Developing Stories

Bam tells TMZ ... he was at the SXSW festival late Thursday night, walking through a crowd of a bunch of drunks, "when someone said something rude to me, so I began making fun of a big girl in the group." Bam said, "I called her a sea otter and asked her why she's in Texas. She should be in Alaska laying on an iceberg because she's a beached whale."

Bam says the woman's friend punched him in the face and the two began fighting. Bam fell to the ground and the woman then delivered the knockout blow. Bam was out for 7 minutes.

The old friends found themselves out in Irvine, CA when the hunger pangs hit -- so they went to every West Coasters favorite fast food spot.

According to a witness, they each ordered a Double-Double combo meal and dined with a third person, non-celebrity. They were joined by a friend, who did the ordering for them.

BTW -- We know the pic is blurry, but we've confirmed ... it's definitely them.

Gale appeared on the Australian TV show "Today, Tonight" -- and said, "He abused me first.'

Richard claims Casey had verbally taunted him moments before the video begins ... and he got violent because he was "pretty angry."

After waffling back and forth about feeling sorry for the punch, Richard says he has nothing to apologize for because "[Casey] started on me first."

David Schubert, who was busted Saturday night, had gone to a notorious area of Vegas Saturday night. Schubert, who was driving a BMW, stopped and cops observed a male get inside his car.

The two began driving and cops were suspicious, after the passenger got out of the car, went into a an apartment complex and came back out. When Schubert allegedly committed a traffic violation, cops made their move and stopped the vehicle. The passenger got out and ran, and was subdued after a foot chase.

The passenger then snitched Schubert out, telling cops Schubert would come by 3 to 4 times a week and use him to purchase $40 worth of cocaine at a time. The passenger says Schubert would call periodically to ask if anyone was selling narcotics.

Mind you ... this was allegedly going down at the same time Schubert was prosecuting Paris and Bruno.

Cops observed a "white, rocklike substance" in the car and it tested positive for cocaine.

Sources close to Sheen tell TMZ his people are working out the logistics to have Sheen's upcoming tour make a stop in Haiti. We're told the plan is for the show to end there, with all the proceeds going to charity.

According to our sources, Sheen is enlisting the help of the unofficial president of Haiti, Sean Penn.

Vick is a featured guest today at the Collectors' Showcase of America, where he is supposed to sign autographs this afternoon. The event takes place in the North Hall of the complex while the Super Pet Expo is taking place in the South Hall.

You won't see them all together like this again for another 75 years.

As TMZ first reported, Judge Keith Schwartz offered LiLo and her attorney Shawn Holley a deal that includes three months in jail ... which get whittled down to 19 days because of jail overcrowding.

Lindsay has been adamant for weeks ... she would never take a plea deal because she feels she did nothing wrong. Sources close to Lindsay tell us she still maintains her innocence ... but reality is starting to sink in and Lindsay is beginning to understand the risks of going forward with a trial.

If she loses at trial, she could get more than a year in jail for the probation violation ... plus prison time for the felony grand theft.

If Lindsay accepts the deal, Holley must tell the judge on Wednesday. Lindsay will be back in court Friday to either take a plea or declare war.

In fact, one set of parents associated with Mending Kids International tells us they're more than happy to help give the actor a "brand new start" because Mel has helped fund a life-changing series of operations for their foster son over the past couple of years.

James Nicol tells us his Ethiopian-born son Berhanu was only able to undergo an expensive series of medical procedures to help fix severe spinal issues ... thanks, in part, to Mel's generosity.

Nicol says his family is still active with the organization ... and they're excited for any assistance Mel can provide ... despite the fact his community service is the result of a plea deal in a domestic violence case.

Knut passed away in his habitat this morning of still-to-be determined causes at the age of 4. A rep for PETA tells TMZ they contacted to Berlin Zoo months ago to alert them to the fact that Knut was being "terrorized" by three female polar bears -- including his own mother!

The rep tells us, "PETA Germany repeatedly asked zoo authorities to move Knut away from the three females to a different location. His premature death could possibly have been avoided. Polar bears don't belong in captivity."

TMZ has obtained a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that dancers were required to sign before working on her latest music video. It specifically states, "Contractor acknowledges that it is essential that [Britney] not be exposed to any alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances."

The NDA even goes on to say that the dancers can be subjected to drug testing at any time and can be fired for failing a test or even refusing to take one.

The letter is postmarked February 1999 -- less than a year after Charlie famously overdosed by injecting himself with cocaine -- and it references the actor's post-rehab "20/20" interview, in which Charlie claimed to be off the drug.

Whoopi -- who has publicly discussed her own battle with substance abuse -- writes, "Saw your interview on '20/20.' I'm so glad your path is clearer. Having lived on that path for many years, it's good to know that you've gone in another direction."

And now for the bad joke -- Whoopi continues, "I'm keeping my fingers, eyes and butt (because it's big enough now) crossed for your success."

Alexis Knapp -- the model/actress who claims to be carrying Ryan's baby -- has hired Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Ryan has said he'll take a DNA test once the baby is born and support the child if it's his, but Alexis is not satisfied.

Sources at the super high-end 1-Oak nightclub tell us LiLo was definitely inside the joint ... but didn't order a single drink ... and was not seen sipping on anything alcoholic.

Lohan was also spotted at the Simyone Lounge -- but Lindsay tells us, "I did not drink ... period. I do not drink ... period."

Lohan added, "I went to SL with my friend who owns it."

Gilbert was in NYC yesterday when he was asked about the tsunami cracks he made that led to his termination as the voice of the famous Aflac duck.

Though GG said he couldn't talk about specifics ... he did point out, "Howard Stern backed me up ... so did Joan Rivers ... Bob Saget ... Lisa Lampanelli."