Real Housewives

Kim Richards was living out of her car when she was arrested Sunday for shoplifting at Target ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the family tell us, Kim had been house-hopping since leaving rehab last month. She quickly ran out of friends and relatives who would extend themselves, and has been homeless ever since.

We're told Kim has been "self-medicating" recently, and although it's unclear if she was under the influence when she allegedly stole $600 worth of goods from Target, her conduct was truly bizarre. One law enforcement source says she left the store with more than 50 items in her shopping cart.

Kim's family does not know what to do ... they want to help but it's unclear at this point what can be done to help Kim.

Kim Richards spent the night in jail after getting arrested for shoplifting Sunday night ... TMZ has confirmed.

The former 'Real Housewife' was booked into jail around 7:30 PM after store security called LAPD to a Target in the Valley. Law enforcement tells us a security guard nabbed her for allegedly scooping up a "bunch of items" worth more than $600.

Richards got out of the pokey on Monday afternoon. Her bail was $5,000. It's unclear if she was under the influence at the time of this latest arrest. She was also busted in April for allegedly making a drunken scene at the Beverly Hills hotel.

That arrested led to a rehab stint that just ended a few weeks ago.

As TMZ first reported, Kim's kinda on her own now ... since sister Kyle Richards and her husband are trying the tough love route after Kim went on a bender at her daughter's wedding.

NeNe Leakes wants you to have a seat on her.

We're told the freshly departed star of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" is getting into the lifestyle biz, designing and hawking furniture and home accessories.

She came up with the idea when she was furnishing her new home in Georgia and spent a lot of time in High Point, NC, a mecca for furniture design.

NeNe's shopping her idea to several merchandisers and she's already gotten offers. She hasn't picked one yet, but it would seem HSN is a front-runner since she's already got a successful clothing line on the network.

Lisa Vanderpump just built a fabulous new home where her miniature horses can roam in the middle of Beverly Hills. Sorry, deer and antelope ... you're on your own.

LV's pal Mohamed Hadid designed, built and painted a mini barn for the mini horses Lisa just bought for hubby Ken's birthday. We're told Mohamed hammered out the project over 2 weeks ... so the lil' Vanderponies could ball out in true Bev Hills fashion.

He painted it pink because it's Lisa's favorite color -- which is weird, since the horses are Ken's gifts ... but whatever.

Never look a gift horse house in the mouth.

Lisa Vanderpump just bought the farm ... or a good chunk of one, anyway -- she's added 2 miniature horses to her backyard petting zoo, and they arrived by private jet ... naturally.

The mini livestock flew in Monday on a customized plane -- 2 seats had to be removed to make it more of a flying barn ... unlimited hay included.

The ponies normally cost $3,500 a pop, but NEIGH -- we're told Lisa got a 2-for-1 deal!

We're told the ponies -- birthday gifts for Ken -- will live in Lisa's yard (new cast members alert!) and share the land with her 2 swans and multiple dogs.

Unlike most Bev Hills brats, LV wants to put these girls to work as therapy ponies at hospitals. They're still nameless for now, but we're told Lisa's friends will get a say.

Brandi is a nice name, no?

Kim Richards resurfaced after a rocky rehab stint, hitting up a famous restaurant in the 90210.

Kim looked good and was cooing about her sobriety as she left Madeo in Bev Hills.

As we reported, Kim went to 3 different rehab facilities following her drunken arrest in April at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She went to rehab, fell off the wagon in Mexico and went to 2 other facilities.

As TMZ first reported, 'RHOBH' producers don't plan to have Richards back on the show at all next season ... and Richards did have a few words of advice for whoever replaces her.

Brandi Glanville had to be poured into her car after a night out at Craig's.

Brandi was 3 sheets as she left the popular WeHo restaurant Saturday night ... which is what happens after more than 6 cocktails.

She couldn't make it in the SUV without muscle ... not her own.

The good news ... Craig's is pretty expensive, so it seems she's still liquid after getting the ax from "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Teresa Giudice has figured out a way to make crime pay, because Bravo has opened its checkbook to her family for a special in which she makes guest appearances ... from the slammer.

We've learned Teresa will appear by prison telephone on a 2-part special, showing how Joe is caring for their 4 kids while his wife is serving out her 15-month sentence.

Bravo couldn't get a camera inside, so pay phone is the next best option.

As for money ... there's no problem with Bravo paying Teresa an appearance fee, because the "Son of Sam" law -- which prohibits people from profiting off certain crimes -- only applies to certain violent offenses.

Kim Richards won't be a full, part-time, or any time cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" next season ... because we've learned producers have jettisoned her from the show.

The reason is simple and pretty obvious ... Kim is struggling with substance abuse and producers think she's unreliable and poses a liability risk.

According to our sources, Richards won't even be the ubiquitous "friend of the show."

It's interesting ... the surviving cast members are all friends -- Kim and Brandi were the s*** stirrers of the bunch -- so you have to wonder ... where's the drama?

NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak were thiiis close to reuniting on TV … but Bravo just scrapped their new show, "Road to Riches."

TMZ has learned NeNe and Kim’s road trip show -- think Oprah and Gayle with more arguing -- has been 86'd due to scheduling issues.

We’re told the 'Housewives' BFFs-turned-frenemies just couldn’t get on the same page. Kim is in the midst of shooting her show, "Don't Be Tardy" -- and NeNe is taping the ABC game show, "To Tell the Truth." 

Cody Simpson is getting dragged into his mom’s reality TV dreams, 'cause 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' wants Angie Simpson on the show ... as a package deal with Cody.

We’re told Angie's still in talks because producers want to make sure Cody can come on too. They think the Australian pop star would help draw a younger audience. But the clock's ticking -- producers plan to start shooting within a couple weeks.

The show wants to work up a dynamic between Angie and Yolanda Foster ... Gigi Hadid’s mom. The hope is they might play matchmaker and try to get Cody and Gigi back together.

Brandi Glanville has unveiled her defense in the defamation case Joanna Krupa filed against her ... Joanna's at least as much of a bitch as her, so she should shut up.

As we reported, Joanna's suing Brandi, claiming she was defamed when Brandi told Andy Cohen her vagina smelled like fish.

Brandi says in new legal docs what she's doing is nothing compared to Joanna's campaign of bitchiness, saying Joanna taunted her on Twitter by giving her the finger after the Hard Rock in Tampa cancelled Brandi's personal appearance.

And Brandi says Joanna has publicly ridiculed her, claiming she was a drunk and a racist with a "little brain" ... and she's trailer trash.

It gets worse. Brandi notes Joanna had the audacity to wear a "TEAM RIMES" tank top in public.

NeNe Leakes made it clear to our photog ... 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' is on its own next season, because she will not appear at all ... not even occasionally.

Producers floated the possibility of a reduced role for NeNe in Season 8, but she shot that down in a big way Wednesday at LAX.

The buzz is that the show is in trouble without her. NeNe seems to agree.

And this is interesting ... she said her decision to leave the show never had anything to do with money.

As we reported, she's signed on to do an ABC game show, "To Tell the Truth."

Brandi Glanville is trying to put on a brave face after getting the ax on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," but she made it clear to our photog ... she's now in a financial pickle.

Brandi confirms what we already told you ... she'll be making occasional appearances, but her paychecks will be slashed and now she has to figure out how to make ends meet.

NeNe Leakes isn't done with "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" ... TMZ has learned producers want her to come back in a reduced role, and she's game.

Our sources say, although NeNe made it seem she was gone for good, the show's producers are still angling to have her appear periodically during the season.

As we reported, NeNe bailed on the show because the money wasn't right. She's already committed to doing a primetime network sitcom, and the only way she'd continue on 'RHOA' was if they delivered a wheelbarrow full of cash ... to make the crushing workload worthwhile.

But our sources say NeNe is open to a part-time role on 'RHOA,' again if the money is right and it fits with her sitcom schedule.

We're told Bravo is absolutely interested, and the negotiations will begin soon.

NeNe Leakes is finally hitting the road after 7 seasons on 'RHOA' cause she couldn’t get the big bucks she was looking for ... and now the show’s worried she’s taking the fans with her.

Sources tell TMZ the reason for the NeNe’s change of heart had to do with contract negotiations.

Everyone part of the show is at a loss for words over NeNe’s sudden departure since the show was just about to start filming its new season in the next couple of weeks.

Cast members have been dropping like flies recently but now producers are scrambling because they just lost their queen bee ... and we’re told they’re worried they’ll take a huge hit in the ratings over it.

The show already found a replacement -- actress, model and singer Kim Fields -- but no one can really replace NeNe who was arguably the network’s biggest star.

NeNe is going to be focusing on new projects outside the biz ... one of which is her own clothing store that we reported on before.

You know what they say, you gotta spend money to make money … guess Bravo never learned that lesson.