Nickelodeon

Omar Gooding will learn all about mixology in 2014 ... specifically, that alcohol and driving don't mix.

The former host of "Wild & Crazy Kids" just pled no contest in his DUI case. As we first reported, Omar was busted back in August ... for DUI and weed possession.

Under the plea deal ... the DUI charges were dismissed. In return, Omar pled to one count of reckless driving.

As for consequences ... He won't go to jail, but will be placed on probation for 2 years. And Omar will learn all about the dangers of booze and BMWs in his alcohol ed course. He also must attend 12 Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics classes.

Nickelodeon star Drake Bell has a two-word message for his former co-star Amanda Bynes ... and he tells TMZ, he wants to deliver it personally just as soon as she's allowed to have visitors.

Bell -- who co-starred with Bynes on "The Amanda Show" from 1999 to 2001 -- was at LAX when he stopped to talk about Amanda ... and our story that she would be released from rehab -- and back with her family -- by Christmas.

Drake says he reached out to his good friend a while ago ... and "as soon as she's allowed to make contact again I'd like to make sure she's alright."

Who knew .... Marc Summers (famed host of Nickelodeon's iconic 90s show "Double Dare") now hates the kids network with a fiery passion -- and he vented bitterly on the radio this morning, claiming Nick's nothing but a sad shell of its former self.

We won't give it all away (you have to listen for yourself) but basically ... Marc called in to MAX 98.3 in Tampa Bay this morning, claiming Nickelodeon, once the most successful kids network on cable, is "going in the dumper."

He also called the network execs a bunch of a-holes who have been trying to screw him ever since he left.

Bottom line, Marc's saying what 90s kids have been saying for years ... Nick's Golden Age is long over, and it's never coming back. R.I.P.

The biggest danger for a boy band ... girls.

Big Time Rush bandmates Kendall and Logan insisted on camera (above) their group is not breaking up ... but sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the band is getting Yoko'd.

Here's what's happening. Carlos just got engaged, and his fiancee is demanding that he spend more time with her -- away from the group. She feels he's not pulling his weight in the wedding-planning department, and Carlos is feeling the pressure.

James has been dating a chick who is making similar time demands. We're told they're in a "committed relationship" and she feels he's been MIA way too much.

Short story ... Kendall (who's also in the band, Heffron Drive) and Logan are trying to put a good face on things, but there's Big Time trouble.

Jennette McCurdy -- who plays Sam on Nickelodeon's Sam & Cat -- suffered a tragedy today ... her mom died.

We're told Jennette is devastated -- she was very close to her mother, Debra McCurdy. Debra had been fighting cancer and was very ill.

McCurdy was supposed to host a big show in NYC this weekend -- Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play, where the network goes dark for 3 hours and kids are encouraged to get out and play. We're told she's cancelled the gig.

Ariana Grande is under strict orders from her doctors to keep her mouth SHUT after frying her vocal chords this week -- no talking, no singing, nothing -- and it's throwing a wrench into her big media blitz, TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Ariana tell us, the singer performed at Club Nokia Monday night in L.A. and badly strained her vocal chords. The next morning, she appeared on a radio show and couldn't sing.

We're told Ariana freaked out and immediately went to the doctor, who gave her the bad news ... no singing or talking for AT LEAST 4 days, meaning Ariana's team has had to cancel multiple media appearances, including The Queen Latifah Show and The Arsenio Hall Show.

It's a crippling blow to suffer at such an explosive time in her career -- her debut album just topped the charts at #1 ... and now she can't capitalize on the publicity.

The celebrity relationship born on Twitter is still going strong for "iCarly" star Jennette McCurdy and Detroit Pistons star Andre Drummond ... 'cause last night the two went out for a romantic dinner in L.A. and TMZ has the footage.

In case you're unaware, 20-year-old Drummond revealed his longtime crush on 21-year-old McCurdy over the past couple of months during "Woman Crush Wednesdays" on Twitter ... posting several pics of the Nickelodeon star.

Once she got word of his interest, she reached out ... and the two hooked up in real life late last week.

Tuesday night ... it appeared their relationship was still going strong -- the two were spotted holding hands on their way out of Madeo in West Hollywood.

FYI -- Drummond ran the whole date in style ... using a driver to chauffeur the couple to and from the restaurant.

#realpimp.

"Fred" star Lucas Cruikshank finally told all his fans he's gay -- which is, without question, a bold and brave decision to be applauded.

It's also something, millions of his fans apparently could've told him years ago.

Omar Gooding -- host of Nickelodeon's '90s show "Wild & Crazy Kids" and a bunch of other stuff -- had a w-wild and crazy night on Tuesday ... TMZ has learned, the actor was busted for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Gooding -- the younger brother of actor Cuba Gooding Jr. -- was arrested early Tuesday AM in L.A. and was released hours later on his own recognizance.

Details surrounding the arrest are unclear.

In addition to "Wild & Crazy Kids," Gooding had leading roles on "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" and "Smart Guy" (the show where Tahj Mowry plays a child genius). But c'mon, "Wild & Crazy Kids" was the best.

Lucas Cruikshank -- the viral video star who played the ultra-hyper "Fred" character in a Nickelodeon movie and several shows -- has revealed he's gay ... and naturally, he posted his coming out video on YouTube.

The 19-year-old actor made the announcement during a short clip with his friend Jennifer Veal -- who starred in the Disney Channel show, "Jessie."

During the video, Lucas says his closest friends and family members have known about his sexuality for years ... but he never felt the need to make an announcement to the world.

At one point, Lucas turns to Jennifer and asks, "How come you didn't have to make a video saying you're straight?"

FYI -- Lucas shot to superstardom by creating several YouTube videos featuring his annoying "Fred" character ... who had a crush on a girl named Judy. For some reason, they never hooked up.



Forget jail ... Nickelodeon star Cody Longo -- from "Hollywood Heights" -- just got the book thrown at him in his DUI case ... in the form of something far worse than lockup ... BOOZE CLASSES.

As we reported, cops pulled 25-year-old Longo over in June after he repeatedly flashed another driver with his high beams. Officers determined Longo was under the influence and the actor was placed under arrest.

Longo was charged with two counts of DUI following the arrest -- but according to new court docs, he struck a plea deal that would allow him to avoid jail.

The catch ... Longo agreed to plead no contest to one count of DUI, and was sentenced to something much worse (in our opinion).

According to the plea deal, Longo was ordered to complete 3 months of alcohol education classes. He was also ordered to attend 10 AA classes and was placed on 3 years summary probation.

Nick Cannon tells TMZ ... when it comes to helping his former Nickelodeon co-star Amanda Bynes -- all he can do is pray.

Cannon -- who appeared on "All That" with Bynes back in the day -- has been an outspoken supporter of the actress throughout her recent issues.

But at LAX yesterday, Cannon told us it's gonna take some divine intervention to save his friend.

Aspiring rap star Amanda Bynes doesn't need street cred, 'cause she's got something way more powerful -- DISNEY CRED ... this according to her new hip hop partner Waka Flocka Flame.

WFF was heading into the WME agency in Beverly Hills yesterday when we asked about his plans to help launch Amanda's rap career into orbit.

FYI -- Bynes was a Nickelodeon star, not Disney, but we think we get Waka's point.

According to Flocka, things are going so well ... he's already given Bynes an official RAP NICKNAME!!

"iCarly" actress Miranda Cosgrove claims she was "disfigured and disabled" in a nasty 2011 tour bus crash ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

We broke the story ... Cosgrove -- who also happens to be a pop star -- was traveling on a bus in Illinois with 5 other passengers when it slammed into an overturned tractor-trailer that was laying across the highway.

Cosgrove suffered a broken ankle in the wreck ... and was forced to cancel the rest of her tour.

Now, TMZ has learned ... the 20-year-old and her mother (who was also on board) are suing the driver of the bus, the driver of the tractor and the transportation companies ... claiming the whole thing could have been prevented.

In the suit, the Cosgroves claim both drivers were operating their vehicles in an unsafe manner and failed to keep a "safe and proper lookout."

They also claim the tour bus driver failed to hit the brakes in time (...duh).

According to the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Illinois, the women claim they were each "disfigured and disabled" and "have lost their normal lives" as a result of the crash ... though they don't give specific details about their injuries.

They're suing for unspecified damages ... demanding more than $50k each.

Calls to the transportation companies have not been returned.

Fun Fact -- Miranda played the snobby little rich girl in "School of Rock." Great flick ...

​Members of squeaky-clean Nickelodeon boy band Big Time Rush are banging like bunnies ... at least that's what they strongly suggested to our photog.

Our guy innocently asked Kendall Schmidt if the band would consider a reality show. He laughed hard ... and then worried out loud that their fan base would not approve of their lifestyle.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... 25-year-old Longo -- who's also appeared on "Days of Our Lives" and "Piranha 3D" -- was driving in Hollywood around 2:30 AM Thursday morning when cops noticed him driving like a complete d-bag.

Sources tell us ... Longo was driving aggressively ... following too close to another car and flashing it with his high beams.

Once cops pulled the guy over, we're told officers noticed Longo reeked of booze -- so they performed various field sobriety tests ... which he bombed.

One source tells us ... Longo's blood alcohol level was .19 and .20 ... more than twice the legal limit.

Longo was arrested and hauled to a nearby police station where he was booked ... and later released after posting $15,000 bail.