Posted Dec 2nd 2008 8:39AM by TMZ Staff
What Britney lacked in dance moves on "Good Morning America," she definitely made up for in the ab department.

Spears brought her now infamous "Womanizer" strutting/arm-flailing routine to a new song, "Circus" but her stomach made for quite the distraction.
Another welcome distraction -- the birthday girl's fam, who sat in the second row.
Filed under: Britney Spears
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 6:01AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned the New York State Department of Health has launched an investigation to determine if the hospital that treated Plaxico Burress engaged in a conspiracy to hide information.
The Department of Health -- which licenses New York-Cornell Hospital -- began its investigation after reports that hospital workers failed to report the gunshot wound, as required by New York law.
According to state law, failing to report a gunshot injury to cops is a class A misdemeanor.
UPDATE: New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Hospital has suspended the person who didn't call the NYPD immediately, and the hospital admits not reporting a gunshot wound is a violation not just of their own policy, but of the law as well.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 5:30AM by TMZ Staff
Michael Phelps' new girlfriend is a real hoot-er.

Caroline Pal worked at the Déjà Vu strip club in North Hollywood from 2003 to 2005 -- while Mr. Phelps was busy winning his first six gold medals in Athens.
We can't say for sure if she actually stripped -- those strip club people are more tight-lipped than... insert joke. But here's a clue -- her nickname was Sapphire.
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 5:03AM by TMZ Staff
No, that's not a rag doll in Ahnuld's hands -- but given the way the kid was getting thrown around at a Christmas tree lot this weekend, you'd never know it.

Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Wacky & Weird, Kids
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 5:00AM by TMZ Staff
Josh Duhamel towered over a mini Fergie as they arrived at LAX this weekend.
Sometimes big gifts come in big packages.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Hot Bodies, Fergie
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 4:45AM by TMZ Staff
The New York Giant who was with Plaxico Burress when he shot himself ditched the cops yesterday -- but managed to make it to a paid radio appearance. And that could spell trouble for Antonio Pierce.
Pierce was supposed to meet with cops yesterday, according to reports, but didn't appear, even though NFL officials had promised to bring him to a meeting. They want to question him about what exactly happened at Latin Quarter and the aftermath.
We're told by several sources Pierce blabbed to NFL security after the shooting without a lawyer, which could put the league in a very awkward position when it comes to the cops.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 4:30AM by TMZ Staff
Some celebs worry about having too much junk in the trunk -- not Helen Mirren, she just is the junk in the trunk.

Come on, she's a great Dame, not a Great Dane!
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Wacky & Weird
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 4:15AM by TMZ Staff
That didn't take long: Madonna and Alex Rodriguez are having a shack attack to the tune of $30 mil.
The swinging (almost) singles are looking to move on up to a deluxe apartment on the East Side of Manhattan, according to the NY Post, where the double-wide mansions can go from $30 to 60 million. They're specifically looking for houses with private garages, which are like the Hope diamond in NYC.
A-Rod's rep denies the report.
Filed under: Madonna, A-Rod
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 4:00AM by TMZ Staff
This brand new, top-of-the-line jersey finally lets you support your favorite NFL player who allegedly shot himself in the leg at a club, fled to a hospital, told docs his name was Harris Smith and then claimed he was shot at Applebee's.
Buy within the next 20 minutes and you'll get a half-off coupon for Applebee's new signature appetizer: Plaxico potato shooters!
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 4:00AM by TMZ Staff
We'd like to think this brutal battle erupted over politics or how to settle conflict in the Middle East -- but one chick probably just called the other a "bitch," and she strongly disagreed. With her fist.

Filed under: Drunks, Fights
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 3:45AM by TMZ Staff
The woman who helped book Eliot Spitzer's trysts with Ashley Dupre booked a job with Uma Thurman's folks -- under an assumed name.
Tanya Hollander, who knows a thing or two about secret identities, got a job at the Menla Mountain Retreat, an upstate conference center run by Robert and Birgitte Thurman, even though she was about to get probation for her involvement in the Emperor's Club VIP prostitution ring. She used a fake name, Tania Robyn Cyrlin, and didn't tell the Thurmans about her past.
The managing director of Menla says, "Clearly, had we been aware, we might have hired someone else."
Posted Dec 2nd 2008 3:30AM by TMZ Staff
Unless Bronx Mowgli Wentz ages 20 years and 46 weeks by New Year's Eve -- he'll be spending it sans his emo mom and pops.

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are giving up diaper duty for the night to host Pure Nightclub's New Year's Eve party in Las Vegas.
As long as they don't leave him with Jessica...
Posted Dec 1st 2008 7:20PM by TMZ Staff
Duane "Dog" Chapman and wife Beth have escalated their war against their former talent agent, claiming he and his company have deceived them yet again.
The Chapmans are embroiled in a fight over fees Boris Krutonog and his company, Pivot Point Entertainment, allegedly began collecting in connection with an A&E deal. The Chapmans say Krutonog secretly negotiated a producer's fee with A&E, which is based on a percentage of their earnings from the network. The Chapmans claim the fee is a subterfuge for a talent agent's fee, which Krutonog can't collect because he is not a licensed agent.
Now the Chapmans claim Krutonog is at it again, secretly filing a claim with the New York Labor Commissioner to resolve the matter, even though the case is already being heard by the California Labor Commissioner (New York is more likely to cut Krutonog a break).
The Chapmans now want the judge to put the brakes on the New York case. Wouldn't it be easier to just pick the dude up in the middle of the night and cart him over to Mexico?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Dec 1st 2008 5:25PM by TMZ Staff
Chicago cops have arrested William Balfour for the murders of Jennifer Hudson's mom, brother, and nephew.
Balfour was transferred to CPD custody today after they served an arrest warrant. Charges from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office are pending.
UPDATE: We're told the CPD had no new evidence against Balfour -- but they were finally able to scrape all the dirt on him into one pile, which was enough to make the arrest. Also, Balfour is still waiting to be formally charged -- and this could take a day, or up to a week.
Story developing ...

Filed under: Jennifer Hudson
Posted Dec 1st 2008 5:00PM by TMZ Staff
... the Cage Family. Snap. Snap.

Flanked on either side by his child bride Alice and simian son Weston, Nic Cage patted his weave and posed for a family portrait in Austria this weekend.
Weston's prom date/girlfriend obviously ignored the memo and went with the cheery blonde locks instead.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Wacky & Weird, Beauty
