Paparazzi Video

Since Tom Cruise's very public firing by Viacom head Sumner Redstone (which owns Paramount Pictures), he and Katie Holmes have put the PR machine into overdrive. TomKat have made getting back in the media's good graces and shedding their bizarre personas their mission impossible.

First, Tom makes a house call to Brooke Shields and apologizes for attacking her in the press last year for her use of antidepressants. Although Cruise still feels the same about the evils of prescription pills, his "heartfelt apology" is the first step in healing his career.

Next, Tom's paramour, Katie, er, Kate Holmes, tries to prove all is well in Cruise-dom by shopping and dining at trendy LA restaurant The Ivy on Tuesday with Katie's and Tom's mothers in tow. Coincidence? Not on your life! Everyone in the business knows going to The Ivy is the Hollywood equivalent of a Sears portrait studio.

Finally, the ever-elusive Suri Cruise surfaces.

Tuesday night, the "CBS Evening News" debuted the first image of the happy family on the cover of the new issue of Vanity Fair, which put to rest months of questions, rumors and conspiracy theories regarding the TomKitten's whereabouts.

This weekend some of Hollywood's hottest were knocked back down to regular person status, after they were subjected to broken down, locked and even lost cars as they attempted to leave their respected hotspots. Talk about a real buzzkill.

Ashanti started her night partying in one of NY's trendiest locales Butter, only to find herself unable to re-board her Range Rover at the end of the evening. Jack Osbourne also experienced some pre-road rage Saturday, when the valet at Hyde in LA appeared to have misplaced his car. Oops.

TMZ also caught up with Mary-Kate Olsen, who's car just plain died in a gas station. The billionaire twin was even forced to jump start the engine (well, not herself. of course).

Our cameras were working overtime over this past holiday weekend to bring you all the action that went down in Tinseltown.

We first caught up with Sylvester Stallone at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, where the Italian Stallion switched it up with a little Chinese food. Sly's good pal James Caan also joined the feast, and Nick Cannon was also on hand for a quick bite.

From there, we stopped by our usual celeb hang out Hyde, a very trendy spot that seems to be getting even more popular with young stars by the day. "Laguna Beach" alum Kristin Cavallari rolled through, as well as TMZ's favorite vixen Elisha Cuthbert. Newlyweds Avril Lavigne and Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley also made it out. The biggest surprise was a glowing Courtney Love, who showed the paparazzi she still knows how to strike a pose.

Knowing the paparazzi was watching their every move, the two love birds didn't shy away from holding hands, intensely kissing and making sure everyone knows they truly are in love.

After the couple had their fill of fun in the sun, they headed home to LA for a short stop off before re-packing their bags and heading overseas to Venice, Italy.

In Venice it wasn't La Lohan's outfit that caught people's attention, it was the ring she was sporting on her ring finger - fueling more rumors of an engagement or future wedding.

Lohan and her boy toy are in Italy for a photo op for "Bobby," in which she co-stars with Hollywood heavy hitters Anthony Hopkins, William H. Macy and Helen Hunt.

TMZ's cameras were rolling outside trendy spot Butter in the Big Apple on Monday night, when we caught up with the ever-so-fresh couple finishing up a big night on the town. That's when the rose guy stepped in. Everyone knows the rose guy -- he exists at clubs, restaurants and anywhere else you might bring a date. When this particular rose hawker made his sales pitch to Reichen, the muscular stud threw up his hands and responded "Dude, I'm gay!"

Reichen might want to spread the word to Elton John, however. The singer reportedly spends over half a million dollars a year on his flower habit.

TMZ has obtained video of events immediately after a chain collision in which Ellen DeGeneres was injured.

The accident occurred last Friday, just before 4 p.m. on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. Paparazzi from the X17 photo agency were following the 2006 Porsche Carrera in which DeGeneres and girlfriend Portia de Rossi were riding. DeGeneres and the paparazzi (in a Buick behind her) were both stopped at a light, when Jeanne Werber, who was driving a 2002 Porsche Carrera, slammed into the Buick, which in turn slammed into DeGeneres' Porsche.

The video -- shot by an X17 photographer -- shows a clearly-shaken Ellen and Portia getting out of their car after the crash. Ellen is immediately concerned about the lurking danger of gasoline, saying, "I'm worried about a gas leak...be careful about the gas."

One of the paparazzi asks Ellen if she's hurt. Ellen replies, "Yeah, we're kinda hurt." Ellen returns the favor by asking the paparazzo, "Are you alright?"

The back of the Buick looks like an accordion, the trunk seemingly smashed into the back seat.

At the end of the tape, Werber, who apparently caused the crash, is seen talking to an officer, clearly agitated. Werber was arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Ellen complained of neck and back pain. Portia complained of back pain.

TMZ spoke with Jeanne Werber Sunday afternoon. Werber denied she was driving drunk, telling TMZ, "I'm just a normal wife. I went to the grocery store and was going home." She insists, "I will prove I wasn't drunk." Werber claims, "the car in front of me stopped short. I thought it was insurance fraud." Werber was unaware that paparazzi were in the Buick; she was also unaware that DeGeneres and de Rossi were in the Porsche.

An LAPD official tells TMZ that Werber refused to submit to a blood alcohol test. Under California law, such refusal results in an automatic six month license suspension.

Former party queen Tara Reid has been officially dethroned. The former "Taradise" star was humiliated in front of a crowd of eager partygoers when she was denied entry into an ultra-trendy Hollywood club. Adding insult to injury, as the defeated actress waited on the sidewalk, former BFF Paris Hilton breezed past her and right into the club with her new gal pal, Kim Kardashian. Oh Snap!

Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson had a near-miss confrontation at MTV's VMA swag suite, the Style Villa, on Thursday.

As part of the endless barrage of gifts awarded to the already rich and famous, celebs were given car keys in a promotion to give away a Chrysler Crossfire. If their key started the engine, the black convertible was all theirs.

First Lachey tried his luck at winning the sports car, but came up empty-handed.

Just ten minutes after Nick's losing turn, Jessica arrived with her key in hand. Jess posed for photos with her fingers crossed and made her attempt at winning the car. This time luck was on her side as Simpson's key started the luxury automobile.

Surprised by her win, a coarse-voiced Jessica said "I'm kinda shocked. I'm shaking a little bit."

Why worry about about famine and war, when the world can sleep easier knowing Jessica Simpson has a brand new convertible to valet at The Ivy.

TMZ's Josh Levine was outside Hyde on Thursday night doing what he does best, bringing you Star Catcher, when former "Dancing With the Star" beauty Stacy Keibler became somewhat of a damsel in distress.

While the blonde stunner had no problem attracting autograph seekers outside the trendy spot, getting a cab proved to be a bit more difficult ... and that's when Josh stepped in. Levine immediately rushed into the street and successfully waved down a taxi for the star ... such a gentleman.

But Josh doesn't hasn't always had such good luck in the streets. A few months back, the cameraman was blown off by a passing cop car, moments after he was choked out by Woody Harrelson.

It was an especially star-studded night on Wednesday in the Big Apple, as celebs infested New York in advance of tonight's MTV Video Music Awards.

Our first stop was the gala opening of Rocpopshop, the Midtown Manhattan retail outlet of one of rap's true moguls -- Jay-Z -- where we ran into the proprietor himself. The self-proclaimed "CEO of Hip-Hop" arrived in true blinged-out fashion and stopped by the red carpet for the paparazzi, while showing off his fashion line.

What does it take for Matthew McConaughey to put on a shirt? A night at the Hollywood hangout Hyde apparently. Joining Mr. McConaughey last night was Jeff Gordon (yeah, the NASCAR driver), Wayne Brady, and David Krumholt (... oh yeah.) David took the time to give a shoutout to the good folks here at TMZ, while Leelee Sobieski saved the night by showing up naked ... almost.

Sin City just got a little more sinful.

Yesterday the Mayor of Las Vegas proclaimed August 29,2006 Paris Hilton Day and gave the budding popstar the key to the city. News of the impending apocalypse to follow.

Comedian Jeff Beacher introduced the heiress in front of a packed crowd at a Vegas block party.

Hilton proclaimed her love for Vegas saying it's her "favorite place in the world to come to party." Considering her good time girl reputation, that's a huge compliment.

Afterwards, Paris did what she likes to do best in Vegas and partied the night away at Pure nightclub.

Hilton danced on a table and "sang" songs from her new album, which, believe it or not, debuted at #6 on the Billboard charts.

Luckily the clock struck midnight, ushering the end of Paris day, and all was right with the world.

It was just another starstudded night in Hollywood yesterday, and TMZ's cameras were rolling on all the action.

First, we spotted Kirsten Dunst grabbing a bite to eat with friends at Il Sole. Then, we rolled over to Hyde, where Jack Osbourne and Kristin Cavallari get right in ... unlike some celebrities we know (cough cough Tara Reid).

The keen eye of the TMZ cameras also caught Orlando Bloom trying to sneak out the backdoor of the club. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor slinked into an awaiting red car, wheer he was whisked away into the night ... presumably back to his ship.

The celebrity invasion of New York City has begun! As the city braces for the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, Diddy himself was ushering in all the biggest stars.

We caught Diddy everywhere. He arrived at the Effortless Style party, where he emerged from one of his ultra-expensive rides. Joining the mogul, were rap giants Busta Rhymes and Kanye West, who made a quite a fashion statement with his poncho-style hoodie.

The redheaded starlet started off wearing some kind of sundress over her bikini. But when the dress just wouldn't stay in place, she got rid of it. After laying around for a bit, she then decided to do a few push-ups (not the girly ones, either) and a little light stretching.

Lindsay then apparently grew a little tired of the photogs and tried to put up a sheet to block their line of view -- a tactic that seems to be all the rage these days -- but cameras still picked up a shared moment between her and Harry.

We know Lindsay has been getting her fair share of bad press lately, but damn girl! Whatever you're doing, keep doing it.

Amidst the chaos of the post-Emmy party limo lines, TMZ couldn't help but notice the next generation of TV stars standing out in a big way.

Yeah, the Matthew Perrys and Debra Messings are still out there, but our eyes were drawn to the fresh faces like Zach Braff, Jamie Pressly and Dulé Hill at Club Social in Hollywood.