Bart Johnson 'High School Musical' Killed My Career ... Sort Of

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BLESSING IN DISGUISE

"High School Musical" was a slam dunk hit for Disney 20 years ago, but not for Bart Johnson -- who played Coach Bolton -- because he tells TMZ the movie f***** up his career at first!

It may be hard to believe, but Johnson tells us his acting career took a turn for the worse despite his skyrocketing fame as Zac Efron's on-screen dad and East High's head basketball coach in 'HSM.'

Check out our clip ... Bart tells TMZ he was "put out to pasture" for being a dad in a Disney movie, and it took a whole decade to get his career back on track.

Claudia Jordan, Shanna Moakler Steven Seagal Offered Massages During Sham Auditions

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Claudia Jordan and Shanna Moakler have a similar audition horror story ... because they both claim Steven Seagal took them into a room and told them to undress for a massage on separate occasions.

Claudia and Shanna came out swinging Wednesday on the first episode of their new "Wicked Awesome" podcast ... claiming Steven tried to mix business with pleasure when they were younger.

As the women tell it, Steven extended an invite for an audition at his home ... and when they arrived, in different instances, they say he got them alone in a room and offered a massage.

Shanna claimed when she was 18 years old Steven flew her from New York to Los Angeles for an audition ... and while she was at his home, he told her he was a "sensei" who could fix her back with acupuncture.

CJ Franco Hosts TMZ Brunch Bus 'Love on the Spectrum's Abbey Takes Over ... Hannah Montana Style!!!

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CJ TAKES OVER!!!

You literally never know what will happen on a TMZ Brunch Bus tour! While "FBoy Island" star CJ Franco was hosting, "Love on the Spectrum" star Abbey Romeo boarded the bus ... as a passenger!

That's right ... Abbey may be a breakout favorite from one of Netflix's premier shows, but she wanted to get a tour of Hollywood just like any other tourist while she was in town.

But she didn't take a backseat for long.

'Scream' Star Scott Foley Knife to See Neve & David Return

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Scott Foley is pumped he got to work with Neve Campbell and David Arquette again on the upcoming 'Scream 7' movie ... and we got him on video signing a deadly object.

We caught up with the 'Scream' star Wednesday in New York City as he was being hounded for photos and autographs ... and our photog asked him about Neve's return to the slasher franchise.

Scott reprises his 'Scream 3' character, Roman Bridger, in the new flick, and Neve is back as Sidney Prescott after skipping 'Scream 6' ... and Scott tells us it was great to reconnect with Neve and David, who is also back as Dewey Riley, after missing 'Scream 6' as well.

Blake Lively Tried to Save Taylor Swift Friendship Before Suing Baldoni

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Blake Lively basically bent over backwards to save her shaky relationship with Taylor Swift just before suing Justin Baldoni ... a move that may have ensured her most powerful ally was in her corner before launching this long and chaotic legal battle.

In a December 2024 text thread, obtained by TMZ, Blake awkwardly reached out to Taylor to check in because she "felt like a bad friend lately."

And Taylor just straight up agrees with her ... "You're not wrong," she wrote.

Good thing Blake reached out!

According to Taylor's texts, there had been a cold shift in the way Blake talked to her, which made Taylor feel more like an employee than a friend.

Travis Kelce Socials Filled W/ Taylor Comments ... Amid Baldoni Drama

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Travis Kelce's Instagram has become a meeting point for Taylor Swift discourse ... with folks flooding his comment section after his fiancée's texts about the Justin Baldoni drama were revealed.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end's phone had to have been buzzing due to Tuesday's development ... when legal documents, part of Blake Lively's deposition, suggested Swift may have been in on undermining Baldoni, even calling the actor a "bitch."

TMZ obtained the docs -- one of Swift's text messages, dated December 2024 and referencing Baldoni and a New York Times piece, said, "I think this bitch knows something is coming because he's gotten out his tiny violin."

Justin Baldoni's Lawyer 'Terrorist' Blake Lively's Lawsuit Won't Hold Up!!!

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Justin Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, is confident newly unsealed documents from Blake Lively's lawsuit against his client will end up clearing Baldoni's name ... especially in light of what a movie executive had to say about Blake.

Here's the deal ... newly filed legal docs show Sony Pictures executive Andrea Giannetti referred to Blake as a "f***ing terrorist" amid rising tensions on the "It Ends With Us" set.

Giannetti said she called Blake a "terrorist" in a comment to producer Jamey Heath ... lashing out at Blake after learning the actress threatened to walk away from the film unless a list of demands was met.

Taylor Swift To Blake Lively Baldoni's a Bitch With a Tiny Violin

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Taylor Swift is spinning the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni beef to look like she got betrayed by her former BFF, Blake ... but it looks like Taylor was all-in on crapping on Baldoni.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Taylor texted Blake in early December 2024, referencing Baldoni and the upcoming New York Times hit piece ... with Taylor texting, "I think this bitch knows something is coming because he's gotten out his tiny violin."

The text message was revealed Tuesday as part of Blake's unsealed deposition.

Bianca Censori Ass You Can See, I Shut Down Date Night With Ye!!!

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Bianca Censori wasn’t about to let Kanye West get distracted by Sydney Sweeney ... so she turned date night into a full runway show to catch "The Housemaid."

Check the pics ... Bianca nearly stole the spotlight outside an L.A. theater Tuesday night in a barely-there strapless bodysuit perched over a tiny bra top, doing overtime to keep everything contained.

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DATE NIGHT!!!

Bianca topped it off with sky-high, lace-up metallic heels that screamed "look at me" as she strutted along with Ye ... who was the polar opposite with a zero effort look.

Lizzo Shows Off Body Transformation at L.A. Premiere

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Lizzo looked like a dolled-up Barbie at the Los Angeles premiere of Paris Hilton's "Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir" documentary Tuesday night ... showing off her dramatic weight loss in a skin-tight dress!

Check out the pics -- the singer is radiating confidence in a curve-hugging light pink mini dress paired with bedazzled heels. She elevated the pretty 'n pink look with a pair of sparkling hoop earrings that brightened up the pink carpet thanks to her half-up, half-down hairstyle.

Lizzo looked like she had a grand ol' time at the premiere ... watching the doc seated next to Paris herself with Demi Lovato on the other side. Other A-listers supporting the night's star included Heidi Klum, Carmen Electra, and more -- just check out our gall!

Lively vs. Baldoni Taylor Swift Will Be Called as Hostile Witness in Trial

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A source connected to Justin's legal team tells TMZ ... it would be next to impossible to serve Taylor with a summons, and the text messages speak for themselves, so they won't need her as a witness.

Taylor Swift may have dodged depositions in Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, but she will 100% be called as a witness by Baldoni if the case goes to trial ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge told us ... given the now-clear involvement of Taylor Swift in the raging dispute between Baldoni and Lively, the singer will be called to the stand to download the jury.

What's more ... we're told Baldoni will call Swift as a hostile witness. Translation: Taylor clearly had a bias against Baldoni, so his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, can really put her on the hot seat by asking leading questions.

Timothy Busfield Released From Jail Pending Trial ... Huge Defeat for Prosecutors

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Timothy Busfield is a free man -- at least for now -- after his lawyer had the prosecutor on the ropes, arguing the whole case was rooted in revenge by angry parents.

Busfield and his lawyer appeared Tuesday afternoon before an Albuquerque judge, taking apart the prosecutors' evidence, piece by piece.

As we reported, Busfield has been charged with child sexual abuse, involving 2 boys who were part of the cast of "The Cleaning Lady" in 2022. Prosecutors claim Busfield touched them inappropriately.

'LOTR' Star Andy Serkis OG Cast Is Precious, Love 'Em For New Flick

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Andy Serkis is dropping hints about the cast for a new movie in 'The Lord of the Rings' franchise ... and it sounds like he went to bat to get the band back together.

We got the guy who plays Gollum in the 'LOTR' trilogy at LAX on Tuesday and asked about the new movie he's directing and starring in, "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum."

Andy's reprising his role as Gollum and Ian McKellen is returning as Gandalf, with Elijah Wood expected back as Frodo Baggins ... and while Andy didn't want to give too much away as far as cast, he did go on the record saying he "loved" the OG cast, which also featured Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom.

Blake Lively on Justin Baldoni He Humiliated Me With Nearly Nude Birth Scene

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Blake Lively says Justin Baldoni pushed for her to be practically nude for an "It Ends With Us" scene where she gives birth in a hospital ... and she says being spread-eagled on set with "barely covered genitalia" felt "violative and humiliating."

Excerpts from Blake's deposition from her legal war with Baldoni were unsealed Tuesday, and it's got a bunch of graphic details ... including her reaction to the nude birth scene, plus photos of her during the shoot with her bare legs spread wide open.

In her depo, Blake said on the day of the birth scene, Baldoni and 'IEWU' producer Jamey Heath insisted she simulate giving birth naked ... and she says Baldoni told her his wife tore her clothes off when giving birth to their children.

Blake says she told Baldoni she was never nude during the four times she gave birth to her kids, and she claims she requested her character wear a hospital gown ... the scene was set in a hospital.

Djimon Hounsou My Baby Mama Hit Me, Arrest Her!!!

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Djimon Hounsou told cops his baby mama hit him in the face after he told her to vacate his Atlanta townhouse ... and she's since been arrested for assault.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Djimon went to police back in December and claimed his ex-girlfriend Riza Simpson, with whom he shares two children, struck his face with a closed fist after he tried to kick her out of a residence he owns.

The Atlanta Police Department says Djimon told cops their kids were upstairs in the house when their mother allegedly hit their father ... and police say Djimon told them the children didn't see the alleged assault, but may have heard it.

Chris Pratt Have 'Mercy' on Us, A.I.!!!

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IS MY MOVIE PREDICTING THE FUTURE???

Chris Pratt plays a detective put on trial by an A.I. judge for his wife’s murder in his new flick, "Mercy" ... and he’s now sounding off on whether the real-life justice system could actually go that high-tech too.

We caught up with the Hollywood star in NYC Tuesday ... and when we asked if the way things are going means more artificial intelligence could start taking over in courtrooms, he made it crystal clear -- he seriously hopes not.

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SEE YA THERE!!!

Catch the clip ... 'cause Chris doesn’t give a straight yes-or-no as far as an official A.I. takeover ... but he does point out we’re already using way more artificial intelligence in our everyday lives than we even realize.

So hey, make of that what you will ... but to keep things light, he also dishes a little on the Super Bowl -- so catch that too!