Ryan Seacrest Hosting 'Wheel' Is A Dream Job ... I Used to Watch Pat As a Kid

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OPENING NIGHT

Don't pinch Ryan Seacrest, because he's living the dream ... hosting "Wheel of Fortune."

Ryan is making his 'Wheel' debut right now on ABC and he opened his first show by explaining why he feels so lucky to be taking the reigns from Pat Sajak.

In a heartfelt speech, Ryan recalled watching 'Wheel' with his family as a kid growing up in Atlanta ... and he said he's been a fan ever since.

Mathew Knowles on Beyoncé CMA Snub Is 'White and Black Thing' ... There's a Dark History Here

Beyoncé getting no love from the Country Music Association does not come as a huge shock to her father Mathew Knowles ... and he thinks race is a factor here.

Bey's dad tells TMZ … he's not surprised his daughter received zero CMA nominations for her "Cowboy Carter" country album, given her history with the awards show.

Mathew says Beyoncé didn't have a good experience performing with the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards -- her inclusion didn't go over so well -- and he says the CMAs never apologized to Bey.

Phaedra Parks to Kim Zolciak Come Pick Up Your Peach, Girl!!!

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COME PLAY WITH THE GIRLS!!!
TMZ.com

Phaedra Parks is ready for Kim Zolciak to pick her peach back up ... telling TMZ she'd be ecstatic if "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum rejoined the fold.

We caught up with the Bravo personality outside the "Dancing With the Stars" studio ... where she was heading in to train for season 33 of the competition series. However, Phaedra made it clear she still has 'RHOA' on the brain ... as she's set to make her grand return to the reality show for its 16th season.

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PP isn't the only 'RHOA' alum angling for a comeback ... KZ noted earlier in the summer that she'd be open to returning to the 'Housewives' franchise now that vets Phaedra and Porsha Williams are filming again.

James Earl Jones Dead at 93

James Earl Jones, one of Hollywood's most instantly recognizable voices for his roles in the 'Star Wars' movies and "The Lion King" ... is dead.

The actor's reps say he passed away Monday morning at his home in upstate New York, surrounded by family members.

James was widely respected for his decades-long career in stage, TV and film productions -- most notably, perhaps, he delivered the booming and menacing voice of Darth Vader in multiple movies in the 'Star Wars' franchise.

Kim Zolciak Kroy Is a Deadbeat, Doesn't Pay for a Thing!!! Begging for Her to Take Him Back

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FED UP!!!
BACKGRID

Kim Zolciak is hitting back at estranged husband Kroy Biermann's claim she's dragging her feet on unloading their marital home ... claiming he's the one who isn't ponying up any money.

Photogs caught up with the Bravo personality at LAX, where she put her ex on blast for suggesting she's the problem amid their financial woes. As Kim put it ... Kroy doesn't pay for a single thing, as she's the one paying for the bills, their kids' clothing, most of the food, and everything else.

Watch the vid ... Kim even suggests her daughter Brielle, who Kroy legally adopted in 2013, has done more to contribute to the family's overall finances.

TMZ TV Hot Takes J Lo Holds Hands With Matt ... Lil Wayne, Joey Chestnut

Jennifer Lopez is getting deep with Matt Damon, Lil Wayne fans are upset at a snub, and Joey Chestnut is pounding brats ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

TMZ Live

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CHATTING WITH BEN'S BESTIE
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First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles break down J Lo's emotional moment with estranged husband Ben Affleck's good friend.

Big Boy on Super Bowl Halftime Shocked It's Kendrick, Not Lil Wayne!!! Something's Going On Here

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THE OBVIOUS CHOICE
TMZ.com

Big Boy is baffled Kendrick Lamar was chosen to perform the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show over Lil Wayne ... saying there was an obvious decision here that was not made.

We caught up with the radio host on "TMZ Live" Monday, where BB shared his unfiltered opinion on Kendrick scoring the coveted halftime spot for Super Bowl LIX ... set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in February.

According to Big Boy, ahead of Sunday's announcement he would've bet big money that Lil Wayne would be tapped for the huge honor ... since NOLA is his hometown and all.

Chester Bennington’s Son Slams Linkin Park's New Singer & Says Co-founder 'Betrayed the Trust'

Linkin Park's drama rages on ... with Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime, calling out band co-founder Mike Shinoda for appointing Emily Armstrong as the group's new lead singer ... making it clear she's not Jaime's pick to replace his dad 7 years after his death.

Jaime criticized Mike for betraying fans’ trust by hiring Emily ... adding in a lengthy IG post Monday he had "quietly erased my father's life and legacy in real time … during international suicide prevention month." Chester died by suicide in 2017.

Jaime didn’t hold back ... diving into Emily’s alleged ties to Scientology and her support for Danny Masterson. This all came to light following The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala's resurfaced messages Emily had attended a 2020 preliminary hearing in support of Masterson, which hit fans hard ... especially since Chester had openly discussed surviving sexual abuse.

Tyrese Gibson Child Support Case Released After Contempt Charge ... Attorney Files Appeal

Update

5:00 PM PT -- Tyrese was released from custody Monday after his attorney Tanya Mitchell Graham filed an appeal of the judge's ruling ... according to law enforcement sources.

We're told the appeal means Tyrese did not have to pay the $73K before he was released. That does not mean he no longer owes the back child support, it's just delayed, for now. It's the same legal maneuver Tyrese and his attorney made last year when the judge ordered him to pay up the child support.

Tyrese Gibson is in custody for failing to pay the amount of child support ordered by the court ... TMZ has learned.

The singer/actor -- and dad to 5-year-old Soraya with ex-wife Samantha Lee -- was in Fulton County court Monday morning to face the judge in the ongoing child support battle, and the hearing did NOT go well for Tyrese.

Judge Kevin Farmer was clearly fed up with Tyrese's refusal to pay the $10K/month Farmer ordered him to start paying way back in April 2023 -- so, today he held Tyrese in contempt of court, the bailiff put him in handcuffs and marched him out of the courtroom.

Harvey Weinstein Rushed to Hospital, Undergoing Heart Surgery ... 'Not Doing Great'

UPDATE

1:31 PM PT -- Harvey Weinstein is "not doing great," his rep Juda Engelmayer tells TMZ.

We're told the fallen film legend is having "major heart surgery" today after he first began experiencing chest pains at Rikers Island prison.

However, Weinstein still plans to appear in court on Thursday ... but will only attend if he's well enough to do so.

Harvey Weinstein is undergoing emergency surgery mere days before he is due in court in NYC ... TMZ has learned.

The controversial film producer was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York from Rikers Island prison Monday for emergency heart surgery after experiencing pains in his chest, his lawyer confirmed to TMZ.

Weinstein was held at Rikers ahead of his court appearance, where prosecutors are hoping to secure a new indictment against Weinstein after his prior rape conviction in NYC was overturned in April.

Jack White to Donald Trump '7NA' Couldn't Hold Me Back From Suing ... Don't Use My Music!!!

Jack White is following through on his warning to Donald Trump ... by filing a lawsuit over his famous song, and claiming his anthem is being hijacked by the former president.

The White Stripes singer just filed suit against Trump and his campaign for using the tune "Seven Nation Army" in a social media clip of the Republican nominee boarding a plane on the campaign trail.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Jack says he did not clear the song for use by the Trump campaign ... and he says Trump and his camp should have known better, because in the past Jack has publicly denounced Trump.

Bruce Springsteen Wife Patti Scialfa Discloses Blood Cancer Battle ... In New Documentary Film

Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, has opened up about her blood cancer battle ... which she has been fighting since 2018.

Patti talked about her health in the new documentary "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band," which dropped at the Toronto International Film Festival ... explaining doctors diagnosed her with multiple myeloma during her husband's "Springsteen on Broadway" concert residency 6 years earlier.

Multiple myeloma is rare type of cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell, according to the Mayo Clinic. Life expectancy varies from person to person, taking into account factors including kidney function, cancer progression and overall health.

Deshaun Watson Facing New Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Deshaun Watson has been hit with a new lawsuit ... another woman in Texas has come forward with claims the Cleveland Browns star sexually assaulted her four years ago.

"Jane Doe" filed the suit in Harris County on Monday morning ... alleging that during a 2020 date with the now 28-year-old quarterback -- he sexually assaulted her.

In the suit, Doe -- described as a single mother and a young professional -- says she met Watson at a bar in Houston while he was a member of the Texans ... and after exchanging text messages for several months, she says he invited her out. Not wanting a public date, Doe claims she instead asked him to come to her apartment for dinner.

Charlamagne Tha God At Least It Isn't Taylor Swift ... Doing SB Halftime Show!!!

Charlamagne Tha God thinks people need to lay off Jay-Z and Roc Nation for selecting Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans ... and start congratulating them for keeping Taylor Swift off the stage!!!

The controversy over K. Dot surpassing Wayne in his hometown continued, with that choice frowned upon by the likes of Master P and DJ Akademiks -- but on Monday's 'Breakfast Club' segment, Charlamagne said Taylor's omission was cause to ceeelebrate-good-times-c'mon!!!

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Taylor's record sales have been shattering the atmosphere the last few years, but Charlamagne applauded Roc Nation's clear push of Hip Hop/R&B acts as of late ... and the performers just happen to be Black!!!

Shailene Woodley Talks Melania Trump Repost Drama ... In My Defense!!!

Shailene Woodley's defending herself against the backlash she received for sharing Melania Trump’s statement following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump ... admitting she's baffled by how folks can wish death on someone -- no matter how controversial they are.

The actress told Bustle she shared the first page of Melania's letter back in July on social media because she found it a beautiful reminder that, beneath Trump’s political drama, he’s still a human, with kids and grandkids -- and wishing for his death is not compassionate.

She explained, "I was in circles of people that I deeply respect -- friends, colleagues, progressive, very intelligent thinkers, shakers and movers and many of them were saying, 'He missed! F***ing assassin missed! Maybe it was a setup. Maybe it was a conspiracy.'"

Tyreek Hill Drove Dangerously, Was Uncooperative During Stop ... Police Union Says

Tyreek Hill was first pulled over Sunday morning because he was driving recklessly ... and he was thrown in handcuffs moments later because he was being uncooperative -- at least, that's according to a huge police union in Florida.

The president for the South Florida Police Benevolent Association -- which represents over 6,000 law enforcement officers in the Sunshine State -- said in a statement to TMZ Sports Hill put "himself and others in great risk of danger" while on his way to Hard Rock Stadium.

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FISHY SITUATION
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And, during an ensuing traffic stop ... the SFLPBA alleges Hill was not responding to cops' orders.

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