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Smokey Robinson's $500M legal clapback in an ongoing sexual-assault civil suit hit a major speed bump in court ... but it wasn't a total wipeout.

A Los Angeles judge dismissed several claims filed by Robinson and his wife, Frances -- including major defamation claims -- against the women publicly accusing him of sexual assault.

The judge this week found the women's allegations against the "legendary musician" were a matter of public interest ... noting their press conference was broadcast on YouTube, spread across social media, and picked up by major media outlets worldwide.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini's Arizona hangout raised plenty of eyebrows ... but turns out, that was just a rerun.

Newly released photos from March 2020, obtained by Page Six, show the now Patriots head coach and the former NFL reporter looking very cozy -- and at one point kissing -- at a dimly lit SoHo bar in NYC ... and yeah, this doesn’t scream quick drink between colleagues.

The two are posted up side by side under red lights, leaning in close and locked into conversation. They're handsy ... at one point holding hands while Vrabel also has his hand on Russini's thigh and holding her arm. Not exactly subtle.

A&E will pay tribute to Darrell Sheets during this weekend's new episode of "Storage Wars" ... TMZ has learned.

A network source tells TMZ ... the show is currently in the middle of Season 17, with a new episode set to air Saturday, April 25. While Darrell does not appear in the current season, the network plans to honor him with an in-memoriam card during the broadcast.

Leading up to the episode, A&E will also air a marathon of "Storage Wars" from 1 PM to 9 PM, of classic episodes featuring Darrell.

The upcoming season of "Deadliest Catch" will address the death of rookie deckhand Todd Meadows ... but audiences won't see footage from the tragic incident at sea.

Discovery says the series premiere will feature a tribute to Todd -- who died in February while working on the Aleutian Lady -- plus other segments highlighting how his death impacted the crew and the broader fishing community.

The network says Todd will show up in later episodes too.

It's another sad day for '90s kids. Just like the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" reboot, the new "Clueless" series has been canned ... but there is light at the end of the tunnel for Cher.

Insiders tell TMZ ... Peacock has decided not to move forward with development of the series based on the beloved 1990s flick starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and the late Brittany Murphy.

But, we hear that does not mean the series is dead -- it will continue to be developed while it's shopped around by CBS Studios -- the IP being a Paramount property. Silverstone was attached to reprise her iconic character, Cher.

Fernando Mendoza will be the first pick in the NFL Draft, but the Heisman Trophy winner isn't the consensus among everyone ... according to Lions star Terrion Arnold, who says Ty Simpson is actually Him!

"You know, I'm biased, but I think [Ty's] the best," the 23-year-old cornerback told TMZ Sports ahead of Thursday's draft.

FYI, Arnold and Simpson played two seasons together at Alabama, 2022 and 2023. During their last year together, Terrion was a star -- an All-American -- while Ty was still only a backup QB.

"[He's] somebody that's really seen the game from all angles. Like, when it got hard, Ty didn't run. He was in the smoke. He put his head down. He worked. He waited for his opportunity. And when his time came, he was prepared for it. So he's somebody that you know is going to be prepared for the moment."

There's uncertainty over where T.S. will be drafted, with different mocks having him going anywhere from the 13th pick (to Terrion's team, the Lions) ... or sliding all the way to the early 2nd round.

Arnold, the 24th overall pick in 2024, had some words of wisdom for everyone who will be drafted over the next few days.

"My advice is just run your own race," Terrion says ... pointing out some players have immediate success, while others don't. Ultimately, no one else matters.

"Go out there and try to be a better version of yourself and just be in a competition with yourself. I feel like, man, the possibilities are endless."

Arnold has been busy training and prepping for the season, while also doing a ton in his community.

A California man was charged with murder Thursday in the stabbing death of a beloved Burbank 1st-grade teacher earlier this week.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is charging Sergio Fraire with murder, with a special circumstance of lying in wait, for allegedly attacking and killing Arti Varma in a Burbank, CA home early Monday morning.

Arti’s daughter -- identified by neighbors as 25-year-old mental health activist Meera Varma -- was also stabbed in the attack ... she was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

On top of the murder charge, Fraire has also been hit with one felony count of attempted murder and one felony count of first-degree residential burglary.

As celebs gear up for another weekend at the Empire Polo Club in the Coachella Valley, for the Stagecoach Music Festival, we're riding into the musical weekend with Hollywood's hottest babes in bikinis and cowboy hats!

2:15: PM PT -- Dave Merritt entered a not guilty plea in court on Thursday ... and he has since bonded out.

He's due back in court in June.

Former NFL player and current Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt was arrested for domestic battery on Wednesday ... after reportedly causing bodily harm to "a daughter."

The 54-year-old was arrested around 9 PM in Overland Park ... and was booked into jail without bond, according to the Kansas City Star.

A complaint was filed with the Johnson County District Attorney's Office on Thursday ... claiming Merritt "unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly" caused bodily harm to a daughter -- a domestic violence offense, the outlet reported.

Ali Leiniö, a Finnish vlogger who posted videos of himself hiking, appears to have died doing what he loved ... because he was found dead in the wilderness.

Ali's body was found in Lapland, Finland earlier this month ... after suffering a fatal seizure while hiking the Käsivarre Wilderness area ... according to Helsingin Sanomat, a Nordic newspaper.

His remains were recovered April 10 ... a little over a week after he uploaded his final YouTube video to his nearly 88,000 subscribers.

The "Summer House" reunion is currently filming in NYC, and the seating chart is already telling a story.

Bravo spilled on where everyone's sitting for the Season 10 reunion with head honcho Andy Cohen in the middle, flanked by Ciara Miller and Amanda Batula ... putting the Amanda/West Wilson front and center.

And yeah, the sides are pretty clear. Ciara's wing includes Amanda's ex, Kyle Cooke ... plus Lindsay Hubbard and more ... while Amanda's posted up with West (bold move), alongside Carl Radke and her crew.

As we reported ... Amanda and West confirmed last month their longtime friendship turned romantic, but the timing raised eyebrows given their recent ties within the group.

Things got bloody in Rome ... but it's all for the cameras, with actor Andrzej Chyra going full method as Pope John Paul II.

Check the video -- the acclaimed Polish star was deep in character for the upcoming historical thriller "Santo Subito!" ... recreating the 1981 assassination attempt and dramatically collapsing after the "shot," fake blood splattered all over.

The scene's no joke ... packed with extras to mirror the real-life moment when Mehmet Ali Ağca opened fire as the Pope entered St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

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Dylan Sprouse acted fast when he woke up to a trespasser at his and wife Barbara Palvin's Hollywood Hills property last week ... and new footage from the incident shows him holding what appears to be a gun while speaking to the alleged trespasser at the scene.

TMZ has obtained video of the Disney alum speaking in an animated fashion to the man garbed in all black outside his home Friday morning ... and you can see the alleged silver weapon at his side in his right hand. The person Dylan is addressing is wearing a black hoodie with white writing across the front, which matches what the suspect was wearing when he was arrested by cops.

Another man eventually enters the conversation ... he's in a black hoodie and gray sweats.