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Charles Van Doren, perhaps the most infamous TV game show contestant ever -- and the subject of an Oscar-nominated movie -- died Tuesday at his Connecticut retirement home ... according to his family.

Charles famously admitted cheating on the NBC game show, "Twenty-One," back in the 1950s. He actually testified before Congressional investigators and said the games were rigged. It was a huge scandal because prime time game shows were enormously popular back then ... drawing up to 50 million viewers.

Robert Redford directed the 1994 movie, "Quiz Show" -- with Ralph Fiennes playing Van Doren -- about the cheating scandal. The movie earned 4 Oscar nominations and 4 Golden Globes nominations.

Van Doren won $129,000 -- which would be more than $1 million today -- but later told Congress he had been given the questions and answers in advance. He also said he was coached up on how to create more drama as he pondered his answers on the show.

Although he was from a very prominent and wealthy Manhattan family ... Van Doren was disgraced after the cheating scandal. He went on to become an editor for Encyclopedia Britannica and wrote a few books.

He'd been living in the retirement community for several years before his death.

Miley Cyrus was so overcome with emotion at the memorial service for one of her favorite 'Voice' contestants ... she couldn't fight back the tears.

Miley attended the Celebration of Life for Janice Freeman Monday at Mariners Church in Irvine ... where she poured her heart out and honored the former 'Voice' singer. You see Miley break down but she still manages to get a laugh when she says, "I was never her coach, ever. She was always mine."

Before surrendering the stage to her dad, Billy Ray, who led a rousing rendition of "Amazing Grace" ... Miley had some touching words for Janice, whom Miley was paired up with during season 13 of "The Voice."

Miley said, "I've learned more from her than anyone that I've ever gotten the honor to be in the room with, not just vocally, I should've gotten more lessons than I did, but she taught me everything that I know about love."

She went on to say, "And, to be here, and I had planned on singing a song for her, but just losing her is just too much for me. So ... my dad's gonna take care of this for me. But, I'll always be your sister, I'm here for you, and I'm here for your family, and Janice I'll miss you more than I could ever say."

Miley joined her dad in song.

Michael Carbonaro might need to pull a rabbit out of his hat -- or from behind the counter -- 'cause he's heading to trial for allegedly screwing over the lady who created the idea for his hit TV magic show.

Carbonaro was sued in 2015 by producer Beth Einhorn, when she claimed he'd broken a verbal agreement that she says they struck in 2012, to create a show based on the popular 'Tonight Show' skit called "Magic Clerk" ... which she wrote and he starred in.

Best of Magic Clerk from Trickster Productions on Vimeo.

Einhorn claims she and Carbonaro entered into a 50/50 verbal contract to produce a spin-off series based on "Magic Clerk," which she says they called "TrickShow." It would've been similar in premise -- a hidden camera show where in-store hijinks fool customers.

Fast-forward to 2014 ... Einhorn says she discovered Michael suddenly had his own show, "The Carbonaro Effect" ... which Beth says is an exact duplicate of what they allegedly agreed to produce together. Einhorn claims Carbonaro peddled the show as his own thing ... without crediting or paying her a dime.

'TCE' went on to be a huge hit on truTV, and now the 2015 lawsuit is heading to a jury trial, which starts Wednesday.

Tom Brokaw is offering a half-ass apology for going on national TV and expressing some pretty xenophobic thoughts on the Hispanic community.

The iconic news anchor was on "Meet the Press" Sunday with a group of panelists, who were discussing what it would take to unite the country at this point. The convo weirdly went from the U.S. standing up to Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro to Brokaw offering his take on how the GOP is grappling with a rising Latinx electorate.

Brokaw said one of the issues that's affecting the GOP these days -- according to people who confide in him, apparently -- is that they're worried the U.S. is becoming flooded with Hispanic voters, who by and large register as Democrats.

Then the xenophobia ... Brokaw said conservative folks have expressed fear of having "brown grandbabies" due to interracial couples. He piggybacked on that sentiment with his own two cents ... saying the Hispanic community should "work harder" at assimilating in this country -- namely, by speaking English and making everyone else comfortable.

The backlash was swift on social media ... and Tom followed up later Sunday by saying he felt terrible if part of his comments offended anyone in "that proud culture," adding that he's worked hard to knock down false stereotypes over the course of his career.

He finished by reiterating his point about both sides needing to work to find common ground -- but a lot of people took his statement as a de facto non-apology.

1:35 PM PT -- The store owners tell us Chris sent them a check on Monday for the full amount he owed them. And yes, this time they made sure the check cleared before informing prosecutors.

Chris Hansen is off the hook for allegedly bouncing checks -- which got him arrested in Connecticut -- because prosecutors dropped the charges ... TMZ has learned.

The former host of "To Catch a Predator" came up with the nearly $13,000 he owed to a mom-and-pop shop in Stamford, CT ... according to the court. As a result, prosecutors decided to drop the whole matter.

As we've reported ... Hansen was arrested and booked for larceny after allegedly bouncing 2 checks to the store owners.

Hansen’s attorney, Philip Russell, tells TMZ … Chris was in court Wednesday for a hearing, but he didn't have to plead to any charges after paying his debt in full.

As for when Hansen settled the tab, we'd assume he paid up after his arrest -- but when we posed that question to the court clerk we got a "no comment."

Chris Hansen's larceny arrest is no shocker to the people who funded his "To Catch a Predator" reboot -- they say Hansen came up short with them long before Johnny Law caught him.

The former host launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to start a new show about himself catching predators. His goal was $75k and he offered tiered prizes to anyone who donated.

Some of those prizes included the custom mugs and shirts Hansen got from the vendor in Connecticut -- and allegedly tried to pay for with 2 bounced checks ... leading to his arrest this week.

As it turns, out ... he apparently failed to deliver on the goods to a handful of his donors too, many of whom are furious. Chris' Kickstarter page is flooded with comments -- dating back years -- complaining about getting partial prizes, delayed prizes, or just bupkis.

$89k had been raised.

A rep for Kickstarter told us their policy is clear -- anyone who's got issues with a fundraising campaign has to take it up with the creator, and it's ALL on the creator to make things right.

Translation: Got beef? Talk to Hansen.

Megyn Kelly is keeping herself busy during her work furlough ... because she just reported for jury duty in New York, the first time in years she's had time to perform her civic duty.

The former NBC and Fox News host showed up Thursday morning at Manhattan Supreme Court, and she was ready for a long day ... Megyn was packing a couple newspapers, two crossword books, and an iPad with "Crazy Rich Asians" on deck.

We're guessing she's been hitting the gym in her downtime, too ... sounds like one heavy purse!

As you know ... Megyn hasn't been on the air since October, when she was ousted from NBC for her blackface remarks.

Megyn was in a joking mood even before she showed up to the courthouse. Of course, you can really take advantage of funemployment when you're raking in around $35 million.

Watch ... Megyn says she hasn't served on a jury in forever, and she drops another hint about when she might return to TV.

Chris Hansen got the Chris Hansen treatment, sort of, when Connecticut cops confronted him and then busted him ... for bouncing checks.

The former host of "To Catch a Predator" was arrested Monday in Stamford for larceny. Cops say he failed to pay a local vendor nearly $13,000 for stuff he'd purchased in 2017 ... and allegedly gave the guy the runaround with 2 bounced checks.

According to Stamford PD, Chris bought 355 mugs, 288 t-shirts and 650 vinyl decals from a mom-and-pop shop in town for marketing events he planned to attend. The owner says the goods were delivered, but Chris bailed on his $12,998.05 tab.

The owner says after the first check bounced, he threatened to go to cops. Chris allegedly offered to make 4 partial payments, but the owner rejected that deal.

Chris then bounced a second check, and begged for more time. The owner claims Chris sent emails saying he was selling his boat to come up with the cash, but a check -- a good one -- never came ... and a warrant was issued for Chris' arrest.

He turned himself in Monday, and was booked and released from jail.

Megyn Kelly says 2019 will be a momentous year ... she'll be back on the air, and she's ready to take the plunge with a new pooch.

Megyn was out and about with hubby Doug Brunt Thursday night in NYC, and the way she put it ... it sounds like she knows where she's heading.

As we reported, Megyn struck a huge settlement with NBC after they took her off the air ... we're told around $35 million.

And, there's another big turn for 2019. Megyn's ready to dive back into the world of dogs, after her 14-year-old Shih Tzu, Basha, died last year. She's definitely in the market, although Doug seems tentative.

Sen. Joe Manchin thinks folks should really tune in to President Trump's televised address to the nation on the border "crisis" ... even if that means screwing over Ellen DeGeneres.

We got the West Virginia Senator Tuesday in D.C., where our photog asked how Trump's border address later in the evening would measure up to Ellen's 'Game of Games' ... and which one should take precedent for the American people.

Translation: which broadcast will be sillier and have more entertainment value -- Trump or Ellen? Perhaps unsurprisingly, Manchin says DT's the one to watch tonight.

Trump and the Dems can't come to a resolution to fund the border wall, which is why the federal government is in day 18 of a partial shutdown. So, Manchin's right ... there's a lot riding on Trump's speech tonight.

The Prez tweeted he'd be addressing the nation about the "Humanitarian and National Security crisis" at the border.

Trump's address starts at 9 PM ET, so on the east coast it'll creep into hour 2 of Ellen's NBC broadcast, and your fave programs on other networks -- looking at you, "Black-ish."

Pete Davidson was a man of few words on 'SNL' Saturday night ... literally.

Pete introduced Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson, and that was all she wrote. He never appeared before or after on the show.

Check out the vid ... Pete sounds down and troubled, which comes as no surprise ... after he posted a message earlier in the day sounding like he was seriously contemplating suicide. It was so serious, Ariana Grande came running to 30 Rock where Pete was rehearsing.

'SNL' production sources tell TMZ ... there's a reason Pete was hardly on the show ... he didn't show up for dress rehearsal, so he was cut out of some of the sketches.

We're told he stayed in his dressing room for most of the show, wearing pajamas. And, we're told, at one point during a commercial, Pete smiled and asked a cast member, "Can I just give you a hug?" We're told the cast member obliged.

After the show, Pete and Machine Gun Kelly were in the same SUV, dropping MGK off at his hotel. MGK said earlier in the day, "im in the plane now on the way to see Pete. gonna make sure he's good, i promise. can't have my boy in the darkness like that."

12:15 PM PT -- TMZ has learned Ariana Grande is at the 30 Rock building to see Pete if possible. She tweeted ... "I’m downstairs and I’m not going anywhere if you need anyone or anything. I know u have everyone u need and that’s not me, but i’m here too."

She also apologized for her "dumb joke" about Kanye and Drake's beef that led to the topic of mental health when Kanye went after her. She said ... "i really didn’t mean any harm. all i want everyone to be healthy and happy. so desperately. please. my god."

Grande also deleted her previous tweets about "triggering" Kanye and commenting on mental health.

11:58 AM PT -- Pete has made numerous comments on social media in the past about suicidal thoughts to varying degrees. He has now wiped all of that clean by deleting his Instagram account. Sources close to Pete tell TMZ ... they believe his emotional turmoil has escalated recently and are very worried about him.

11:43 AM PT -- Multiple sources have told us Pete is at 'SNL' rehearsing for tonight's show. It's bizarre, but it seems like he may have posted his ominous note while he was at work or on the way in.

11:25 AM PT -- NYPD tells TMZ ... it received a flurry of calls from fans worried about Pete, so they've sent officers out to find him to do a welfare check.

Machine Gun Kelly tweeted about the situation, saying he's on a plane to see Pete to make sure he's good.

Jon Cryer also just tweeted that he heard Davidson is at 'SNL' and accounted for.

Pete Davidson just shared a troubling and cryptic message ... implying he's having suicidal thoughts.

The 'SNL' star posted the note on Instagram, saying ... "i really don't want to be on this earth anymore. i'm doing my best to stay here for you but i actually don't know how much longer i can last."

It's unclear to whom Pete's directing his words, but he adds ... "all i've ever tried to do was help people. just remember i told you so."

Davidson's message seems to be a cry for help -- just minutes before he posted it he responded to Kanye West going after his ex, Ariana Grande, by commending Ye for speaking about against mental health issues.

He said ... "I can't explain to you enough how difficult and scary it is to be honest about stuff like this."

Just 2 weeks ago, Davidson went off on online trolls for harassing and bullying him, telling them he wouldn't kill himself no matter how hard they tried to get him to. Ariana responded not long afterward, telling her fans to "be gentler" with Pete and others ... saying she cares deeply about him and his health.

As you know, it's been a turbulent year for Pete. He got engaged to Grande and then they split, and he also had to deal with a controversy on 'SNL' for making a joke about a wounded vet.

Speaking of 'SNL' ... there's an all-new episode tonight with host Matt Damon and musical guests Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson. We did some checking, and it doesn't look like Pete was featured in any of the promos this week. It's unclear if he'll show up for work tonight.

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb can't seem to decide who has more word in choosing a replacement for KLG on the "Today" show ... but it's definitely one of them.

We got the NBC morning show anchors Wednesday in NYC, the day after Kathie announced she's leaving "Today" at the end of her 11th year. Our photog asked who's in line to fill Kathie's shoes, and she enthusiastically says, "Whoever Hoda wants, Hoda gets."

For her part, Hoda played it coy, saying ... "This is all about KLG." Kathie immediately refutes that, though, but Hoda insists it is. It's like an Abbot and Costello bit here, really.

Our camera guy throws out Jenna Bush Hager as a possibility -- who's said to be in the running -- but Hoda and Kathie are definitely playing this close to the vest.

Kathie Lee Gifford is saying sayonara to the "Today" show ... after she reaches the 11-year mark.

Kathie Lee unveiled her play Tuesday on the show, and she and her co-host, Hoda Kotb, immediately dissolved into tears.

Kathie didn't say why she's leaving, but it's gotta be a blow to NBC. The 10 AM hour of "Today" was one of the most profitable shows for the network. It was doing consistently well, although it suffered a drop in rating during the Megyn Kelly tenure.

It's pretty remarkable ... Kathie was a phenom with Regis Philbin on their morning show, "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." After leaving that show in 2000, she took a break. It's almost impossible to recreate magic in a bottle, and there were doubters when she went to "Today," but she proved them wrong ... really wrong.

Her last day will be her 11-year anniversary on April 7, 2019 -- and she is leaving to pursue music, movie and TV opportunities.

Kathie started her career as the "singing girl" on "Name that Tune" in 1977.

The good news for the "Deal or No Deal" contestant who gambled and lost BIG -- his wife's not divorcing him ... however, he's fully in his mom's doghouse for pissing away more than $300k.

ICYMI ... Luis Green had a chance to walk away with $333k during the show's holiday special Monday night. At that point, he had already passed up eight different bank offers. He stuck to his guns and went for broke ... and that's what he got. Damn near broke -- just $5, shocking everyone including Howie Mandel.

What the hell was he thinking? Luis told us he went full bore because he wanted to use the money to pay his mom's medical bills, pay off his mortgage. He also wanted to hand over some of the cash to his wife's parents.

Alec Baldwin must be feeling confident about the outcome of his attempted assault case in NYC ... 'cause he played it for laughs -- while playing President Trump -- on 'SNL.'

The opening skit was about Trump's anger over the Mueller probe and his ex-attorney Michael Cohen flipping. As Alec/Donald put it ... "God, I haven't been this upset since I flipped out over that parking space."

This was Alec's first appearance on the show since he got busted last month for trying to punch a guy who jacked his parking spot. Breaking character to poke fun at the case could be seen as a risky move.

Judges typically don't react well to that sort of thing -- however, the stakes ain't exactly high here. Alec's facing one count of attempted assault in the third degree, and one count of harassment in the second degree -- a misdemeanor and a ticket, basically.

Why not have some fun with it, right?

'SNL' also paid tribute to late President George H.W. Bush during the Weekend Update segment.

They pulled out some of Dana Carvey's best impressions of the 41st Prez -- including that memorable moment when they got the real Bush to challenge Carvey.