Reality TV

Judge Joe Brown says President Trump should steer clear of picking a reality TV judge for the soon-to-be vacant SCOTUS seat ... 'cause most of 'em wouldn't come close to cutting it.

We spoke to the now-retired judge a day after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he was resigning from his post on the Supreme Court, leaving Trump to make a new appointment.

During initial speculation of who the Prez might choose, some journos and pundits half-joked he'd go the TV route, since that's what he knows. Joe says that likely won't happen ... and he has his reasons.

He doesn't specify who exactly he's referring to, but you gotta assume Judy's off that list. She's definitely legit. Ditto People's Court Judge Marilyn, who was a sitting judge before taking the TV gig.

"Deadliest Catch" star Sig Hansen caught a major break in his Uber assault and property damage case -- it's only gonna set him back a few hundred dollars, and he's avoiding jail time.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Hansen pled guilty to assault but the judge dismissed his property damage charge. He was given a deferred sentence of 12 months, and ordered to pay $343 in fines and fees.

We broke the story ... Sig allegedly spat on the driver last year in Seattle after the app canceled his ride, and the driver refused to take Sig and his fam the rest of the way with hard cash. He also allegedly kicked the car while exiting the vehicle. He was arrested shortly afterward.

Sig apologized for the incident, saying he made a "boneheaded move" and accepted responsibility for his actions.

'Jersey Shore' star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro's baby mama told cops the reality star struck her multiple times during their domestic dispute ... but cops concluded she was the one in the wrong.

Jen Harley was arrested Sunday in Vegas for domestic battery after she allegedly attacked Ronnie while the two were driving home and then dragged him with her car.

According to the police report -- obtained by TMZ -- cops say they found Harley on the side of the road after a passerby called in to report a fight between the two.

Harley told cops she was driving and Ronnie was in the passenger's seat. She says Ronnie became aggressive, reaching for the steering wheel and hitting her multiple times. Harley claims she pulled over, took their 3-month-old daughter out of the car and tried waving down other drivers for help.

The police report states officers observed minor cuts, scratches and dried blood on Jen. The report also details Ronnie's injuries ... saying he sustained cuts to his mouth, arms and road-rash. Ronnie told officers Jen struck him 2 to 5 times with her fist, he got in the driver's seat once she got out and took off.

11:13 AM PT -- Jessica Peet tells TMZ ... "I want to apologize for what I posted as a 14-year-old teenager. In no way did I mean it in a derogatory nor racial way. I do hope people are willing to forgive, and understand I was immature and I've done a lot of growing up since then."

One of the 'Survivor' contestants from the upcoming season is catching heat before the show even airs ... for using the n-word so much on Twitter, you'd think she was Jay-Z.

19-year-old Jessica Peet is a cast member on "Survivor: David vs. Goliath" and, as it always does ... the Internet scoured her social media, and turned up scores of old tweets where she gratuitously drops the n-word.

She even defends using it, saying, "n***a isn't a cuss word !! Lol" -- and, in another, adds ... "I have a way with words..... N***a." Indeed.

The tweets, which 'Survivor' fans grabbed before they were deleted, are from 2013 to 2015. Many fans online are calling Peet a racist.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ ... CBS is aware of the situation, and Peet apologized by saying she was "young and dumb." She would've been between 14 and 16 at the time.

This drama comes on the heels of a pair of upcoming contestants getting into hot water for breaking their NDAs by posting a pic together ... before CBS revealed the cast.

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro left a mess behind after his baby mama allegedly dragged him with a car ... and TMZ has some bloody shots of the vehicle.

In the photos, blood streaks can be seen on the outside of the ride we're told Jen Harley was driving when she and the 'Jersey Shore' star got into a fight Sunday coming home from a Vegas BBQ. You'll recall ... Jen allegedly hit Ronnie in the face, then dragged him when he tried to get out.

As you can see ... the vehicle also suffered a flat tire, which we're told was the result of Jen driving over the median when she took off ... with their 2-month-old daughter, Ariana, in the car.

There's also a shot of the interior console covered with blood ... possibly from Ronnie's injuries after being struck in the face.

Harley was arrested for domestic battery and booked at the Clark County Detention Center. She was also the suspect in a battery investigation for allegedly spitting on and hitting Ronnie 3 weeks ago during another argument.

"Braxton Family Values" is on an indefinite break after the sisters and their mother made a family decision -- no taping until they're paid what they're worth.

Sources connected to the show tell us the entire cast -- Tamar, Toni, Towanda, Traci, Trina and mom Evelyn -- was scheduled to shoot in Atlanta last week, but only Traci showed up ... so WE tv sent the crew home and pulled the plug on taping.

Our sources say the Braxton women are refusing to return to work until the network and Magical Elves production company renegotiate their contracts for the second half of season 6.

The major bones of contention, we're told -- the cast feels their wardrobe and travel stipends are so low it's laughable. They also want their salaries increased to an "appropriate" level.

Chumlee's relationship with Richard Harrison spanned about 20 years, and he has a lot of fond memories of the man they called "Old Man" ... and some funny ones too.

The "Pawn Stars" star tells "TMZ Live" ... even though "Old Man" wasn't truly his family, he was always treated like a grandson and he learned many life lessons from him.

Chumlee says he's happy he got to spend some time with Harrison in recent weeks as he battled Parkinson's Disease and, while he was prepared for the inevitable, it was still a surprise when he died ... because "Old Man" always fought like hell.

Chumlee tells us the outpouring of love for the "Pawn Stars" patriarch has been incredible, and he shared his favorite memory -- taking "Old Man" for a ride in his lowrider, and giving him a surprise hydraulics lesson.

The famed "Pawn Stars" shop is already honoring its TV patriarch, Richard Harrison, a day after his death ... and fans can pay their respects in a number of ways.

Sources close to the family of Richard, best known as "Old Man," tell TMZ ... a makeshift memorial was set up in the corner of the Gold & Silver shop in Las Vegas in remembrance of their late founder. As we reported, "Old Man" died Monday ... and his memorial is already getting tons of love.

The shrine includes his signature chair, hat and coffee cup -- plus a life-sized cutout of him and photos from his office too. We're told fans and customers alike have been dropping off flowers and other items in droves.

We broke the story ... Harrison lost his battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was surrounded by loved ones when he passed at the age of 77.

Family sources also tell us ... a number of celebs have reached out with condolences, ranging from Russell Crowe to Dana White and the NHL's Golden Knights hockey to The Oak Ridge Boys quartet. We're told the outpouring of support has been incredible.

As for donations ... the Harrison family wants any monies sent to the Epilepsy Foundation ... an affliction his son Rick dealt with as a child.

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye's old Bel-Air pad -- the one they transformed and sold for nearly $18 mil -- is back on the market ... and we've obtained never-before-seen pics in and around the palace.

TMZ broke the story, Kimye sold the 10,000 square foot home for $17.8 million back in November. It was scooped up by Ukranian billionaire Marina Acton, who also struck a friendship with Kim in the process.

The crib's full of marble floors, gold fixtures and a complete chef's kitchen. Doesn't look like Marina did much with the walls Kim and Kanye left her ... just a lot of white. And we're told asking price is a totally reasonable -- relatively speaking -- $18 million. The Altman brothers at Douglas Elliman Real Estate Co. will rep the sale.

Acton tells us she's still in love with the home, but is expecting a baby in a few months, so she needs more space ... 10,000 sq. feet more!

Marina -- who says she's having a girl -- tells us her parents plan to join her when she moves, and a new place in Miami or West Palm Beach with a guest house would be ideal.

As for a budget on her new place? Marina said what you'd expect from someone flipping 8-figure mansions ... "The sky is the limit."

Neal E. Boyd, the "America's Got Talent" champ, who died earlier this month, was discovered by his own mother after she walked into his bedroom to check on him.

Neal's mother, Esther Rogers Boyd, told cops she couldn't wake him up, so she called 911. When officers arrived, we're told they saw Neal in bed with a sleep apnea mask on his face. They couldn't feel a pulse, so CPR was performed ... but to no avail.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, no illegal narcotics were found in his room. Cops also say there were no signs of foul play. There was no autopsy performed -- Neal had a known heart condition. We're told he was cremated the next day, and a private funeral was held a few days later.

We broke the story ... Neal died from heart failure in his Missouri hometown at his mother's home.

He was 42.

Khloe Kardashian's flashing a massive rock on her left ring finger which might have ya thinking she's engaged to Tristan Thompson ... but don't go buying a gift yet.

Khloe and Tristan had dinner Sunday night at BOA Steakhouse on the Sunset Strip ... and from the look of things, it wasn't the most exciting date night. Khloe seemed to be giving Tristan serious side-eye while he looks at something other than her -- maybe his phone or the menu.

But the bling on her hand was a definite bright spot. Khloe's dressed up that finger before, so we're not jumping the gun on engagement news.

9:09 AM PT -- Sources close to Harrison tell us he passed after losing his battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Richard Harrison -- famously known as "Old Man" on "Pawn Stars" -- has died, according to his son, Rick Harrison.

'''The Old Man' Harrison passed away this morning surrounded by those he loved," Rick said Monday morning ... "He will be tremendously missed by our family, the team at Gold & Silver Pawn and his many fans the world over."

"He was my hero and I was fortunate to get a very cool ‘Old Man’ as my dad."

The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear. However, Harrison's appearances on the show over the last couple years were slim to none.

'Old Man' moved to Vegas back in the early '80s and opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop with his son, Rick.

When the producers found the family and turned their daily lives into a show, it became an instant success. It's been on the air since July 2009 with 'Old Man' as one of the fan favorites.

A rep for History Channel tells TMZ, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Richard ‘The Old Man’ Harrison, a beloved member of the HISTORY and ‘Pawn Stars’ family. He will be greatly missed for his wisdom and candor."

Harrison is a Navy veteran and often talked about his military career on the show.

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro from 'Jersey Shore' was allegedly dragged by a car driven by his baby mama, Jen Harley ... and she's been arrested for domestic battery.

Jen was busted late Sunday in Vegas after she and Ronnie got into a fight while driving home from a BBQ. Sources close to the exes tell us Jen hit Ronnie in the face during the argument, and he demanded she pull over and let him out of the car.

We're told Ronnie got caught in his seatbelt, but Jen took off anyway ... dragging Ronnie. Worst of all ... we're told their 2-month-old daughter, Ariana, was in the car at the time.

Harley was booked for domestic violence at Clark County Detention Center

We're told Ronnie's face was bloodied and bruised and, as you'd expect, he's got a nasty road rash. Also, none of this was for cameras ... "Jersey Shore" was not shooting Sunday.

Carlos Lopez Jr. -- one of the repo guys on "Operation Repo" -- is dead of an apparent suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Carlos' roommate found him Sunday around 8 PM on the balcony of their downtown L.A. apartment. The roommate called 911, police and paramedics responded, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He had a gunshot wound to the head, which police believe was self-inflicted. Our sources say he left a suicide note.

Carlos -- who was on "Operation Repo" from 2012 to 2014 -- was also a successful character actor. He had several small roles on scripted TV shows ... including "iCarly" and "CSI: Cyber." Most recently, he played a CIA station chief in Tom Cruise's "American Made."

He's also an Army vet. Carlos reportedly did 37 months in combat with the 82nd Airborne.

ABC has made the decision to cancel an episode of its new show, "The Proposal," after one of its contestants was accused of facilitating a sexual assault.

Show contestant Michael J. Friday -- who was set to appear on the show's second episode -- was accused by a Milwaukee woman of facilitating her sexual assault in early November.

According to the woman, the two met on Tinder and arranged to meet. She says Friday invited her to an entertainment room of an apartment complex and, when she arrived, he was with two older men. The woman claims she was poured a drink -- which she believes to have been spiked -- and Friday left, never to come back.

The buff hottie Kendall Jenner encountered at the grocery store -- wearing a shirt suggesting her family should be killed -- has been ID'd ... and his contempt for the Kardashians is real.

TMZ has learned the guy with the jacked arms is Jason Christopher, and he tells us he had the shirt custom made a few years ago ... because he's not down with the Kardashian crew's affinity for wearing fur.

Jason says he's a vegan and an animal lover, and his shirt is simply a way to protest the family's values.

As we reported ... Kendall was out to grab some milk at the market Wednesday when she saw Jason and his "Kill the Kardashians" shirt and shared a video of him on her IG, which quickly went viral.