Marjorie Taylor Greene Double Downs on '60 Minutes' ... Democrats are Pedophiles

THE BLAME GAME
CBS

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sat down with "60 Minutes" -- something that has drawn the ire of some Dems -- but like it or not she now has power, and Lesley Stahl seemed incredulous as Greene doubled down on her view that Democrats are a party of pedophiles.

Greene points the finger at President Biden, claiming he backs "children being sexualized" by supporting transgender surgeries. Lesley's SHOCKED, but goes on to ask if she'd be able to do away with the name-calling while fighting her fight -- the response is ironic.

Lesley also put the Georgia Rep. on the spot by bringing up a comment she once liked on Facebook -- referring to Nancy Pelosi getting a bullet to the head -- she quickly denies that interaction, claiming she's not involved with everything presented on her social channels.

And check out her response to past comments the Parkland school shooting was fake.

Stahl did her homework ... but in the end, we're guessing few minds were changed.

'60 Minutes' Slammed for MTG Interview ... Greene Shouts Out Stahl

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is scheduled to be the next big guest on "60 Minutes" this weekend ... and Twitter sure ain't happy about it.

The controversial Georgia congresswoman was tapped as one of the big interviews on the weekly magazine news program, with none other than Lesley Stahl taking on the challenge of talking to her on camera. The official "60 Minutes" account teased their time together.

Their description of MTG was weirdly flattering ... at least that's how many took it, and it left a lot of folks sour. "60 Minutes" writes of Rep. Greene, "Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, nicknamed MTG, isn’t afraid to share her opinions, no matter how intense and in-your-face they are. She sits down with Lesley Stahl this Sunday on 60 Minutes."

Of course, political pundits and journos on the bird app have been crying foul for the past 24 hours ... openly wondering why CBS would think it's a good idea to sit down with Greene.

The reason they're asking, of course, is because MTG has, at times, apparently shown support for the Jan. 6 insurrection, displayed transphobia, advocated for a new national secession ... and continued to support President Trump, among many other issues.

For her part, Greene actually signaled that the interview went well ... shouting out Stahl for being a trailblazer in journalism, and for giving her fair questions. MTG wrote, "It was an honor to spend a few days with the legendary icon Leslie (sic) Stahl and talented crew @60Minutes. Leslie (sic) is a trailblazer for women in journalism. And while we may disagree on some issues, I respect her greatly. Tune in tomorrow 7 pm ET on CBS."

Considering how rosy and cozy these tweets are ... some feel like Stahl might've let her off easy. Time will tell.

Janet Jackson Grammy Awards Talks Break Down Because of Fallout from Super Bowl 38 & CBS

The Grammys wanted to honor Janet Jackson in a big way last weekend, but TMZ has learned those talks fizzled after discussions on how to address the way CBS treated Jackson after her infamous Super Bowl Halftime performance.

Sources connected to The Grammys tell us ... the Grammys wanted to bestow Janet with a Global Impact Award, but there was a snag. Recording Academy honchos wanted Janet to attend a pre-Grammy event with the Black Music Collective days before the main event to accept the award, but her schedule wouldn't allow it.

From there, we're told discussions pivoted to a way Janet could receive the honor during the actual broadcast, but that presented another problem ... CBS never made amends with Janet for making her persona non grata after the wardrobe malfunction.

It was Super Bowl XXXVIII, broadcast on CBS, when Justin Timberlake ripped Janet's top, revealing her breast. The network received a ton of flack over the incident, and CBS CEO  Les Moonves pulled Janet's invite to the Grammys that year.

Our sources say Janet's team and Grammy organizers began talking about ways CBS could either apologize or figure out a way to acknowledge how she was treated by the network, but things just got too complicated and talks ended.

Since Janet couldn't attend the Black Music Collective event, she didn't get the Global Impact Award. She also did not attend the Grammys ... fact is she hasn't been there in years.

CRACKIN' JOKES
BACKGRID

We should note -- Lil Wayne ended up taking the Global Impact honor home -- and got a video shoutout from Drake before accepting the award. Unclear if both he and Janet both would've received awards, or if Wayne received his in place of Jackson.

Gayle King Amy, T.J. & 'GMA' All 'Very Sloppy' ... Concerned for Their Kids

SLOPPY MORNING AMERICA
BRAVO

Gayle King is weighing in on the T.J. Holmes/Amy Robach drama, calling the whole situation a "sloppy mess" -- but insists she's not gloating about her morning TV competition's crisis.

The "CBS Mornings" cohost dropped her 2 cents Thursday night on 'Watch What Happens Live' ... after Andy Cohen teed it up by asking what she thinks about "all hell breaking loose" at 'GMA.'

Gayle said, "I look at the situation and I say it's very interesting what's happening over there. It's just gotten very messy and very sloppy."

She gave ABC and 'GMA' execs props for their initial stance of letting 2 consenting adults remain on the air, but then added ... "The more you read, it's just very messy."

Gayle stopped short of accusing Amy and T.J. of cheating on their spouses -- an allegation they've denied -- but she did say, "I think, to me, it's just a sad situation because you've got kids involved, you've got families involved, and I keep thinking about that."

12/2/22
FRIDAY FEELING
ABC

TMZ broke the story ... T.J. and Amy are still a couple one week after getting benched ... as ABC takes a deep dive into their romance, and whether they violated company policies.

Interestingly, Gayle told Andy, "I was hoping you would not talk about this" -- but she sure had a lot to say!

CBS News Suspends Tweets Company-Wide ... Amid Twitter Uncertainty

CBS has started what could be a devastating ripple effect on Twitter ... hitting the pause button, indefinitely, on posting new tweets amid uncertainty under Elon Musk's stewardship.

The network's news division, CBS News, announced Friday it'd be suspending all Twitter activity from its official profiles as it continues to monitor things. CBS News says it's doing this out of an abundance of caution and in light of all the tumultuous updates.

Word of CBS News' decision was first reported Friday during that night's broadcast of "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell," during which reporter Jonathan Vigliotti seemingly announced the move on behalf of the entire company. CBS confirmed it shortly thereafter.

Vigliotti was reporting on the rumored chaos at the bird app's HQ ... where a majority of employees are said to have quit recently, leaving Twitter as a bare-bones operation and at risk of completely shutting down. That hasn't happened quite yet, but the fear is there.

CBS News's last original tweet links to a story about ex-WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki's failed effort to quash a subpoena she's been roped into. The account also retweeted a TV segment discussing the DOJ's new special counsel investigating Trump. Both of those were posted almost a full 24 hours ago, and CBS News hasn't tweeted anything new since.

Ditto for local affiliates, it seems. KPIX -- the Bay Area's CBS News arm -- hasn't tweeted anything since yesterday either ... and that policy seems to apply to most, if not all, of CBS's stations across the country. We should note, they're still posting stories to their home pages.

The reason this is a big deal -- assuming it carries on for an extended amount of time -- is because Twitter has become the go-to source for news ... not just for users, but for news organizations themselves. A lot of outlets rely on Twitter to get news out quickly, not to mention the traffic captured as one of the key social media sites and the wide reach it carries.

CBS News refusing to tweet is a major statement, and if it catches on among other big publishers ... it could make Twitter even less relevant, sparking a true mass exodus.

Meanwhile, Elon is still amusing himself with his by-the-people Trump Twitter poll ... and pulling together a new plan on code with whatever staff he has left. Good times, indeed.

'The Challenge' Johnny Bananas To Tyson Apostol ... You Can't Beat Me, Bro!!!

NOT THAT CHALLENGING
TMZ.com

"Survivor" alum and "The Challenge: USA" contestant Tyson Apostol thinks he could wipe the floor with the OG's of the MTV program ... but series staple Johnny Bananas thinks he has no clue what he's talkin' about.

We got Johnny in New York Tuesday at RiseNY ... and he thinks Tyson's claims aren't holding up -- adding the reality star is a little too new to the series to be yappin' his mouth.

Simply put -- Johnny doesn't think TA's ready to run with the big boys.

In case you missed it, Tyson's been a standout contestant on the CBS spinoff, but last month he called out a majority of the cast on Twitter ... saying the face-off would be a cakewalk.

"The Challenge: USA" -- wrapping its first season -- takes recognizable faces from "Big Brother," "Survivor" and other CBS shows and pits them against each other, just like MTV's does.

WHO KILLED MJ?

Johnny did say he's glad the show landed on another network, believing it'll bring eyes back to MTV's series -- but he calls the CBS series the "Walmart version," and has very clear ideas about how they can upgrade. Hint: It involves him.

'Big Brother' Housemate Kyle Labeled 'Racist' ... Fans Demand His Axing

UPDATE

6:12 AM PT -- 8/30 -- While some fans may have felt the show didn't do enough to highlight what Kyle said, there still were some instances during the actual broadcast when the situation was brought up -- including a conversation between Kyle and Brittany -- where they discussed the racial tension from last season and how an all-white alliance would be a bad look.

UPDATE
NO ASSUMPTIONS
CBS
UPDATE

There was also a separate convo between Michael and Brittany along the same lines, where they discussed what Kyle had proposed.

UPDATE
AUGUST 2022
PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME
CBS

A "Big Brother" contestant is being accused of racism after some live feed footage was conveniently left out of the finished product.

The guy's name is Kyle Capener and he's one of the remaining house guests on the reality show's current season. There was uproar this week when the new episode aired on CBS, but some troubling comments he'd recently made during the 24/7 Internet feed were nowhere to be found.

"BIGGEST FEAR"
CBS

Some fans think the network is covering his ass in an attempt to keep him around longer ... even though many feel he oughta be booted immediately.

As for what everyone's up in arms about -- there's one specific moment that's getting referenced a lot, a conversation Kyle had with another white contestant ... where he expressed concern about an alliance forming among the housemates of color.

He calls it a "cookout"-like collection of characters, and notes they've said they're in the house for ethnic representation on TV. With this in mind, he suggests to the other housemate they should form their own alliance ... what some have perceived as a "white" alliance.

Apparently, there are other comments he's made that some are calling "microaggressions" ... and they feel like the dude is straight-up racist, warranting producers axing him from the show entirely.

CBS hasn't commented on this controversy, but there's a disclaimer at the start of each episode that emphasizes the contestants are being filmed constantly ... and that they may say things that don't necessarily align with the company's values.

Time will tell if Kyle eventually has to answer for what some fans are seeing.

'Big Brother' We've Kept The Wall Yellers Away!!! ... After Beefin' Up Security

The "Big Brother" crew has been working hard to stop fans from revealing details to houseguests over their studio walls ... and it sounds like the extra efforts are paying off.

CBS has gone a solid 8 weeks with no disruptions at its L.A. studios, according to production sources. The security teams have been able to keep people FAR from the studio, unlike in previous seasons.

As we reported, CBS made the call to beef up security last season ... after fans showed up with bull horns, yelling over the wall to try and help certain houseguests.

In addition to CBS's security team AND a third-party company that has eyes on the space 24/7, we're told they've also planted production assistants around the area to keep watch.

We got pics of security and PAs near an area of the fence that would give easy access to the studio wall -- 6 people were posted at the spot.

BRITNEY'S SUCCESSES AND STRUGGLES

This week has been even more essential to keep the wall yellers away -- half the house had to live in the backyard. Luckily, not a peep was heard from the outside world.

8/18/22
SHORT BUT SWEET
CBS

Now the houseguests can focus on what really matters -- gettin' hot and heavy on an inflatable pool floatie!!!

'Big Brother' Houseguests Knockin' Boots On A Pool Floatie!!!

Two "Big Brother" contestants did the deed on a butterfly-shaped pool floatie ... but it doesn't sound like their evening of romance lasted very long!

Kyle and Alyssa are houseguests on the latest season of the reality show, and they've been hooking up, forming a showmance.

8/18/22
SHORT BUT SWEET
CBS

Things got hot and heavy in the "Have-Not" room -- the show swapped out beds with pool floaties on the hard floor ... but that didn't stop the two from getting it on.

After their hook up was over, Kyle jumps into apology mode -- confessing he lasted a grand total of 10 seconds.

Alyssa didn't seem to mind ... although she sounded a little embarrassed when talking to housemate Turner after.

She does, however, call the quickie a "really nice moment."

Fans went wild online after the hook up ... but some had more sympathy for the floatie than Kyle and Alyssa.

'Big Brother' Fiance Upset HOH Letter Not Aired ... No Love For Gay Couple?!?

CBS and "Big Brother" missed a chance to highlight an LGBTQ couple by deciding NOT to air castmate Michael reading a letter from his fiancé, Hayden Middleton.

Here's the deal ... Michael won Head of Household this week, which means he gets a letter from a loved one, but CBS didn't air video of Michael reading the note to his fellow 'BB' players.

Hayden tells TMZ ... he's upset his letter was not heard on TV because it would have been a good opportunity to highlight a monogamous, committed relationship at a time when there is a lot of negativity directed at the LGBTQ community.

UNAIRED LETTER
CBS

Hayden tells us he doesn't think there was any ill intent from CBS and 'BB' ... but he's still disappointed because the last two HOH winners had their letters featured on TV.

CBS does not air every letter to an HOH winner, and this year only 2 of the 5 HOH winner letters made the final cut.

However, BB's Twitter account did share a post on Tuesday showing all the snacks Michael received for winning HOH as well as photos from home and Hayden's full letter.

Sharon Osbourne I'd Never Go Back to 'The Talk' or CBS ... They 'Suck D***'!!!

2/24/22
NEVER EVER AGAIN
TMZ.com

Sharon Osbourne wouldn't go back to CBS if they unloaded a Brinks truck in front of her house ... because the bad blood is still boiling.

Sharon and Ozzy were at Erewhon market in L.A. Thursday, and our photog asked the question lots of folks want to know ... Whoopi Goldberg's punishment was way less severe than Sharon's, so would she consider going back to "The Talk" if CBS asked her?

Well, we're thinkin' she wouldn't give it another go, because she said, "I would never go back to that show because CBS sucks big time d**k."  So we're thinkin' no.

3/10/21
STANDING GROUND
CBS

As you know, Sharon got the ax after defending her friend Piers Morgan who attacked Meghan Markle on his show.

She also made it clear ... she's not hanging it up -- she is NOT retiring. Sounds like she's got plans.

Ozzy was quiet ... he's been ill for a while. We asked how he was doing and Sharon said he's ok. Hopefully, he's on the rebound.

CBS Rolling Out New 'Survivor'-Ish Show ... With Celebs Battling!!!

CBS is going back to the well that's served them well for years -- pumping out a new reality show that'll have contestants outwit, outplay and outlast one another, but with a celeb twist.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the network is getting set to debut a new series that we're told is very "Survivor"-esque, but the main difference here -- the contestants are all celebs, including a handful of reality stars.

We're told that, like "Survivor," this show will feature similar challenges -- and will have a similar vibe to what viewers have watched since 2000.

Some of the names we're hearing attached ... Colton Underwood, Metta World Peace, Ray Lewis, Jodie Sweetin, 'RHONY’s' Eboni K. Williams and model Paulina Porizkova. There may be others who end up tagging in, but these folks are for sure playing the game.

Our sources tell us all participants had a certain amount of money donated to the charity of their choice. The show has already been filmed, and we're told a lot of it went down in Panama -- so, sounds like it's straight outta the "Survivor" playbook.

The series is expected to premiere in April 2022, and an announcement or teaser from the network should be coming in the near future.

'Big Brother' Steps Up Perimeter Security To Thwart Returning 'Wall Yellers'

The “Big Brother” cast has more than just their own drama to sort through as they shoot -- there are would-be outsiders trying to butt in and ruin the show ... something producers are desperately trying to prevent.

Production sources tell TMZ ... there’s a group of ‘BB’ mega-fans who’ve made it tradition to head over to the CBS lot in Studio City where they film the series ... and shout over the wall to get the cast’s attention.

They’re known as “wall yellers” -- and we’re told after successfully getting near the wall last year for some screams, there are now rumblings of a potential return for the current season ... and the studio wants to nip it in the bud before they try again.

Our sources say security around the premises has been significantly ramped up, with at least 5 bodyguards roaming the grounds to keep people at bay.

If you’re wondering what’s got the ‘BB’ team bugging to begin with, we're told it all has to do with social media chatter. Our sources say folks on the crew actively monitor some socials of prior trouble makers -- including one from last year to whom they sent a cease and desist letter.

So, in order to get ahead of that nonsense ... we’re told ‘BB’ is adding this extra muscle to shoo 'em off, assuming they show up at all.

Luckily, our sources say it’s been quiet thus far -- but the crew’s keeping a watchful eye out.

Wayne Brady I Don't Care About Racist Voicemail ... Caller Can 'Kiss My A**'!!!

THE THREATENING VOICEMAIL
TMZ.com
UPDATE

11:15 AM PT -- Wayne says he's not bothered by the voicemail, telling us he's heard much worse and telling the person who left the message to "kiss my a**."

UPDATE
THIS IS AMERICA
TMZ.com
UPDATE

WB joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and told us the racist hate mail is the least of his worries. Wayne's happy to talk about it, telling us he hopes the incident can spark a bigger conversation on the social climate in America.

UPDATE

Wayne says the voicemail wasn't even clever and hopes the caller keeps watching him on TV ... and he tells us why people don't have to like him, but they better respect him.

Wayne Brady was the target of a racist, expletive-laced voicemail left at the studio where he films his game show ... and it's disgusting.

TMZ's obtained the audio of the message left at CBS Studios in L.A.'s Fairfax District where the affable comedian and singer hosts "Let's Make a Deal." The voicemail's as deplorable as it sounds ... with the caller dropping a couple of "f***ing n*****" bombs.

The audio lasts only 9 seconds but the caller spews plenty of racism and hate. It's unclear exactly what he's ranting about ... but it's clear he's no fan of Wayne's.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the message was left on the studio's voicemail system. We're told CBS security filed a report and immediately notified the LAPD.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the LAPD looked into it but, in the end, we're told cops determined the VM didn't rise to the level of a crime.

In any event ... sad to think someone feels this way about one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. #SMH

Originally Published -- 1:00 AM PT

CBS Studio Center Worker Injured by Set Wall Collapse

A man working at CBS' famous TV and film studio was injured when part of a 600-lb. wall collapsed on him ... TMZ has learned.

Our sources say the workplace accident went down June 7 at the CBS Radford lot in Studio City around 8 in the morning. The L.A. Fire Department and paramedics were called to the scene.

We're told the emergency staff treated a man who was injured when a portion of the enormous wall on a sound stage fell on him.

According to Cal/OSHA ... the worker, listed as an employee of CBS Studio Center, was hospitalized for a dislocated shoulder, and an investigation into what happened is underway.

It's unclear if he was working on a specific production at the time of the accident. A CBS source says it was not one of their own shows. The location is known as the home to several popular shows -- for instance, "Big Brother" and "The Conners" -- but not all of them air on CBS.

As you may recall ... a 'Conners' crew member died at the site earlier this year after suffering a medical emergency.

Derek Chauvin Juror No Pressure for a guilty verdict ... Hardest Part Was Déjà Vu

4/28/21
STRESSFUL SITUATION
CBS

One of the jurors on Derek Chauvin's trial says there was no pressure to reach a guilty verdict -- but does explain the most difficult part of the job ... seeing the videos on replay.

Brandon Mitchell -- Juror #52 on the case -- did an early blitz of interviews Wednesday morning ... sitting down with 'CBS This Morning' and 'Good Morning America.' He offered interesting insights on both, but told CBS what everyone's been wanting to know.

Gayle King asked Mitchell if he or his peers felt heat from the public to deliver guilty verdicts on all counts -- especially 2nd-degree murder, the heaviest of charges -- but he tells her straight up ... nope. He admits there was stress, but not the kind you might expect.

Watch for yourself ... sounds like the jurors stomachs turned every time they had to watch George Floyd die -- which happened countless times throughout the 3-week proceedings. You can also tell Mitchell took a lot of what was discussed at trial personally ... as he himself is a tall Black man, similar in stature to Floyd.

BEHIND THE SCENES
ABC

Robin Roberts asked another lingering question ... how were they able to reach consensus so quickly, and were there any holdouts??? Mitchell spilled on that as well -- and, surprisingly, he tells her there weren't any major hang-ups ... except on how to interpret the instructions.

Mitchell explains that once they went around the room and read the instructions back multiple times over ... the one juror who was hesitant finally came around, and the rest is history.

4/20/21
GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY
Fox 9

As you know ... Chauvin was found guilty on all counts, and can spend upwards of 40 years behind bars, depending on how sentencing goes. He's scheduled to hear his fate on that front in late June ... and, in the meantime, is sitting in jail.

Old news is old news!
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