Developing Stories

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ Cruz -- the Food Network chef accused of trying to hire a few homeless guys to kill his wife -- may ask for a continuance at this morning's scheduled arraignment.

But ... no matter when the hearing goes down, we're told Cruz will plead not guilty.

TMZ broke the story ... the three homeless men whom Cruz alleged approached to slit his wife's throat secretly worked with Santa Monica cops and one of the meetings between Cruz and the men was audio and videotaped.

Back in 2007, the sexy pageant queen won a stripper contest for local Detroit radio morning show Mojo in the Morning.

We're told Fakih earned some fabulous prizes for the victory -- which included "jewelry, gift cards, adult toys and a stripper pole for home use."

And despite the fact that she kept her clothes on during the pole riding, she still managed to walk away with a bra stuffed with dollar bills!

There is no shortage of celebrities that need rehabilitation -- but the VH1 show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" can't get any of them to star on the show next season.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ they have struck out left and right trying to find A, B, or even C-list celebs for the show. As we first reported, they had their eyes on Lindsay Lohan and Heather Locklear, to name a few, but were quickly shot down.

The show was able to get a tentative commitment from a few D and F-listers, but our sources say the network rejected them.

We're told there was a deadline last Friday to lock down the cast, but since they don't have ANYONE signed on ... the deadline was extended to Wednesday.

One thing is clear -- no cast, no show.

Sources tell TMZ Murray was on a US Air flight from Houston to Phoenix when a flight attendant came over the loudspeaker and asked if there was a doctor on board.

Turns out a passenger fainted and could not be revived. We're told Murray jumped out of his seat, evaluated the female passenger (who was in her 20s and traveling with a baby), and quickly noticed she had a "very weak pulse."

Somehow -- don't ask us -- Murray inserted an IV and was able to stabilize the passenger until the plane made an emergency landing in Albuquerque.

The men told TMZ an elaborate story. According to Little Dave, Cruz -- who had a show on The Food Network -- said he wanted someone to do "dirty deeds done dirt cheap."  He says Cruz told him he would give him "a grand."

Cruz then gave Little Dave a box which contained a box cutter, a disposable cell phone, gloves and a pocket watch.  He says Cruz gave 1/2 of 10 hundred dollar bills, and promised to give him the other halves when the job was done.  Little Dave says Cruz showed him a picture of the other half of the money.

Little Dave says he then told his friend Shane the story.  Shane says he called Cruz on the disposable phone and they started discussing the plan.  Shane then got a third homeless man involved -- Big Dave.

Big Dave contacted Cruz and Cruz then met all 3 homeless men in Santa Monica.  Cruz went over the plan, showed Big Dave a picture of the alleged female target -- whom we've learned is Cruz's wife -- and then told him he picked his wife up at a certain place each day, and he wanted one of the homeless men to jump out as she got in her car and slit her throat.

Big Dave tells us he got arrested on a loitering charge, and told the cop about Cruz's plan.  The next day, the cops got in touch with all three men and asked for their cooperation in busting Cruz.

The men called Cruz and asked to meet with him again.  They met sometime last week in Santa Monica.  Big Dave was wired and a cop was nearby videotaping the meeting.  Big Dave says he told Cruz he did not want to kill the woman in public.  He says Cruz then said he would give them the code to his apartment and one of them could be inside and strangle her when she walked in.

Big Dave says Cruz then drove him by the apartment and showed him how he could avoid security cameras.

Cruz left, and the three homeless men continued to help the police until Cruz was arrested Thursday on charges of solicitation to commit murder.

As for why Cruz allegedly wanted to kill his wife, the men have told cops Cruz said she had received a family inheritance he wanted -- but we've learned cops have since learned no such inheritance existed.

Joslyn James exploded in anger after Rachel Uchitel appearing on TMZ Live Friday afternoon. Rachel suggested Joslyn was using her Tiger exploits to become a celebrity.

So Joslyn had a few choice words for Rachel, in the form of an email to TMZ. Joslyn says, "I find it extremely funny that she is choosing to bash me in saying I am now making a career for myself from Tiger." Joslyn goes on, "Oh yeah, that's right. She got PAID from Tiger to keep her mouth shut ..."

Joslyn continues, "I find it funny that she says she was 'well known' before the Tiger news. I never heard of her before that."

And Joslyn adds tearfully (we think), "I was an actress prior and a dancer, I gave it up because I was fooled in a relationship with Tiger, I merely went back to what I was doing."

TMZ spoke with acclaimed parenting expert Joe Kelly -- who strongly believes, "Miley Cyrus is the latest in a distressingly long line of girl celebrities launched on a trajectory where they are marketed as hypersexualized objects."

Kelly adds, "It's easy to blame the parents" but believes "corporate marketers" should be held accountable for things like "marketing precocious sexuality to young boys and girls."

And since Disney is the corporate giant behind "Hannah Montana" ... Kelly believes the Mouse House facilitated Miley's premature sexual behavior.

TMZ has learned Lindsay Lohan got one of the craziest settlement offers ever -- sobriety for a dismissal.

Lindsay is being sued by three dudes who claim LiLo held them hostage during a wild, drunken ride down Pacific Coast Highway in 2007.

The men are suing Lindsay for emotional distress.

We've learned months ago Randall Billington, the lawyer for the three men, told Lindsay's lawyer, Ed McPherson, they would drop the suit if she paid them a total of $7.5 million. But wait, there's more! We're told Billington agreed to discount the $7.5 mil by 30%.

But that's not all. If Lindsay stayed sober for more than 2 years, the boys would give her some of the money back.

The proposal didn't fly.

So three weeks later, we're told Billington made another offer -- Lindsay would put $3 million in a trust account for the boys and it would sit for 42 months. If Lindsay stayed sober for the 42 months, most of the money would go to charity -- the boys would get to keep some of it.

Klein just counter-Twittered, "Dearest Elizabeth Michael CHOSE whom he loved; I only SUPPLIED medical care. May God bless you and Michael. Your friend Arnie."

Yesterday, Liz Twit-attacked Klein by saying, "Dr. Arnie Klein declared on May 2 that he did not betray Michael Jackson by saying publicly that he had a homosexual relationship with someone in Arnie's office. It seems he supplies not only women (Debbie Rowe), but men too ... how convenient."

Charlotte Lewis -- who co-starred with Eddie Murphy in "The Golden Child" -- was front and center at a Gloria Allred news conference that ended a few minutes ago ... claiming she has now told authorities her story.

TMZ has learned Lewis and Allred met with L.A. County Deputy D.A. David Walgren late yesterday and made the allegations. A spokesperson from the D.A.'s Office would not say if Lewis' claims will be used for the extradition or sentencing case involving Polanski.

The flowers -- which Lisa said were Michael's favorite -- were just dropped off outside of the singer's mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery by the people from sunflowerguy.com.

We're told there are now around 1,500 sunflowers at the site ... which should be enough to get MJ through the weekend.

We spoke to Billy moments ago about the video that TMZ first posted yesterday -- Miley dirty dancing with Adam Shankman during the wrap party for her movie "The Last Song."

In our poll, an overwhelming majority said the dance was inappropriate ... and 40 percent of readers blamed Miley's parents -- who were not there when the dancing deed was done.

Papa Billy says Miley was just "having fun."

We just spoke with Heidi, who tells us, "My mom [Darlene Egelhoff] just showed up to the house unannounced ... and after what she did to me on national TV, I have no desire to see her."

Heidi's referring to a recent episode of "The Hills" in which Darlene told Heidi she did not approve of her plastic surgery. On this week's episode, Spencer claimed Darlene "tried to rape [Heidi] emotionally."

Heidi tells us she immediately notified her personal security team when her mom showed up "pounding on the door."

Heidi claims Darlene is currently speaking with police.

Montag continues, "Her showing up is completely out of line and psychotic. I’m getting a restraining order against her."

So far, no arrests have been made.

Sources tell TMZ Lindsay must come to court on May 20 and prove to the judge she has attended 13 classes. But we're told to date Lindsay has only completed 9.

So Lindsay now has 8 days to complete 4 additional classes.

Even if Lindsay completes the 13 classes by May 20, she still would have violated Judge Marsha Revel's specific order to attend at least one class every 7 days -- sources say Lindsay has repeatedly violated this condition.

Will Lindsay graduate Summa Cum Laude? Will she graduate?

Miley -- who was 16 at the time -- was dancing with 44-year-old Adam Shankman during a wrap party last summer in Georgia for the movie, "The Last Song." Shankman, who is openly gay, produced the movie as well as "Hairspray" and other flicks and is a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance?"

The people who shot the video say they were offended by the dirty dancing -- which included a graphic lap dance.

We're told Miley's parents were not at the wrap party. Miley's reps had no comment.

Check out the full story on TMZ TV tonight.

In a letter written to MJ's fans, Joe says, "We would like to urge fans that are planning to attend to please do so in peace, unity and love for Michael. There should be NO violence, NO slander, NO yelling, and NO bad-mouthing or name-calling of Murray or his supporters."

Joe continues, "By calling names, we are lowering ourselves to their level."