Exclusives

The trustees of Merv Griffin's assets are waging a war against Merv's son Tony -- saying if he goes through with his attempt to boot the trustees from power ... he'll never see another penny of Merv's money.

The trustees filed papers against Tony in L.A. County Superior Court, saying Tony has no right to ask the court to send them packing ... whether Tony feels they're running the trust into the ground or not.

In the docs, the trustees say Tony's challenge would violate the trust's "no contest clause" ... which means Tony would forfeit his yearly $2 million check.

We'll take risky decisions for $500.

Kate Gosselin is drawing the big gun -- we've learned she's hired legal pit bull Marty Singer to go after Jon Gosselin ... asking a judge to hold him in contempt of court for raiding their joint bank account to the tune of more than $200,000.

We've learned there is an existing court order prohibiting Jon or Kate from withdrawing any money from the account without the consent of both parties.

We've learned lawyers for Kate will go to Pennsylvania court tomorrow and argue that Jon has flagrantly violated that order, that he should be forced to return the money to the account and held in contempt.

Ironically, Jon suggested on "Larry King" he wanted to save the marriage -- at the same time he emptied the account.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez is still in a hospital in Washington D.C. but there is at least one good sign that he's getting better -- he's texting.

Mario Santoya -- who works with Paul at the California Latino Water Coalition -- says he left Paul's side last night, but received a text from him this morning. Santoya says Rodriguez is conscious and "feeling better."

Rodriguez was hospitalized Thursday night after complaining of stomach pains.

We're told Candy Spelling had neck surgery this week. Doctors fused two discs to improve function in her right hand. Ironically, Tori was also in the hospital this week after she complained of severe abdominal pain. How's that for mother/daughter bonding?

Candy got out yesterday -- completely immobilized. She'll be on her back for the next couple of weeks.

Megan was a celebrity bartender at an event at Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica to raise money for a charity called Team Stacie. Megan's on-again/off-again BF Brian Austin Green was scheduled to be there -- Megan was just an added bonus.

We're guessing she made more in tips.

Our sources tell us Dr. Murray had Applied Pharmacy send Propofol by Fed Ex to the address of Nicole Alvarez, the mother of the doctor's 7th child.

We've also confirmed with our law enforcement sources in the weeks preceding Jackson's death Dr. Murray was living at Alvarez's home during the days ... and only went to Jackson's home at night when he administered drugs to the singer.

Our sources say they have traced some but not all of the Propofol bottles found in Jackson's home after he died, to Applied Pharmacy.

Alvarez has been uncooperative with law enforcement and was forced to appear before the L.A. County Grand Jury last month to testify.

A woman who interned for David Letterman in the early 90's says she was one of Letterman's top 10 -- on the staff.

Holly Hester tells TMZ the internship was her first job in TV. At the time she was a student at NYU. Hester says during a hiatus, Dave called her up and asked her to the movies. It began a series of secret dates, with no one on the staff having any idea. She says, "I was madly in love with him at the time. I would have married him. He was hilarious."

Hester says Dave ended it after a year -- she says he told her the age span was just too great.

We placed several calls to Dave's rep. So far, no comment.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez is still in the hospital with what seems to be a mystery illness.

Paul was rushed to George Washington University Hospital in D.C. on Thursday after complaining of severe abdominal pain. He was placed in ICU, where he remains.

Rodriguez is a leader in the California Latino Water Coalition and was in D.C. to lobby Congress. Mario Santoya, a fellow member of the organization who has been by his bedside, told TMZ a few minutes ago doctors still don't know what is ailing Paul. They're doing tests, he said.

Santoya says they have taken the tubes out of Paul's nose but he's still in bad pain. Doctors will continue to do tests and he's expected to be hospitalized for a few more days, minimum.

Sean Penn went ballistic on a paparazzo this afternoon -- and we've learned the photog just filed a police report against the actor.

The cameraman -- Jordan Dawes (not a TMZ guy) -- is accusing Penn of battery after a confrontation near the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles, where Sean had just eaten lunch.

Penn was seen kicking and hitting the photographer on a side-street multiple times before leaving.

We've learned Alexsandra Wright filed the case in L.A. County Superior Court. Wright lives in L.A. -- she works in the name-branding business. We're told she's in her late 30s.

Wright, who is 6-months pregnant, filed the case last week, alleges Knowles is the father. Sources say Wright is repped by Neal Hersh, who is currently repping Lamar Odom in the prenup negotiations with Khloe Kardashian.

Mathew has been married to Tina Knowles since 1980.

Mathew could not be immediately reached for comment. Ditto Neal Hersh.

Ryan's father Dan refuses to believe his son murdered Jasmine and has hired a private investigator.

Jenkins was found hanged in his room at the Thunderbird Motel in British Columbia on August 23.

Nicolas Cage is being sued for going south on a big fat loan.

East West Bank claims it extended Cage a $2 million line of credit in August 2007. The bank claims he agreed to pay $11,590 per month. The bank says he missed his payment in May 2009. He missed June as well, they claim.

And July. And August. And September.

The bank is now invoking its right to call the entire balance due, stat.

Doctors haven't figured out exactly what's wrong with comedian Paul Rodriguez -- who's in ICU right now with severe abdominal pains.

Mario Santoya -- who works with Paul at the California Latino Water Coalition -- tells us Paul is in stable condition at George Washington University Hospital in D.C., but has been forced to take pain medication while doctors try and pinpoint the cause of his illness.

Mario says multiple tests and x-rays have been performed on Paul since he was rushed to the hospital yesterday -- but to no avail.

As we first reported, Mario found Paul -- who had been throwing up the night before -- immobilized by pain in his hotel room yesterday and was forced to call an ambulance.

As we first reported, we expect some family members along with attorney Brian Oxman and possibly Katherine Jackson's lawyers, to challenge John Branca as the named co-executor in Jackson's will. We're told they have a document showing Jackson fired Branca. It's true, Jackson fired the lawyer several times over 29 years, but Jackson rehired Branca a week before his death.

The judge will be all ears at 1:30 PM PT when the parties discuss how well Jackson's 3 kids are doing with the guardianship.

By the way, when asked about Branca, Joe said, "Mr. Who?"

According to the divorce settlement agreement he signed with ex-wife Patty Montet in 2004, the "48 Hours" producer was required to pay $6,800 a month in child and spousal support for three years. That amount was reduced to $5,966.66 in May 2007.

Their house was sold and the proceeds divided during the divorce. And the credit card bills, totaling approximately $13,500, were split down the middle. Halderman agreed to pay for the unreimbursed medical bills for his two children. He was also required to maintain life insurance.

The agreement also provided that the court would have the power to order payment of the children's college education by either parent. One of the children is now 18 -- college age. The other child is 11.

The wife -- Patty Montet -- filed for divorce on grounds the marriage was "broken down irretrievably."