Real Housewives

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Apollo Nida used a precious prison phone call to go on "TMZ Live" and make the case that his children should visit him behind bars.

Nida, who's serving 8 years for money laundering and bank fraud, talks about the heartbreak of being cut off from his family, his plans for his kids and whether his marriage to Phaedra Parks will survive.

It's the first interview in "TMZ Live" history that was interrupted by a federal prison announcement.

Amiyah Scott was a wet dream for producers of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," the prospect of a transgender cast member made them salivate, and she's so disgusted she just quit.

Amiyah was on the show for a trial -- the first transgender woman ever on the 'Housewives' franchise. We're told producers were prodding Amiyah to sexualize herself ... wearing lingerie and acting like a vixen.

We're told she bristled at the notes because she wanted to become a role model for other transgendered people. And we're told she was doubly insulted because they tried making her the bitch of the cast, trashing the other housewives.

After a month of filming, she walked off the set, saying she was done.

It worked out for Amiyah ... Lee Daniels has just cast her on a new TV show.

Rick Hilton says Kyle Richards is so pissed off at Bravo for airing her family's dirty laundry, she's quitting the show ... but our production sources say Rick's just wrong.

We got Rick at LAX Monday, and asked about the family rift over Nicky's wedding ... where Kyle's hubby Mauricio was persona non grata.

Rick told us Kyle's upset at Bravo ... so upset she's given notice. Fact is ... we're told Kyle has threatened to quit in the past.

'RHOA' star Peter Thomas says he didn't do anything to deserve the shade Apollo Nida threw at him from prison.

Apollo singled out Peter last Monday, calling him a "fake friend" on Instagram. It was pretty out of the blue ... Apollo's been radio silent since starting his 8 year sentence for fraud a year ago.

Sources close to Apollo tell us he became enraged after hearing Peter has been bad mouthing him, saying Apollo deserved his prison sentence for stealing and money laundering. Apollo feels betrayed by Peter, and is also upset he hasn't heard a peep from Peter since getting locked up.

Peter, who's married to Cynthia Bailey, tells us his number hasn't changed and he has no idea why Apollo would air his beef on social media instead of calling him from the slammer.

Peter says he's got a lot of friends in the big house and there's a drill ... they call you, because you can't call them. Peter could have sat down and penned a letter, but he says he's not much of a letter writer.

The way Peter put it to us, "If I am a fake friend because I don’t write a letter, then I’m a fake friend."

Phaedra Parks feels like Santa arrived earlier this year, because he's already given her kids a gift ... they won't have to go to prison this year to visit their dad.

Phaedra's uneasy that the kids have been visiting their father, her estranged husband Apollo Nida who's doing hard time.

We're told Apollo's been moved to a new facility and the kids -- 2 year-old Dylan and 5-year-old Ayden -- haven't been approved for visitation, and that's not expected to happen until after the holidays.

The kids have been video chatting with their dad everyday and they sent him an Xmas care package, but we're told Phaedra is relieved they haven't been approved yet because she thinks the kids are too young to handle visits to prison.

Brandi Glanville is having an anger-fueled XMAS, basking in the glow of a death in Lisa Vanderpump's family and calling Lisa a "c***."

Lisa's dog Daddio, the father of Giggy, died last weekend and Lisa's been having a hard time.

Vanderpump rebounded Saturday night by rescuing 2 dogs that were on the brink of being killed at the Yulin festival and was celebrating the arrival of the pooches at her restaurant Pump in Bev Hills. At around 9 PM, as she partied with Lance Bass and others, she got a grotesque text from Brandi.

The text read, "Merry Christmas vanderC*** and yes i am having my moment :) AND it's amazing!!! How is yours???? hahahahah #karmasabitch Or is it a c***?? Hahahaha."

Lisa, who passed her phone around to guests, tells us, "It's sad to have that much hatred in your heart especially at this time of year. Our lil Daddio meant the world to us. Anyway, happy Christmas."

Teresa Giudice was JUST RELEASED FROM PRISON, 2 days before Xmas, and she'll be back in front of cameras in no time ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Bravo is itching to film her newfound freedom. The network had a lot of success with the 3-part series that aired in October, "The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In" and Teresa wasn't even on camera ... she just phoned it in from the big house.

Cameras were prohibited from filming Teresa walking out of prison, but the plan is to have them rolling as she gets back into her day-to-day routine with her 4 daughters, and husband Joe.

The network isn't sure whether to use the footage in the new season of 'RHONJ' or for a special ... it looks like they're leaning toward the latter.

Crime pays.

Teresa Giudice's Christmas as a free woman will be spent the Italian way ... with lots of family and antipasto.

The 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star will be released from the big house on Dec. 23rd after serving a little under a year for fraud ... and we're told she doesn't want a big coming home party.

Sources tell us Teresa's going straight home once she's out to Joe and the kids.

On Christmas Eve, they'll make the trek over to sister-in-law and fellow 'RHONJ' star Melissa Gorga's house and Christmas Day will be spent with Joe's family. Teresa's hubby will begin his 41 month prison sentence soon ... so it's the last time they'll all be together for Christmas for a while.

We're told the plan is to capture everything on camera, but Bravo's still working out contracts and logistics so nothing's set in stone.

Yolanda Foster is the one who decided to end her marriage to David Foster ... and our sources say he's still paying a fortune in medical bills and support.

Sources close to Foster tell TMZ, Yolanda signed a prenup when the couple married in 2011, but he's giving her significantly more than he's required to do under the document. We're told their $27 million Malibu home is his property, but when they sold it he gave her a "big chunk."

We're told Yolanda just bought a new $5 million home in the fancy Wilshire Corridor section of L.A. with the money she got in the sale.

As for the medical bills, contrary to reports David has cut her off, we're told he continues to pay for her Lyme Disease treatment.

Yolanda decided to end the marriage more than a year ago, but we're told he never stopped paying her support and he was by her side much of the time even after she left him.

Kim Richards is doing well in her fight to stay clean and sober, but a judge wants to make sure she doesn't backslide.

According to new court documents, Richards has been steadily attending AA meetings since September -- as the court required. She's attended 52 meetings.

Back in April, she had a drunken incident at the Beverly Hotel ... then was arrested for shoplifting at Target in August. The judge sentenced her to 300 hours of community service, 3 years of probation, and the 52 AA meetings.

The judge is now requiring her to continue attending at least 1 AA meeting per week. As we first reported, she's also back shooting 'RHOBH' ... so, this is definitely as good as Kim's been for a while.

Camille Grammer is unloading a bunch of stuff in a garage sale worthy of its own TV show ... and it features some famous 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' souvenirs.

The centerpiece of Friday and Saturday's sales -- a $14,500 Dessin Fournir dining table where one of the greatest 'RHOBH' scenes went down!

If you want chairs to go with the table, they'll cost you $895 each. Camille is dumping some slightly more affordable stuff ... designer handbags, shoes, Persian rugs and kitchenware.

But yeah, most of this gear is not exactly priced to move -- Biedermeier striped armchair, $9,800 ... large mirror, $6,800 ... and an Oris Robertson painting, $16,925.

A portion of the proceeds are going to benefit the Foundation for Women's Cancer.

Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd hosted a unique dinner at their restaurant -- an awesome reward for at-risk kids who excelled in school and in their community.

LV teamed up with outreach group DEAP in Love to give the kids their 1st fine dining experience ... with a few criteria set up by the Covenant House. To be eligible for the tasty prize ... teens had to have perfect school attendance, keep a clean room, and volunteer at the shelter where they live.

14 kids made the cut and dined at Sur in West Hollywood. They got to order whatever they wanted off the trendy menu, including ahi tuna, steaks, premium burgers and even fancy drinks ... virgin only.

Each one got a special send-off including a fancy box of chocolates and makeup for the girls. Ken and Lisa donated shoes and clothes as well.

The way Kyle Richards sees it, the best way for Kim Richards to avoid falling of the wagon again is to continue showing up for her 'Real Housewives' tapings.

Kyle was on TMZ Live on Tuesday and we asked if she'd thought it might be better if Kim did NOT come back to the show ... since there's frequently alcohol around when they shoot.

Amiyah Scott, the transgender woman who tried to get on "Real Housewives of Atlanta," is getting a bigger break now in Hollywood because she's been cast in the "Empire" spin-off.

Amiyah didn't make the 'RHOA' cut, but we're told all the transgender 'Housewife' buzz got her a call from "Empire" creator Lee Daniels in late August asking to read for his new show.

Our production sources say Daniels loved Amiyah's look and thought she'd be perfect for one of the singers in a girl group.

The spin-off is a prequel to "Empire," showcasing a young Cookie Lyon.

We're assuming her look was more important than her acting chops ... she's never acted before, but she's getting a crash course with some acting coach hot shots.

Amiyah dropped a clue she was on to bigger things in her caption on a recent Twitter pic that read "next chapter."

Porsha Williams attacked a woman during a recent 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' shoot because the chick brought the wrong dude to a holiday party.

We're told cameras were rolling when Porsha's good friend Jami Ziegler floated into the shindig on the arm of a man, and something about that man pushed Porsha over the edge.

Sources say Porsha first tried to get Jami booted from the party, but she left on her own. We're told Porsha followed Jami outside, shoved her to the ground ... then started punching and pulling hair.

The fight was broken up quickly enough that cops weren't called, and there were no serious injuries. We're told cameras even missed the action, so ... someone's getting fired.

As for what set off Porsha? Word is she's got bad blood with Jami's guy, though it's unclear why. We reached out to Porsha, no word back yet. But warning to 'RHOA' cast -- someone's still got quick hands.

Yolanda Foster showed up to the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' premiere party Thursday night in a dress that gave a pretty clear message she's back on the market.

Foster, who's been battling Lyme disease, looked radiant and was all smiles days after announcing her split from her husband of 4 years, music producer David Foster.

She's said she's heartbroken over the split but you couldn't tell from her game face ... and body.