'The Office' Star Kate Flannery Haters Shut Your Dundie Mouth!!! John Krasinski Is Worthy of 'PEOPLE' Sexiest Man Title

John Krasinski is People magazine's 2024 Sexiest Man Alive, and some people are pissed about the selection ... but one of JK's pals from "The Office" is firing back.

Here's the deal ... John graced the cover of People on Tuesday wearing a T-shirt and jeans, sitting on the bumper of a NYC Yellow cab ... and social media was instantly divided, with some loving the pick, while others bitched JK is cute, sure -- but NOT sexy.

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IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!
TMZ.com

Kate Flannery -- who played Meredith Palmer on the hit series -- tells TMZ ... she was thrilled when she heard John got the honor -- and had a feeling sooner or later he would be recognized for how hot he became for his roles in "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" and "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi."

Piff the Magic Dragon I 'Genuinely' Cloned My Late Dog!!! And Spent a Pretty Penny, Too

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MAGIC OF CLONING
TMZ.com

Piff the Magic Dragon is confirming he actually spent almost $60K to clone his late dog, Mr. Piffles ... telling TMZ he's "so glad" he did.

We caught up with the magician after the sad news his longtime performing companion and beloved Chihuahua had died ... with the "America's Got Talent" alum revealing he created a contingency plan for this inevitable day back when his pup first started getting older.

Though word of Piff's decision to clone the pup broke a while back, the British comedian assured us he "genuinely cloned" Piffles ... and even had Mr. Piffles 2.0 join him on camera for a quick hello.

Teddi Mellencamp Somber Goodbye to Estranged Husband Bags Packed, Downcast Eyes

Teddi Mellencamp said a sad goodbye to her husband in Los Angeles ... looking somber while waiting for a ride with her bags packed -- while it seems he tried to comfort her outside the family house.

The 'Real Housewives' star was spotted on the sidewalk Tuesday ... Dodgers cap pulled low over her eyes with a couple bags in hand -- standing next to her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave.

It's hard to tell exactly what convo these 2 are having ... it certainly looks like Edwin's comforting his soon-to-be ex-wife, placing a comforting arm around her shoulder and giving the side of her head a smooch.

Artem Chigvintsev Makes 'DWTS' Return ... Amid Nasty Divorce

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BACK IN THE BALLROOM

Artem Chigvintsev is back in his old stomping grounds ... hanging with his "Dancing with the Stars" family amid a rough patch in his life.

Artem surfaced Tuesday night in Los Angeles for the taping of the celebrity dance competition show's 500th episode ... but he wasn't on the dance floor, he was in the crowd.

The 'DWTS' alum's former colleague Peta Murgatroyd posted a video showing Artem dancing in the stands as the episode films ... alongside Peta's husband and Artem's buddy, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

'Gossip Girl' Actress Chanel Maya Banks Found Safe & Uninjured ... After Missing Person Report

Chanel Maya Banks -- an actress with credits on shows like "Blue Bloods" and "Gossip Girl" -- has been found safe and sound ... this after she was reported missing last week.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Chanel has now been found safe and sound. She doesn't have any injuries and foul play isn't suspected.

ICYMI ... authorities reportedly conducted a welfare check at the L.A. apartment Chanel shares with her husband last week ... where they found all her belongings as well as her dog -- but, no sign of the actress.

Krasinski, Damon, Affleck Welcome To The Club, John ... Sexiest Men Alive!!!

John Krasinski has a seat at the table with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck ... joining them for dinner after being anointed People magazine's 2024 Sexiest Man Alive.

The actor broke bread with Matt and Ben in New York City, hitting the town Tuesday night after accepting the big honor on Stephen Colbert's late-night TV show.

It's pretty cool to see John hanging with Matt and Ben ... Affleck was named People's Sexiest Man Alive way back in 2002 and Damon took home the honor in 2007 ... so these guys have another thing in common now, as all 3 are originally from the Boston metro area.

Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Pitch-Perfect Together ... Sing 'I'm Every Woman' Live on 'Today'

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A WICKED DUET
NBC

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are proving they're perfectly in-sync ... busting out into song during their recent appearance on "TODAY."

Check it out ... the stars of the upcoming "Wicked" film sit down with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb to discuss their bond after making the musical movie -- and give a taste of their pitch-perfect sound together.

When asked by Hoda if there's any song they can't help but sing when around one another, the on-screen besties confess "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan is a favorite ... jumping into a live rendition of the song.

Pete Hegseth Hits Bystander With Axe on Fox News ... Can He Cut It as Defense Secretary???

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LOOK OUT!!!
Fox

Pete Hegseth's nomination by Donald Trump for U.S. Secretary of Defense has sparked quite a bit of chatter ... especially regarding the Fox News host's aim -- or lack thereof.

Footage from Pete's early Fox News days has resurfaced amid news of his big nomination ... showing the Army National Guard officer participating in an axe-throwing contest against then-costar Clayton Morris on "Fox & Friends." Despite Pete's military training, he struggles to make contact with the target ... instead striking an innocent bystander with the tool.

Check it out ... Pete stands directly in front of a wooden platform with a large target situated on top. Pete throws the axe at the bullseye, but it doesn't even make contact ... instead flying above and hitting a member of a drum corps standing on the other side.

Ray J Celebs Tell Me They're Paying Off Alleged Diddy Victims to Stay Quiet

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PAID TO KEEP QUIET
TMZ Studios

Ray J says he's been contacted by multiple celebs who are so scared about their affiliation with Diddy ... they're going to some of the alleged victims and paying them to keep quiet.

Ray appears in TMZ's new TUBI documentary, "The Downfall of Diddy: Inside the Freak-Offs" ... and says some high-profile people are trying to cut alleged victims off at the pass, even before they make money demands.

Attorney Tony Buzbee also appears in the doc and reveals he has sent a demand letter out to various high-profile people with an ultimatum ... pay up, or face a lawsuit.

Dave Coulier Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

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AGGRESSIVE, BUT TREATABLE
NBC

Dave Coulier is opening up about his current health journey ... sharing his cancer diagnosis on national television.

The "Full House" star appeared on "TODAY" Wednesday morning, where he confirmed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma ... a type of blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.

While speaking with Hoda Kotb about his diagnosis, the actor revealed he received the diagnosis 5 weeks ago ... which prompted him to undergo 3 surgeries and receive several rounds of chemotherapy.

Piff the Magic Dragon Beloved Chihuahua Mr. Piffles ... Dead at 16

Piff the Magic Dragon's longtime performing companion and beloved Chihuahua, Mr. Piffles, has died ... the Las Vegas magician confirms to TMZ.

The "America's Got Talent" alum tells us ... his beloved canine conjuror passed away on November 8th, just before his 17th birthday ... with Piff crediting the rescue dog for making his act sensational.

He adds ... "For over 15 years I’ve had the privilege and the pleasure of being upstaged and outshone night after night by Mr. Piffles. He came into my life when I had nothing, and set me on the path to a career I could only dream of. In the beginning, I may have rescued him, but in the end, he rescued me."

Coach Cutlip In 'The Wonder Years' 'Memba Him?!

American actor Robert Picardo was in his mid-30s when he first started playing the vicious Coach Cutlip -- who always wears a red hat and whistle while barking orders at P.E. -- in the classic family sitcom "The Wonder Years" back in 1988.

Picardo was part of an ensemble cast including Fred Savage as the awkward brother, Kevin, Jason Hervey as Kevin's big bro who enjoys bullying his younger sibling, Wayne and Danica McKellar as the girl next door, Winnie.

You may also recognize Robert as the doctor on "Star Trek: Voyager" and Richard in the 'Stargate' franchise.

Guess what he looks like now!

TMZ TV HOT TAKE CHLOE SAY ELON MADE HER CRY ON 'SNL'

"Saturday Night Live" star Chloe Fineman says Elon Musk was the worst guest host she ever came across ... because he made her cry.

Chloe outed herself as the cast member Elon brought to tears on 'SNL' during his 2021 appearance in a since deleted social media post ... and we tackled the topic on "TMZ Live."

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SATURDAY NIGHT TEARS
TMZ.com

Elon's since come out and defended his actions ... and this story is generating a lot of hot takes in our office.

Check your local listings for when TMZ is on in your area or catch up on past episodes!

James Van Der Beek Life Doesn't Stop for Cancer ... Steps Out With Family for Errands

James Van Der Beek is keeping his loved ones close during his cancer battle ... stepping out in Austin with his family for a grocery store run.

Check it out ... the "Dawson's Creek" alum is seen swinging by a Whole Foods in Texas with several of his children in tow -- proving life goes on even amid health troubles.

In the photos, James holds his head high, wearing a camo-inspired ensemble ... including a baseball cap, cut-off tee, and shorts. The actor is the epitome of a doting dad in the pics, with JVDB holding hands with one of his little ones and helping another carry a big paper bag.

Rudy Pankow & Madison Bailey 'Outer Banks' Stars Never Had Beef ... Despite Fan Feud Theories

Warning: Spoilers for "Outer Banks" season 4 ahead ...

"Outer Banks" returned with new season 4 episodes last week ... yet all people can talk about is a rumored feud between costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey.

But, it seems the gossip is a bunch of hogwash, as sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... there is no feud or beef between Rudy and Madison.

Still, fans seemed convinced when word started circulating about an alleged rift between the 2 actors ... with some claiming Rudy and Madison stopped interacting as much IRL and on social media after getting into new relationships.

Martha Stewart Hands to Yourself, Drew!!! Pushes Her Away During Touchy Interview

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HANDS TO YOURSELF
Big Ticket Pictures

Martha Stewart is clearly not a fan of Drew Barrymore's touchy-feely interview style ... pushing away the talk show host during their awkward sit-down.

Check it out ... Drew sits awfully close to the lifestyle guru and asks Martha if anything makes her feel "soft and gooey" ... leaving MS a little perplexed by the question. As Martha thinks about her answer, Drew suggestively touches her mouth, prompting her guest to respond, "soft and gooey ... treatment. It's nice."

The encounter on Tuesday's show gets a bit more uncomfortable, however ... watch the video, as Drew ends up stroking Martha's arm in an attempt to get her guest to open up more.