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Jennifer Lopez has been approached by Fox execs to return to "American Idol" for the balance of the season ... to replace Mariah Carey ... sources connected with the network confirm to TMZ.

We've learned Lopez will appear on the now ratings-challenged show on May 16 to debut her new single, but Fox has bigger ideas -- they want to stop the hemorrhaging quickly and bring the former judge back on the show. The Hollywood Reporter first posted the story that JLo could be returning.

And the show is in trouble. Last week's ratings were the worst since the show debuted in 2002.

Sources tell us Fox is scrambling to find a solution, and ironically they think Lopez could be the answer. We say ironically because network execs would not ante up the cash JLo wanted to stay on the show this season.

We're told as of now ... no deal has been made.

Jenelle Evans is back behind bars -- the "Teen Mom 2" star was arrested in North Carolina today for possession of a BUNCH of heroin ... and is also accused of attacking her husband, TMZ has learned.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ ... cops discovered 12 bindles of heroin in Jenelle's possession when they arrived to her home following an alleged domestic dispute with her husband, Courtland Rogers.

FYI -- a bindle is commonly known as a small paper packet used for storing drugs.

According to the docs, Evans was also found to be illegally in possession of Percocet (a prescription painkiller) ... as well as plastic wrapping paper and a glass smoking pipe, which is considered illegal drug paraphernalia.

As for the assault charge, cops say Evans struck Rogers with a piece of furniture during a domestic dispute.

Rogers was arrested too -- cops say he assaulted Jenelle by "hitting her on the neck and striking her with a closed fist on her head."

Cops say Rogers was also in possession of heroin with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute ... and drug paraphernalia. According to police, both Evans and Rogers denied possession of the heroin ... which is why they were both charged.

At the time of her arrest, 21-year-old Evans was also served with a warrant for failing to pay child support.

Evans has a history of legal problems -- she tested positive for marijuana and opiates while on probation ... and she was also involved in an epic girl-on-girl brawl in 2011.

R. Prophet -- from the rap group Nappy Roots -- was tased and pepper sprayed after allegedly resisting arrest in Kentucky on 4/20 ... and it looks like his face got the worst of it.

According to Kentucky State Police, R. Prophet -- real name Kenneth Anthony -- was waiting by the roadside for his friend to pick him up ... but the friend was nicked for DUI right before Anthony could get to the car.

Police say Anthony refused to obey orders to stay on the side of the road and became "very aggressive and combative" with officers ... so they tased him.

Cops say Anthony continued to fight -- so they took him to the ground -- then tased him several more times before handcuffing him. But it didn't end there -- Anthony was put inside the cruiser, when cops say he kicked out the back window ... and was then tased AGAIN ... as well as pepper sprayed.

Anthony was booked on six counts -- public intoxication, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, assault, and "menacing" ... whatever that is.

He was released the next day on $5,000 bond.

Kendra Wilkinson is out of the hospital, shaken from a weekend car wreck ... and her tricked-out Audi is in even worse shape ... check out the photos we got.

The former Playmate was hospitalized Sunday after what was described as a nasty head-on crash in the San Fernando Valley. Kendra was bruised and battered but doctors found no broken bones.

Cops tell TMZ ... the person Kendra hit has neck and back injuries.

The initial investigation shows Kendra turned left in front of a car that had the right of way -- in other words, it looks like it's her fault.

The wife of former NFL player Hank Baskett dropped out from the ABC diving show "Splash" ... because she was scared of getting hurt.

6:33 AM PT -- Reese and Jim won't be in court today ... they had their cases continued until hearings set in Atlanta for May 22 and May 23, respectively.

9:40 PM PT-- Reese has just released a statement, saying,

Reese Witherspoon pulled her celebrity card out while her husband was getting arrested for DUI, telling the officer who ended up busting her, "You're about to find out who I am."

The arrests went down in Atlanta early Friday morning. Cops say they spotted Reese and her husband Jim Toth's car -- a silver Ford Fusion -- weaving in and out of lanes, so they pulled them over.

As officers dealt with Jim, Reese allegedly started acting up, telling cops, "Do you know my name?" The officer answered by saying, "No, I don't need to know your name."

Witherspoon then came back with, "You're about to find out who I am ... You are going to be on national news."

During Jim's arrest, Reese allegedly became ornery, demonstrating visual and verbal frustration over how long it was taking to arrest her husband. At one point, she got out of her car and the officer ordered her back inside. When she got out a second time, he arrested her for disorderly conduct, a municipal ordinance.

They were both taken to jail, booked, and released a short time later.

As for Toth's part of the arrest ... the officer in the report described him by saying his "eye lids were droopy" and his eyes were "blood shot and watery." The officer said he smelled a "strong odor" of alcohol coming from Toth.

The officer stated that Toth told him he only had one drink, but -- as first reported by Variety -- when given a Breathalyzer test, Toth's blood alcohol level was .139.

In Reese's defense maybe she played the celeb card because she had as much to drink as her hubby. Just sayin' ...

Legendary fighter Micky Ward wants to make it clear to the world ... he has NO relationship with dead bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev -- despite a photo which reportedly shows them arm-in-arm.

Micky's agent tells TMZ he's been hammered with calls ever since the 2006 photo was posted on a local Boston news site.

We can't confirm it's actually Tamerlan in the photo, but it sure looks like him. Nonetheless, a rep for Micky -- whose life was chronicled in "The Fighter" -- says, "It was just like any random person who came up to Micky and asked him for a picture."

The rep adds the former New England Golden Gloves champ had no professional or personal association with Tsarnaev.

As we previously reported ... Tsarnaev had high hopes about making the US Olympic boxing team.

Selena Gomez has landed in Norway ... and sources tell us she's on a mission ... to hook up with Justin Bieber.

Selena was spotted getting off a plane at the airport in Oslo ... just about the time JB was getting ready to hit the stage.

Beliebers -- who obviously know where Justin is at all times -- have been buzzing about a possible rendezvous ever since a Norwegian pop star tweeted about seeing Selena on the flight from L.A. to Oslo.

Sources connected with JB tell TMZ ... it's no coincidence they're in the same country at the same time.

As we previously reported ... Selena and Justin have seen each other periodically since breaking up at the end of 2012. We're told he's been "tortured" because she's been giving him mixed signals.

So much for never ever ever getting back together. Selena, Taylor ... same thing.

"American Pie" star Eddie Kaye Thomas -- who played Finch in the movies -- just called the police, claiming a female houseguest threatened to kill him with a knife ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... and now a SWAT team is outside his house.

According to sources, the couple got into an argument and the woman grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened him ... so Thomas ran outside and call 911.

A SWAT team has responded to the Hollywood Hills home, where the woman remains barricaded inside.

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne have split up ... at least temporarily ... and they are now living apart ... multiple sources tell TMZ.

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Sharon is currently living at the Beverly Hills Hotel, while Ozzy is living at a rented home several miles from the Bev Hills Hotel.

There were reports ... they were not living in the family home because of renovations, but that is not the case now ... they are living separately.

As far as we know ... there are no plans for divorce ... at least not now.

Sharon and Ozzy have been married for 31 years and have 3 kids.

Now this is special ... Dead cop-killer Christopher Dorner's .38 Special is up for auction.

Dorner got a piddly fifty bucks for the well-worn revolver (pictured above) at Bargain Pawn in January, a month before his killing spree touched off one of the largest manhunts in LAPD history.

The North Las Vegas pawn shop started its online auction Tuesday evening ... so far it's up to $455 with 15 bids. A permit and photo of Dorner in the shop prove it was his.

The owners tell TMZ they have only good intentions -- the listing calls Dorner a "coward and murderer." They're donating the proceeds of the auction to the families of Riverside police officer Michael Crain and San Bernardino Det. Jeremiah MacKay ... who both left behind kids.

Kim Kardashian just filed her divorce witness list ... and it's now clear as can be -- Kim's lawyer is calling a bunch of witnesses who were involved in the prenup to show Kris knew EXACTLY what he was getting into before saying "I do."

As you know, Kris is claiming he was defrauded into marrying Kim ... left in the dark about her true intentions. But now we know 6 witnesses will testify that Kris was actively involved in every detail surrounding the prenup.

In fact, sources connected with the couple tell us ... Kim and Kris were constantly bickering over details in the prenup and that he was as interested in the business of marriage as she was.

Among the witnesses ... 2 managers who were heavily involved in the prenup, at least one lawyer involved in the document and a court reporter who was present when the prenup was signed.

There are other witnesses who will testify about the prenup, including Kim and Kris Jenner.

Short story -- the mission of Kim's lawyer is clear -- Kris went into this eyes wide open.

You know that song "Bumpin' Bus Stop?" Well no one does, but that hasn't stopped the songwriter's offspring from suing Kanye West for allegedly daring to sample a teensy-weensy portion of that most obscure song.

David Pryor wrote and sang "Bumpin' Bus Stop" with his band Thunder & Lightning in 1974. Two of his children, Trena Steward and Lorenzo Pryor, each own about a quarter of the tune.

They claim that 13 seconds into Kanye's "Gold Digger" -- his massive 2005 No. 1 hit -- comes a sample of their father's hit miss ... If you listen carefully, you can hear what's allegedly Pryor's voice say "Get down" three times, echoing Kanye's line, "Get down girl, get down, get down."

Steward and Pryor want a judge to stop the sale of "Gold Digger" -- which is very weird since it's been out for 8 years. And, of course, they want damages, and lots of them.

Ric Flair shocked the wrestling world last night when he made a surprise appearance at a pre-event for WrestleMania ... this just seven days after his son died.

The WWE legend had previously cancelled all his scheduled gigs relating to WM following the death 25-year-old, Reid Flair.

But Flair surprised everyone last night when he showed up to the Westin Hotel in Hoboken -- where the WWE wrestlers and employees are staying -- to hangout with his comrades before the event began.

We're told Ric was visibly shaken when he arrived, but as the night went on, the love for Flair and his son was obvious. Our spies say each wrestler came over to pay their respects and offer support and Flair's spirits were lifted tremendously.

As TMZ previously reported, Reid was found dead on March 29 in his hotel room. Ric had found him passed out cold and made the frantic call to 911.

The Game told a $5,750 bald-faced lie about dropping a massive tip on a waiter -- at least according to the waiter himself ... TMZ has learned.

First, Game's version of what went down. The rapper had an Easter Sunday meal at Capital Grille in West Hollywood ... and then tweeted about leaving a $6,000 tip for his waiter, Eme Ikwuakor.

But now Ikwuakor wants to clear up a few things ... as in a few less zeros on his gratuity.

According to the waiter ... Game handed him a large bundle of cash, and then snapped the photo (above) ... which went out to Game's 1.1 million Twitter followers.

Ikwuakor admits he consented to the pic, and appreciated Game's Twitter shout out -- but says the actual tip was only $250.

Not that he's complaining ... in fact, Ikwuakor says Game and his fam were great customers and the $250 was "very generous and much appreciated."

He's assuming the $6k was just a practical joke ... though we doubt the IRS would be laughing.

"Pregnant Man" Thomas Beatie is PISSED after a judge refused to grant him a divorce from his estranged wife -- and tells TMZ he's willing to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

Beatie, a transgender male, is appealing a decision handed down Friday ... when a judge in AZ denied his divorce from Nancy Beatie -- on the grounds the marriage was NEVER legal since Beatie couldn't prove he was a man during their nuptials ... and the state doesn't recognize same-sex marriage.

Beatie tells TMZ he's not giving up the fight, his attorneys are already drafting up the appeal -- and he'll go the Supreme Court if that's what it takes.

He explains, "This is personal. This ruling is an attack on my person, my identity, and my family. It's sad and embarrassing that Judge Gerlach is more focused on wanting to delegitimize my children than legitimize my family."

Beatie continues, "The judge is obviously uncomfortable with me. He has a problem with me having a legal male identity and using my internal organs to start a family."

You'll recall ... the judge made it clear from the beginning​, he had issues with the validity of Beatie's marriage based on the fact that while married he bore the couple's 3 children ... something no man could do.

But Beatie is adamant, the issue is MUCH bigger than his divorce ... "This is not Beatie versus Beatie. This is the State of AZ versus transgender people, human reproductive rights, and fairness under the law."

Michael Jackson's intense and decades-long addiction to powerful prescription drugs will be front and center in his family's wrongful death trial ... which kicks off today.

Katherine Jackson and Michael's 3 kids are suing AEG Live, claiming the company negligently hired and supervised Dr. Conrad Murray ... who killed MJ with a massive overdose of Propofol.

TMZ broke numerous stories after MJ's death ... revealing how Jackson had at least 19 aliases to score Rx drugs from various doctors. It was well known in L.A. and Beverly Hills medical circles that MJ would doctor shop to find professionals who would open their surgery centers to give him Propofol. The doctors -- and dentists -- would justify the drug by saying they needed to put him under for minor procedures, such as acne removal.

We reported in one case ... a famed doctor used a gynecologist's office -- run by a doc who specialized in vaginal rejuvenation -- to perform a minor acne treatment under full anesthesia.

The Jackson family will argue AEG Live had a duty to monitor Murray. The problem is ... Jackson's the one who found Murray in the first place and that Murray administered Propofol long before the doc signed on to the "This Is It" tour.

AEG has a slew of doctors on its witness list ... to make the case that Jackson's addiction was in full bloom long before it entered the picture.

Katherine and the kids are asking for more than $40 BILLION in damages.