Developing Stories

The rep says, "He will take some time off from his series, 'Two and a Half Men.' He has asked that his privacy be honored."

The rep says Charlie is checking into rehab as a "preventative measure," though he did not elaborate.

As TMZ first reported, both Charlie and wife Brooke Mueller -- who is also in rehab -- had been drinking during the Christmas Day incident that led to the criminal charges that were filed against Charlie.

Sources connected with the family tell us Charlie and Brooke have several full-time nannies who take care of the children.

We got this video of Charlie yesterday afternoon -- when asked about his wife Brooke Mueller, he told us "everything's great."

Story developing ...

We've learned one of Rachel's friends is approaching Howard's people today, asking that a cardboard version of Rachel in various states of dress could compete against the other living, breathing contestants for the $100,000 prize.

Howard announced today he has 4 live mistresses signed up ... so far. But he's not saying who. We're thinking even a cardboard Rachel could beat a toothless Jaimee Grubbs or a shameless Joslyn James.

TMZ has learned Charlie Sheen's wife, Brooke Mueller, has left a Malibu rehab facility because of a serious privacy breach.

Sources tell TMZ Brooke is no longer at The Canyon in Malibu, after someone from the staff sent a patient admissions document to various members of the media -- including TMZ. The document is very specific about the circumstances surrounding Brooke's admission. We declined to publish it.

We're told the facility acknowledges the breach and is conducting an internal investigation ... nonetheless Brooke bailed and is now in the process of entering a new facility. She is currently staying at a home in L.A.

As we first reported, Brooke checked into The Canyon earlier this month for substance abuse.

The parents of Andrew Koenig -- who has reportedly been missing for the past week -- described their son as "suffering from depression" and "not doing good" in the days leading up to his disappearance.

Judy and Walter Koenig (who played Pavel Chekov in the "Star Trek" series) tell TMZ the last time they heard from Andrew was on February 9. They say his cell phone is turned off and that they have learned the last time his phone received a text was on February 16 in Vancouver.

They say he was last seen at a bakery in the Stanley Park area of Vancouver.

The Koenigs tell TMZ they plan to fly up to Vancouver in the next few days. They feel the police in Vancouver have been doing a good job so far.

Lance Miccio, who worked with Koenig on several projects, tells TMZ he reached out to Koenig about a project two weeks ago but Koenig passed, saying he was "not going to work anymore."

Right around that time, Miccio says Koenig dropped off a bag of Miccio's stuff. Miccio says he hasn't spoken to Koenig since.

Fantasia Barrino is under a self-imposed lockdown -- after the "American Idol" champ received a threatening letter.

It all started last night at the Pantages Theater in L.A. -- Fantasia was reading her fan mail after a performance of "The Color Purple."

Fantasia's manager tells us Barrino became alarmed over a disturbing letter loaded with racial slurs -- including the n-word -- and a line that read, "go back where you came from and die."

We're told the person who wrote the letter claims he used to work as a security guard for Fox while Fantasia was on "A.I."

Fantasia's manager tells us the singer immediately contacted theater security -- which then contacted the LAPD.

In the meantime, we're told the theater has "beefed up" security around Fantasia -- and all over the venue -- and will be screening anything sent to Barrino's dressing room before it gets to her.

The incident occurred last October in Brentwood, CA. TMZ captured the confrontation as an angry Penn approached and kicked a paparazzo, allegedly breaking his camera.

We've learned the Los Angeles City Attorney filed two misdemeanor counts -- battery and vandalism.

If convicted on both counts, Penn could go to jail for 1 1/2 years.

-- Tiger described his behavior as "irresponsible and selfish."

-- "I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated."

-- "I have bitterly disappointed all of you ... I am so sorry."

-- "I thought I could get away with anything I wanted to ... I thought I was entitled ... I don't get to play by different rules."

-- "As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time."

-- "I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again."

-- "I do plan to return to golf one day, but I don't know when that will be."

-- "Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy."

-- "Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology."

-- Tiger Woods says he wants to get back to his Buddhist roots.

-- "I have bitterly disappointed all of you ... I am so sorry."

-- About the paparazzi: "Leave my wife and kids alone."

-- Tiger said he has never used performance enhancing drugs.

-- "Elin didn't hit me that night or any other night ... Elin deserves praise, not blame."

-- Tiger apologized to the people who work for him and his foundation.

-- Tiger Woods hugged his mom and went down the line hugging each person in attendance.

-- Among the people in attendance: Tiger Woods' mom, longtime friend Bryon Bell, and PGA Tour commish Tim Finchem.

The photos were taken by the same photographer -- Sam Greenwood -- who took the pic yesterday. The pictures are posed ... One photog actually got pictures of the Getty photo shoot.

Diane Williams filed her claim in the Michael Jackson Estate case, alleging she prepared Michael's 2006 tax package and never got paid for it.

Williams submitted emails showing she was promised Michael would pay the money by July 25, 2008 but never got the dough.

Apparently there was a falling out that led Jackson to Williams, because on August 16, 2006, Michael Jackson personally signed a letter requesting that the prior accountants "cease and desist from signing for my certified mail..."

Jackson also wrote he did not want the prior accountants to open his letters or legal documents in the future.

As we first reported, Elin came to the family house this AM. Tiger hadn't left the house today until a few minutes ago, when he drove away in a white SUV. Elin followed behind in the red SUV and they drove to the home Elin is renting in the nearby development.

It's yet another piece of evidence that there is some solidarity between Tiger and Elin. This morning Elin was decked out in Nike -- the sponsor that stood behind Tiger.

Who knows ... they could work this out.

We're told Tiger had a team of security around him as he hit balls. Helicopters started flying over the area and Tiger beat a hasty retreat.

Tiger's kids are at the house with the nanny. Elin Nordegren showed up with her sister earlier in the day.

As we first reported, a Tiger employee told us Tiger would play at Tavistock ... a PGA sponsored tourney in March.

We should know a lot more about Tiger's golf plans -- and the Masters -- on Friday.

Jesse got a call this AM from a woman who saw a picture of the missing doggie on a flier. The woman brought the dog to Jesse's shop in Long Beach ten minutes ago. It was indeed Cinnabun and everyone there started bawling.

The woman says she found the dog roaming the streets in Long Beach "a while ago." Jesse says she was "cool" and he's going to give her a reward.

The dog went missing on January 25.

Cinnabun is OK, but really dirty and has lost 15 pounds.

TLC sued Gosselin claiming Jon violated their contract by talking smack about the show and appearing on rival shows for pay.

Gosselin countersued TLC, claiming the network caused him to suffer harm to his "reputation."

Terms of the settlement are confidential.

Rip was arrested last month after cops found him inside a bank with a loaded gun. But today, Rip's lawyer, Tom Waterfall, told TMZ Rip has what may be an airtight defense -- he thought he was in his Connecticut home (left) and not in a bank (right).

So, you say, the house is green and the bank is yellow. Not when you've been drinking. You say the house appears smaller than the bank. Not when you've been drinking. And, Waterfall says, the bank was once a house.

Short story ... an old man comes home in the dark after a night of drinking, the keys don't unlock the door so he breaks the window, enters, and goes to sleep. When the cops arrive Torn even asks why they came to his home. So good luck to prosecutors who try to prove Rip had an intent to steal.

As for the firearms charges ... that's a toughie. Rip's in rehab and Waterfall hopes he can convince the judge to go easy.

Lawyers for Britney Spears' conservatorship have made their move to keep confidential "critical information" about Britney and her children.

In legal papers obtained by TMZ, attorneys Geraldine Wyle and Jeryll Cohen are worried that personal and medical information will leak out into the media unless it's put under legal lock and key.

In their argument, the attorneys note that "A Google search for Ms. Spears' name yields 54,300,000 hits." And they go on ... "Photographs and personal information, particular information of a highly confidential nature (such as personal medical information of Ms. Spears and her children), can potentially reap thousands if not millions of dollars."

The information is so sensitive the lawyers note on the open market "The possibility of such enormous profits presents a substantial risk that Ms. Spears' most confidential medical and personal information will be disclosed."

So the attorneys want the sensitive info about Britney, Sean Preston and Jayden James sealed, and stat.

Brittany Murphy's father claims he was turned away from the cemetery where his daughter is buried after he asked officials to point him in the direction of the star's final resting place.

TMZ spoke with Angelo Bertolotti, who told us it all went down Monday afternoon when he arrived at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills and asked several employees for directions to Brittany's grave.

Bertolotti claims he was directed to the main office where officials refused to give him any information about his daughter ... despite the fact that Bertolotti claims he offered to provide proof of his relationship to Brittany.

FYI -- Bertolotti is not listed on Brittany's death certificate ... the section marked "father" was left blank.

Bertolotti tells us he was "raging" after being denied ... especially because he brought a special trinket to place on Brittany's grave.

A Forest Lawn rep tells TMZ, their policy is to allow people with proof of a relationship to a deceased person, access to the gravesite. The rep says they're checking into what happened with Mr. Bertolotti.

But Bertolotti isn't done fighting -- he says he's going to the L.A. County Coroner's Office today to get his name on Brittany's death certificate.