The Bachelor

"Bachelor" alum Jake Pavelka has snagged himself a cougar ... in the form of Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth ... and TMZ has the photo of them out on a date near his home in Texas.

The internet was all abuzz earlier this month when Jake and Kristin were seen getting cozy at a diner in West Hollywood. That could have been anything ... but now a TMZ spy caught a glimpse of the new couple (?) in a cafe near Pavelka's home in Highland Village, TX.

As our eagle-eyed witness notes ... they weren't kissing or anything, but they were seen holding hands and "they were veeeerrryy attentive to one another."

A judge says "The Bachelor" doesn't have to cast African-Americans -- so it's time to celebrate ... if you're a Black man. Seriously, who wants to deal with 25 women constantly fighting and bitching?

A judge has THROWN OUT a lawsuit that two black men filed against "The Bachelor" ... in which they claimed they were rejected from the show based on the color of their skin.

In the original suit, the men pointed out that every bachelor in the show's history has been white -- and claim producers intentionally stayed away from people of color because they feared an interracial relationship would alienate the show's "predominantly white viewership."

But a Tennessee judge has officially dismissed the case -- citing the 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech) ... and explaining that the court cannot tell TV producers ... or movie producers ... or playwrights ... how to cast a production.

In fact, the judge explains that Freedom of Speech is why "The Cosby Show" could have an all-black cast ... why "Jersey Shore" can cast all-Italians ... and why "Shahs of Sunset" can cast all-Persians.

Courtney Robertson is about $80k lighter today -- because "The Bachelor" winner finally returned her diamond engagement ring to its rightful owner ... and photogs caught every glorious moment of it.

Robertson -- who called it quits with "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik last week -- hit up a Neil Lane jewelry store in L.A. Sunday to say sayonara to the 3-carat rock.

We're told the ring ended up back at Neil Lane since "Bachelors" and "Bachelorettes" don't foot the bill for their own marital swag -- i.e. when the relationship goes away, so does the bling.

But Court's not shedding too many tears over the loss (of the ring or Ben) -- considering she was recently seen sucking face with "Bachelorette" cast-off Arie Luyendyk Jr.

Ah, love.

Courtney Robertson is one helluva rebounder ... 'cause days after she split from "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik ... she was TOTALLY MAKING OUT with one of the rejects from "The Bachelorette."

TMZ obtained pics of Courtney sucking face with Arie Luyendyk Jr. -- who took 2nd place on last season's "Bachelorette" when he was shot down by Emily Maynard.

Of course, Courtney was SUPPOSED to marry Ben after he picked her on the "Bachelor" finale earlier this year ... but they split last week claiming things just weren't working out.

But it didn't take long for Court to move on ... 'cause Thursday night, she and Arie had dinner together at the fancy Quiessence Restaurant in Phoenix -- and we're told they were all over each other the whole time.

Former "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik and his current fiancée Courtney Robertson posed for a pic at MGM's Wet Republic in Las Vegas this weekend ... looking like two people who were forced to pose for a picture together.

The producers of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" are responsible for encouraging racism across the country by refusing to cast black people in the shows' central roles -- this according to a new class action lawsuit.

Christopher Johnson and Nathaniel Claybrooks filed the lawsuit today in Tennessee federal court against the shows' producers -- claiming they both auditioned for "The Bachelor" in Nashville in August 2011 ... but were brazenly denied based solely on the color of their skin.

Christopher and Nathaniel claim producers were afraid to cast them for fear of alienating "the show's majority-white viewership."

As a result, the guys claim producers are teaching the public how to be racist -- by demonstrating preferences for white relationships over non-white and interracial relationships.

They might have a point too ... because the show has never once cast a person of color -- black, Asian, Latino, whatever -- in the central role as Bachelor or Bachelorette.

"Bachelor" creator Michael Fleiss has even acknowledged the problem -- stating long before the lawsuit was filed ... "We always want to cast for ethnic diversity. It's just that for whatever reason, they don't come forward. I wish they would."

Chris and Nathaniel are now demanding a change in "Bachelor" policy -- requiring producers to "consider persons of color as finalists for the role of the Bachelor and the Bachelorette."

"The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" are about to get a thorny rose -- in the form of a lawsuit.

We're told the 2 plaintiffs -- both African Americans -- went to a Nashville hotel to audition for the role of bachelor. Christopher Johnson -- an aspiring NFL player -- claims when he arrived a producer asked him what he was doing there.

Johnson and the other plaintiff, Nathaniel Claybrooks, both say they were taken to the side of the room and left out of the normal audition process. Neither was called back, and they believe it's because of their race.

They will be filing a class action lawsuit in federal court Wednesday AM. We're told ABC, Warner Horizon Television, Next Entertainment, NZK Productions and creator Mike Fleiss, will all be sued.

David Spade is a passionate pioneer for Civil Rights ... when it comes to "The Bachelor." Not exactly what MLK had in mind, we think -- but couldn't hurt, right?

Still trying to convince the world they are really in love, "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik and his chosen alleged soon-to-be bride Courtney Robertson actually hugged and kissed at the airport in San Francisco this weekend.

The reality TV dating competition show couple admitted they broke up after taping the finale but have since gotten back together and are engaged ... for reals ... right?

"Bachelor" winner Courtney Robertson has reached Phase 2 in her shameless quest for fame -- the part where she tries to make everyone believe she's SERIOUS about her engagement to Ben Flajnik.

A fully-clothed Courtney was out in L.A. moments ago ... telling paps, "We're engaged ... I love him." She also noted they have yet to set an actual wedding date.

During the finale last night, Courtney revealed she and Ben briefly split up after they finished taping the show ... but had since reconciled.

So, we gotta ask ...

Sorry shameless fame-whorish ladies ... Tim Tebow will not be the next rich stud hunting for love on "The Bachelor."

Tim just set the record straight on Twitter ... saying, "Haha rumors can be crazy! Even though I've watched the show before, I'm definitely not gonna be on the Bachelor. #JessePalmer."

But the most shocking part -- TMZ has learned who's to blame for the rumor ... and it's "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison. Though he swears it wasn't intentional.

Chris just called in to TMZ Live to explain himself ... check it out below.

"Bachelor" castoff Blakeley Shea is showing Ben Flajnik what he's really missing out on -- performing a head-spinningly sexy breast-in-the-face lap dance this week ... and there is a God ... because it was all caught on tape!!!

Blakeley hosts a weekly "Bachelor" viewing party at a nightclub in Charlotte, NC -- where she's from -- and on Monday, she got eliminated from the show ... so she marked the occasion by getting down and dirty with one of her girlfriends.

While her ex-boyfriend Kasey Kahl deals with the aftermath of his drunk-and-disorderly arrest -- Vienna Girardi hung out in a bikini with her other ex-boyfriend Jake Pavelka Lee Smith in Miami on Tuesday.

In case you forgot -- Vienna stormed off "Relationship Rehab" last month, where she was hammering out issues with Kahl. Vienna was pissed because producers blindsided her with a surprise sit-down with Lee, an ex at the time.

But now, sources close to the couple tell us Vienna and Lee have since been talking and working on their relationship.

Fun fact: Lee was also the guy that allegedly sent Vienna flirty emails back when she was engaged to "Bachelor" Jake Pavelka.

Former "Bachelor" winner Vienna Girardi ripped off her mic and stormed off the set of "Relationship Rehab" this week, TMZ has learned ... after show producers confronted her with an ex-boyfriend.

Vienna and boyfriend Kasey Kahl were hammering out their issues on the show -- but during a routine sit-down, sources close to production tell us, producers blindsided her ... bringing out Vienna's previous ex ... Lee Smith.

In case you don't remember -- Lee is the guy Vienna was allegedly sending flirty emails to while she was still engaged to "Bachelor" winner Jake Pavelka.

According to sources, Vienna had an emotional breakdown and walked off the show -- screaming at producers that she "hates" them. She hasn't been back since and the show has finished shooting.

Here's upcoming season 16 "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik in L.A. on Tuesday (left) -- and Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal last year (right).

One has got game.