Reality TV

Georgia born Ty Pennington was in his late 30s when he shot to stardom as the supercute carpenter and all around nice guy, in the long-running home renovation show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on ABC.

Before the handsome handyman was moving buses on 'Extreme Makeover' ... Ty Pennington was also on the TLC show "Trading Spaces" from 2000 - 2003 where he only hooked up a single room in a family's home.

Pennington parted ways with the hit home show in 2012 after revamping hundreds of homes and helping countless families along the way.

Kylie Jenner had one of those moments all moms fear this weekend, but fortunately her little one is back home and doing fine.

Kylie revealed her Sunday was spent in the hospital with her daughter, Stormi, who she says suffered an allergic reaction. She described the scary incident, saying ... "Nothing else matters when these things happen. God bless all the moms with sick babies. I'm sending so much love and positive energy your way."

The good news is her 16-month-old baby with Travis Scott is "100% okay now" ... and she posted a pic of Stormi recovering and sleeping at home.

Stormi's medical scare clearly moved her mom ... Kylie shared a photo of the sun setting over her backyard with a child's play set and captioned it ... "blessed beyond words. thank you God. i believe in being reflection of what you'd like to receive. If you want love, give love. If you want success, wish success."

The stars of VH1's "Black Ink Crew: Chicago" allegedly beat the hell out of a guest at a party for their show ... and now the dude's fighting back with a lawsuit.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Ronnie Spates claims he was viciously attacked by 'Black Ink' stars Ryan Henry, Van Johnson, Don Brumfield and Junior Diaz during a December bash in Chicago ... and he says the reality show's production company wanted a fight to break out to make better TV.

Spates claims he was an invited guest minding his own business at the party when Henry, Johnson, Brumfield and Diaz began kicking the crap out of him. He says the brutal beatdown left him licking serious wounds.

Spates claims show producers fueled the party with loads of booze and actively sought to encourage situations that would lead to conflict, verbal spats and physical altercations ... just so they could create explosive content.

TMZ broke the story ... cops were called to the party after it allegedly got violent. Our law enforcement sources say Junior Diaz was accused of sucker punching a guest, presumably Spates. Police say when they arrived at the scene, they found Spates bleeding from the mouth and disoriented, and he was taken to a hospital for stitches.

Spates is suing the reality stars and Big Fish Entertainment over the incident ... and he's seeking a big payday.

Kim Kardashian's mission to help convicted murderer Kevin Cooper prove he's innocent is enraging the mother of one of his victims, who says Kim needs to read up on the mountain of evidence that shows Cooper is guilty as sin.

Mary Ann Hughes tells TMZ she was disgusted to see Kardashian embracing death row inmate Cooper in photos -- "It makes me feel sick to my stomach and I pity her. For what she's doing to us, there's nothing to justify what she's doing to us, the immense pain she is causing us."

She added, Kim "obviously has not read all of the actual evidence -- she has bought into half truths perpetrated by the defense. If she actually sat down and read the transcripts of all the trials and appeals, she would be sick to her stomach to be in the same room with him."

Mary Ann's 11-year-old son, Christopher, was sleeping over at a neighbor's home in Chino Hills, CA back in 1983 when he was murdered. Cooper was convicted of using a hatchet to slay the neighbors, Doug and Peggy Ryen, their daughter Jessica and Christopher. The Ryens' 8-year-old son survived the attack.

Kim has been on a remarkable mission -- alongside multiple high-powered attorneys -- to help non-violent drug offenders get early releases from prisons. She started with Alice Marie Johnson's release last year, and has successfully freed 17 more inmates in recent months.

But, Mary Ann says Kardashian's on the wrong side this time and believes Cooper's attorneys "are using her for her reality show status because they can't use the truth to try to help Kevin Cooper. The truth just condemns him."

As we reported, Kim went to visit Cooper at San Quentin prison on Thursday, and she's successfully lobbied California Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom to order additional DNA testing in Cooper's case. Kim says she hopes the results will show Cooper is innocent. He's long maintained he was framed.

Mary Ann says it's absurd for Kim to think the "pile of evidence" against Cooper was planted. She says he's "100 percent guilty and the evidence shows it. If you want the whole truth, read the 94 page document on the website of the San Bernardino County D.A." ... which was filed in response to Cooper's last attempt to win clemency.

Mary Ann points out a woman who claims Cooper raped her in 1982 in Pennsylvania testified against him during the murder trial -- something she thinks Kim needs to know. "She portrays herself as being for women's rights and for the women's movement and yet she is supporting a rapist and a murderer."

What do Chip and Joanna Gaines have in common with Ciara and Kevin Love? Other than the fact that they're megastars ... they all also have a Harvard class under their belts.

The A-listers were among the most recognizable faces this past week at the 4-day Harvard business course known as BEMS -- where top-level talent from all walks of life, including Hollywood stars, come out and share their experiences with each other ... brainstorming paths to success.

Some of the other celebs to join the group -- NBA stars Julius Randle and Luc Mbah a Moute, German soccer star Oliver Kahn, NCIS actor Eric Olsen and more.

By the end of it ... it looks like "Fixer Upper" couple and the rest of the gang walked away with certificates to show they'd completed the course -- which has hosted the likes of Chris Bosh, Michael Strahan and a myriad of CEOS and execs from different companies in the past.

Kim Kardashian stopped by San Quentin's death row this week with one mission in mind ... figuring out what's needed to prove inmate Kevin Cooper was framed for a slew of heinous murders.

Cooper's attorney, Norman Hile, tells TMZ ... Kim spent 2 hours speaking with him and Kevin, and their conversation mainly focused on what can be done to clear Cooper's name beyond new DNA testing.

As we first told you ... Kim dropped by one of America's most notorious prisons Thursday to speak with Cooper, a 61-year-old man who was sent directly to death row after being convicted of committing 4 heinous murders in Chino Hills, CA in the '80s. He's always proclaimed his innocence.

Kim's been successful in lobbying 2 California Governors, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, to order additional DNA testing in Cooper's case ... but Thursday's meeting went way beyond the science of DNA.

Kevin and his attorney told Kim they're gunning to find evidence that could fully exonerate Cooper ... including docs related to the original prosecution, reviewing old witness testimony and finding new witnesses.

It's interesting ... Cooper could get his conviction thrown out by showing a significant error in his trial, but he's gunning to prove way more -- innocence. It would be a stunning reversal of fortune after 36 years awaiting death.

Cooper's attorney tells us their message clearly got through to Kim, and they're hoping she can use her celebrity to bring more attention to Kevin's case, as she's done with dozens of other inmates who recently gained their freedom.

Jenelle Evans and David Eason are turning over a new leaf ... and doing everything they can to make sure they regain custody of her children.

Sources close to Jenelle and David tell TMZ ... since losing custody of all 3 kids Tuesday, the couple has enrolled in marriage counseling, signed up for parenting classes and David's got an upcoming psych evaluation to find the root of his anger issues ... all conditions set by the judge if they hope to get the kids back.

It's all part of the plan to prove Jenelle and David are willing to do whatever it takes to get 9-year-old Jace, 4-year-old Kaiser and 2-year-old Ensley living under the same roof once again.

Jenelle has no plans to dump David, even though his brutal killing of the family dog put the wheels in motion for CPS to take the kids out of their home. We're told Jenelle and David are still committed to each other, and they want to emerge from this extremely rough patch as a family.

As you know ... MTV booted Jenelle from its "Teen Mom" franchise after her husband shot and killed her French bulldog, Nugget because it nipped at Ensley.

We're told Jenelle's firing has really lit a fire inside her ... and she's getting back to work on her new makeup line, which is targeting an August launch. With no kids in the house, she's got a lot more time on her hands.

Khloe Kardashian says she's not into dating these days, but she made an exception Friday night for a dude who will surely freeze his boutonniere and make it a lifelong keepsake.

Khloe went to prom with a high school student named Narbeh ... we don't know his last name, but he goes by Narbeh Kardashian.

In case it's not clear to you, dude's a super fan and KK decided to make his life by sauntering into the Castaway restaurant in Burbank, where there was an appropriate amount of gawking by Narbeh's fellow students from Hoover High School in Glendale, CA.

Narbeh runs a Stan account called @NarbehKardash which has 236,000 followers, so he has plenty of Kardashian kred. He regularly posts pics of the fam ... matriarch on down.

Turns out Narbeh and Khloe aren't strangers. He met her last December at a fan event. And, she's sent him birthday messages in the past.

5:33 PM PT -- Kim just posted a photo from her visit, saying, "I had an emotional meeting with Kevin Cooper yesterday at San Quentin's death row. I found him to be thoughtful and honest and I believe he is innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted."

Kim Kardashian was on San Quentin's death row Thursday ... on a mission.

Kim, sporting a noticeably baggy black jumpsuit, took her prison reform efforts on the road to one of America's most notorious prisons ... with the goal of freeing an inmate who has been awaiting death since 1983.

61-year-old Kevin Cooper was convicted of committing 4 heinous murders in Chino Hills, CA in the '80s and sent directly to death row. Between then and now, the death penalty was suspended, reinstated, there was a gas chamber and then death by lethal injection ... and all the while Cooper sat waiting to die, always proclaiming his innocence.

As we reported ... back in October, Kim asked then-Governor of California Jerry Brown to look into Cooper's case because of evidence Cooper has been framed. Brown's ordered DNA testing, in no small part due to Kim's campaign. California's new Governor, Gavin Newsom, ordered additional testing in February.

Newsom's waiting for final DNA test results, but Kim decided to pay a visit so she could have her first face-to-face with the guy she's trying to free. Kim, who wore all black, spent 2 hours with him and is more convinced than ever he was framed.

As for now ... Cooper will not face execution, because Governor Newsom is a death penalty opponent who has suspended all executions while he is in office.

We're guessing Cooper's happy to have KK on his side ... Kim and her legal team have freed 17 inmates gaining freedom over the past few months.

Mama June is on a dark path heading toward looming death ... so frets Honey Boo Boo, who's desperately urging her mom to seek help for what looks like a severe crack cocaine addiction.

Mama June's family and friends are scared to death ... her life's in danger, and they confronted her during an intervention ... with Honey Boo Boo begging Mama to go to rehab, asking her if she values her life enough to get clean so she can watch her grandchild grow up.

We've got a clip from the finale of Mama June's 'Not to Hot' Friday night at 9 on WE tv -- and you see her, busted teeth and all, getting super defensive as her loved ones plead with her to turn her life around.

As we first showed you ... Mama looks like a shell of herself since she got busted for crack cocaine possession back in March with boyfriend Geno Doak. Mama's teeth are falling apart, and she collapses on camera during the dramatic family intervention.

We're told Geno wasn't present for the intervention ... which is interesting, because Mama's daughter, Pumpkin, insinuates he's cheating on her when she's not around.

Jenelle Evans is sticking with her man -- despite temporarily losing custody of her children -- but wants to make one thing clear ... she still loves her kids.

Jenelle and her husband, David Eason, were in court Tuesday when a judge ruled they'd lose their kids for the foreseeable future. Evans just released a statement saying, "I love being a mother and David and I will get through this. We are staying strong and united."

It's an interesting statement considering our sources say David's actions are the root of the custody issues ... and the judge was pissed Jenelle kept the kids around him.

In Jenelle's statement to The Hollywood Gossip she continues, "I love my kids so much and I will do anything necessary to get them back and that is all I want everyone to understand."

Evans refused to talk on the specifics of the case for fear of repercussions from the judge.

As we reported ... Eason brutally beat and then shot and killed the family's dog after it nipped at their 2-year-old daughter, Ensley's face. As a result, 9-year-old Jace, 4-year-old Kaiser and Ensley were removed from the home.

Jenelle Evans has lost custody of her kids, largely because her husband, David Eason, has created an abusive environment at home ... and this video seems to be evidence of that.

We're told the video was shot sometime this year at the family's North Carolina home. You hear a baby in the background as David launches, saying, "You could die right now for all I give a f***. You're a f***ing piece of s**t. You're the biggest f***ing piece of s*** I know."

You then see him flip off the camera operator and walk away.

From all we know, hardly anyone was allowed in the family home, and it appears Jenelle is behind the camera and the comments are directed at her.

As we reported, the judge in the custody case has stripped Jenelle and David of custody for the time being, after concluding David and Jenelle have put the kids at risk.

We're told one of the things that came out during the hearing was that 4-year-old Kaiser was terrified to go to David and Jenelle's home because he was terrified of David and had been mistreated by him.

One source said squarely, "It's all David's fault."

Jenelle has steadfastly stood behind David, and now they must attend parenting classes, counseling and weekly drug testing before there's any hope of them regaining custody.

The video is a glimpse into what appears to be a very turbulent home life.

Luann de Lesseps is still pissing off judges and her probation officer, but her real-life problems are NOT jeopardizing her reality TV future with 'Housewives' -- at least, not yet.

Sources close to the "Real Housewives of New York" production tell TMZ ... Luann's position and security on the show are as strong as ever, despite the fact she continues to run into trouble while on probation for her drunken arrest case from 17 months ago.

As we reported ... she's already violated the terms of probation at least twice ... once for failing to prove she was going to AA meetings, and more recently for downing a couple mimosas.

After her most recent violation, she was slapped with newer, even stricter terms.

Our sources are clear though -- Luann's job is not on the line, and higher-ups haven't even discussed the possibility of firing her ... despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Fact is, Luann is great for TV right now because the fallout from her arrest offers up juicy drama and an interesting narrative for viewers. Translation ... ratings, baby!!!

One other thing our sources say should be taken into account ... some of the other 'RHONY' cast members have gotten wasted on-camera before, and have endured plenty of public embarrassment -- and they're still there.

"Love & Hip Hop" star Rah Ali gave birth 5 months into her pregnancy, and the baby only survived for a few minutes ... which is why Nicki Minaj is trying like hell to ease her close friend's pain.

Sources close to Rah Ali tell TMZ ... her baby girl died Sunday, almost immediately after the premature birth. She was not due until the middle of October.

We're told Rah Ali was in her house Sunday when her water broke and contractions started. She was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to save her baby.

The premature birth came as a complete shock -- we're told all of Rah's previous doctors visits revealed no signs of trouble with her pregnancy.

Nicki and Rah have been close forever. Rah Ali allegedly tried to fight Cardi B on behalf of Nicki during last year's infamous shoe-throwing incident at a New York Fashion Week party.

Our sources say Nicki's doing everything she can to be supportive in the wake of the child's death ... calling and checking on Rah, and trying to lift her spirits ... as much as possible considering the devastating situation.

Jenelle Evans and David Eason suffered a major court defeat Tuesday, when a judge ruled they will not regain custody of their 3 children ... and they will have virtually no face-to-face contact for the time being.

After 4 days of explosive testimony, in which Jenelle, David, Kaiser's dad Nathan Griffith and others testified about problems in the home, the judge decided there were serious issues with Jenelle and David that put the children at risk.

The trigger for the hearing was David killing the family dog earlier this month. As we reported, Child Protective Services ordered 4-year-old Kaiser to stay with Nathan, 9-year-old Jace with his grandma, Barbara, and 2-year-old Ensley also with Barbara.

Sources connected to the case tell TMZ, for the time being, Jenelle and David can see their kids only once a week for an hour with supervision.

As one source put it, "It's all David's fault."

Another source says the judge laid out a number of steps Jenelle and David must take in order to regain custody, including parenting classes, counseling and weekly drug testing.

And yet, another source told us Kaiser was "extremely fearful" of going back to the family house and claimed he was mistreated by David. His concerns were brought up in court and we're told affected the judge's decision.

As for Jenelle, one source says she was "stunned" by the ruling and believed she would walk out of court Tuesday with her kids. Instead, she walked out with David.

One of the shops featured on "Storage Wars" was broken into over Memorial Day weekend -- costing its reality TV star owners a few thousand dollars and a crappy day of cleanup.

Rene Nezhoda -- who runs the Bargain Hunters Thrift Store with his wife, Casey -- tells TMZ ... a thief, or group of thieves, smashed through the front glass doors of his San Diego-area business early Saturday morning around 4 AM ... and made off with some of their goods.

We're told the culprits jacked around $2,000 worth of rare coins Rene and Casey had in their possession, and ended up doing about another $2,000 of damage to the store in total.

All in all ... the Nezhodas are looking at a minimum set back of $4,000.

Rene and Casey posted a video of the aftermath later in the day, and it's clear they were pissed about the break-in. Rene goes so far as to call the culprit "the lowest scumbag out there." Check out his tour of how the burglars got in and out ... it's a pretty entertaining breakdown, even if it's a crappy financial situation for them.