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...
Filed under: Hot Vegas
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: Celebrity Justice, 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
Posted Dec 1st 2008 4:30PM by TMZ Staff
Boy George told a jury today in London he did in fact handcuff the male escort who's accusing him of false imprisonment and that he'd beat him with a paddle but, as he said, "I certainly wasn't going to kill him."
BG says he was pissed off because he suspected the guy was jacking photos off his computer. "I was just so angry," said Boy. "I just wanted to make sure he did not leave my house."
Audun Carlsen accused Boy of chaining him up and beating him with a chain.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Dec 1st 2008 4:21PM by TMZ Staff
It's great to see Christina Applegate have some fun these days -- even if she and her friends butcher "Sweet Home Alabama" while doing it.

Filed under: Wacky & Weird
Posted Dec 1st 2008 3:19PM by TMZ Staff
No cops were called when Matthew McConaughey banged on a drum in Rio this weekend.

Granted, this time there were no drug charges that were eventually dropped and he wasn't hanging out naked with Cole Hauser in the middle of the night.
Matt just needed a baby and a hot model girlfriend like Camila Alves to set him straight.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Wacky & Weird, Matthew McConaughey
Posted Dec 1st 2008 3:00PM by TMZ Staff
A judge set bail for Plaxico Burress at $100,000 today and a grand jury hearing has been set for March 31. He did not enter a plea.

The prosecutor had asked for a $250,000 bail due to the nature of the felony. His attorney argued that since Plax had a $35 million contract, he wasn't going anywhere. Apparently, the judge agreed.
According to court docs that detail what went down over the weekend, Plax was holding a drink in his left hand while fidgeting around his waistband with his right. A witness reported hearing a loud "pop" sound and Plax saying, "Take me to the hospital." His leg began to shake and a pistol fell out of his pant leg and onto the floor.
As for the illegal weapons charge, if convicted Plax could face as much as a 15-year prison sentence. His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, told the judge the gun in question had been registered in Florida and even though Plax has a house in New Jersey, he spends half his time in the Sunshine State.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 3:00PM by TMZ Staff
Howie Mandel's Hannukah bush just ain't cuttin' it -- and when we caught up with the guy in Calabasas yesterday, dude was a little bitter about 8 crazy nights ... of 8 crappy gifts.

It's been 2000 years -- let it go.
Filed under: Wacky & Weird
Posted Dec 1st 2008 2:15PM by TMZ Staff
With his hands cuffed firmly behind his back, Plaxico Burress just left a NYC police precinct after turning himself in on a felony weapons charge. He'll be arraigned sometime this afternoon, we're told.

As he was placed in handcuffs, sources say Plax "looked really, really down ... shellshocked."
Click here to live chat!Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 1:53PM by TMZ Staff
A day before 59-year-old Ivana Trump revealed she separated from Rossano Rubicondi -- her much younger husband she married in April -- the Euro gold digger entrepreneur was snapped macking on a couple of chicks in Italy.

Ivana says they actually separated three months ago but kept it quiet. Until now.
Filed under: Break-Ups, Paparazzi Photo
Posted Dec 1st 2008 1:00PM by TMZ Staff
Travis Barker talked about what was going through his head during the plane crash.

We got him yesterday with his kids in Calabasas, outside L.A.


