Larry Merchant Famed Boxing Analyst Rushed to Hospital in Critical Condition

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Larry Merchant, one of the most iconic boxing broadcasters of all time, was rushed to a hospital Thursday night and is in the critical care unit of a L.A. area hospital ... sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

We're told an ambulance came to Larry's building at around 6 PM Thursday and rushed him to a nearby hospital. We're told he's in a critical care unit.

We do not know what triggered the emergency or his prognosis.

Larry has been a longtime HBO boxing commentator, working with Jim Lampley, George Foreman, Roy Jones Jr., Harold Lederman and many others. He's been called "The greatest television boxing analyst of all time."

The 92-year-old also has acting chops, appearing in "I Spy," "The Fighter,' and "Rocky Balboa."

Larry retired from HBO in 2012, but he cast a long shadow and is still remembered for his broadcasting skills.

We wish him well.

Travis Kelce Shirtless, in a Towel and Flexing ... Ah, Taylor, Now we Get it!!!

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We're seeing more of why Taylor Swift is attracted to Travis Kelce ... courtesy of a couple pics he snapped a few years back.

Travis, now 34, shot a video back in 2017 while he enjoyed a day at the spa. We knew the dude was fit, but it's better than we thought!

It's some sort of bubble massage, which Travis clearly enjoyed. He stands up and voices his approval over the treatment, and in the process gives people a look at what's under the jersey.

You see him flex a bit and then disentangles his hair as he peers into the camera.

Now to the present ... Taylor was at a recording studio Thursday night in NYC, but she's heading to Kansas City to spend time with her BF and hit up the Chiefs game on Christmas Day.

The relationship, we're told, is already super serious and there are rumblings of a ring in the not-too-distant future. We will see, but it feels like that's the trajectory.

As for the recently-surfaced Travis video, one fan commented, "Taylor i get it."

Bradley Cooper Something's Wrong with My Daughter ... Bolts from 'Maestro' News Conference

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Bradley Cooper beelined it out of a big news conference for "Maestro" Thursday after someone called him to say something had happened to his daughter.

Cooper was speaking to the NYC crowd when he received the call from 6-year-old Lea's school nurse, after which he told the crowd, "So sorry. The school nurse just called me."

He then left the room to call the school back and then returned, telling the crowd he had to get to the school STAT to administer some sort of medicine that was out of bounds for the school ... this according to the Daily Mail. He said, "I have to apply something that they won't allow."

It's unclear what was wrong with Bradley's daughter and what medicine was used to treat the issue.

As you know, Bradley has joint custody of Lea with ex-GF Irina Shayk. The 2 seem to get along great and co-parent well. As you know, Bradley has moved on to Gigi Hadid, and Irina has been linked off-and-on to Tom Brady.

CHARLIE SHEEN COPS SAY NEIGHBOR TRIED TO STRANGLE HIM

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Love thy neighbor ... or maybe not in Charlie Sheen's case.

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... LASD responded to Charlie's L.A. area home Wednesday for a neighborly dispute. Officers say Charlie's neighbor, a 47-year-old woman, forced her way into his home and attacked him when he opened the door after hearing a knock.

We're told she ripped Charlie's shirt and attempted to strangle him ... and then went back to her own house.

Our sources say paramedics came to the scene ... but Charlie was not transported to the hospital.

We're told Charlie doesn't understand what prompted the incident but this apparently isn't his first issue with her ... he told deputies he believes the same woman squirted some type of sticky liquid on his car recently.

A source close to Charlie adds to TMZ that he spoke to the woman after the car incident ... and their conversation was something to the effect of letting bygones be bygones.

They also tell us the woman dumped trash in front of Charlie's door a day before the attack. Charlie is the one who called 911.

The woman was eventually arrested at her home ... and booked for assault with a deadly weapon and burglary for allegedly forcing her way into the home and attacking him.

Beyoncé Merry XMAS Brazil!!! Surprises Fans at 'Renaissance' Screening

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Beyoncé gave some folks in Brazil an early XMAS present -- her presence at a screening of her "Renaissance" flick!

Bey flew in by private jet, of course, to Salvador, Brazil, and hit up a "Club Renaissance" screening party, surprising a huge number of fans.

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GETTIN' LOVE WORLDWIDE

Her message was simple ... "I came because I love you so much."

Hugo Gloss, a Brazilian entertainment website, posted vid of Beyonce saying, "Everyone on mute!" Thing is ... the fans couldn't contain themselves. She added, “It was very important to be here, right here.”

It's a great marketing plan ... Bey announced Tuesday ... the film will be released in another 15 countries and Brazil is one of them. She said, "Y’all didn’t have to break my website, but I told y’all, the renaissance is not over.”

The movie's gotten great reviews, as has her live-in-the-flesh world tour.

Police Body Cam Footage Knife-Wielding Lunatic Shot Dead By Cops ... After Lunging At Motorcyclist

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SAVED JUST IN TIME

A knife-wielding suspect was fatally shot by police in California after he led officers on a wild, high-speed chase and crashed into a motorcyclist, who was seriously injured.

The November 5th incident was captured on several recently released police body cam and dash cam videos, showing, at first, officers in patrol cars trying to pull over Zachary Wolffscott in his Prius for reckless driving.

Check out the footage ...  the officers pursue Wolffscott at speeds that hit 122 miles per hour before disaster strikes.

Wolffscott crashes into the motorcyclist, littering the highway with debris from the collision.

California Highway Patrol officers pull up to the scene with sheriff deputies, finding the motorcyclist lying unconscious on the pavement.

The cops pull their service weapons and order Wolffscott to stay in his car, but he ignores their commands and skips toward the downed motorcyclist with a knife in his hand.

One officer pumps two bullets into Wolffscott, who falls injured to the ground.

But Wolffscott gets to his feet and lunges at the motorcyclist with the knife, prompting the officers to fatally shoot him.

The motorcyclist was seriously hurt, but survived in the end.

Sacramento D.A. Thien Ho has launched an investigation into the shooting.

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Baby Name Searches Skyrocket ... As Romance Heats Up!!!

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might not be anywhere near the baby-making stage of their relationship, but that doesn't mean others aren't ... and it sounds like folks like their names.

A rep for BabyNames.com -- one of the premiere destinations for digital baby name sifting online -- tells TMZ ... it's them, they're the problem (or the reason, rather) for why they believe searches for the monikers of "Taylor" and "Travis" have skyrocketed on their site.

We're told those two names have jumped about 25% between November and December compared to what their users might normally search -- and BN.com says they attribute this to the Tayvis phenomenon that's consumed pop culture throughout the entirety of fall.

Obviously, Taylor was a major star before hooking up with Travis ... but we're told the relationship has, arguably, made her even more popular -- and the proof's in the data.

BTW, if you're wondering what these names mean and where they come from -- we know that too. Taylor is an English gender-neutral name that literally means ... "One who tailors clothes." As for Travis, another English name that means "From the crossing or Tollgate."

We've seen this sort of craze with baby names before -- namely, when the "Barbie" movie came out and people were totally obsessed with it ... flocking to BabyNames.com to look up those names as well at the time. Now, Taylor appears to be dominating their online engines.

One last thing ... it would appear other Taylor-adjacent names are being sought out too. We're told "Romeo" and "Bonnie" searches are trending up ... guess where those are from!

Shawne Merriman Philip Rivers Still Wants To Play ... 'That's Why He Hasn't Retired'

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Philip Rivers is 42 years old and hasn't taken a hit in an NFL game since the 2020 season ... but according to Shawne Merriman, the dude STILL has aspirations of getting under center again.

The former Chargers superstar made the revelation in a chat with TMZ Sports earlier this month ... saying he knows for a fact that his good pal and former Bolts teammate wants another shot in the NFL.

"That's why he hasn't retired," Merriman said of the quarterback.

In fact, Shawne tells us he thinks Rivers could potentially play not just one more season ... but maybe even two.

"I can tell you," Merriman said, "Phil still wants to play."

Rivers last suited up for the Colts in 2020-21, piling up 4,169 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. He led Indy to an 11-5 record, though he ultimately failed to get a win in the playoffs -- losing to Buffalo in the Wild Card round.

Prior to his stint in Indianapolis, Rivers put together a Hall-of-Fame-worthy résumé with the Chargers ... and after he took a high school coaching gig in 2021, many believed he was satisfied with how his career had played out.

But, Merriman said that's just not the case.

"I still think Philip can play another year or two if a team gets down here in the playoffs and they need a quarterback to come off the street," Merriman said. "Phil can do it."

So far, there doesn't appear to be any teams quite in need of kicking Rivers' tires -- though there are still three more weeks left 'til the playoffs begin.

K-Pop Idols Spreadin' Holiday Cheer ... With Festive Shots

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It's the most wonderful time to show off Christmas spirit, and K-pop idols always understand the assignment -- with the biggest names in the industry putting their love for the holidays on display every year!!

Chae-won of LE SSERAFIM is always one of the first stars to post up in front of the tree when December rolls around ... with Lisa of BLACKPINK following suit with a cozy ensemble.

RM from BTS and Jackson Wang usually take a more model-esque route during the holidays ... electing for serious snaps whenever they enjoy the festivities.

NewJeans and aespa love to team up for group shots during X-mas ... just like Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé, who rocked iconic, matching Santa 'fits in years past.

And Blinks won't have to ask for much from St. Nick this year ... after the die-hard fanbase got their wish of keeping the group together following lengthy contract negotiations with YG Entertainment.

Minnie from (G)I-dle spends her special time with her loved ones ... including her bestie, Lisa, and fellow groupmate, Yuqi.

TWICE members Jeongyeon and Jihyo also teamed up for an iconic Christmas photoshoot this year ... and IVE's Yujin is all about the winter activities, too!!

Per usual, the members of Stray Kids take advantage of the holidays ... with Felix, Lee Know and Hyunjin always proving they're on the "nice" list -- even if they do have a song titled "Christmas EveL."

As for the "naughty" list -- none detected here, even if Chae-won says she's "no f***ing angel" on her group's "No Celestial" track... 'cause we take it their makeshift holiday music video will even things out up at the North Pole!!

FLAVOR FLAV 'ME & CHUCK NEVER BEEFED!!!' Swifties Helped Secure New P.E. Art

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SWIFTIES COMIN' IN CLUTCH

Flavor Flav has nothing but kind words for his Public Enemy partner Chuck D in the run-up to their new single "Everywhere Man" -- and while they didn't talk for a while, he insists there was no real beef.

We've got Flav on "TMZ Live" Friday, and he told us he's been plagued by queries on when P.E. would reunite -- but he says there couldn't be a reunion because they never broke up -- they merely took a long break.

Despite a few years of headline-grabbing drama between them, Flav says he loves Chuck -- and the feeling is mutual.

He acknowledges sometimes people don't see eye to eye, and in those instances, he says they both pull it back together and keep things moving.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

On the music front, Flav is ecstatic with his new single, which features Chuck and is set for wide release on Jan. 10. It also comes with cool artwork by a graphic designer named Aimee Johnson.

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FLAV SHARES THE LOVE

Like most things this year, there's a Taylor Swift connection -- yes, even to Public Enemy. Flav says Swifties on social media actually pointed him in Aimee's direction when he posted about needing artistic help.

Check out the video ... Flav, who is a major Swiftie himself, dropped a sports analogy on us to relay his thanks to Tay Tay's fans.

In his words, "Swifties are gifts."

Guess Who This Christmas Kiddo Turned Into!

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Before this comfy kid in her yellow sweats turned into a music icon, she was just tappin' into the Christmas spirit, rockin' around the Christmas tree and making her dreams come true on the concrete jungle!

Becoming quite the popular musician in the early 2000s, you probably heard this boo's stellar piano skills on the radio, and ever since, she's been on fire ... Billie Eilish, Usher and Jay Z are just a few of music's hottest stars she's collaborated with.

She's also a proud momma bear of two!

"In New Yorrrk!"

Can you guess who this Christmas kiddo is?

Rudy Giuliani Hits NYC ATM After Filing Bankruptcy ... Following $146M Court Loss

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Rudy Giuliani is pulling out money while he can ... hitting up an ATM in the Big Apple the same day he filed for bankruptcy on the heels of a huge loss in court.

TMZ obtained photos of the former New York City mayor pulling out cash Thursday from an ATM inside a Citi Bank.

Folks there say Rudy was in and out of the ATM super fast ... only spending about 5 minutes making his financial transaction.

It's pretty wild to see Rudy at an ATM in NYC ... earlier this week a jury ordered Giuliani to pay $146 million immediately to two former Georgia election workers in a defamation case over the 2020 election.

Rudy reportedly filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Thursday, claiming he owes hundreds of millions of dollars for lawsuits, legal fees and taxes.

Giuliani reportedly says he's worth between $1 and $10 million and can't pay off his huge mountain of debt.

At least he's got some walking around money.

Bethenny Frankel My Vagina Set Off Airport Scanner!!!

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Bethenny Frankel says her vagina was the topic of conversation at the airport ... because her private parts set off a TSA body scanner.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star says she was going through the security checkpoint before her flight to Aspen when her vagina caused a delay.

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MYSTERY METAL

Bethenny says she was going through the scanner and it kept buzzing ... first she took off her shoes, then another beep, and by the time she was down to her final layers she was still beeping.

The culprit ... her vagina!!!

Bethenny says a scan showed a red square over her vagina, leading to a pat down from a TSA agent ... and some extra attention from the crowd behind her.

The reality TV star says her daughter Bryn was cracking up the whole time and even asked her if she stashed something inside.

Bethenny says there's nothing there and this has never happened before ... joking she must have been really excited for her Christmas vacation.

After the hiccup, Bethenny and Bryn made their flight ... and they made it to Aspen.

Holiday travel ... it's never easy.

Sam Asghari No Ozempic Needed to Drop 40 lbs.

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I PUT IN THE WORK

Sam Asghari dropped several dozen pounds following his split from Britney Spears ... and while lots of folks in Hollywood are using meds to shed weight, Sam's not hopping on that trend.

We got Britney's ex leaving Equinox gym, and our photog asked him about his dramatic weight loss and his secret to losing 35 to 40 pounds.

Sam says his body transformation is NOT the result of Ozempic ... a prescription diabetes medication that's becoming widely popular among celebs and average folks as a diet drug.

Even Oprah recently admitted she's using meds to lose and maintain weight, and she refuses to be shamed about it.

But, Sam says he's been putting in work at the gym and watching what he eats -- telling us fitness often comes down to diet.

Sam's always been fit, but now he looks more toned and cut than ever and he says being in shape's always been a priority for him ... which is evident to anyone with eyes.

He's also got some tips for anyone looking to lose a few pounds -- in his eyes you don't have to resort to meds as long as you keep your hands out of the cookie jar.

Sage advice.

'Dukes of Hazard' John Schneider Secret Service Aware of Call for Biden's Execution ... Investigation Likely

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update

2:54 PM PT -- Schneider just released another statement, saying, "Seriously, folks? This is my final comment on this. I neither said nor implied any such thing. Despite headlines claiming otherwise, in my post, I absolutely did not call for an act of violence or threaten a U.S. president as many other celebrities have done in the past. I suggest you re-read my actual post and pay attention to the words before believing this nonsense."

He continues, "It’s my position, which I am entitled to have, that some of our nations leaders in Washington have lost their way, and corruption runs rampant, both on our nation’s borders and abroad. Transparency and accountability must happen in order for our constitutional republic to survive. There is no threat implied or otherwise in that statement."

"Dukes of Hazard" star John Schneider's Twitter fingers just landed him in a whole lot of trouble ... his recent call for President Biden's execution has now caught the attention of the US Secret Service.

A rep for the SS tells us they are aware of the comments Schneider made -- when he stated Biden and his son "should be publicly hung" -- and while they don't comment on "matters involving protective intelligence," the SS "investigates all threats related to our protectees."

You don't have to read much between the lines to figure out the Secret Service will certainly have a chat with Schneider in the near future.

As we reported ... Schneider tweeted a direct response to President Biden Wednesday, writing, "Mr. President, I believe you are guilty of treason and should be publicly hung. Your son too. Your response is..? Sincerely, John Schneider."

Biden's original tweet, which triggered Schneider's response, was about former President Trump, where Biden said, in part, "Trump poses many threats to our country: The right to choose, civil rights, voting rights, and America’s standing in the world."

Unclear exactly why Schneider decided to take down his tweet, but it was gone by Thursday.

In a statement to TMZ, Schneider tells us he, specifically, didn't call for an act of violence ... instead, saying, "Seriously, folks? I said no such thing. Despite headlines claiming otherwise, I absolutely did not call for an act of violence or threaten a U.S. president."

Guess it's now up to Secret Service agents to get in touch.

Originally Published -- 1:54 PM PT

NIRVANA, KURT COBAIN'S ESTATE Child Porn Lawsuit Over Album Cover Revived

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Nirvana and Kurt Cobain's estate are being told nevermind when it comes to the dismissal of a child pornography lawsuit centered around a famous album cover ... 'cause the lawsuit is back on.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived the lawsuit Thursday, reversing a lower court's decision to toss the whole thing.

Remember ... Spencer Elden says he's the naked baby pictured on the band's "Nevermind" album cover. Of course, he's all grown up now and in 2021 he filed suit against Nirvana and Cobain's estate over the cover.

Spencer accused Nirvana of publishing child porn by using a nude photo of him on the album cover way back in 1991 ... when he was just four months old.

The suit was dismissed in September 2022 ... when a district judge in California ruled Spencer had waited too long to sue Nirvana.

Now, the appeals court says the suit can go forward because Nirvana republished the album cover in 2021 when the band re-released "Nevermind" and held that each republication of the cover may constitute a new injury to Elden ... clearing the way for Spencer to continue his lawsuit against the Seattle grunge band.

It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out ... stay tuned.