Developing Stories

Turns out The Big O has a half-sister named Patricia -- who was put up for adoption at a young age and bounced around foster homes until she was finally adopted at the age of 7. Oprah said her mother Vernita Lee never told her about Patricia.

Oprah, Patricia and her mother were all reunited on the show.

LaLanne hosted a popular workout show for several decades, opened a chain of gyms, and created a popular line of juicers.

His agent said he worked out and exercised every day of his life, even up until the end.

John was all smiles leaving an event at the Hollywood Palladium last night as dozens of fans asked for autographs and congratulated him on his new baby. But he was stone cold silent when we asked him if he had any words for Gervais.

TMZ spoke with several neighbors who all tell the same miserable tale ... everyday is like living next to a horribly obnoxious amusement park.

In fact, TMZ obtained an

that one neighbor recorded during an especially awful screaming session at Octo's pad.

One person told us, "We continuously hear kids screaming and crying and fighting."

Another neighbor told us they're constantly being woken up at 6AM by the sounds of screaming children ... when Octo lets the kids go outside to "play" with no regard for the noise.

As for the cops, we're told the constant police presence is becoming a nuisance ... in fact, neighborhood locals -- even children -- are often subjected to ID checks simply to gain access to streets around Octo's home.

But perhaps the most significant complaint -- neighbors have been informed by real estate agents that living near Octo could LOWER the value of their homes ... because they would have to disclose the fact that she lives close by.

According to a subpoena obtained by TMZ, Mel's lawyers want Kristian Otto Herzog to fork over
every document and photo that details his relationship with Oksana, his correspondence with Oksana's lawyers, and the "1000s of emails, text messages, 100s of private photos, private videos and voice mails" Herzog claimed to have when he touted on his website that Oksana was a victim of domestic violence.

Mel's lawyers also want all emails and photos to back up his claim he and Oksana were more than friends.They're also after all photos Herzog took of Oksana and baby Lucia or any pics he has of himself with Oksana.

The subpoena also asks Herzog to provide documentation for various comments he made to TMZ.

Here's how it went down. Sources familiar with the situation tell us that Olbermann's agent recently went to NBC complaining that Keith -- who has the most popular show on MSNBC -- was underpaid at $7 million per year. NBC execs told Olbermann's agent they would not cough up any more money.

Network execs were well aware that Comcast wanted Keith gone because he was "a loose cannon that could not be controlled." It became clear to both sides that Olbermann's days were numbered and they began negotiating an exit.

We're told the exit deal wasn't completed until just before airtime Friday night.

Under the deal, sources say Olbermann will get money but cannot appear on television for a certain period time -- we don't know how long.

It's not so bad once you get used to the baby-man's constant crying -- and we'll admit ... hearing Octomom say "spanky" is kind of a turn on.

The Parents Television Council has fired off a letter to the U.S Department of Justice AND the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees ... over concerns the show uses underage actors in graphic sexual situations.

The organization explains, "In addition to the sexual content on the show involving cast members as young as 15, PTC counted 42 depictions and references to drugs and alcohol in the premiere episode."

The group adds, "It is clear that Viacom has knowingly produced material that may well be in violation of [several anti-child pornography laws].

Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that MTV execs have already met to discuss the issue.

Kristian Herzog -- who served as Oksana's bodyguard until recently -- tells TMZ, Oksana admitted to him Mel never punched her, as she claimed to authorities. Rather, Herzog says Oksana told him Mel slapped her, and that's it. As TMZ first reported, Mel admitted slapping Oksana because he says she was shaking baby Lucia wildly.

Herzog -- who has been subpoenaed by Mel's lawyers in the custody war -- tells us Oksana admitted to him that she secretly taped Mel Gibson "to pressure Mel to pay her money." Oksana is currently being investigated by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department for alleged extortion.

Herzog -- who was privy to virtually every conversation Oksana had with her lawyers -- claims he had a sexual relationship with Oksana -- she denies it.

Herzog -- who runs The Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills -- calls Oksana a "sexual sorceress."

Oksana's lawyer, Dan Horowitz, had no comment.

James told People.com, "So honored that [Kat] said 'yes.' Growing old with her is going to be a f----n' blast!" TMZ got in touch with Jesse to ask if he was engaged, and he said, "F**k yeah!"

Last night, Kat was sporting a GIANT ring on her wedding finger during an event at an art gallery in L.A. ... the same ring she's been sporting since September. But when we asked if the jewelry was an "engagement ring" ... Kat's lips were sealed.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops noticed Birza at around noon riding a skateboard in the street -- which is illegal. They stopped Birza, noticed he was acting strangely, and determined he was under the influence.

Santa Monica police arrested Birza and took him to the station, where he was booked (see mug shot above) and jailed.

Birza was also booked for a DUI related warrant as well as a probation violation.

He's currently being held on $37,000 bail.

TMZ has obtained the UNBELIEVABLE photos of Octomom whipping a grown-ass man dressed up as a baby in some kind of weird FETISH shoot.

Octo -- who STUFFED herself into an ultra-skin-tight corset -- is crackin' the whip on a guy named Tattoo ... an L.A. radio personality featured on Rick.com.

The eerily-erotic madness takes place all over Octo's La Habra home ... with Tattoo posing with her kids' horsey and inside their play castle.

This weekend, Rivers said she partially blamed the Arizona shootings on Palin ... and then referred to Sarah as "stupid and a threat."

Rivers was scheduled to appear with daughter Melissa tomorrow on the show to promote her new show, "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" River's rep tells us a producer called to say they gave her the chop because of Joan's comments.

But moments ago FOX responded ... they say the show was overbooked and the producer "mistakenly" canceled Joan's appearance instead of rescheduling it.

D.A. Steve Cooley says the case is "actively under review." Prosecutors met with Mel's lawyers -- Blair Berk and Jim Asperger -- yesterday. Law enforcement sources tell us the meeting had been planned for weeks.

Well-placed sources in the case tell us ... the D.A. has not made any decision on whether to file charges, partly because Mel's case is directly tied to the extortion investigation of Oksana Grigorieva, and that case has not yet been presented to the D.A.

And law enforcement sources tell us ... if the D.A. files criminal charges against Oksana, it could so compromise her credibility that any case against Mel would be futile.

Bottom line ... the D.A. can't make a filing decision until both cases are presented reviewed.

Sources directly connected with Gomez tell TMZ Selena and company are furious that her reputation is being sullied by some perverts with Photoshop.

We're told her lawyers are planning on taking action immediately. Standard operating procedure is to fire off a cease and desist letter ... followed by a lawsuit.

Sarah just filed new legal documents in Alaska ... in which she explains how she and her BFF Kristan Cole are "fearful" of what could happen if Shawn Christy is allowed to travel to Alaska ... as he claims he intends to do in the near future.

The papers were filed in response to Christy's recent attempts to dissolve the restraining order that was placed against him in October after several "threatening messages" geared towards Sarah surfaced online.

Now, Sarah claims she is still scared -- insisting Christy has continued to demonstrate "menacing behavior" and "poses a risk of serious physical harm or injury to Ms. Cole and the Palins."

As we previously reported, Christy -- who lives in Pennsylvania -- believes Sarah randomly began to send him "ominous" text messages last year ... despite the fact they've never met.