Exclusives

Kid Cudi has finally apologized to the guy he allegedly socked at a concert last year -- and blamed the whole thing on too much drinky drinky, this according to the self-proclaimed punchee.

Michael Sharpe -- the man who claims Cudi's fist connected with his face during a December show in Vancouver -- tells TMZ the rapper called him up last weekend to finally apologize, and blamed the knuckle sandwich on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol.

Sharpe said Cudi also offered to fly him out to New York for an all-expenses paid weekend -- but so far, nothing is set in stone.

We reached out to Kid Cudi for comment -- so far, radio silence.

Vinny was supposed to host the "Kiss Away Cancer Date Auction" today but was grounded in Los Angeles due to the snowstorms ripping up the NE ... so he sent a video message instead.

During the clip, Vinny says he's bummed out that he got "detained" but swears that if the Yalies can raise $4,000, he'll do "whatever it takes" to come out to New Haven and party in the next few months.

Sources tell TMZ the sons -- Duane Lee and Leland -- claim Beth Chapman recently fired them from the family business -- Da Kine Bail Bonds -- because she was enraged that the boys started a side-business -- an apparel company called CHAPBROS.

But the company that produces Dog's show sees it very differently. Our sources say the production company claims the two boys quit the bail bond business and cut all ties with their family. The production company's lawyers fired off a letter yesterday to the two boys -- they have 48 hours to come back into the fold ... or they're fired from the show.

It's like a grown-up version of "Jon & Kate Plus 8."

UPDATE: A rep for Dog and Beth Chapman tells TMZ Dog and Beth never fired Duane Lee and Leland from the family business ... they quit. The rep adds the two sons also refused to show for the TV tapings.

J. Michael Flanagan tells TMZ Dr. Murray is a man of "humble means who became very successful" and a jury will appreciate that.

Flanagan also told us the defense team has received a summary of the official investigation, but he says the L.A. County District Attorney's Office has informed Murray's lawyers it will take several weeks before the D.A. gives them a copy of the full file.

A composer who worked on a variety of Michael Jackson projects -- including "Black or White," "Dangerous: The Short Films," and "Ghosts" -- has filed a creditor's claim against Michael Jackson's estate.

Bradley Buxer, who played keyboards for Jackson on "The Dangerous Tour," wants $47,839.73 for "music development, production and performance."

Captain Phil Harris -- star of Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" -- died about an hour ago* ... sources tell TMZ.

Harris was hospitalized a few weeks ago after suffering a stroke while unloading crabs. He had been doing better until the sudden turn.

Captain Harris died in a hospital in Alaska. He was 53.

Harris' kids, Jake and Josh, tell TMZ, "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad, Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers."

*This post originally went up last night at 11:45 PM ET

Kobe is the poster boy on a flier touting him as the host of a party at NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas. The catch: The party is being thrown by Show Magazine -- a men's publication featuring scantily clad and topless women.

So why would Kobe -- who dodged a career-ending bullet in 2003 -- make a move that could potentially sully his resurrected image?

Kobe's camp isn't talking -- but reps from the magazine and the club where the party is set to go down each insist Kobe negotiated a fee and put his Hancock on a contract.

The owner of Show Magazine also claims he had to have the flier approved by the NBA before he could start distributing it around town.

As for the sexy models -- we're told some of the girls from the magazine will be appearing at the party in "sexy outfits."

Beau MacMillan -- one of the stars of Food Network's "Worst Cooks in America" -- was arrested in Arizona on Sunday for an outstanding warrant, but according to Beau ... it's all just a big misunderstanding.

Beau tells TMZ he was pulled over on Sunday in Scottsdale for failing to come to a complete stop at a red light, when cops noticed he had a warrant out for his arrest.

Turns out Beau was busted by a traffic enforcement camera back in January -- but he claims he never got the ticket in the mail because he just moved in to a new house.

Beau says he was in New York filming promos for the Food Network when he unknowingly missed his court date on February 2 -- so a misdemeanor warrant was issued for his arrest for failure to appear.

Beau says he was booked for the warrant and released within 20 minutes, and said, "You gotta keep it in under 55 in Arizona."

Beau's arrest was first reported by Scottsdale Arizona News.

Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima is now available as a stripper -- or at least that's what one exotic dancer delivery company wanted you to think.

A company called Hard Bodies Strippers started using an old photo of the lingerie model in their new Super Bowl themed advertisement -- and surprise, surprise ... she didn't sign off on it.

It appears Lima was just used for game day promos -- her image no longer appears on the company's site.

No comment from Lima's people.

Here's the deal: The real Bouchikhi (left) scheduled a performance for Thursday in Miami -- the very same night his alleged impostor Chico Castillo (right) is slated to perform just 9 miles away.

The super feud has been escalating since December when Bouchikhi filed a lawsuit against Castillo for trademark infringement and fraud -- after Castillo allegedly traveled around the world impersonating him on stage and in television interviews.

TMZ spoke to Chico B.'s rep, who told us Bouchikhi purposely wanted to perform a concert close to Castillo's show, "So that the public knows the real founding member of The Gipsy Kings."

Awww snap.

TMZ has obtained pics of the new tattoo Vinny was branded with last week -- which we're told took the "Jersey" boy and his tattoo artist 10 hours to come up with.

The new tattoo features a symbol based off the Sicilian Trinacria -- a symbol of the Italian island -- and a statue of an angel.

Shockingly, there's no barbed wire anywhere in Vinny's new tat.

Joe claims a published photo of an already dead Michael Jackson is an invasion of the family's privacy. As we first reported, although Joe didn't name the news outlet, "Entertainment Tonight" aired a photo of Jackson -- whom paramedics believed was already dead -- as he was taken into an ambulance from his home.

Joe's lawyer, Brian Oxman, asked the judge last Friday to dislodge MJ's UCLA medical records so he can prepare the lawsuit.

But in papers filed today, estate lawyer Howard Weitzman claims Oxman is all wet -- that Oxman misstated the law in legal docs and that UCLA medical records are totally irrelevant to a death photo lawsuit.

Tila says a stranger in a gray car was parked outside her house -- someone she claims has been there off and on for the past two weeks.

TMZ infiltrated the taping of the final "Jay Leno Show" -- where just moments ago, Jay was doing a satellite bit with Donald Trump. At the end of the bit, His Hairness sent Jay on his way the only way he knows how -- "You're Fired!"

We're told everyone laughed -- including Jay.

Steven Jackson, the starting running back for the St. Louis Rams, is officially off the hook after his baby mama accused him of beating her while she was 9 months pregnant with his child.

Las Vegas police tell us there's simply not enough evidence to move forward with the case.

Cops say they spoke with Supriya Harris, Jackson and witnesses before closing the case.

You'll recall Liborio Molina socked Perez outside of a club in Toronto back in June -- so Perez sued Molina but today lawyers were in court and announced a confidential settlement.

Our sources say as part of the settlement, Molina will donate money to charity.