Far be it from ABC to pay for interviews -- something they say they don't do -- but they will pay to stuff the stomachs of those they interview and then drive them comfortably to their hotel ... which is exactly what happened with the Heene family last night.
We got the entire Balloon Family out for a fabulous sushi dinner at Ocean Grill in NYC.
Sources told TMZ that ABC paid the tab. We contacted ABC and they acknowledged they broke tuna rolls with the Balloons and did foot the bill.
Now here's the best part -- a source at GMA says, "We did not pay for a limo to drive them around the city. We did have a car service (SUV) take the family as they required a bigger car. "
Chris Brown was the target of a nasty verbal attack last night -- as one outspoken woman unleashed a profanity-laced assault right in the singer's face.
It all went down as the convicted felon posed with fans at Footaction in NY last night -- when out of nowhere one woman in the crowd got close to him and began shouting, "f**king beater" and "I hope someone beats the f**king crap out of you!"
Chris smiled and walked right past the screaming woman -- but Brown's devoted fans defended his honor by shouting, "Smack that bitch up."
It took less than an hour -- but a NY politician is totally stepping up to the plate to accept theYankees-Phillies mohawk challengeissued by Pennsylvania congressman Robert Brady ... but in case you haven't noticed, there's just one small problem...
Congressman John Hall (D-NY19) wants a piece of the head-shaving action ... but he seems to be lacking the proper equipment for a proper mohawk. Instead, he wants to raise the stakes. Here's John's statement:
"Brady must not be that confident. Just a mohawk? I'll see his mohawk and raise him a whole head. I'll shave all my hair if the Phillies win – which we all know isn't happening."
Some people in the TMZ newsroom believe Hall has more at stake -- due to the fact that balding people usually cherish the few follicles they have left. Others believe Brady -- and his big grey mane -- have more to lose.
We're calling Brady right now to see if it's game on!
Lil Wayne has just pled guilty to attempted weapon possession in New York.
Wayne was busted on July 22, 2007 in NYC after police pulled over his tour bus because they allegedly smelled pot.
Cops say when an officer approached the bus, Wayne tossed a Louis Vuitton bag with a gun inside.
New York is known for having extremely tough gun laws -- Wayne is expecting to get 1-year behind bars.
Wayne's troubles are far from over.
The rapper still faces felony drug possession and weapons charges in Arizona ... after cops found 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of ecstasy, various drug paraphernalia and a handgun on his tour bus during a traffic stop in Yuma County back in 2008.
Wayne pled not guilty to those charges -- his trial is set for March of 2010.
Michael Jackson's 2002 will has a mistake in it, TMZ has learned -- but it looks like a case of no harm, no foul.
As we first reported, according to the will -- dated July 7, 2002 -- it was signed in Los Angeles. But Randy Jackson told TMZ Michael was in New York City on that date.
Randy thinks the signature on Michael's will is a forgery. But Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the estate, tells TMZ the signature is valid and the witnesses saw Jackson put pen to paper.
We've now confirmed Jackson definitely signed the will in New York City on 7-7-02. So the reference to Los Angeles is clearly a mistake.
Our sources say the person who wrote "Los Angeles" is one of the witnesses to the will and simply forgot where he was.
This mistake will not invalidate the will. Ironically, if the will were declared invalid, the prior 1997 will would be probated. Just like the 2002 will, the 1997 will creates a trust. We've learned the '97 trust -- just like the 2002 trust -- leaves the same percentage to the same people: Katherine Jackson gets 40% for her lifetime, MJ's kids get 40% and the remaining 20% goes to charity.
By the way ... guess who one of the executors is in the '97 will? John Branca.
Famke Jannsen -- who played Dr. Jean Grey in "X-Men" -- is responsible for a New York restaurant breaking the law ... and she can thank her furry little friend for helping her do it.
According to New York City Health Code, it's illegal to bring a dog into a restaurant -- including the patio, if food is being served -- but Famke was snapped sharing an intimate meal with her canine at Il Sole on Sunday anyway.
We spoke to the owner of Il Sole, who told us she wasn't aware Famke was there with her pooch -- or she wouldn't have let it happen.
The only exception to the law is if the dog is specially trained -- such as a seeing eye dog -- but we're pretty sure Famke doesn't need one of those ... despite the giant black sunglasses.
... New York, where he'll now be staying in a luxurious prison known as the Oneida Correctional Facility.
The New York State Department of Correctional Services tells us Plaxico was moved from Ulster Correctional Facility in Napanoch, NY this morning and taken to his new permanent home at Oneida, which is in Rome, New York.
We're told Plaxico -- who was sentenced to two years in prison last week -- will be separated from the general population and staying in the long-term protective custody unit.
We're told there are only 18 inmates currently staying in Plax's section of the prison -- which can hold up to 43 at a time.
A few uninvited vermin had Whitney Port running for the door of her own apartment -- and no, we're not talking about a visit from Speidi.
TMZ has learned "The City" star put herself up in two different swanky NYC hotels this week after she and BFF Joanna Scapa found an unwelcome party of mice creepin' around her pad.
We're told the gals didn't even bother to change out of their PJs -- immediately booking it to the Cooper Square Hotel while still in their jammies.
Whitney's been waiting it out there and at the nearby Bowery Hotel ever since.
She'll return home once exterminators finish doing their thing.
Looks like Diddy done buried the hatchet with the hip-hop cop who got in his face after the VMAs this weekend.
The rap mogul went on Hot 97 this morning and claimed he and the officer "worked it out" after Diddy called the guy a "mother f**ker" Sunday night.
Diddy explained, "It was just a little misunderstanding ... miscommunication." He added, "Me and the officer, we worked it out ... things were a little aggressive for me, which I'm not really used to. "
Diddy also claimed the cop was a plain-clothed police officer -- but the NYPD tells us that's just not true.
There was some debate as to whether it was right to perform on 9/11 -- but whatever your opinion on the matter, there is no debating that Jay-Z tore the roof off Madison Square Garden last night.
Jigga performed dozens of his hits, including the NY-themed "Empire State of Mind."
Blink-182 just canceled their concert tonight at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in New York, citing DJ AM's death as the reason for pulling out of the gig.
Here's the statement the band just put up on MySpace:
"Due to circumstances surrounding the unfortunate and untimely passing of our dear friend Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, blink-182 will not be playing tonight in Saratoga, NY at SPAC ... We thank all of our fans for their support in this tough time."
Michael Jackson's 2002 will has a mistake in it, TMZ has learned -- but it looks like a case of no harm, no foul.
... New York, where he'll now be staying in a luxurious prison known as the Oneida Correctional Facility. 
A few uninvited vermin had Whitney Port running for the door of her own apartment -- and no, we're not talking about a visit from Speidi.
