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Pedro Pascal's mind seems to be working on a different level ... a crazy one according to the actor himself who shared the "psycho" way he learns lines.

The actor sat down with a few of his colleagues for a fundraiser put on by SAG-AFTRA and posted to their YouTube channel Friday. Alongside Pedro ... 'Morning Show' actor Billy Crudup and "Succession" stars Matthew Macfadyen and Kieran Culkin.

The group talked all about the acting craft with Pedro mentioning the wild way he learns his lines -- and even whipped out some evidence to show his colleagues.

Check out the clip ... Pascal grabs a piece of paper covered in what looks more like the binary code behind "The Matrix" than any actual tool to learn lines -- and a couple of the other interviewees clearly don't know what to make of it either with Culkin calling it "gibberish."

Pedro admits it's a "psycho" strategy and jokes he's actually The Unabomber before explaining it's every first letter of a word he's supposed to say organized in columns.

Pascal went on to say it's a tedious way of drilling the information, but works for him ... but -- from his pal Kieran's shocked expression while he explained it -- this doesn't appear to be a common practice at all.

Worth noting... the reason SAG sat down with this particular group is 'cause they're all up for the "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series" Screen Actors' Guild trophy -- a pretty damn talented roundtable.

Pascal's bizarre memorization technique's clearly working BTW ... on top of being an award-season darling this winter, Marvel just announced him as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in future "Fantastic 4" projects -- dude's securing nominations and the bag.

Bethenny Frankel's defending "Today" ... blasting Kelly Rowland for reportedly bailing on cohosting the show because her dressing room wasn't up to par.

Here's the deal ... Rowland was supposed to cohost the popular NBC morning show alongside Hoda Kotb Thursday after being interviewed about her new film "Mea Culpa" when she dropped out at the last minute.

Page Six says sources told them she left because her dressing room wasn't up to snuff. Rita Ora filled in, and the show went on just as planned ... but, Frankel couldn't help herself when she heard the news and filmed a TikTok about the whole situation.

BF started out by saying Kelly's right ... the dressing rooms are tiny, the catering's awful and the makeup area is communal -- before adding none of that matters.

Frankel called the show an "institution in entertainment" and said it's an honor to even be there alongside Hoda ... before ending by saying it was not the moment for "diva expectations."

BTW ... some fans online are pointing out Bethenny did something similar in the past -- posting her own video about the backstage area of "Today" ... though even in that clip Frankel reiterated how grateful she was just to be on the show.

Bethenny's since taken down her video ... deleting it from her social media accounts, and she's taking a lot of heat online over calling out the former Destiny's Child star.

Unclear if Rowland's caught wind of Bethenny's comments ... she hasn't said anything about walking off "Today" as far as we can tell.

Russell Crowe may have given to the poor in "Robin Hood" ... but what he really needed was to take time off for himself -- 'cause he fractured both his legs on set!

The actor sat down with People for an interview published Saturday ... and, he revealed he suffered a pretty serious injury while filming the movie almost 15 years ago.

The way RC tells it ... he was performing a stunt where he jumped off a castle gate onto uneven ground. It was late, and Crowe said they probably rushed the prep before the stunt -- deciding not to bury a crash pad to land on.

Lo and behold, Russell landed and said he felt something akin to an electric shock shoot through his body ... but he managed to struggle through the scene since the epic battle sequence was already in full swing.

And, Russ said he didn't stop struggling on the movie ... saying he had trouble even walking over the final month of shooting for the action-adventure film, though he didn't take a day off.

Fast forward about a decade, and Crowe said some pain in his legs sent him to the doctor ... who X-rayed him and asked when exactly he'd broken his legs 'cause he could see the residual damage in his shin bones.

Crowe said he thinks a year off he took between finishing "Robin Hood" and training for "Man of Steel" let his legs naturally heal enough to overlook the pain ... proving the man's kinda superhuman himself.

Lily Gladstone's not happy with the Super Bowl champs' name ... and she says the NFL runner-ups' mascot ain't much better.

The actress and activist spoke during a Santa Barbara International Film Festival panel last weekend, before the Chiefs defeated the 49ers ... and ripped Chiefs fans' use of the tomahawk chop -- a hand gesture and chant used by fans of teams with Native American mascots.

LG said the gesture is a reminder of what Hollywood has done to Native Americans ... pointing out the chant was used in old Westerns before indigenous actors were given the opportunity to play major roles in the movie.

Gladstone said she gets upset when people say the chant is meant as a sign of "honor" ... calling it the "commodification" of her people as well.

These arguments are pretty common among activists and groups ... but, Lily also mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as another example of an offensive mascot.

Lily pointed out settlers -- called 49ers -- who went West looking for gold harkened "an incredibly brutal time for California Indians" ... so an NFL team using that moniker's not totally blameless either.

BTW ... protests against the Chiefs' name take place from time to time -- with one kicking off before their Super Bowl LVII victory last year over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Other pro sports franchises -- like the Cleveland Guardians in MLB and Washington Commanders -- have already changed their names in the face of criticism ... though their original names were pretty clear red flags for activists.

New video from the Kansas City shooting appears to show the exact moments before shots started to ring out -- and as the cops have indicated, there are teenagers in the mix here.

TMZ has obtained footage that depicts the KC rally Wednesday at 1:48 PM CT -- right around the time the first reports of a shooting came in -- and eyewitnesses tell us that the young guys you see in the background got into a heated exchange with someone off camera.

There are a few key players to focus on -- a teen in red, who you can see get angry and throw his bag down as he argues with someone who's not in clear view. There's also another teen in all black with a satchel-like bag hanging from his side, who walks toward the action.

These 2, in particular, were recorded walking away from the shooting just moments later -- also seen in the footage we got -- and the young man in black looks to have been shot.

We're told by eyewitnesses who saw this that he appeared to have been shot in the face. If you look closely, his buddy in red is trailing close behind him as they beelined it outta there.

Going back to the main video ... there are a couple other dudes who were pointed out to us who also seem to have been involved -- one young guy in a brown jacket (who looks to be the same guy who got tackled in that now-viral video) and another guy in a black jacket and red beanie ... whom we're told appeared to be reaching for something in his coat.

Our sources tell us all the young guys you can see on camera here all looked to be rolling together as a group -- and that they were bickering with a much taller and possibly older man off camera ... who our eyewitnesses say definitely fired the first shots at them.

It's not entirely clear if the young guys fired back, but we're told people there believe they might have ... although, you don't see them pull out or use a gun at all in these videos.

Of course, in the aftermath of this ... cops have only charged 2 individuals -- juveniles as they've been described -- with gun-related offenses, although more charges are likely to come.

The pieces of the puzzle are still falling into place ... and there are more questions than answers right now. From the looks of it -- this may have been an argument gone wrong.

Travis Kelce is taking some heat for the party hours after the parade shooting, but he still has lots of supporters, and Kanye's album has connected with his fans, despite all the mishegoss. So we gotta ask ...

George Santos is suing Jimmy Kimmel for using personalized Cameo videos on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" ... TMZ has learned.

According to court documents filed Saturday ... the former member of the House of Representatives is suing Kimmel, ABC, and The Walt Disney Company -- alleging they violated copyright law by broadcasting his Cameo videos on Jimmy's show.

Here's the deal ... back in December, Kimmel aired several segments on his show where he shared videos he solicited from Santos. One showed Santos congratulating someone on winning a beef-eating contest, and another congratulating someone on cloning their dog.

Santos is claiming broadcasting these violated Cameo's terms of service ... alleging the types of licenses users receive when purchasing a cameo does not allow a user to broadcast them nationally.

They're also claiming Cameo's terms of service clearly state that all videos are "wholly owned" by the creator ... in this case, Santos.

Santos alleges that Kimmel violated copyright law by using five Cameo videos on his show. He's also suing for fraudulent inducement ... claiming Jimmy used fake profiles and personas to trick Santos into making the videos.

He's suing Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for damages and attorneys' fees.

Jennifer Lopez has the number 1 movie in the world ... or at least the top flick on Amazon Prime -- the streaming home of "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."

Check out Amazon Prime right now ... the visual accompaniment to J Lo's first album in nearly a decade is outperforming the new "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" series as well as several other popular shows on Amazon Prime.

And, the movie's not the only project blowing up either ... with her new album reaching the top spot on the iTunes charts.

Worth noting ... iTunes charts are based on people who actually purchase music which isn't as large a market as it used to be -- but, it's also one of the top 50 streaming albums on Apple Music. So we know people are listening.

A couple major accomplishments no doubt, though Lopez is used to reaching this kind of rarefied air. Back in 2001, Lopez's album "J.Lo" debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 ... and her rom-com "The Wedding Planner" topped the box office less than a week later.

So maybe J Lo's promotional tour for the project's got people listening ... as we previously reported, Lopez posed in front of billboards in Times Square to plug her new project. No shame in her face either -- she knows how to play the game!

Beyoncé’s in the country music doghouse it seems ... at least if John Schneider’s to be believed -- ‘cause he said the star's like a dog takin’ a piss on the genre!

The former “Dukes of Hazzard” star sat down for an interview with right-wing One American News Network to discuss Bey’s recent foray into country music ... and he blasted the Queen for not leaving the genre well enough alone.

Check out the clip yourself ... Schneider says left-wing entertainers have to “make their mark just like a dog” -- basically, he sees entertainers trying to claim country music as their own.

While he’s probably best known for his work as an actor, Schneider does know a little bit about country music ... John’s actually released a bunch of albums with several reaching impressive heights on the country charts back in the ‘80s.

Beyoncé's used as the example here, but JS is speaking more broadly about pop stars flooding into country music ... and he seems none too pleased about the trend whatsoever.

Artists like Post Malone and Lana Del Rey are also reportedly dipping their toes into the country music pool ... but Bey’s new album’s gotta be the most-anticipated. Her new tracks “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” got dropped during the Super Bowl and signaled a whole new sound for the Beyhive to jam to.

BTW ... this isn't exactly a new phenomenon. Steven Tyler, Cyndi Lauper and Nelly are just a few big names who have put out country/country-adjacent albums in the past.

Now, if you’re wondering how Bey’s fans took Schenider’s comments ... they weren’t shy about venting their anger, calling his words “disgusting” and pointing out Beyonce’s from Texas -- so country’s kinda in her DNA!

2/17 11:22 AM PT -- It seems this account's a fake ... Gypsy Rose Blanchard tells TMZ this isn't actually her, and she's saddened someone would do this in her name.

We've also checked Cameo ... it appears the account's been deactivated.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's post-prison media tour may be winding down ... but she's undeterred, turning to Cameo to continue cashing in on her life story.

The recently-released ex-con joined the personalized video message platform site this week to engage with fans further and shed new light on her experiences -- but it comes at a high cost ... $20 for a message and $100 a pop for a video.

BTW, she's also going by her married name now -- Gypsy Rose Anderson -- on Cameo, listing her occupation as "influencer." Her bio reads: "Survivor & Advocate, Overcoming Challenges, Finding My Own Path, Advocate for Mental Health Awareness, #SurvivorStrong."

She has amassed a huge following post-prison -- so yeah, that title technically applies.

Gypsy fans will be thrilled to know there are various video types to choose from. Whether it's a personalized birthday message, a pep talk or advice session, or simply a response to a general question, there's something available for everyone on her menu here.

Safe to say, GRB's hoping to foster a positive online community ... especially since TMZ revealed last month she was getting a lot of hate for her ex-BF, Nick Godejohn, still being behind bars -- despite him being the mastermind behind her mother Dee Dee's slaying.

With that in mind, while Gypsy has said she feels a lot of guilt over the situation to this very day ... she also finds it strange that Nick's receiving sympathy from folks who want him freed.

Remember ... Nick got life in prison without the possibility of parole after his conviction for first-degree murder. Gypsy got a 10-year sentence but was released on parole in Dec, after more than 8 years of incarceration.

Now that she's on the outside again ... she's looking for new modes of revenue -- and for now, Cameo is just the ticket.

Some people in L.A. probably did a double take Friday thinking they saw Michael Jackson walking around.

But it was actually the spitting image of the late "King of Pop" -- namely his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who was on his way to shoot scenes for MJ's upcoming biopic, "Michael."

It's truly amazing how much Jaafar looks almost exactly like the world-famous singer, especially when he's in costume.

Check out these photos, obtained by TMZ, which show Jaafar on the movie set, sporting MJ's famous red varsity jacket next to a Tower Records pop-up shop and a huge ad promoting the entertainer's 1979 album, "Off The Walls."

As we reported ... Jaafar -- the son of Jermaine Jackson -- was spotted Thursday shooting scenes for the flick in LA's Encino neighborhood.

Jaafar was in total MJ mode from his hair to his makeup and clothes.

Actress Nia Long, who is playing Michael's mom, Katherine Jackson, also appeared on set Thursday. Colman Domingo wasn't there, but he snagged the role of MJ's dad, Joe Jackson, and has been spotted with the cast.

A man was mauled to death by his own pit bulls in L.A. County ... and the bloody aftermath was captured by news choppers, as officials found his body in a backyard kennel.

This horrific incident went down Thursday night in Compton -- although, this poor man wasn't discovered until Friday ... and at that point, he was dead. As you can see in the images above -- which have been circulating on social media -- the scene is downright gruesome.

Unclear what exactly led up to the mauling, but the guy's reported to have been in the business of breeding/selling pitties ... and he had at least 5 grown ones in his backyard. Cops say they believe he might have been trying to feed the animals when they turned on him.

Helicopters surveying the scene early Friday appear to have captured images of his body in one of the enclosures on his property -- but later in the day, first responders arrived to contain the situation ... apprehending the dogs themselves.

The drama wasn't over by then, though ... even after the authorities had arrived, a woman had somehow found her way into the yard and needed help escaping from the dogs.

Eventually, firefighters were able to rescue her and get the pits under control. No word on what will happen to the dogs -- they're now in the possession of Animal Control.

The director of LA County's Animal Control department says, "Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of the victim. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine the facts and ensure the safety and well-being of both the community and the animals involved."

Another deadly tragedy has struck Taylor Swift's legion of avid fans – months after one of her concertgoers died in Brazil.

The latest bad news came Thursday when a teenager was killed as she and her family were driving to the pop superstar's concert in Australia.

16-year-old Mieka Pokarier, her mother, and her sister were cruising in an SUV from the Gold Coast to Taylor's show over 1,700 miles away in Melbourne when they collided with a semi-truck.

Mieka and her 10-year-old sibling, Freya, were severely injured, while their mom, Kim, was also hurt.

Emergency Service units raced to the scene and provided medical aid to the sisters, but Mieka didn't make it and was pronounced dead.

Freya was rushed to a local hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. Kim, who was driving the SUV, was also hospitalized, but her condition was not known.

The truck driver also suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash. So far, no one has been arrested, charged or ticketed.

Back in November, another Swiftie -- Ana Clara Benevides Machado -- died after she collapsed from heat exhaustion at Taylor's concert in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Taylor posted a heartfelt Instagram message, honoring Ana and postponing her show the following night.

It remains to be seen if Taylor will follow the same playbook in this latest tragedy.  As you know, Taylor performed a sold-out concert in front of 96,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds Friday night.

NeNe Leakes fans' hopes of her making a big return to "Real Housewives of Atlanta" -- fully fueled by Porsha Williams going back -- are about to be dashed, because we've learned NeNe is not following in her BFF's footsteps.

Sources connected to the show tell TMZ ... NeNe isn't in any talks to join the upcoming season 16 -- and, in fact, we're told producers haven't even reached out to her to have any conversations about the possibility. So, bringing NL back just isn't in the cards.

For NeNe and 'RHOA' fans this isn't the news they want to hear with a NeNe-shaped hole in their lives, and storylines, ever since she parted ways with the show in 2020.

All this is even more devastating for fans, given that they've long been campaigning for her comeback on social media.

Hopes were raised further when she followed Bravo on Instagram in Nov. 2023 ... suggesting she might be back on good terms with them after things soured when Leakes filed a 2022 lawsuit claiming the show's producers tolerate a toxic work environment filled with racism.

As of now, the only person making a grand return for 'RHOA' season 16 is Porsha, who initially exited the show in 2021 after 9 seasons on the show.

Despite not coming back to our screens right now, NeNe's had a whole lot to say about 'RHOA,' especially about its low ratings ... telling us last month showrunners need to blow something up to bolster viewership.

Bill Maher is f***ing sick of Republicans and Democrats who reflexively villainize everyone with whom they disagree ... and he's got receipts of how stupid hard-core partisans have become.

For starters, the far right is trying to sell a story that Biden has destroyed America. Rep. Nancy Mace said since Joe Biden took office America has become a raging "s*** show." Bill concedes he wouldn't pick Joe as his "Squid Games" partner, but he says it's actually Nancy who's full of s*** when you look at the facts.

Fact is, the 'Real Time' host says Biden's not perfect by any stretch, but he's done a lot of good.

The funniest thing ... he points to Rep. Lauren Boebert who grouses we are now dependent on Saudi oil. Not true, BM says, and warns her not to jerk him off!

On the other side, people who don't like Ron DeSantis say he's worse than Donald Trump. Bill shows that just not true, even if you strongly disagree with his views.

The real point ... mindless partisanship. If you disagree with someone, then they're the worst people who ever lived. There's no good in them ... just evil. And that's why the largest voting block these days is independents, because they're sick of the tribalism.

And the media plays right into this. Cable networks find no good in the people with whom they disagree, and no bad in the people they embrace. And cable networks aren't alone.

Kevin Costner's ex-wife may have screwed herself in their epic divorce, all because she listed everything under the sun as an expense she'd need covered in almost a quarter of a million dollars in monthly child support ... even though her final amount ended up being far, far less.

TMZ has a new documentary about this uncoupling -- one of the most acrimonious we've seen in a long time here in Hollywood -- and a particular element about the proceeding that was fascinating is the fact that Christine shot for the moon in what she was seeking at first.

Of course, we're referring to the $248k in monthly child support she wanted from Kevin -- an astronomical amount that she justified with an absurd list of expenses she said she needed.

Among those costs she said she needed covered ... cosmetic surgeries, and other luxuries -- like boutique shopping, massive ATM withdrawals, and sky-high attorney's fees.

In the end ... a judge gave her a fraction of what she wanted -- even though Kevin offered her more than she ended up getting.

We talked to lots of folks in the know about celebrity divorces to see why they thought Christine swung for the fences ... and we got some interesting insights. Turns out there's really no such thing as an iron-clad prenup.

The doc gets into all of this and more -- "TMZ Investigates: Kevin Costner's Divorce War" is a deep dive into the nasty split, examining how it devolved into a war over money, cheating allegations, and entitlement.