, Rachel Dawes.

From a young age, Lewis found interest behind the camera and in more recent years, he has stepped into writing and directing roles.

Guess what he looks like now!

'RHOC' SHANNON BEADOR Offers To Pay For Property Damage ... Looking Into Treatment After DUI Arrest

Shannon Beador is ready to pay for the cost of the damage she caused to a property after her hit-and-run ... and we're told she's also currently looking at options to get herself treatment.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Shannon's lawyer, Michael Fell, is in contact and is working directly with the owner of the Newport Beach property she smashed into over the weekend to help make things right.

We're told "The Real Housewives of Orange County" star, through her lawyer, offered to pay for all the damage and repairs needed to be done ... and she's completely prepared to cough up the cash to cover it.

Aside from helping fix the property damage, we're told she's also looking into treatment options but hasn't nailed down a decision yet. Our sources tell us this whole ordeal is still very fresh to her, but she really wants to get the help she thinks she needs.

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SPEEDING & SWERVING
TMZ.com

As we reported, footage obtained from Shannon's alleged drunken night showed her zipping around a neighborhood before crashing into the side of the property.

We were told officers later found her pretending to walk her dog, and she was arrested and booked for 2 misdemeanors -- hit-and-run and DUI alcohol.

Sophie Turner Mommy time with Daughter Hours After Suing Joe

Sophie Turner is fighting hard to get her kids out of the United States and over to Europe ... but that's not stopping her from enjoying some QT with her kiddo stateside in the meantime.

Sophie was spotted out with the estranged couple's daughter, 3-year-old Willa, Thursday while running some errands in NYC. Both mom and tot had big smiles on their faces as they walked hand and hand with another female friend tagging along.

No signs of Joe, but that's not at all surprising given the drama that unfolded between the two earlier in the day.

Sophie sued Joe, claiming they had an agreement to raise their two daughters in the UK, where they believed they'd live a safer and healthier life. Sophie claims Joe's hidden the kids' passports, preventing her from taking them outside the U.S.

As for Joe's part, he sent us a lengthy statement explaining a Florida judge ruled neither parent is allowed to relocate their children outside of the United States while divorce proceedings continue.

Buckle up.

Kroy Biermann Male Strip Club Offers Up Serious $$$ to Dance As Money Troubles Worsen

Kroy Biermann might have a light at the end of his massive debt tunnel, and it's all thanks to a male strip club willing to dish out some serious cash if Kroy's willing to get down 'n dirty.

Kings of Hustler in Sin City is giving Kroy the chance to make a sweet $150k to "perform a live strip tease" at its location. The club's manager, Brittany Rose, says she's certain he'll also "make a ton of money in tips."

There are conditions, of course -- Kroy will have to perform on stage for 15 minutes, strip down to his underwear, and give the crowd lap dances "at the request of big spenders."

He'll also have to take a ride on the club's "Golden Boner" -- a mechanical bull that's shaped to look like ... well, a golden boner.

Kings of Hustler says it sent Kroy's team the lucrative offer Wednesday ... though he hasn't yet accepted the offer.

As we reported, Kroy says he and Kim Zolciak are DEEP in the red amid their divorce -- he's already asked a judge to let them sell their Georgia home at haste ... the one that recently entered pre-foreclosure again.

Kroy filed new docs this week, begging the court to prevent Kim from slowing down his attempt to sell the property. Don't forget, Kroy said he had to sell his own personal belongings to try and make their mortgage payments, which he wasn't able to cover in July.

Safe to say, the $150k could help out ... as long as he's down to show off the goods for some lucky ladies.

Joe Jonas Dinner With Nick ... Night Before Sophie Sues

Joe Jonas seemingly found some comfort in his brother, Nick Jonas ... grabbing dinner in the night before his estranged wife, Sophie Turner, slammed him with a lawsuit over the custody of their kids.

Two-thirds of the Jo Bros were at The Waverly Inn in NYC Wednesday night -- and Joe seemed to be deep in conversation with Nick as they dined.

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THE EX OF MY EX IS MY FRIEND
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BTW, this spot is a couple blocks away from where Sophie was hanging out with Joe's other ex, Taylor Swift, the night before.

She was also spotted at The St. Regis Hotel in New York on Thursday, hours after suing her estranged husband ... so they're still not that far from each other.

As we reported, Sophie claims Joe is illegally keeping their 2 kids in New York and wants them brought back to England, as laid out in an explosive lawsuit she filed Thursday morning.

Sophie says she agreed -- "with some hesitation" -- to let the kids stay with him while he was touring in the U.S. because she was working on her time-consuming series overseas, but that agreement was supposed to last until September ... when she would "collect the children and return home to England."

She even cited an international treaty that deals with child abduction across country lines ... so she's keeping pretty serious about getting her kids back to her.

In response, Joe's rep issued a lengthy statement ... saying Sophie's wishes would violate an order that restricts both parents from relocating the children," also reiterating that he's open to sharing custody with her if she moves to England full-time.

Do you think the Sophie Turner/Joe Jonas divorce war will get uglier? Vote below.

Chrisean Rock Called Out for Not Supporting Baby Blueface Left Speechless

New mother Chrisean Rock is under attack again, this time for not properly holding her newborn son -- and, unsurprisingly, Blueface seems to be on the side of her critics.

The outrage came after a video surfaced Thursday of Chrisean shopping inside a Walmart while letting their son's head fall back as he slept in a forward baby carrier.

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NO SUPPORT

Many fans cited the dangers of having the infant's neck unsupported and also accused her of being too distracted to properly tend to the baby as she also walked her dog on its leash inside the store.

Blueface reacted to the wild moment as it trended on the app formerly known as Twitter ... assuring the people he was just as surprised as they were.

The two co-parents recently resolved their pre-birth issues and Chrisean has agreed to change the child's name from "Chrisean Jr." to "Jonathan Jr." -- Blueface's government name ... creating tension with his relationship with Jaidyn Alexis as a result.

There's still time for parenting classes!!!

Neil deGrasse Tyson Think Science Is Wack? Lemme Tell Ya About This Asteroid!!!

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WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE
TMZ.com

An asteroid the size of the Empire State Building has a slight chance of smashing into Earth, but Neil deGrasse Tyson says the fact scientists were able to recover samples of the space rock might be even bigger news.

Neil joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live" ... talking us through NASA's remarkable mission to send a probe -- dubbed the OSIRIS-REx -- to collect rocks and dust off the ancient asteroid known as Bennu.

What's amazing is that probe launched from Earth 7 years ago, aiming to hit a moving target ... and now it's expected to land this weekend in Utah!!!

Neil wants to make sure everyone's aware of just how spectacular this is -- he's throwing a little jab at the science deniers out there, too.

BTW, a new report revealed Bennu could hit Earth around 2182, but the odds of it happening are currently about 1 in 3,000 ... so we're probably good. 🤷🏽‍♂️

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REVEALING THE ALIEN DISCOVERY

Of course, marveling at humankind's scientific accomplishments puts new perspective on what a potential alien species might be able to do.

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KEEPING THINGS UNDER WRAPS

Remember, governments and scientists around the world are taking UFO reports more seriously these days -- and Neil says there's plenty of reason to believe we're not alone in the universe.

But, check out his rationale for why they're probably not here among us.

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PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
TMZ.com

And, in case ya forgot, NdT was singin' the same tune last month when we talked to him. Bottom line ... he hasn't seen enough tangible evidence to change his mind about aliens.

Not yet, anyway.

Travis Kelce I Invited Taylor Swift To My Game 'We'll See What Happens In The Near Future'

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I'VE SEEN YOU, COME SEE ME!!!
ESPN

Travis Kelce just confirmed he has at least made contact with Taylor Swift amid rumors the two have been hanging out recently ... revealing he invited the pop superstar to an upcoming Chiefs game.

Pat McAfee got the tight end to open up about rumors he's been quietly seeing Swift the last few weeks on Thursday's episode of the "The Pat McAfee Show" ... and while Kelce didn't exactly address any details head on -- he did admit he's been talking to the "Cruel Summer" singer.

"It's hilarious how much traction this has actually got," the 33-year-old said. "I think it's, right now, it's like that old game in school called 'Telephone,' where everybody is just whispering in each other's ear, just hearing some random stuff."

Kelce said his brother, Jason, has been one of the main reasons the gossip has exploded recently ... and he playfully scolded the Eagles star for it.

"The guy is absolutely ridiculous," Kelce said of his older bro, who's commented a few times on the potential relationship since last Thursday. "He can't stay out of the frickin' headlines."

"Please," Travis added, "everybody stop asking my brother about my love life."

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LOVE STORY???
SportsRadio 94 WIP

Kelce previously said he wanted to shoot his shot in the form of a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it when she performed at Arrowhead Stadium in July, but had no luck connecting with her.

It certainly sounds like it eventually worked ... 'cause Kelce said he has, in fact, been in communication with Swift.

"I threw the ball in her court and, you know, I told her, 'I've seen you rock the stage at Arrowhead,'" he told McAfee. "'You might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead and see which one's a little more lit.'"

"So we'll see what happens in the near future."

Joe Jonas Sophie's Crossed the Line Divorce Judge Says Kids Should Stay Put in U.S.

Joe Jonas has fired back at Sophie Turner, saying Sophie is the one who has crossed the line, violating an order by a Florida judge by trying to take their kids permanently to England.

Joe's rep just issued a lengthy statement, in response to Sophie's claim Joe has "abducted" their kids by refusing to hand over their passports so they can return to England per their agreement.

Joe's response ... "After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce. The Florida Court has already entered an order that restricts both parents from relocating the children. Sophie was served with this order on September 6, 2023, more than two weeks ago."

So, Joe is saying Sophie's position would squarely violate the Florida order keeping the kids where they are.

He also makes it clear ... although he believes the kids' home is in the United States, he's open to sharing custody with her, even if she moves permanently to England. "Joe is seeking shared parenting with the kids so that they are raised by both their mother and father, and is of course also okay with the kids being raised both in the U.S. and the UK. The children were born in the U.S. and have spent the vast majority of their lives in the U.S. They are American citizens."

Joe's rep says their team is surprised by Sophie's latest move ... "Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting this past Sunday in New York, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kids. They have been with her since that meeting. Joe's impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup."

And then, the turn ... "Less than 24 hours later, Sophie advised that she wanted to take the children permanently to the UK. Thereafter, she demanded via this filing that Joe hand over the children’s passports so that she could take them out of the country immediately. If he complies, Joe will be in violation of the Florida Court order."

Joe also takes issue with the allegation he is effectively abducting the kids ... "This is an unfortunate legal disagreement about a marriage that is sadly ending. When language like "abduction" is used, it is misleading at best, and a serious abuse of the legal system at worst. The children were not abducted. After being in Joe's care for the past three months at the agreement of both parties, the children are currently with their mother. Sophie is making this claim only to move the divorce proceedings to the UK and to remove the children from the U.S. permanently."

The legal reality ... now that they are no longer a family living together, their deal is not binding on the divorce judge. The North Star for divorce judges is what is in the best interests of the children.

Do you think the Sophie Turner/Joe Jonas divorce war will get uglier? Vote below.

John Cusack Blasts Democratic Elites ... They're All 'Full of S***'

John Cusack -- someone who's been transparent about his liberal views for years -- is coming after Democrats ... 'cause in his eyes, they have a total lack of morals.

The often-left-wing actor didn't hold back on social media earlier this week, saying those towards the top of the Democratic Party are "full of s***." He goes on to blame them for people switching to Donald Trump as a consideration for the presidency.

It's a long rant that John goes on -- he even takes shots at former Prez Barack Obama's iconic "Hope and Change" slogan ... something John's calling, "another branded hustle."

John's heated talk came in response to an article that claimed Dems are considering doing away with federal wealth taxes ... writing, "This kind of staggering amoral bulls*** is one of the main reason[s] (yes there are others) Trump's demagoguery works on people."

He sarcastically adds, "Don’t worry fellas - the democrats will save the .000000001 % from paying tax" ... saying, "To even attempt this … Unbelievable."

For those unaware, John's often spoken out about things like politics, activism, and wealth distribution ... but he usually sees things from a Democratic perspective.

Sounds like John's fed up with the left, too ... at least, for the time being.

Angus Cloud Cause Of Death Revealed ... Combo of Fentanyl, Cocaine & More

Angus Cloud died from a lethal combination of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and more in what's being ruled an accidental overdose ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Alameda County Coroner, the "Euphoria" star suffered acute intoxication from the combination of drugs which also included benzodiazepine.

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DISPATCH AUDIO

TMZ broke the story, Angus died at his family home in Oakland July 31 -- police and the fire dept. responded after his mother, Lisa, reported a "possible overdose," saying he didn't have a pulse.

A source close to the family told us Angus had been battling severe suicidal thoughts after burying his father in Ireland the week before. Angus was staying with his family, trying to work through overcoming his grief ... though his mom denies her son was suicidal.

As we reported, Angus' father, Conor, passed away in May after a short battle with cancer, which Lisa said "moved quickly which was devastating to all who loved him."

Angus attended an album release party just a few days before his death ... appearing to be in good spirits at the time while partying it up with a bunch of people.

In the wake of his death, Angus' friends came together to paint a mural in Oakland ... which has since become a gathering place for people wanting to remember him.

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REMEMBERING ANGUS
@madebydarin / @kalonstadamonsta / @danirose.a

The mural was even the site of a candlelight vigil ... and the artwork captured the attention of Angus' "Euphoria" costar Zendaya, who posted about it on social media.

Zendaya's also been among the celebs sharing tributes to Angus ... she says she will cherish every moment they shared.

We covered Angus' death on a previous episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Sophie Turner Joe Is Illegally Keeping Our kids in NYC ... Cites Child Abduction Law

Sophie Turner is at war with Joe Jonas over their 2 kids ... she says Joe is unlawfully keeping their children in New York City and she wants them "returned" to England with her.

Sophie says in April, 2023, the family made England their "permanent home," and regularly discussed their desire to raise the kids in the UK, and for the kids to attend school there.

She says they felt England was a safe place to raise kids, and they were both down with the plan. She had a lengthy passage in her legal docs, outlining all of the activities in which the kids have engaged in England.

She says "with some hesitation," she and Joe agreed the kids would stay with Joe while the Jonas Bros toured the U.S., because she was busy shooting a "very intense," time-consuming series.

Sophie says the agreement was that in September, when she finished filming, she would return to New York, to "collect the children and return home to England."

This past Sunday, Sophie and Joe met to talk about their separation, and she reiterated her desire to take the kids to England that week. Joe was in possession of the kids' passports, and "refused to return the passports to the Mother and refuses to send the children home to England with the Mother."

The Messenger was first to report the lawsuit.

Based on Joe's alleged refusal, she filed these legal docs in federal court, citing the Hague Convention -- an international treaty -- which deals with child abduction across country lines.

She's asking for a court order demanding that Joe produce the passports and return the kids to her.

Don't forget, we reported that the 2 sold their Miami home last month, BTW ... and were planning on moving to England, beginning their search for a spot overseas last December -- touring a couple of spots, too.

Sophie argues they've been living in the UK for 5 months now, and even sold the Miami home the month before he filed.

BTW ... Sophie gets into why they split. She says they had an argument on August 15 and Joe filed for divorce Sept. 1. She found out September 5 through the media. She adds they had both agreed the kids would follow her to England in Sept., but on Sept. 19 Joe's attorney contacted her people and said the kids would not be returning to England.

We reached out to Joe's camp ... so far, no word back.

Do you think the Sophie Turner/Joe Jonas divorce war will get uglier? Vote below.

Quavo Meets With Kamala On Gun Violence Inside The White House!!!

Quavo's taking his gun violence plight straight to the White House ... where he met with Vice President Kamala Harris for a sit-down on the hot-button, and very personal, issue.

The megastar rapper was joined by his mother and sister Titania Davenport, mother to the late Takeoff, for the meeting at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

We're told Quavo expressed his desire for Congress to pass the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which will enable gun violence to be treated as a public health risk ... akin to substance abuse and depression.

He also shared his personal stories, urging the Veep to support their mission to the fullest extent of her power.

The Vice Prez thanked the family publicly on her IG for using their platform to not only honor Takeoff, but also to spread gun violence prevention awareness.

His recently launched Rocket Foundation was created to impact gun laws on both the state and federal levels, and Quavo specifically came to D.C. to secure stronger political backing ... especially in underserved areas.

Earlier in the day, Quavo met with various Representatives from the Congressional Black Caucus to push the policy and concluded the day with community leader Greg Jackson ... as they cohosted a reception for lawmakers and gun violence prevention advocates to discuss better solutions.

Quavo firmly thinks gun violence is preventable, and says he came to D.C. aiming to build safer communities.

It's an uphill battle, no doubt, but it's also a start.

Bob Ross First Painting From TV Show Up For Sale ... Nearly $10 Million!

An iconic piece of art from Bob Ross' past is up for sale 4 decades after it was made ... and it ain't gonna come cheap.

Bob's painting is titled, "A Walk in the Woods," painted on the first episode of his hit show, "The Joy of Painting" -- where many first discovered his talent.

The piece has Bob's signature in the bottom corner and is listed on Modern Artifact for $9,850,000. People interested can make another offer if they'd like ... but we're assuming it'll sell in that ballpark, given its significance.

Fans of the show know it didn't take Bob long to craft the incredibly detailed oil painting -- his inaugural episode is only 28 minutes long -- but that just goes to show how talented he really was.

As you know, Bob's show debuted in 1983 with this painting, the show aired over 400 episodes on PBS and lasted until 1994, the year before he died due to complications from lymphoma.

His legacy is up there with some of the greats in the world of art, partially thanks to his internet fame long after his death so it's no doubt his first televised painting will make a killing.

In Bob's words, "Let's get crazy."

Drake 'Meg' Shoutout in Houston Causes Confusion ... Photog Lashes Out at Fans

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OTHER MEG

Drake's tensions with Megan Thee Stallion are back in the spotlight after some fans took his seemingly harmless shoutout -- during his Houston concert -- and flipped it into another diss.

During Drake's September 18 show, he took time out to shout photographer MegYup by name, quipping, "Real H-Town love, shout out to Meg one time for real … not that Meg, this Meg.”

Given his past mentioning of the Houston rap star -- he effectively dissed her on the "Her Loss" track "Circo Loco" -- fans went wild with speculation once the clip began to circulate on social media.

MegYup took to her own social media to set the record straight, accusing unintelligible trolls of ruining her big moment of glory -- but eventually she called it a day, and simply plugged his upcoming album.

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THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS
TMZ.com

Alex Spiro, who represented Thee Stallion during her trial against Tory Lanez, told TMZ Hip Hop that Drake and other doubters would have egg on their faces ahead of the verdict ... which history shows went in their favor.

Drake has yet to acknowledge his "Circo Loco" bars ... but he also hasn't mentioned her again since the verdict.