Paparazzi Video

One of Simpson's stops included an appearance on MTV's TRL Wednesday afternoon where VJ Vanessa Minnillo was nowhere to be found (because of her current relationship with Nick Lachey? hmmmm). After the show hundreds and hundreds of fans with cell phone cameras in hand lined the streets and sidewalks to catch a glimpse of the pop star.

It was an action-packed night at Privilege on Sunset were our cameras were on hand to catch all the craziness that went on outside.

Travis Barker and DJ AM were in attendance, seen leaving the club together with a fairly large entourage. The former Blink 182 rocker and very talented DJ seem to have music on their mind all the time as the two passed by a famous street performer, giving him tons of credit while discussing past performers that they have seen.

With her husband leaving the club before her, we spotted Shanna Barker who was seen with former "Dancing with Stars" winner Cheryl Burke. The two very non-camera shy ladies who seemed to be having a great time together had a hard time keeping all their belongings with them.

Also out to take in the club scene Kevin Connolly, Nicky Hilton, Tracy Morgan and 90210 star Ian Ziering.

Paris Hilton had a run in early Wednesday morning with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department but, in the end, Hilton got nothing more than a warning.

TMZ cameraman Josh Levine spotted Paris' Range Rover at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. Levine noticed that a patrol car was following her vehicle -- which was moving quite slow -- for a block with it's emergency lights off. Then the flashing red lights lit up the street and, according to Levine, "Paris booked it."

Levine ran for three blocks, then turned up a side street where he saw the patrol officer and Paris' vehicle. The officer did not ticket Hilton and allowed her to leave.

TMZ spoke with the officer who stopped Hilton, Deputy Rudy Acevedo. He said Hilton was driving by Privilege, a nightclub, and began slowing down, stopping, slowing down and stopping again in traffic. Acevedo says Hilton did speed up when he turned on his emergency lights, but a block later he directed her on his loudspeaker to turn right, and she did.

Acevedo says when Hilton stopped, he walked to her vehicle, recognized her and did not observe any signs of intoxication. He told her what she did and said she could have caused an accident. Acevedo says Hilton was "remorseful" and he let her go with a warning, something he says he does 80% of the time.

Incidentally, Deputy Acevedo will appear on an upcoming reality show about cops on the Sunset Strip.

Related Links:
Paris Car Crash
Driving While Paris

It was another star-studded night in Hollywood as TMZ's Josh Levine was out at Hyde, one of LA's hottest spots.

Paris Hilton showed up true heiress fashion doing her usual- posing for the camera and signing autographs. The young starlet showed up to the club just minutes before her buddy Brandon Davis- no... they weren't kissing tonight.

Also on hand Lance Bass, Good Charlotte brothers Joel and Benji and Mary-Kate Olsen, who made a very sneaky entrance into the club.

It was a busy weekend in LA as our cameras were out on the town to catch all the action.

We were outside late-night food stop Jerry's Famous Deli when we ran into two former SNLers doing a little bit of munching. Adam Sandler and his funny pal Chris Rock left the restaurant in true comic style, telling jokes and making people laugh.

Next stop for TMZ was the always hopping club Hyde, a hotspot that attracts tons of celebs.

On hand over the weekend were Lindsay Lohan, Good Charlotte, former boy bander Kevin Richardson, "X Men" director Brett Ratner, and former Laker Rick Fox who explains his new profession.

Orlando Bloom had a great weekend, with his "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie making another 62 million at the box office, but that doesn't mean his dog can come into the restaurant.

Bloom and Kate Bosworth were spotted going out for a late afternoon lunch (they had scallops) and - just like the rest of us - Orlando had to leave his beautiful black dog in the car.

We all know how dangerous a hot car can be for an animal- the risk of death is quite real. But Orlando took care of his best friend, making sure the window was cracked and getting up twice during the meal, possibly to go check on the pooch.

When he and Kate came out of the restaurant, the car had been moved to a shady spot. It is unclear if Orlando requested this or if the valet took the initiative. Either way, Orlando gave the guy what looks like a substantial tip.

Seems like all the stars were shining on Chateau Marmont last night.

Kevin Connolly, Heather Graham and sizzling hot Penelope Cruz were in attendance, while a very loud Michelle Rodriguez cruises out and signs autographs.

The Hilton sisters left together and even with all that money they can't seem to get a car with enough seats. Maybe they should invest in a bus!

Stavros started off the night at LA hotspot Hyde, arriving and leaving sans Paris.

The pseudo-couple then met up at Paris' house where super publicist Elliot Mintz escorted both parties separately into the house. Are they pulling a Vince and Jennifer and acting as a couple that likes to have a little space? Or are they just good friends?

Lindsay Lohan pulled her patented "hood over the head" move as she left LA hotspot Guy's. While Lindsay's part in the escape from the barrage of paparazzi was going to plan, her co-horts need a class in "quick escape 101".

First thing you don't do is hit a photog with your car. Lindsay's new man, Hard Rock Hotel heir Harry Morton, love taps a photog with his Mercedes while trying to pull away. Morton then gets his car kicked by said photog. Hopefully they'll be able to buff that out.

Second once you're clear, you leave. Once they have a clear path the car takes off-- only to suddenly stop 20 feet later. A guy then walks up to the car and starts asking for $5. Did they not pay the valet? Someone keeps telling the guy that it is taken care of. Now the guy makes Lindsay get out of the car so he can get in the back seat. Why not have the driver get out so Lindsay can stay hidden? Total amateur.

TMZ caught up with the heiresses as they posed on LA's trendy Third Street on Saturday. Nicky held balloons in the pics, while Paris took center stage with her pet puppy Tokyo Blu in tow.

Even after Nicky leaves the shoot Paris sticks around to ham it up for the camera and get doted on by her minions.

The stars were out Thursday night as they hit up Hyde, the common Hollywood hotspot popular amongst young celebs.

Lindsay Lohan and feuding ex-best friend Paris Hilton were out doing the usual, setting off flashbulbs. While Paris stopped to sign a few autographs, the always camera shy Lindsay paid no attention to fans. The two starlets have been in a tiff for a while now, but seem to have no problem hanging out in the same hotspots. Too bad our cameras were not allowed inside, we love the drama!

Also making a rare appearance was Sugar Ray frontman and host of EXTRA Mark McGrath, who was spotted signing many autographs and posing with fans.

They rode a private boat on the Seine and Drew can be seen reading the paper on the deck. Drew, Cameron and Justin lounged around on the boat and ate with friends.

As the LAPD continues its criminal investigation into the incident between Woody Harrelson and TMZ cameraman Josh Levine, there's another piece of unfinished business -- Harrelson broke our camera. A repair shop estimates it will take 1600 bucks to make it work again, and we fully expect Woody will pay. If he doesn't, we're taking him to small claims court.

Turns out, this isn't the first time Harrelson had a run in with photographers. In 1998, a jury awarded a total of around 5 grand to two photogs who were allegedly assaulted by the actor at the Martha's Vineyard Airport.

For better or worse, public streets are, well, public. That means people -- even celebrities -- don't have a right to dictate what others are allowed to do on the cement. If Harrelson wanted privacy, it's a really bad idea to hang at a club famous for photogs. Imagine a star going to the Oscars and then demanding that ABC turn its camera off while the celeb walks the red carpet. Going to Element nightclub is late night version of the Oscars.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. outside Element, a club frequented by celebrities. As Harrelson left with three women and two men, Levine and other photogs began shooting. Harrelson became irritated and asked Levine to stop shooting. Harrelson then walked over to Levine, put his hand on the camera and asked Levine to stop. Levine said "All I'm doing is my job." Harrelson, who appears in "A Prairie Home Companion," then said, "I've asked you to stop, are you going to stop?" and Levine replied, "Not when you ask me like that." The video then shows Harrelson break the camera and the picture goes dead.

TMZ obtained a second video, shot by another photog, showing the altercation. The photographer began shooting just as Harrelson grabbed Levine's neck.There is no audio in this portion of the tape.

After the incident, Levine was visibly agitated and argued with a man who appeared to be Harrelson's security guard. Then Levine flagged down an LAPD patrol car and told the two officers inside, "Hey bro, I just got assaulted by Woody Harrelson. He choked me out right now." A man standing near Levine added, "Yeah, I'm a witness." The police did not acknowledge Levine and simply drove away.

Harrelson's publicist, Ina Treciokas, told TMZ: "Unfortunately, this is not the first or last time the paparazzi have provoked an incident with a celebrity. Mr. Harrelson is evaluating all of his legal options against the photographer."

Levine went to LAPD's Hollywood division and filed a criminal complaint against Harrelson. The police have Levine's tape as evidence, and TMZ has given the LAPD a copy of the second tape. Levine, who suffered neck lacerations, was then taken by two officers to Cedars Sinai emergency room, where he was examined and released.

Hollywood is a tough town. Just ask TMZ cameraman Josh Levine, who was choked late Thursday night by Woody Harrelson.

Levine was shooting video of someone who did not want to be videotaped. Should Levine have turned his camera off? Here's the deal. The club is a Hollywood hot spot, and any celeb who goes there knows the game going in and out. It's kind of like the famous Ivy restaurant on Robertson in L.A. -- it's all part of the meal. Element is like night Ivy.

Should Levine have told Harrelson he was shooting him because he was sexy? Well... we report, you decide. The one thing I can tell you as a veteran TV reporter and lawyer, when people start touching my camera, it's a whole different Oprah. Taking pictures in public places is one thing; assaulting someone is something else. Destroying someone's property and choking him is a crime, unless it's done in self-defense.

It sure didn't look like self-defense to me.

TMZ caught up with D-List Queen Kathy Griffin outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and the funny lady had plenty to say.

Griffin admitted her favorite D-lister is former "Saved by the Bell" star Mario Lopez. Her least favorite? That dubious distinction goes to this week's media whore of the week - Star Jones Reynolds.

The star of the Bravo reality show "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" signed autographs and even revealed her interesting theory linking golf to murder.