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Cincinnati Bengals legend Willie Anderson just provided a positive update after undergoing a kidney transplant this week ... thanking his fans, friends and loved ones for supporting him through the tough time.

The 50-year-old All-Pro tackle has been battling kidney disease for a decade ... as the pain meds he was taking to combat his numerous career-related injuries caused his organs to deteriorate.

Anderson put his head down and got to work -- losing 60 pounds to get into operation shape.

"The Amazing Race" contestants Jonathan and Ana Towns claim CBS and the show's producers besmirched their names on the reality TV competition show ... and they want them to cough up more than $8 million in damages over it ... TMZ has learned.

In a lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the couple says the show deliberately smeared them by using "decontextualized" footage that made Jonathan look like "a morally depraved, brutal and abusive spouse," while at the same time omitting material that put Jonathan in a more "humanizing" light.

During last year's season, Jonathan seemed to demean Ana multiple times on the show with name-calling and a seemingly derisive attitude, which upset many 'TAR' fans.

Cops in Arizona weren't messing around Wednesday night ... as you can see from this intense clip showing police taking down a couple of baddies during a traffic stop.

Check out the video ... a slew of Tempe PD officers converged on a vehicle at an intersection, jumping out of their SUVs before ripping a man and woman out of their ride.

We're told at least 7 unmarked Chevy Tahoe SUVs pulled up with lights flashing. Our sources say one of the SUVs was positioned in front of the vehicle so it couldn't flee.

"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" is officially back in production and cameras were rolling as the cast addressed the devastating recent death of Mary Cosby's son ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the show tell us filming for Season 7 resumed Tuesday after briefly being paused in the wake of Robert Cosby Jr.'s sudden death. We're told the women -- minus Mary -- gathered at one cast member's home for their first group shoot of the new season.

We're told the cast discussed Robert's death on camera, marking an emotional return to production.

Todd Meadows -- a rookie "Deadliest Catch" deckhand who died at sea last week -- was a determined dad to 3 boys ... and a new GoFundMe campaign will go a long way in supporting them in his absence.

As we reported ... Meadows died at just 25 years old, going overboard while crabbing on the Aleutian Lady in the Bering Sea last Wednesday.

The GoFundMe is being organized by Todd's cousin, Paige Knudson, who tells TMZ ... the family is crowdfunding to help his kids with everything they need during a "horrific" time in their lives.

Hayden Panettiere looked like she was powering through some pain ... touching down at LAX alongside on-again, off-again BF Brian Hickerson ... while getting around on crutches!

Check out the video ... Hayden explained it's all thanks to pinched nerves in her lower back ... insisting she’s on the mend as she landed on the West Coast Monday with Brian.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... despite the exes being out together, the two are just friends.

Rap icon Kurupt is out of the hospital, TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us Kurupt was released from the hospital a couple weeks ago after spending several weeks being treated for some serious health issues.

Kurupt's wife and manager Lisa "LeeLee" Brown posted a pic her herself with Tha Dogg Pound chief, writing, "Home is where the heart is... Life is not about the rough roads...it's about the resilience."

A rookie deckhand on a fishing vessel featured in "Deadliest Catch" is dead ... and it happened at sea.

Todd Meadows died Wednesday aboard the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea ... according to a Facebook post from "Deadliest Catch" star Captain Rick Shelford.

Our sources say the deckhand died in a fishing-related incident during filming, though it's unclear if the cameras caught the incident on tape.

Elijah Blue Allman, the son of Cher and the late Greg Allman, was arrested Friday night on trespassing charges at an elite prep school in Concord, New Hampshire.

The Concord Police Department tells TMZ ... officers responded to St. Paul’s School for the report of an unwanted guest on Friday evening, just before 7 PM local time. It was reported a male -- identified as Elijah -- was in the dining hall "causing a disturbance and acting belligerently."

Elijah was booked into the Merrimack County Jail and was charged with 2 counts of simple assault and one count each of criminal trespass, criminal threatening and disorderly conduct.

Robert Carradine's death has been officially ruled a suicide, and he took his own life by hanging ... according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The actor's manner of death is listed as suicide and the cause of death is sequelae of anoxic brain injury and hanging. In other words, he died from a lack of oxygen to the brain. Page Six was first to report the details.

We learned earlier today Robert died in a hospital in L.A. ... and these details arrive just days after his family announced his death by suicide Monday. They revealed he'd been battling bipolar depression for decades prior to his death.

Paris Jackson and her mom, Debbie Rowe, have grown very close in recent months ... with sources telling us the the mother-daughter similarities are crystal clear!

Here's the deal ... the singer and model shared several pics of her mom to social media Thursday -- with Debbie beaming in the selfies, while Paris flashed a small, close-lipped smile.

In a clip, Paris rides around on a horse in a corral ... and the video is captioned "Just a chip off the ol’ block." Debbie is an avid horse enthusiast.

Savannah Guthrie has not indicated she's made a decision about whether or not she will return to "Today," TMZ has learned.

Our insiders say her return -- or departure -- from the morning news program is still an open question ... and there is no timeline for if or when she is coming back. We're told NBC is being cautious not to pressure her.

Meanwhile, sources at NBC tell us the show is "fully supportive" of a potential return, adding ... "It’s just a matter of when she feels ready."

Katherine Short thought she'd feel safer as a social worker by putting distance between herself and her famous father ... filing a petition to change her name more than a decade ago.

The eldest daughter of Martin Short and Nancy Dolman filed to change her name back in 2012 from "Katherine Elizabeth Short" to "Katherine Elizabeth Hartley" ... a judge granted the change in early 2013.

She explains her reasoning in the document ... writing, "My father is a public figure. I am a psychiatric social worker. I am concerned about potential harassment from future patients resulting from my association with my father.”

Corey Feldman and Courtney Feldman's marriage is officially over ... after a Los Angeles judge signed off on their divorce agreement Wednesday -- but the actor ain't getting away scot-free.

Per Corey and Courtney's divorce agreement, the "Gremlins" star must pay his former wife a $100,000 lump sum for spousal support ... with the first $10K payment being made within five days of executing the agreement, and then another $10K every two months until the full amount is paid off.

He's also responsible for debt to the IRS from 2021, which -- according to the docs -- he's "been paying down."

But, he is also leaving the marriage with a 2016 BMW, a 2021 Mercedes Benz, a 2013 Coachmen Mirada, 5 shares of Tesla Stock, and his Michael Jackson collectables.

Robert Cosby Jr. was administered Narcan before police reached him ... this according to dispatch audio.

The son of 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Mary Cosby was not conscious and not breathing Monday, according to the dispatcher ... who then says Robert had been given the opioid overdose countermeasure Naloxone -- brand name Narcan -- already.

Three units were en route to Cosby ... however, we know that once they arrived there was nothing they could do. Page Six was first to report on the dispatch audio.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel's attack on Puerto Vallarta left a ton of Americans stranded in the resort town ... including actress Niecy Nash ... who is thankfully safe now.

Niecy and her wife, Jessica Betts, rushed to the airport Tuesday to get the heck outta Dodge days after the explosive siege began.

Niecy confirmed the scary getaway posting, "Went to celebrate my bday with my family, and got caught up in the cartel attacks," adding ... "There was fear, anxiety and few tears."

Niecy turned 56 Monday -- likely the reason the two hit the fabulous vacation destination -- though this wasn't exactly the most relaxing way to spend a birthday.