Real Housewives

Silence is golden for "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" -- TMZ has learned, Bravo just instructed the entire cast ... NO talking to the media about Russell Armstrong's suicide ... whatsoever.

Sources connected with the show tell TMZ, each cast member received both a phone call and an email from Bravo just hours after news broke about Russell's death -- ordering them to keep their mouths shut.

But the new directive isn't holding up production -- we're told, shooting is set to resume tomorrow as scheduled.

Right now, it's unclear if Taylor will also be returning to work at the same time.

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong hasn't broken the news yet about Russell's suicide to her 5-year-old daughter Kennedy ... TMZ has learned.

Friends close to Taylor tell us, "She's not emotionally ready to do so just yet."

Taylor's attorney, Robert Thorne, tells us, "Taylor Armstrong is devastated by the tragic events that have unfolded. She requests privacy at this time so that she may comfort her young daughter."

Russell Armstrong's lawyer tells TMZ, he was blindsided by the sudden death of the "Real Housewives" star -- claiming, he spoke to Russell just days before his suicide ... and he seemed ok.

According to Ronald Richards -- Russell was a loving family man ... who spent every dwindling dollar he had to finance his estranged wife's lifestyle.

Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong, was found dead of an apparent suicide ... sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say Armstrong hanged himself. He was found hanging in his bedroom on Mulholland Drive.

We're told L.A. City Fire Department arrived at his home and pronounced him dead at 8:16 PM Monday. Sources say a roommate found Russell and called 911.

We're told authorities have not found a suicide note.

Taylor filed for divorce last month, after she claimed Russell physically abused her. We're told authorities informed her of Russell's death last night.

He was 47 years old.

Story developing ...

8:13 AM: Bravo and the cast of "Real Housewives" were unaware of Russell's death. Kyle Richards was distraught when she saw the TMZ post, and Lisa Vanderpump was speechless.

9:29 AM: A rep for Bravo tells TMZ, “All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time."

9:35 AM: Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... no drugs or alcohol were found in the bedroom where Russell died. He was fully clothed when his body was discovered.

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Russell Armstrong was at his wits end over his impending divorce from Taylor in the days leading to his death -- and he was inundated with debt.

Russell's lawyer Ronald Richards tells TMZ, Russell had been staying at a friend's house on Mulholland Drive in L.A. -- the same house where authorities found his body hanging last night.

Richards tells us, "I feel bad because his credit cards weren't working ... He had tremendous financial problems."

Richards adds, "He was also extremely bummed out about the divorce with Taylor. As far as a will, even if he does have a will, they don't have any assets, so I'm not sure what there would be left to leave. I am extremely saddened ... I had no idea he was depressed."

Michaele and Tareq Salahi won't be chumming it up with Camille Grammer or Kyle Richards any time soon -- because TMZ has learned, the couple just got REJECTED from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

As we previously reported, the Salahis are in the process of moving to the swank neighborhood -- renting a $20,000-a-month mansion -- but we're told they won't be taking their "Real Housewives" careers with them.

According to sources, the Salahis' manager had been in talks with Bravo to transfer the baby-hungry couple from the D.C. show to its B.H. counterpart -- but Bravo exec Andy Cohen coolly replied, "We are not interested."

It was all about small penises when Camille Grammer left Boa Saturday night. She was asked if she regretted her comment about Kelsey, "Big hands, big feet, big disappointment." Her response was ambiguous -- burying her face in her hands and cracking either a smile or a wince.

The day before -- after taking a lot of heat for her comment -- Camille said she regretted making it.

So watch the video, and then you be the judge.

Camille Grammer realizes it really isn't all fair in love and war, because she now regrets the comment she made about Kelsey's junk.

As you know, Camille said -- referring to Kelsey -- "Big hands, big feet, big disappointment."

Now she's given TMZ a statement, trying to take it back: "Some joking remarks I made to Kyle Richards got picked up and caused my ex-husband great embarrassment and for that I sincerely apologize. While the media added words and blew it out of proportion, I acknowledge my part in this and regret my remarks."

But it's not all nice, because Camille goes on, complaining she wants to settle their differences "but Kelsey just seems to want to fight this." Camille adds, "I offered a 50/50 physical split with joint custody and was soundly rejected."

Camille says, "Now he will only communicate through lawyers and others and I fear the message we're sending our children."

Small penis comments create big problems.

Kelsey Grammer is seriously lacking in the man department -- at least according to his ex-wife Camille ... who STRONGLY insinuated yesterday that the actor has a small penis.

In a recent promo for "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," Camille describes Kelsey ... "Big hands, big feet, big disappointment" -- and last night in New York, she said it's true ... telling us, "It was a lot like that. I had that for 13 years, unfortunately."

Not all desperate reality TV stars record music ... some just appear in music videos.

Like a D-list reality TV "We Are the World," wannabe "Real Housewife of New Jersey" Kim G., Tone Tone from "Cake Boss," Robin Kasser from "Millionaire Matchmaker," hunky Jack Mackenroth from season 4 of "Project Runway" and someone named Miguel Allure from "Jerseylicious" all make cameos in a music video for a new catchy dance song by the lead singer of Sister Sledge of "We Are Family" fame.

You can see the reality fame whores partying it up in the ridiculous clip for "Give Yourself Up" by Kathy Sledge featuring Adam Barta ... and let's just say we're at least thankful they aren't singing.

Tareq and Michaele Salahi are on the hunt for a nice clean womb ... because the alleged White House crashers are planning to have a baby through a surrogate mom!!!

The former "Real Housewives of D.C." stars met with professionals at the Northern Virginia Center for Surrogate Parenting a few days ago in the hopes of getting the process underway ASAP.

Michaele tells TMZ she wants to go with a surrogate because she suffers from multiple sclerosis ... and she worries that her condition combined with her age (45) ... is not safe for a baby.

Alleged White House crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi are HUGE down under -- in fact, we're told, the "Real Housewives of DC" stars are closing in on a deal to appear on Australia's "Dancing with the Stars."

The offer's already on the table for next season -- and sources tell TMZ, Tareq and Michaele are just hammering out the nitty gritty before signing on the dotted line.

And to prove just how famous they are over there -- we're told the couple also shot a commercial for an Australian laundry detergent last week ... LAUNDRY DETERGENT.

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong and her soon-to-be ex-husband are now co-defendants in a lawsuit accusing them of shady business dealings.

Two weeks after Taylor filed to divorce Russell Armstrong ... they're both being sued over allegedly misleading investors in a company called NuWay Digital Systems, Inc. (NDS).

Russell -- a venture capitalist -- was CEO of NDS -- which held interest in another company called MyMedicalRecords.com (MMR).

In the lawsuit, MMR claims Russell collected more than a million dollars by selling off NDS shares to investors who were told they were getting a piece of MMR.

The suit claims Taylor and Russell "successfully and secretly" funneled money away from MMR and into their own pockets -- allegedly using the money to invest in a schmancy restaurant with Eva Longoria ... and to redecorate their mansion.

MMR and the Armstrongs reached a settlement over the whole mess ... and the lawsuit claims they have breached that agreement.

MMR wants $1.5 million to make things right.

TMZ has learned the stars of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" were well aware of Taylor Armstrong's claims of spousal abuse ....long before her allegations went public.

Sources connected with the show tell us ... Taylor had showed her castmates bruising and other injuries, claiming her husband Russell was responsible.

According to sources connected with production, Taylor -- who filed for divorce from her husband Russell earlier this month -- was adamant about hiding what she has called a physically and emotionally abusive marriage.

And, sources say, Russell even got "aggressive" with Taylor at an event, and execs from Bravo witnessed it.

Taylor told People.com, her arguments with her husband often got physical -- with Russell grabbing her, shoving her, and pulling her hair.

Eat your heart out, LeAnn Rimes.

Sources tell TMZ ... the agreement outlines who gets the kids, when and where, etc. We're told Camille will have both kids more than Kelsey, but the agreement accommodates Kelsey's work schedule.

The kids will not be separated. You'll recall, at one point Kelsey's lawyer recommended that the couple's son would fly to Chicago to stay with him, and their daughter would stay with Camille in L.A.

Our sources say the underlying issues between the couple have not been resolved -- i.e., money and permanent custody.