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New "Jeopardy!" host Mike Richards is apologizing for some insensitive remarks he made about women on his old podcast ... he says it's "a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment."

Here's the deal ... Mike used to host a podcast from 2013 to 2014 when he was the executive producer at "The Price Is Right" and he's now under fire for referring to his female co-host as a "booth ho" and "booth slut," among other degrading remarks aimed at women.

The podcast, called "The Randumb Show," has already been scrubbed from the Internet after The Ringer reported on Mike's derogatory comments, which also include him asking his female co-host and his assistant if they had ever taken "booby pictures," during a segment about leaked celebrity nudes.

According to The Ringer, Mike also went on the podcast and said women "dress like a hooker" for Halloween, said a former employee who took up baking would get "giant" and said one-piece swimsuits make some women "look really frumpy and overweight."

There's a lot more comments of the same ilk, according to The Ringer, but these are the lowlights.

Mike's apologizing in a statement, via Sony, telling us ... "It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago. Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry."

He adds ... "The podcast was intended to be a series of irreverent conversations between longtime friends who had a history of joking around. Even with the passage of time, it’s more than clear that my attempts to be funny and provocative were not acceptable, and I have removed the episodes."

As you know ... Mike was just announced as the new day-to-day host of "Jeopardy!" and lots of folks aren't happy. He's also denied allegations of discriminating against pregnant women at his past stops.

Brett Favre is calling for a ban on youth tackle football ... saying he believes no child should participate in live, full-contact games until at least the age of 14.

The Hall of Fame QB explained his stance to Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" ... saying he believes the ban could help prevent concussions and long-term brain issues.

"What I was told basically is the human head is completely developed by age 15 to 18," Favre said. "And I may be wrong or off a little bit, but that's what I remember."

"And, so, even though the brain will continue to move around at impact at 30 or at 18, you give yourself more of a fighting chance by your head being more developed."

Favre is so passionate about the cause ... the 51-year-old participated in a PSA this month urging parents to keep their kids out of the tackling game until their 14th birthday.

Favre emphasized he is by no means calling for an end to the sport ... saying he believes the removal of the hitting game at the youth level could actually make football better down the road.

"You'd probably do the kids a lot more justice," Favre said. "Teach them the fundamentals."

Favre added his 3 young grandchildren have yet to compete in the tackling game at the youth level ... something he says he has zero issues with at the moment.

Sylvester Stallone has just learned the connection between comedy and real estate -- timing is everything.

Sly's 8-bedroom, 9-bath Beverly Hills mansion is back on the market with the same sticker price he slapped on it a few months ago -- he's asking $85 mil for the sweet pad ... one he's long called home since snapping it up in the '90s.

He'd initially listed it in February at $110 mil ... but we're told no one was biting at the time, so he slashed the price by a lot -- some $25 mil or so to get it at its current price. Sly didn't have any takers at the time -- so he yanked it off the market.

But, things have changed. The real estate market in SoCal is hotter than ever, and houses in gated communities are going at a premium. So, this time around ... it's a very good bet someone's gonna scoop it up.

Whoever buys this puppy is gonna have a whole lot of room to spread out -- the house sits on over 3 acres of land. It's quite literally a palace ... a custom one at that which SS himself made to his liking, and which is essentially a shrine to his 'Rocky' legacy.

We don't think any of that stuff is gonna stay, but whatever is studs-in certainly will ... including every awesome thing the property offers. For example, there's an 8-car garage, an art studio, a sauna and steam room, an infinity pool, a private theater, a gym ... and a cigar room, just to name a few of the perks of shelling out. Plus ... Sylvester himself lived there!

Sly, Jennifer and the kids have left La La Land for good. They're now ensconced in Florida -- like a lot of other celebs -- and he's just trying to shed the last of his compounds here. Step right up ... come and take on the champ, if you can afford it.

Britney Spears' boyfriend is as hopeful as her fans she'll return to performing, and seems to think it could happen soon ... but admittedly he's got his fingers metaphorically crossed.

Sam Asghari was leaving an intense and sweaty workout at Bas Rutten's Elite MMA Gym in L.A. Wednesday when he blurted out something that could send Brit's followers into a tizzy ... claiming she'll "absolutely" take the stage again soon.

His absolute statement was quickly followed up with a mumbled "hopefully" -- so it doesn't sound like there's any solid plan in place just yet.

As for recent developments in Britney's conservatorship case -- like her father Jamie agreeing to step down -- Sam has another brief response ... with some added muscle.

Speaking of which, Sam makes a quick pitch to the producers of 'Fast & Furious 10' for a role and he's certainly taking his acting and fitness goals seriously.

Christina Haack just dropped more than $10 million on a brand new mansion in Orange County ... and the place is palatial.

Ya gotta see Christina's new digs in Dana Point ... it's 6,084-square-feet of luxury, decked out with a movie theater, game room and backyard with panoramic views of the Pacific. If scenery's not your thing, there's also a pool, spa and fire pit back there.

The estate is tucked away in a gated community and it's got 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms with indoor and outdoor dining areas and a chef's kitchen.

The "Flip or Flop" star closed the deal on her new pad July 7, throwing down a cool $10.3 million.

Our sources tell us Christina is making updates to the house to personalize it to her aesthetic ... and we're told she's mostly focusing on the kitchen and bathrooms.

TMZ broke the story ... Christina recently unloaded the Newport Beach home she shared with her ex-husband, Ant Anstead, for $5.35 million, and at the time, our sources told us she wanted to move closer to the coast and find a place with an ocean view.

Garth Brooks is pressing pause on the remaining stops on his stadium tour ... and he says it's because of the resurgence in COVID-19 cases across the country.

The country music star announced Wednesday he's scrapping 5 upcoming stadium shows at football stadiums in Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Nashville and Foxborough, Mass. ... and he says he was wrong about COVID being done.

Garth says ... "In July, I sincerely thought the pandemic was falling behind us. Now, watching this new wave, I realize we are still in the fight and I must do my part."

It's an about-face for Garth ... as we reported, just last month he played in front of a packed house of 68,000 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Ticketmaster says it will refund all tickets and Garth says he's hopeful the shows can be rescheduled "when this wave seems to be behind us."

Garth and his band are vaccinated, as are his tour crew, but he previously said he would not require concertgoers to be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The stadium shows were expected to follow local COVID protocols.

Ric Flair says he is NOT a train ridin', oral sex givin' son of a gun ... telling TMZ Sports the viral photo making rounds has to be some other guy -- 'cause it ain't him!!

Here's how we got here: A pic began trending on Twitter on Wednesday ... which appears to show a man with light, slicked-back hair ... *clears throat* pleasuring a woman.

People were quick to say the guy in the photo was 72-year-old Flair ... with the jokes coming in left and right.

Welp, we made some phone calls ... and Ric himself tells us the guy in the pic is NOT him ... and for what it's worth, he hasn't been on a train in a while.

We wanted to show the photo ... but Harvey wouldn't let us. So, go search on Twitter.

The Nature Boy has made headlines recently for REAL things that actually happened -- the wrestling legend has parted ways with WWE after a lengthy relationship.

Flair has kept busy in his time since ... but not in *that* way.

Detroit Tigers analyst Jack Morris apologized on-air Tuesday night ... after he used an offensive accent before an at-bat by Angels star Shohei Ohtani.

Just before the L.A. designated hitter -- who's Japanese -- stepped up to the plate in the 6th inning of the Halos' game against the Tigers ... Morris tried to be funny on the broadcast by using an accent that many felt was mocking Asians.

"Be very, very careful," Morris said when asked by play-by-play man Matt Shepard how the Tigers should pitch to the hitter.

Morris' remarks were immediately panned on social media ... with critics calling them racist and offensive.

In fact, the backlash grew so loud ... Morris issued an apology for the words just 3 innings later.

"Well, folks, Shohei Ohtani is coming to the plate and it's been brought to my attention, and I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community for what I said about pitching and being careful to Shohei Ohtani," Morris said.

"I did not intend for any offensive thing and I apologize if I did. I certainly respect and have the utmost respect for this guy and don't blame a pitcher for walking him."

Morris -- a former MLB pitcher who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 -- has been analyzing games on broadcasts for years ... helping call tilts for the Blue Jays, Twins and Tigers.

Alexandra Paul -- known for playing Lt. Stephanie Holden on the OG "Baywatch" -- claims she's being harassed by a woman she's had beef with for a decade ... and now the woman's allegedly targeting Alexandra's husband too.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ ... Alexandra says the woman, Nicole Albrecht, is from Germany, and first showed up at her house in late 2011 and has been harassing her ever since.

Alexandra's theory is Albrecht knows her because "Baywatch" was uber popular in Germany. She claims the woman now has it out for her husband, Ian, because she thinks he's keeping her from being with Alexandra.

According to the docs ... things came to a head on July 4, when Albrecht allegedly parked near Alexandra and Ian's property and her husband tried to get a photo of her license plate.

Paul claims Albrecht then "turned on her car and hit him with it and fled the scene." She says they contacted the LAPD threat management unit.

Before this incident, Paul claims Albrecht also confronted her in a grocery store parking lot in May and tried to get in her car, but fled when Alexandra called cops.

Since the July 4 incident, Paul claims Albrecht's been sending her husband a bunch of emails "showing her paranoia and hatred of him." Even more disturbing, Alexandra claims Albrecht is orchestrating an online harassment and defamation campaign accusing Ian of being a pedophile with absolutely no basis.

Alexandra says they fear things will get worse, and the court's siding with her for now -- a judge granted her and Ian a temporary restraining order requiring Albrecht to stay 100 yards away and stop all contact with them.

Brendan Schaub -- former UFC star and comedian -- saved 3 children from a terrifying car wreck last week ... after their father allegedly drove the wrong way on the highway, killing the kid's mom in a fatal collision.

38-year-old Schaub was driving to a restaurant with his girlfriend on August 12 around 7 PM... when he saw an 18-wheeler and a mangled 2003 Lincoln were involved in a serious accident.

Schaub says he saw a child sitting on top of the vehicle, screaming for assistance ... so he pulled over and immediately sprang into action, rushing to the car to help.

At the same time, Brendan says he saw a shoeless man run from the smashed-up car, across the highway ... where he was hit by another vehicle, leaving him stunned on the ground.

When Schaub got to the wreck, he had to bust out a window and remove the kids from the car. He says the big rig's gas tank was punctured, spilling gasoline all over the road.

According to an incident report, obtained by TMZ Sports, there were 4 kids in the vehicle when it crashed.

Tragically, Brendan says the mom of the kids, who was sitting in the front seat, died before he arrived ... and he made sure her children did not see the traumatic scene as they left the car.

Schaub talked about the experience on his podcast, "The Fighter and The Kid," getting emotional while breaking down about the harrowing situation.

We've also learned that the 31-year-old shoeless man who ran across the highway was the father of the kids ... who was subsequently arrested for murder.

According to docs, the man -- who was not seriously injured in either of the crashes -- was combative with cops, according to law enforcement, and had to be tased.

Thankfully, the children only suffered minor injuries.

The family of the deceased mom has started a GoFundMe -- already over $46k -- to raise money for a funeral.

"My niece Aimee García (26) was Killed In Wrong-Way Driving Collision With Big Rig On 101 Freeway In Encino. She leaves behind four beautiful children all under the age of 8," the fundraiser profile reads.

"She was a loving, caring mother unfortunately she was a victim of domestic violence for many years and yesterday the aggressor fulfilled his objective and enter the freeway the wrong way intentionally killing my niece. Thank God the children are fine but very traumatized."

Schaub was one of the best heavyweights in the world as a fighter ... beating guys like Matt Mitrione in the UFC.

Sam Hunt cut a plea deal in his DUI case ... and while his sentence includes a 48-hour jail stint, we're told it won't actually be behind bars.

The country star appeared in Nashville court via Zoom Wednesday and pled guilty to 2 counts of DUI. He was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail ... but he won't have to serve it he stays out of trouble.

As for the 48 hours ... he'll fulfill that by taking a DUI education course.

Sam must also complete an alcohol safety course. His driver's license will be suspended for 1 year. When he gets the license back, he'll have an interlock device installed in his car.

BTW ... the third charge, an open container violation, was dropped.

As we reported ... Sam was busted in November 2019 after cops say he was driving on the wrong side on a Nashville road. Cops said he reeked of booze and blew twice the legal limit .. .173.

Cops said he was so wasted when they asked him for his driver's license he struggled to find it ... even though it was sitting right on his lap. Cops said Sam mistakenly gave them a credit card and his passport.

Azita Ghanizada says Afghan-Americans like herself knew Donald Trump's brokered peace deal with the Taliban would "end disastrously" ... but she adds, President Biden didn't do anything to stop it from happening either.

The Kabul-born actress -- known for roles in "Complete Unknown," "Ballers" and "Magnum P.I." -- was in downtown L.A. Tuesday when she talked to us about the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan ... telling us it's a horrible situation to witness.

Like many Americans, Azita's placing the blame for the country's collapse on politicians of the past 2 decades -- from both parties -- but specifically calls out Trump for negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban in early 2020.

However, she also calls Biden's decision to hastily withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan a "stain" on his presidency ... and clearly thinks it contributed to the current crisis.

Azita's also very concerned about what this means for women's rights in Afghanistan, as the Taliban's promise to protect them is dubious at best ... and has already been contradicted by reports of a woman being executed for not wearing a burqa.

She tells us the fear is real for women in Afghanistan, as the Taliban being in control likely means women will be set back at least 20 years in society.

Finally, Azita's calling on the world to help the refugees who are trying to flee Afghanistan ... pointing out they are in a desperate situation.

The alligator handler who got mauled by the creature she's paid to control suffered a damaged tendon and multiple fractures -- and while the pics of her injuries are gnarly, she's already smiling.

Lindsay Bull tells TMZ ... she was discharged from a Utah hospital Tuesday after she was admitted following Saturday's incident. The gator's powerful jaws broke her thumb and wrist ... in addition to the tendon damage.

As you can see, Lindsay's gashed hand was bleeding heavily while she lay in her hospital bed Saturday -- but now she has it wrapped in a big cast, and she says she's going to be alright.

As we reported ... the alligator attacked Lindsay in front of paying customers who rushed in to help, with visitor Donnie Wiseman heroically jumping on the gator's back to prevent it from drowning her, or ripping off her arm, with a terrifying death roll maneuver.

Lindsay says she's planning to talk to Donnie soon and she's already spoken with some of the folks who were on the tour when she was attacked, and made some dinner plans.

Despite the vicious attack, Lindsay tells us she has no hard feelings toward Darth Gator -- yes, that's his name -- and adds it's like her firstborn son.

Shane Richins, the owner of Scales and Tails Utah, tells TMZ ... Lindsay's training helped preserve her limbs, because she went into the enclosure after the animal chomped down on her hand and let her body go limp as the gator went into the roll.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez reunited after spending his birthday weekend apart, and it clearly felt so good ... they couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Ben and Jen shared a long, passionate kiss goodbye at his home in Brentwood Tuesday after spending the day together ... and it looked like she attempted a quick grab at his booty too.

As you know ... it's usually the other way around.

Either way, Bennifer 2.0 appears to still be going very strong following his 49th birthday ... which Ben celebrated with his kids instead of J Lo. She was also seen later in the day with her son.

Another interesting note -- J Lo had someone with her as she kissed Ben goodbye, and the woman was holding a script for Lopez's upcoming action thriller called "The Mother."

Taliban members allegedly gunned down a woman in the streets of Afghanistan ... just as Taliban officials swore they would not exact violence on women.

It happened in the province of Takhar -- 8 hours outside of Kabul -- where an unidentified female was photographed lying dead in a pool of blood ... reportedly at the hands of the insurgents.

The woman reportedly refused to wear a burqa ... required under sharia law, a version of Islam to which the Taliban subscribes that subjugates women.

The murder is evidence Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, was disingenuous to say the least. He vowed the newly-formed government would afford women more basic rights, even encouraging them to go back to school/work and to get involved in the government if they so desired -- so long as they abide by sharia law, that is.

There are other reports the Taliban fired shots at protesters all around the country. Although the Afghan military fled without a fight, some demonstrators were vocal in their displeasure over the turn of events in the country, and it cost some of them dearly.

There are also reports they beat journalists.

The scene in Kabul is chaotic and tragic ... thousands of Afghans who assisted Americans over the last 20 years are stuck -- unable to secure the proper papers to flee the country.  Many U.S. military and intelligence officials believe they will be executed once Americans are gone.

F-boys are coming out on top in a big way -- we got 'FBOY Island' star Sarah Emig hanging with Garrett Morosky in L.A. ... despite the fact he embarrassed her on TV, and she claimed to be done with him.

The bitter exes -- or so we thought -- from the HBO Max reality dating show were together at an Erewhon in L.A. Tuesday, and we caught them red-handed as they were going in with another co-star, Greg.

Sooo many questions to be asked, starting with ... is Sarah actually giving Garrett a second chance??? Watch the clip, they tried to keep it all on the DL, but Sarah did admit "I wanna hear him out. I wanna hear what he has to say."

We also asked if Garrett had done everything he needed to get Sarah to forgive him, and he copped to coming up short in that department. Based on what they're telling us here -- Garrett still needs to give Sarah some sort of formal apology.

Still, the fact they're looking chummy again is a full 180 from what Sarah told us just a couple days ago -- namely, that she's done with GM ... after he suggested a reconciliation could happen.

It would appear Garrett was right, and he's more of a smooth talker than we realized.