Gossip / Rumors

Katharine McPhee can't keep her hands off her co-workers ... but it's not a director this time ... it's her new show's leading man.

McPhee was on set Thursday getting handsy with Elyes Gabel, her co-star in the upcoming CBS series, "Scorpion." Unlike her last on-set romance ... Gabel's not married and she's getting divorced.

You'll remember ... photos surfaced of McPhee locking lips with "Smash" director Michael Morris in October 2013. McPhee was married to Nick Cokas (though she claims they were separated) and Morris was married to actress Mary McCormack (they're still together).

Her next project will be interesting ... what the hell will she do if she co-stars with Neil Patrick Harris?

Something's fishy with Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett ... in the wake of the rumored marriage problems ... we got them on vacation together and it doesn't appear to be for show.

They were eating at a cozy beachside restaurant in Costa Rica Friday ... and the person who snapped the pic says there was no evidence of animosity ... quite the opposite.

The photog tells us they happily ate their meal with the fam without a single reality show camera in sight. Translation: They weren't putting up a front.

It doesn't track with the new trailer for their show ... where Kendra claims she flushed her wedding ring down the toilet after Hank reportedly had an affair with a transexual or two.

So, we gotta ask ...

The couple that go-kart's together, stays together ... so infer Jay Z and Beyonce.

Bey posted a series of pics on her website Friday showing her, Jay Z and Blue Ivy at a Torrance, CA indoor go-kart racing track.

Yonce and Hova are only together in one photo ... Jay is sitting in a go-kart behind his wife as she looks fierce in her driver's seat.

Barry White would be proud ... Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez can't get enough of their love -- TMZ has learned they're back on for the umpteenth time.

Sources close to Jelena tell TMZ ... the two are trying to work things out. We're told they even went to church together Wednesday night, and they're "trying to be better people."

Not coincidentally, Bieber posted a Bible verse on Instagram the next day that read, "After you have suffered a little while, God will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you."

They were also spotted at the movies earlier this week and Justin posted (and quickly deleted) a photo that appeared to show Selena kissing his cheek.

Yes ... we're getting ready for a "Justin and Selena Break Up" story. Again.

Kendall Jenner claims she's been defamed by a waitress who said the 18-year-old threw money in her face ... and she's threatening to sue.

TMZ has obtained a letter from Kendall's lawyer, admitting Jenner was indeed at Mercer Kitchen last week and that she accidentally skipped out on the bill.

But legal pitbull Marty Singer says the rest of the waitress' story is a pack of lies. The waitress tweeted she chased Kendall down the street to get the money and Jenner threw it in her face.

Singer says in the letter ... what actually happened was that the waitress did come up to her outside but Jenner was "extremely apologetic" and gladly paid what she owed -- $33, plus a $7 tip ... which she "politely handed" to her.

Singer says, "Although you are working as a waitress at Mercer Kitchen, I understand you are also a struggling actress," adding, "You no doubt concocted a fictionalized account of your encounter with my client in order to create publicity for yourself."

Ramona Singer -- who stars in "Real Housewives of New York City" -- has gone to the NYPD ... claiming her estranged husband's mistress has been stalking her ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Ramona called 911 Wednesday afternoon, claiming the woman had followed her to a restaurant.

Ramona revealed last week she was leaving hubby Mario Singer, although she didn't say why. Other members of the cast dimed Mario to the media ... at least they alleged he was cheating.

But now we know ... Singer herself believes Mario was cheating, and for some reason she believes the mistress is obsessed with her.

George Clooney and fiancée Amal Alamuddin were snuggling and kissing at dinner in Lake Como, Italy last week -- and some people think she was hiding something under the table ... as in a baby!

The inevitable prego rumors were sparked by another photo of Amal getting on a boat ... where there appears to be a bump. Could just be the wind though.

Then again, a baby might explain why Clooney -- the bachelor-for-life poster boy -- is suddenly walking down the aisle again.

Just sayin' ...

Fugitive from justice Columbus Short lied when he claimed the guy he knocked out in an L.A. bar had it coming because he slapped his wife ... fact is, Columbus confessed to the guy IN WRITING.

You'll recall ... Columbus was arrested in March after sucker punching a guy during an engagement party at a West L.A. sports bar. The guy ended up in the hospital with a concussion and broken nose.

Columbus spoke out last month ... claiming he punched the guy in defense of his wife, because the man was taunting the "Scandal" star's wife, slapping her in the face with $20 bills.

But we've obtained a text message Columbus sent to the guy he hit ... sent the very same night of the incident. Columbus wrote, "I know im texting and incriminating myself but I have to own what I did wrong in that situation."

Columbus goes on, "Im so sorry and completely disappointed in myself," adding, "Whether I go to jail or not that will be the worst punishment of all. Losing you guys."

Nicole Murphy was mum Thursday on her breakup with Michael Strahan ... but she had a lot to say about her new passion -- moscato.

Nicole was leaving the W Hotel in Hollywood Thursday when she shut down questions about her breakup -- which some are calling a revenge breakup.

But Nicole was unstoppable when it came to talking about the wine she's promoting.

CBS honcho Les Moonves is normally a straight shooter, but he carefully danced around the rumors he's picked a new host of "The Late Late Show."

Moonves and his wife, Julie Chen, were leaving Madeo Tuesday night when our photog grilled him over reports 35-year-old British actor James Corden would be taking the reigns once Craig Ferguson leaves. Reading between the lines the rumors sound .... tru-ish

And our photog asked ... what's the deal with foreigners having a lock on the 12:30 AM timeslot?

Moonves also has a strong opinion about the cast of "The Big Bang Theory" getting a huge raise.

There are reports out that Jennifer Garner is pregnant with her 4th kid. Too bad for the 4th non-existent kid, because she's not pregnant.

Garner's rep, Meredith O'Sullivan tells TMZ, she is NOT pregnant.

Nicole Murphy had a secret romantic fling in the Caribbean with former NBA star Jim Jackson in early July -- the exact same time she says she suspected Michael Strahan of cheating on her.

TMZ has obtained photos of Nicole and Jim at the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton in Puerto Rico, where they stayed from July 7 through July 10.

You see them in a cabana on the beach ... and they got very snuggly. People at the hotel tell us they were hugging, kissing ... definitely affectionate.

Sources close to the exes tell us ... Nicole had gone to P.R. with some girlfriends, and just happened to run into Jim -- an old friend -- and even though they "hung out" ... it was nothing serious.

We're told Michael knew Nicole was taking the trip with her GFs, but was not aware anything went on with Jackson.

We're told Nicole now says she and Michael were "on a break" when she hooked up with Jackson -- but she did not feel the relationship was over.

Former NBAer Delonte West is part of the most infamous rumor perhaps in all of sports history ... and he says that is the reason he didn't name his son after him.

For the uninformed ... back in 2010, in the middle of the NBA playoffs, a rumor emerged saying that Delonte had sex with LeBron James' mother Gloria. There was never any proof, but LeBron played so poorly once the rumor came to light ... it never fully died.

In an interview with Vice Sports, West says avoided naming his son after him because he didn't want him to be tagged with the LeBron rumor all his life.

Robin Thicke was not cavorting with a chick on Lake Perris when he was supposed to be performing a concert ... he was with his son and his nanny.

There have been a slew of reports the chick might be Robin's new girl. But we've learned it's not. Robin, we're told, isn't dating anyone and has no interest in getting back on the saddle ... at least for now. He still wants Paula back ... but he knows it's probably not gonna happen.

As for why Thicke canceled his Indiana concert and hung out on the lake ... we're told he was having vocal issues, so he decided to make the most of a bad situation and spend time with his kid.

"Star Trek: Voyager" actor Robert Picardo says he way too old to experiment with Bill Nye the Science Guy ... in the bedroom.

Picardo is asking a judge to stop his soon-to-be ex-wife from spreading rumors he's in a gay relationship with Nye.

The actor says in court docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Linda Pawlik lured him over to her house on July 4th by falsely telling him the family dog was missing. While he was there, he claims Linda had a P.I. attach a GPS device to his car.

Days later ... Linda started telling family friends the P.I. reported back that Picardo and Nye spent 3 hours together in Nye's bedroom, which she believes is proof of an affair.

Picardo says in docs, "I'd made it to 60 without having sex with a man and a 'walk on the wild side' at this age seemed unlikely to anyone who knows me."

The actor acknowledges he and Nye have been friends for years and have taken many pics together ... but he says it's purely platonic.

Jay Z and Beyonce might be crazy in love or they might be headed for a split, but R&B star Akon says the fact they have always kept their relationship private is what has led to so much speculation.

Akon was in D.C. Monday and was super open to our photog about celebrity relationships ... particularly Jay and Bey. What he says is really interesting.

Akon feels the mega-couple always presented their relationship to the public as more of a business than a real relationship. He says famous people need to be open with their fans about their relationships or else they invite the kind of rumors that have dogged Jay Z and Beyonce lately.