Big Brother

The latest duo to join the new season of "The Amazing Race" once viciously competed against each other on "Big Brother," and now they'll be battling for $1 million.

TMZ has learned ... Josh Martinez and Paul Abrahamian are teaming up for the "Big Brother" mash-up season of 'Race.' They were on season 19 of 'BB,' which Josh ended up winning the $500k grand prize ... and Paul came in second.

Despite the fact Paul bitch slapped Josh while they were in the 'BB' house -- we're told they actually became good friends afterward. We'll see if that holds up though, while they race around the world.

The competition on the 'Amazing Race' and "Big Brother" mash-up is gonna be fierce, because it's stocked with a lot of previous winners and fan favorites hauling ass around the world.

Sources tell us James Huling, who won America's Favorite Houseguest on season 17 of "Big Brother," will be partnering with Corey Brooks, who appeared on season 18. James also appeared on season 18, but didn't win.

As we previously reported ... "Big Brother" alums Caleb Reynolds and Rachel Reilly are also in the race. Rachel won season 13 of 'BB' and Caleb's got experience from being on two seasons of "Survivor" too.

"Big Brother" alums Caleb Reynolds and Rachel Reillyare taking their backstabbing and bitching to the road ... TMZ has learned they're among the former houseguests who've signed on for the new season of "The Amazing Race."

As we previously reported, the show got some inspo from last season's winners -- Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf -- who previously met and became a couple on "Big Brother," so production decided to pool contestants from past seasons of "Big Brother" for the new season.

Caleb, who's also known as Beast Mode Cowboy, appeared on season 16 of "Big Brother". He was also on Seasons 32 and 34 of "Survivor," so he's got some good experience for the around-the-world trek.

As for Rachel ... she's one to watch, too, after appearing on Season 12 of "Big Brother", and then winning Season 13 during which she met now-husband Brendon Villegas. Brenchel then went on to come in third place on 'Amazing Race 20' and 'All-Stars.'

"The Amazing Race" winners Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf -- who met and became a couple on "Big Brother" -- have another bright idea for CBS ... invite "Big Brother's" most polarizing contestants ever to the race.

Cody and Jessica -- who tell us they will NOT return to 'Amazing Race' next season -- tell TMZ ... if there's one guy they'd like to see on the all "Big Brother," 'Amazing Race' cast ... it's Dick "Evel Dick" Donato, the 'BB' season 8 winner and season 13 houseguest. Donato was famous on 'BB' for, shall we say, being a jerk. But an entertaining jerk, for sure.

"The Amazing Race" winners Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf -- who previously met and became a couple on "Big Brother" -- may have led CBS to strike while the iron's hot ... and feature an all-'BB' cast for an upcoming season.

Sources close to production of 'Amazing Race' tell TMZ ... the show reached out to several past "Big Brother" houseguests and has locked down its list of competitors for the new season, which will begin filming soon.

We're told the all-"Big Brother" edition of 'Amazing Race' will feature at least one past 'BB' winner, but several other popular winners declined for family or career reasons. Still, we're told CBS is happy with the final cast ... and they're ready to race around the world.

Our sources say the idea for the "Big Brother"-themed season of 'Amazing Race' came from the success of season 30, which saw former 'BB' stars Cody and Jessica dominate.

Metta World Peace says he's got 10 new brothers and sisters after "Celebrity Big Brother" -- including Omarosa, who ain't a villain like she's portrayed on TV.

"To me, Omarosa, she's just a nice lady, a big sister that I really love," World Peace told TMZ Sports the day after being eliminated from the show.

Metta also told us he got even closer to his boy, Chuck Liddell, through boxing (and chess!) ... and says he knows the REAL reason the UFC Hall of Famer was the 1st cast member to get the boot.

MWP explains that he was ultimately happy to get the axe, too, 'cause it was too hard being away from his real fam.

"I was crying more than I ever cried in my life."

What happens when "Big Brother" legend Jessie Godderz runs into his favorite TMZ photog?

This time, the answer is DUCT TAPE HAIR WAX -- a punishment for not staying up on "Mr. Pec-Tacular" ... and the reality show that made him famous.

Jessie flipped the script on our guy at LAX, serving up 3 questions in an impromptu pop quiz.

Our guy only got 1 ... and the former pro wrestler wasn't about to let him off the hook.

Silver lining -- this was the LEAST painful of their encounters ... which have included a submission beatdown and manhood-crushing wedgie.

Holy crap, this one's juicy ...

Brandi Glanville asked Omarosa straight out ... did she ever sleep with Donald Trump!

Omarosa answers, but that's by no means the end of it. She says someone in The White House is sleeping around with everybody. Just a note ... the contestants need to get a lot better asking follow-up questions.

Omarosa spilling the beans on "Celebrity Big Brother" is not so much to clear her conscience or get back in favor with the African-American community ... it's her bottom line, says Congressman Cedric Richmond.

We got the Democratic Rep. at Reagan National Airport on Tuesday and wanted to get his take on Omarosa leaking the Trump administration's game plan ... particularly its aggressive deportation tactics.

Sure, Richmond says the former 'Apprentice'/White House staffer might be letting her conscience guide her post-firing, but more than that, she's dishing dirt cause she's looking out for Numero 1.

We also ask the Congressman if he's now more inclined to watch 'CBB' with Omarosa revealing deets, but as he put it ... he's too busy looking after children -- his 3-year-old and Prez Trump.

The Omarosa post-White House leaks continue on "Celebrity Big Brother" ... now she's saying the country would be begging for Donald Trump back if Mike Pence got into office.

Omarosa was dishing some dirt about her former gig on Monday night's episode, and she took the opportunity to slam the Vice President by saying he'd be worse than Trump as POTUS.

She goes on to mock his religious beliefs, saying Pence allegedly thinks Jesus tells him to say certain things.

And there's also this ... she says Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration is real, and is being undertaken in aggressive deportations across the country.

Chuck Liddell says he's still VERY serious about taking another MMA fight -- he's even naming names -- and kept up his training regimen inside the "Celebrity Big Brother" house ... just in case.

For the record, Chuck's 48 years old -- and hasn't had a pro fight since UFC 115 in 2010.

But he trains like a maniac -- and made it a point to keep up his workouts during "Celebrity Big Brother" because, "I didn't want to get too far out of shape."

So, who does he want to fight? He's got some ideas in mind ... but adds, "Depends on who they offer. I'm down for just about anything."

Chuck's record is 21-8 and he's widely considered one of the most iconic UFC fighters of all time ... beating legends like Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz in their primes.

Unfortunately, he was the first celeb booted from the 'Big Brother' house.

Omarosa went to the hospital last week after a dizzying bowling competition on "Celebrity Big Brother" ... and the game seemed pretty intense on TV.

The former White House staffer was among the first guests to partake in the game -- aptly called Bowlerina -- in which players have to spin around to lower a gate guarding some pins ... and then try bowling them over from afar.

Omarosa went up against Marissa Jaret Winokur, and kinda got her ass handed to her in the process. More importantly, though, she had to spin around twice to lower her gate ... and appeared to suffer an asthma attack as a result.

As we reported ... Omarosa was sent to the hospital after the game, which left some house guests speculating she faked the attack to get some rest outside the house.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner thinks Omarosa's Donald Trump-Bill Cosby comparison is unfair ... because she knew what she was getting into BEFORE she went to work with the Prez.

The former 'Cosby Show' star was at LAX Friday when he addressed Omarosa's convo on "Celebrity Big Brother" with Keshia Knight-Pulliam. She tried to justify being loyal to Trump by pointing out Keshia stuck by Cosby during his sexual assault trial.

MJW's not having it, and explains he and Keshia grew up with Cosby -- long before the flood of sexual misconduct allegations -- and considered him family.

Malcolm adds ... Omarosa made a conscious choice to get in with Trump, despite all his controversial comments on the campaign trail.

Omarosa was loyal "to a fault" when it comes to standing by President Trump, which is exactly like standing by alleged rapist Bill Cosby ... according to her.

Trump's former aide was running her mouth about life in the White House Thursday night on "Celebrity Big Brother" ... trying to rationalize why she's stuck by Trump for so many years. She was pleading her case to Shannon Elizabeth and Keshia Knight Pulliam.

Then Omarosa masterfully pulled Keshia into the mix by pointing out how she stood by Cosby during his rape trial.

Keshia was left speechless.

"Celebrity Big Brother" is out to spill secrets this season, because producers are plying the contestants with truth serum in the form of booze.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the bigwigs have changed the policy of limiting alcohol consumption ... the spigot is wide open and the cast is taking full advantage. Omarosa, James Maslow, Brandi Glanville, Ross Mathews and the other houseguests have partaken every night since January 31 when they entered the house.

The buzz we're hearing ... producers want Omarosa to spill the beans on her tenure in the White House. She's already started, turning on Trump ... saying everyone should be worried about the Prez, saying things in the W.H. are "so bad."

The show used to be stingy in the alcohol department ... it was typical contestants would share 2 bottles of wine and a few 6-packs each night, but producers are worried celebrities play things closer to the vest than the average Joe, so a little alcohol -- or a lot -- always does the trick.

Omarosa's diss on President Trump's White House didn't go unnoticed -- because 45's Deputy Press Secretary confirmed she was, in fact, fired from her job.

Raj Shah was fielding questions in place of Sarah Huckabee Sanders Thursday and got asked about Omarosa besmirching the rep of the White House on "Celebrity Big Brother" the night before.

His response ... the White House doesn't take her comments very seriously. He also deaded the much-debated topic of her departure a couple months ago ... she was fired, according to him.

Shah elaborated with this ... Omarosa had been fired from "The Apprentice" 3 times prior ... and that "this would make the 4th time we let her go."

He also said Omarosa had very limited contact with the Prez while on the job, and has zero contact with him now.