Exclusives

We assume she wasn't on the phone with Maria Shriver, who surely would have told Brandy about the consequences of driving while talking on a handheld.

According to the will, it was signed on July 7, 2002 at 5:00 PM in Los Angeles. Randy Jackson tells TMZ he has proof MJ was in New York from July 5 through July 9, on a campaign against Sony honcho Tommy Mottola, claiming Mottola had a thing against Black artists.

The lawyer for the estate, Howard Weitzman, tells TMZ the witnesses to the will were face-to-face with Jackson when he signed the document. Weitzman would not say if the will was signed in L.A., even though the document refers to Los Angeles.

The intimation -- the will may actually have been signed outside of L.A. even though it says Los Angeles.

The plot thickens.

UPDATE: TMZ spoke with Al Sharpton's rep, Rachel Noerdlinger, who confirms Sharpton and Jackson were protesting Mottola in NY together in 2002 on July 6th and July 9th.

As the for the key date -- July 7th -- Sharpton's rep released the following curious statement:

"We have reason to believe that Michael may have been in NY on the 7th and Rev. Sharpton will address this after he discusses it with the Jackson family."

One of the stars of "Smallville" was arrested this morning -- after cops say he was part of a conspiracy to deal more than 10,000 pills of oxycodone.

TMZ has learned Sam Jones, who played Clark Kent's best friend on the show, was taken into custody by DEA agents who claim Jones was a "co-conspirator" in a series of major drug deals in 2008.

According to documents filed in federal court, the DEA claims Jones was the "Hollywood connection" in a plot to illegally purchase and distribute the oxycodone.

Jones has been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute. He's due in federal court in L.A. later today.

If convicted, Jones faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Jon Gosselin may be on the hunt for a new lawyer soon, because we've learned the person who sponsored New York attorney Mark Heller to appear on Gosselin's behalf in Pennsylvania has formally made a motion with the court to withdraw his support.

Attorney Mike Marino filed his motion today, saying he wants to wash his hands of the whole case. Marino told us he had never had contact with Heller until Mr. Heller found him in a legal directory, cold called him and asked Marino to sponsor him for a one-time-only case -- Jon vs. Kate.

Marino says he had never heard of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" when he agreed to sponsor Heller. As Marino put it, "I don't watch that kind of junk on TV."

The judge will schedule a hearing on Marino's motion. We also learned Marino sent the judge a letter last week requesting out of the whole case.

If Heller doesn't find a new sponsor, he can't practice in PA.

Stay tuned ...

Palatas -- who had been working with the saw at his house in Northridge, CA back in September -- made the frantic call himself ... telling the dispatcher he "cut it all the way down to the bone ... I must have cut a half-inch off my finger ... I'm bleeding quite badly."

When the dispatcher asks Palatas if he's breathing normally, the actor replies: "I'm trying to keep it as normal as possible, sir, it hurts like f**k!!" Palatas was eventually taken to the hospital and sewn up.

We give this call two mangled thumbs up.

The couple married in August, 2007. They have two small kids together.

A source connected with the couple tells TMZ Usher signed the divorce papers in August, but the change in the court file occurred today.

UPDATE: TMZ spoke with Tameka's lawyer who tells us despite what the court record says, "The case being 'disposed' is incorrect.'"

A rep for Tameka adds, "They are still married."

The world saw Flake, 46, flex his muscles earlier this month after he embarked on a seven-day vacation on a deserted island in the Pacific -- and shared photos of his solo trip with the Washington Post (below left).

Though Flake told us yesterday in D.C. Schock, 28, would probably beat him in a bench press competition, what we really want to know is ...

Rumpus, who was featured in the videos for Poker Face, Love Game and Paparazzi, was found dead earlier this month after a hike in Los Angeles. But Rumpus' owner, Suzzane Kelleher-Duckett, tells TMZ the champion show dog had no signs of injury and appeared to be in perfect health.

An autopsy was performed a few days ago -- results are expected soon.

Rumpus was supposed to appear in Gaga's upcoming video for "Bad Romance" -- but we're told only Rumpus' mother Lava (pictured left) will now do the gig.

R.I.P. Rumpus.
2004-2009

UPDATE: The MJ Show just posted the email exchange they had with Gosselin's rep. Click here to read it.

Jon Gosselin sincerely believes his time and energy is worth somewhere around $12,000-per hour -- because that's how much he's demanding to appear on a Florida radio show.

TMZ spoke with the host of Tampa's MJ Morning Show who told us he contacted Gosselin's rep in the hopes of booking the reality star to guest co-host the show for one morning.

The radio show offered two first class round trip plane tickets, limo service and a "first class" hotel room -- but that wasn't enough to seal the deal.

Gosselin's rep requested an "appearance fee ... in the 10-12K range."

Team Gosselin justified the amount by saying, "[Jon's] name and appearance on your show will instantly draw press ... and will be a high point for the show." The rep also describes Gosselin as "quite funny, sharp witted and interesting."

The radio host tells us he "fell out of his chair" when he read the demand. Looks like Jon will have to go back to "Entertainment Something" to lock down that kind of money.

The guy who played Yeah-Yeah in the movie "The Sandlot" has officially changed his tune in his domestic battery case -- finally fessing up to smacking around his girlfriend back in April.

Marty York had originally entered a not guilty plea when he first faced the judge back in April -- and York's GF announced that she had forgiven him.

But Friday in L.A. County Superior Court, a judge wasn't as understanding -- and sentenced the former child actor to 60 days in jail, five years of probation, and 52 weeks of counseling.

Bet he won't go by the name "Yeah-Yeah" behind bars...

Michael Jackson's estate lawyers want the judge to lay down the law once and for all ... John Branca and John McClain have broad powers to make decisions for all things MJ.

The attorneys filed legal papers today asking the court to put in writing what the judge said earlier this month -- outlining what Branca and McClain have authority to do as Special Administrators.

The judge gave the duo broader powers than they had initially -- but lawyers for Katherine Jackson have kicked up some dust.

During the call, Richard tells the operator his 6-year-old boy is in the aircraft and asks, "What do you do in a case like this ... how the heck am I gonna get him down?"

It was inked about an hour ago. Both Khloe and Lamar were together when they put pen to paper.

As we first reported, under the terms of the deal, Lamar keeps the $33 million salary he could make with the Lakers. Lamar will fund the joint account and give Khloe an annual lump sum that remains static throughout the marriage.

And, for good measure, Lamar agreed to pay for the home they plan to buy.

Richard Heene had a well-documented criminal history with a common thread -- going ballistic under pressure.

First of all, we've now found three criminal cases against Balloon Dad. In 1984, Heene was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon -- a gun -- and received three years probation.

In 1991, in San Bernardino, CA., Heene was arrested for corporal injury on a spouse. It appears he was not convicted.

Now get this ... we broke the story yesterday that in 1997 Heene pled no contest to vandalism and spent four days in jail. Wait 'til you hear what happened.

Heene, a contractor at the time, had an employee who didn't get paid. The employee went to Heene's home to get his $300 and an argument ensued.

We're told Heene got physical with the guy inside the house, the employee walked out and Heene gave him $140 of the $300 he owed. The employee, Benito Ortiz, was dissatisfied and the argument continued.

According to the arrest report, Heene got in his pickup truck, backed up and apparently tried to hit the dude. The employee got out of harm's way and Heene struck the employee's VW.

After hitting the VW, Heene pulled forward several feet, then put the vehicle back in reverse and collided again with Ortiz.

But wait, there's more. Heene did it a third time.

Finally, Heene parked, got out of his truck, picked up a wooden beam, held it over his head and screamed at Ortiz, "Get the f**k away."

Heene later told cops .... during the conflict Ortiz struck him, he became "incoherent" and didn't know what happened next.

In addition to four days in jail, Heene was sentenced to house arrest and ordered to pay $100 in restitution.

Michael Jackson's former lawyer wants $3 million from the singer's estate -- he also wants an apology.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, attorney Sidney Lanier represented Jackson in several cases.

Lanier claims he repped MJ in a hotly contested case in 2005 involving former porn king and Jackson confidant Marc Schaffel. After the case, Jackson refused to pay the lawyer's fee and filed a lawsuit against Lanier claiming fraud.

Lanier alleges as a result of Jackson's suit, his reputation was sullied all over town. He claims Jackson put him through "two years of expensive, stressful litigation and ridicule..."

Lanier even goes as far as to say that he wishes Jackson hadn't died because he "wanted him to apologize for his action against me; because of his tragic death that can never happen."

Kourtney told the dispatcher she thinks the burglars who stole her jewelry entered through the back door.