Real Housewives

'Real Housewives' creator Andy Cohen wants to make it absolutely clear -- he is NOT engaged to ex-hockey star Sean Avery, and he's just a really good friend.

A really good friend ... with whom he takes lots of shirtless pics, and would love to bang.

'Real Housewives' star Adrienne Maloof goes through men faster than chili fries -- because right after we saw her spat with one much younger bf, she found herself a brand new ... much younger bf!

Cougars gotta eat.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Brandon DeShezar says he was beat to a pulp by the vicious hands of co-star Apollo Nida this week, and he's lawyering up for a big lawsuit.

DeShazer had a stiff upper lip as he tooled through LAX last night and talked to our photog.

As we previously reported ... witnesses say Apollo attacked DeShazer because he felt like BDS and Kenya Moore had screwed his wife Phaedra Parks over on some workout video deal.

Huge brawl on "Real Housewives of Atlanta" ... sources tell TMZ.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member Brandon DeShazer -- Kenya Moore's assistant -- was seriously roughed up last night by Phaedra Parks' husband Apollo Nida ... all over beef stemming from some dumb workout video, a witness tells TMZ.

According to witnesses, Apollo flew into a rage and "violently attacked" Brandon at a party that was being filmed for the upcoming season ... and it was all caught on tape.

The witnesses say Apollo -- who once served 5 years in prison for racketeering -- had to be restrained by 7 male crew members before finally retreating.

We're told Apollo was pissed because Brandon and Kenya had allegedly agreed to produce a workout video starring Phaedra, but instead produced their own, cutting Phaedra out. We're told Apollo felt slighted, and blamed Brandon for stabbing Phaedra in the back.

Apollo has a different story, telling TMZ, there was a fight on the set, he tried to break it up and got attacked by Brandon. Apollo says at that point he defended himself and everything got out of control.

Dramatic.

Calls to Bravo weren't returned.

Five stinkin' dollars ... that's what started a massive argument this weekend between several police officers and "Real Housewives" stars Teresa and Joe Giudice -- all because the couple didn't want to pay a tiny beach entrance fee, sources tell TMZ.

Here's the back story -- the Giudices were kickin' it on Ship Bottom beach on Long Beach Island, NJ Saturday afternoon (with roughly 30 friends and family members) when they were approached by a teen girl beach worker.

Sources on the scene tell us, the employee asked to see the Giudices' "beach badges" -- basically $5 admission tickets required to chill in the sand -- and the family flipped, refusing to "pay to go to the beach."

We're told one family member even yelled at the girl, saying, "F*** you, f*** this we are not paying for the f***ing beach. This is a joke!" Remember: 5 dollars per person.

We're told the girl started crying, and when beach PD responded ... the Giudices continued to kick up a stink, but eventually coughed up chump change.

Adrienne Maloof is surviving divorce in a big way -- 5 months after hers she's dropped $12.75 million on a GINORMOUS 14,000-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills ... TMZ has learned.

Adrienne's been renting a 10,000-square-foot casa ever since breaking things off with Paul Nassif -- but apparently that wasn't nearly enough house for her.

Instead, our real estate sources say Adrienne swooped up a bigger, better place last month in the same swanky gated BH community ... which means Charlie Sheen's still her neighbor.

Money can't buy everything -- but it did get Adrienne 14,025 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a pool and epic views from her balcony.

Gloria Gaynor would be proud.

Adrienne Maloof just won a solid victory against her ex-hubby Paul Nassif ... after he essentially folded in family court.

Sources tell TMZ ... Adrienne and Paul were fighting bitterly over where their 11-year-old son Gavin should attend school. Adrienne wanted the boy, who has some learning and attention issues, to continue in regular school where he would get special attention. Paul wanted to send Gavin to a school which specialized in kids with serious disabilities.

We've learned today in court ... Paul DROPPED his claim and Gavin will continue in the school he's in ... which is what Adrienne wanted. Paul also dropped his request that she pay his attorney's fees.

And this is interesting ... we're told Paul also dropped his lawsuit against the former couple's chef, Bernie Guzman, who had plastered photos of a bruised Adrienne on his Facebook page, claiming Paul inflicted the injuries. Paul sued Bernie for making the claims, but today dropped the case.

Bethenny Frankel knows ... when you're as tiny as she is, it's always safer to go swimming in the ocean when you're equipped with the proper flotation devices.

Safety first.

The rumors have been swirling for months ... but TMZ finally has the video proof that former 2-time Miss Puerto Rico winner Joyce Giraud has joined the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Giraud -- along with Lisa & Ken Vanderpump, Kyle & Kim Richards, Brandi Glanville and Yolanda Foster were all at LAX this week ... waiting to board a flight to Puerto Rico.

Giraud tried to lay low ... in what appeared to be an effort to go unrecognized ... but our photog was quick to notice the beauty queen.

As for the other woman rumored to be joining the cast -- '90s actress Carlton Gebbia -- she wasn't at the airport, but sources tell TMZ she will appear on the show this season in a small role.

While Teresa Giudice faces time behind bars for alleged bankruptcy fraud ... another 'Real Housewife' is making sure she doesn't suffer a similar fate ... by coughing up $35,000.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Danielle Staub filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy back in June 2012, claiming she was knee deep in debt ... approx. $500,000 to $1,000,000.

As part of the bankruptcy process Danielle had to disclose all her assets ... that way when creditors came to clean her out they'd know how much loot is available.

FYI -- this is the part where some people get in trouble because they try to hide cash and valuables ... hoping Uncle Sam and creditors won't notice.

According to legal docs, filed last month, Danielle was accused of doing just that. Rather than keep up the charade, DS agreed to fork over $35k to her creditors to help settle her debts ... and avoid any nasty consequences.

If she didn't settle ... Danielle might be in a similar boat to co-stars Teresa and Joe Giudice -- who are being federally indicted on 39 counts of fraud (including hiding assets during bankruptcy). They face 30 years in prison.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice doesn't look fazed by the possibility of a massive looming prison sentence -- in fact, she was all smiles with her daughter on Tuesday ... and she looked damn good too.

As we reported, Giudice and her husband Joe each face up to 30 years in the big house for bank fraud, tax evasion, and more -- after officials say the couple defrauded the IRS and multiple banks from 2001-2008.

The couple surrendered to authorities just hours ago, and have each been released on $500,000 bond. They're due back in court August 14.

Teresa and Joe Giudice are each free on $500k bond ... after surrendering to federal authorities in their fraud case.

As part of the terms of their bail, both Teresa and Joe had to surrender their passports and are restricted to New York and New Jersey.

Joe, who is not a U.S. citizen, is subject to drug testing. Teresa will not have to subject herself to drug testing.

The "Real Housewives of New Jersey" couple is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in New Jersey on August 14.

As we previously reported, both Joe and Teresa are facing 30 years in prison after being hit with 39 counts of fraud.

With media surrounding the building, Teresa and Joe Giudice just strolled into a federal courthouse in New Jersey to deal with 39 counts of fraud ... counts that could land them in prison for 30 years.

The "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars were locked hand-in-hand as they marched into the courtroom together ... Joe in a suit and tie and Teresa sporting a pantsuit.

The two are accused of greatly exaggerating their income while applying for loans back before RHONJ premiered in 2009.

They're also accused of submitting bogus mortgage and loan applications from 2001 to 2008.

The couple is currently waiting for their case to be called.

Stay tuned.

'Real Housewife' NeNe Leakes' ridiculous wedding cost her and absurd $1.8 million -- and then spawned a lawsuit that could cost her north of $2.5 million!

If only she'd taken Harvey's advice.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe have just been slapped with a laundry list of criminal charges -- ranging from bank fraud to tax evasion -- and now, they both face more than 50 years in prison if convicted.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman just announced the 39-count indictment, claiming Teresa and her hubby massively defrauded the IRS as well as several banks between 2001-2008.

According to the U.S. Attorney, the Giudices conspired to illegally obtain mortgages and other loans from multiple banks by intentionally overestimating their incomes in order to get more money.

The Giudices also allegedly withheld vital information about their net worth from a U.S. bankruptcy trustee after filing for Chapter 7 in 2009 -- including Teresa's true income from the reality show.

As for tax evasion, Joe is accused of failing to file income tax returns for the years 2004-2008, during which he allegedly earned $1 million.

All told, the Giudices were hit with 39 charges -- including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, which carries a max prison sentence of 20 years, and bank fraud, which carries a max of 30 years. The remaining charges carry the possibility of even more prison time.

Neither Teresa nor Joe has been arrested, but they're both due in court Tuesday morning in Jersey.

NeNe Leakes says the "celebrity wedding planner" suing her for MILLIONS in alleged unpaid wedding bills is straight up lying in a desperate attempt to grab 15 min of fame ... and she owes her squat.

TMZ broke the story ... Tiffany Cook filed a lawsuit in GA, claiming she planned NeNe's June wedding (which will be featured on Bravo) -- but claims the "Real Housewives" star never foot the massive bill. Tiff's asking for more than $2.5 MILLION!!!!!

We caught up to NeNe Saturday night in Beverly Hills to ask her about the nuptial-gate and she GOES OFF saying she NEVER hired the fame-hungry planner. She adds, "I don't owe her a f***ing dime."