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Howie Mandel is experiencing every germaphobe's WORST nightmare -- discovering an intruder was lurking in his home ... and possibly TOUCHED SOMETHING!

Law enforcements sources tell TMZ -- Howie was out of town when a maid discovered an open door in his L.A. area home.

We're told it's unclear if anything was stolen -- but Howie's people filed a police report anyway.

Howie is now conducting an extensive inventory of the home -- to make sure nothing is missing.

Will Smith just RIPPED APART reports he's splitting from wife Jada Pinkett -- saying all the rumors are outright ridiculous.

While out shopping with Jada in Malibu this morning, Will was asked to comment on the "ridiculous" rumors -- and Will responds, "You just did."

Moments after their romantic Malibu brunch this morning, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett hit up the nearby Malibu Colony Company for some houseware shopping ... both grinning ear to ear.

It's an all out PR blitz to prove their marriage is still "intact" -- but the question is ...

The "separation" is over ... and now former "Brady Bunch" star Christopher Knight has finally filed for a divorce from his reality star wife Adrianne Curry ... TMZ has learned.

Back in May, the two announced they were separating to rethink the marriage ... but now, it appears Knight has reached a decision -- and he wants out.

Knight filed divorce papers in L.A. County Superior Court on August 19 ... according to court records obtained by TMZ.

Knight married the "Top Model" winner five years ago ... after they co-starred on "The Surreal Life" together.

A rep for the couple tells us, "They are amicable and remain friends."

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were laughing together during a romantic brunch at the beach in Malibu ... and TMZ has the photos to prove it!

Sources at Bob Morris' Beach Cafe tell us the two rolled in for omelettes and coffee this morning and left around 11 AM. No kids, no fighting ... just breakfast.

Aretha Franklin is throwing her significantly reduced weight around ... trying to stop the release of a never-before-seen film documenting the making of her 1972 live album "Amazing Grace."

The film was shot by the late director Sydney Pollack ... but according to Aretha's people film composer Alan Elliott now claims to have retained rights to the footage from Warner Bros. -- and wants to release the concert film this year "in honor of Sydney."

The Queen of Soul has retained attorney Arnold Reed ... who says he plans to seek an injunction in Federal Court in California to immediately block the release of the film.

Reed claims Elliott is breaching an agreement in place with Warner Bros. ... that requires him to get permission from Aretha before using her likeness in the film.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are having significant problems in their marriage, but they have NOT made a decision to separate ... at least not yet -- this according to sources connected with the couple.

Reports have been swirling that the couple has separated. We're told it's "definitely a possibility" but they haven't pulled the trigger. In fact, we've learned Will, Jada and their kids are going away together soon -- as a family. Our sources would neither confirm nor deny if the trip is a last ditch effort to save the relationship.

We also asked our sources about the somewhat curious statement from Will and Jada, that their marriage is "intact." Specifically, why didn't they go the more traditional PR route and say they're still in love and committed to each other? Our sources privately said, the language was carefully constructed.

Stay tuned ...

A suspicious Will Smith paid a surprise visit to Jada Pinkett Smith and found her with Marc Anthony ... this according to a new report.

In Touch Weekly claims in early August Will had become increasingly suspicious that his wife was having an affair with her "HawthoRNe" co-star Marc Anthony and secretly flew home from a movie shoot. If you've ever seen "HawthoRNE," you might understand why (clip below).

The mag claims Will walked in the house, found Marc Anthony and Jada together and left the house crying.

Reps for Will and Jada said Tuesday Jada had not been unfaithful to Will, specifically mentioning Marc Anthony in the denial. A source close to the couple tells TMZ ... Marc was at Jada's home, but in April not August, when he went over to look at a DVD.

In Touch claims Jada and Will have been living separate lives for months. As we reported, sources close to the couple insist they have not separated, but there are significant problems in their marriage.

Cops raced to CBS Television City in Hollywood yesterday -- after talk show host Craig Ferguson received a letter in the mail containing some serious threats AND an unknown white powder.

Ferguson says the person who wrote the letter claimed the substance was anthrax -- and both of the CBS staffers who were exposed to the letter were quarantined while officials conducted an investigation.

According to the AP, detectives from the LAPD's Major Crimes Unit were working with federal and European agents to find out who sent the letter.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the substance was determined to be cornmeal.

Ferguson has since tweeted about the situation ... saying, "Ack! Someone mailed my show white powder & claimed it was anthrax. I'm not a big fan of that sort of thing."

Last night, Craig joked about the situation on the "Late Late Show."

It's been 43 years since he left Mayberry, but Ron Howard still has a little bit of Opie in him when it comes to milking cows.

Howard spent some time with his significant udder last weekend at a farm in Upstate New York -- tugging on a cow's undercarriage while hanging with his family -- and TMZ has the milky pictures.

Clark Gable’s grandson Clark Gable III has been charged with three felony counts of pointing a laser at an aircraft, TMZ has learned -- after allegedly flashing a laser pointer at an LAPD chopper.

According to law enforcement, Gable was a passenger in a small red car driving in L.A. last month when he pointed a green laser at an LAPD helicopter -- flying above an event in Hollywood.

We're told the light obstructed the vision of two officers in the helicopter -- who were able to pinpoint the beam coming from the car Clark was riding in.

We're told Clark flashed the laser a total of three times at the chopper before cops pulled his car over -- and arrested him and the driver.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith just released a joint statement SHOOTING DOWN a report that they have separated.

The statement reads, "Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false."

The two add, "We are still together, and our marriage is intact."

Will Smith's son wants everyone to know ... his father's marriage is NOT OVER.

Trey Smith -- Will's son from a previous marriage -- went to his Twitter page and blasted the message, "Will and Jada getting a DIVORCE ..NOT TRUE AT ALL !! RETWEET."

Don't expect to see Matt Damon's name on the ballot in 2012 -- because despite Michael Moore's blessing ... Damon says he's got no plans to run for President of the United States.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have separated ... this according to In Touch Weekly.

Will and Jada have been married for 13 years and have two extremely famous children together -- Jaden and Willow.

Will has another son, Trey, from a previous marriage.

TMZ placed a call to Jada's rep, Karynne Tencer, who told us ... "What? In Touch said that? I know nothing about this ... Lord. I'm going back to bed."

Curious reaction.

Denise Richards has turned down an offer to appear on the premiere episode of "Two and a Half Men," because she thinks Charlie Sheen would make her life miserable.

Sources connected with the production tell TMZ ... producers offered Denise a guest starring role for the debut with Ashton Kutcher, but they say she told them she wouldn't do it because "She would never hear the end of it from Charlie."

No doubt -- Chuck Lorre is trying to stick the knife in as far as he possibly can because ... well, he hates Charlie's guts. But we're told Denise just wouldn't play along.