Reality TV

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino says his addiction to prescription painkillers began after suffering a neck injury on "Dancing with the Stars" back in 2010 ... and he's still battling to stay sober.

We broke the story ... Sitch checked into rehab back in March 2012 -- and after his people initially insisted the MTV star was just suffering from exhaustion, they eventually admitted he was hooked on opiates.

Now, 32-year-old Situation is talking about his battle with prescription drugs ... telling the AP his addiction was so bad, he could barely dress himself.

"All I had to do was get dressed for a family function and I couldn’t do that. The shirt was laid out, the belt, the pants, everything. The shower was on. I couldn’t even get out of bed."

Sitch says it was at that moment, he realized he had a problem -- "If I can’t [get dressed], how am I going to continue?”

The former "Jersey Shore" star says he's still taking medication for his injury -- but undergoes counseling to keep his addiction in check.

He's also a paid spokesman for the company that makes his pills -- and participates in a program that helps spread awareness about opiate prescription painkiller addictions.

Justin Bieber's "Lil" BFFs are officially on the hunt for an MTV reality show ... and, naturally, they're trying to rope JB into the action ... TMZ has learned.

We spoke to Lil Za on his way out of Pick Up Stix in Calabasas this weekend ... and in between mouthfulls of Chicken Chow Mein, Za spilled the beans.

"Twist is actually about to pitch a TV show with MTV," Za told us ... "Hopefully they pick it up. They will though ... it's quite entertaining."

Za says the show will focus on Lil Twist's aspiring rap career ... and claims Bieber will most likely make a few appearances "here and there" when he's not on tour.

We're told Za is also trying to break into acting -- and has reached out to Bieber for advice -- since JB did a real bang up job the last time he graced the small screen ...

"Biggest Loser" mega-trainer Jillian Michaels shocked everyone at the Malibu Triathlon -- by totally sucking at, y'know ... being in shape and stuff.

Why choose to succeed when failure is an option, right JM?

Apparently, TV scientists stick together like H2 and O (covalent bond joke!) ... 'cause TMZ has learned Beakman (from "Beakman's World") is rooting for Bill Nye on "Dancing with the Stars."

... sorta.

We spoke with Paul Zaloom a.k.a. Beakman ... who tell us he's fired up for his fellow oddball science educator saying, "I hope Bill reps for scientists and shows everyone we can shake our booties too!"

Now for the "sorta" part ... Beakman says he doesn't watch broadcast television ... so he won't actually tune in when Nye hits the dance floor.

As for Mr. Wizard, it's unclear who he's rooting for ... because he died in 2007.

The International Olympic Committee just announced wrestling WON'T be axed from the 2020 Tokyo Games after all ... and one of the biggest stars in the sport couldn't be more thrilled.

TMZ spoke with Rulon Gardner -- former "Biggest Loser" contestant and gold medal winner at the 2000 Sydney Games -- who tells us the IOC's ruling made his day.

Rulon says he still can't believe the sport was ever on the chopping block to begin with ... but he's pumped "wrestling will showcase it's greatness to the world once again."

As for the other sports nixed from the 2020 Games, like squash, they're still out ... because no one cares about squash.

Apparently in Louisiana ... when someone says "This Bud's for you," they don't mean the beer, because 2 members of "Swamp People" just surrendered to cops after allegedly beaning dude with a bottle.

Cops say R.J. Molinere and Jay Paul Molinere got into an argument with a 24-year-old man on a highway -- it sounds like a road rage thing. The "Swamp People" stars then allegedly followed the guy to a nearby mini mart and attacked him with a bottle of beer -- which they just happened to have handy.

The incident occurred last month ... both Molinere surrendered yesterday and were booked on charges of aggravated battery and released on $1k bond.

The victim is nursing a black eye, and a swollen forehead and jaw.

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.

"Big Brother" contestant Aaryn Gries has taken lots of heat for her racist comments on the show ... but we have color photos showing a more tolerant side.

We got pics of Aaryn's big prom night in 2009, when she was a senior at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado. Her prom date -- clearly visible in the photo -- is Mike Miller. Mike -- who is BLACK -- was a starting tight end on the football team.

Mike tells TMZ Aaryn -- whom he dated for a few months -- makes bad jokes sometimes, but not "prejudiced or hateful." He calls her sense of humor "smart-ass."

Who knew ... she had a little black in her.

Here's something you probably didn't know: the stars of "Duck Dynasty" are hardcore Christian evangelists who frequently preach at their local church ... and TMZ has video of some of last weekend's sermons.

A ministry assistant at White's Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, LA tells TMZ, Phil Robertson and his family have been active at the church for more than 30 years.

We're told Phil regularly gives fiery sermons -- but last weekend, the entire family joined in, when the church celebrated Duck Commander Sunday ... a yearly tradition where the entire Robertson family preaches to the congregation in full camo (not kidding).

Funny... we're told the Duck Commander Sunday tradition existed long before the A&E reality show.

Drumroll please ... Aaryn Gries' Valentine this year WAS A BLACK MAN -- so says the black man himself, and he insists it's proof the "Big Brother" villain isn't the disgusting racist she portrayed on TV.

Shawn Onyechi tells TMZ, he knows Gries from college in Texas and they were pretty close before she left for "Big Brother."

They didn't date, but Shawn says they were Valentines this year ... and he knows for a fact she's NOT the racist pig she appeared to be on the reality show.

Shawn even tweeted, "Who thinks Aaryn Gries from big brother is racist? I've heard her comments, but personally I KNOW otherwise."

Quick recap: Aaryn's said a bunch of racist crap on the show, including this reference to a black contestant: "Be careful what you say in the dark, you might not be able to see that bitch."

Aaryn has since been evicted from the "Big Brother" house, and in her defense she said she's not racist ... she's just Texan.

"Big Brother" villain Aaryn Gries CAN'T be the homophobic racist she appears to be ... because she took a black guy to her high school prom, this according to Aaryn's mom.

We're still waiting for the photographic evidence ... but Aaryn's mom reached out to the L.A. Times and insisted it's true.

There's more ... Aaryn's mom also says the reality star once dated a "Cuban American."

Still more ... Aaryn's mom says the reality star recently sponsored a Filipino child through a charity and "she has cousins of Japanese descent who she truly loves."

Despite all of that ... Aaryn's mom says, "While I love and continue to support my daughter Aaryn, words cannot describe my disappointment in some of her comments made on 'Big Brother.'"

"These inappropriate comments certainly do not represent the value system under which her father and I have raised her."

As for gays, Elizabeth says Aaryn "has never discriminated against anyone for their sexual orientation whether within our family or not. Aaryn truly loves all people equally."

Disney is none too pleased that TMZ got the cast list of "Dancing With the Stars," because we've learned the head of security has launched an investigation to find the leak.

The Mouse House apparently was not amused when we told you Valerie Harper, Leah Remini, Snooki, Elizabeth Berkley, Amber Riley and others will be appearing in the upcoming season. We're told security will start interviewing staffers tomorrow to find the alleged mole.

So we're guessing this won't make Mickey's parents happy ... we found out Tristin McMannis will be Valerie's partner. What's more ... we're told Valerie -- who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer but is in remission -- is rehearsing like a champ and is getting no special breaks.

What would Jesus say? Gospel duo Mary Mary enlisted a manager to revamp their careers, then screwed him over as soon as they made it big again ... at least according to a new lawsuit.

Maximum Artist Group -- owned by manager Mitchell Solarek -- filed a federal lawsuit in Tennessee against Mary Mary, aka Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell.

In docs, Mitchell says he inked a deal with the duo in 2011 and helped "reignite" their career ... securing deals worth over $3 million, including their WeTV reality show.

In return, Mitchell says the Christian singers went all Judas on him -- publicly firing him on their TV show, and withholding more than $75,000 in commissions.

Mitchell is suing for all that dough, and the loss of future commissions from music, merchandising, books and sponsorships.

Now here's Mitch before the axe came down ...

Lots happened this week ... most notably Lamar Odom slipping deeper into trouble over his addiction. So we gotta ask ...

"Big Brother" star Aaryn Gries embarrassed the entire Lone Star state last night when she blamed her racist remarks from the show on growing up in Texas ... this according to "Big Rich Texas" star Bon Blossman.

In case you missed ... Aaryn was evicted from the "Big Brother" house Thursday night ... and told Julie Chen she's NOT a bigot, despite mocking Asians, putting down black people and calling a gay housemate "queer" during her stint inside the BB house.

Aaryn explained, "In Texas, we say things. Sometimes we joke and we don't mean it."

But according to Bon, Aaryn is talking out of her nicely-toned racist ass -- telling TMZ, "This is NOT how we were raised in Texas."

"I watched 'Big Brother' this season, and was embarrassed that [Aaryn] brought such negative attention to one of the most friendly, welcoming states in the United States."

She added ... "Aaryn's comments were an outrage," and ... "This type of behavior is not tolerated by anybody that I know ... and I was born and raised in Texas."

Bon thinks what Aaryn really needs is some tough love, saying ... "We can't ignore behavior like that or she won't learn."

Since Aaryn made it to the "Big Brother" jury house, she's still sequestered from the outside world and doesn't know how big of a villain she's become. But it seems she's in for a rude awakening.

Aaryn Gries was evicted from the "Big Brother" house Thursday night ... and on her way out, she told Julie Chen she's not really a racist, she's just a misunderstood Texan.

Seriously ... Gries -- who mocked Asians, trashed black people and referred to a gay houseguest as a "queer" during her stint on the reality competition show -- had the cojones to look Chen in the face and say, "I did not mean to ever come off as racist."

Here's her ridiculous explanation:

"In Texas, we say things. Sometimes we joke and we don't mean it. I feel how bad it is being seen and how I've come across to people. I don't want to seem like that person."

Aaryn -- who told Julie she doesn't remember ever making a racist comment in the house -- added, "I apologize to anyone I offended for that. That was not meant to be serious and if I said those things, I feel horrible for that. I regret that."

Julie -- being the badass that she is -- didn't let Aaryn off the hook and READ some of the offensive comments right to Aaryn's face as Aaryn sat there like a racist, homophobic deer in headlights.

FYI -- Aaryn still has no idea she's been dropped by her modeling agency over her behavior in the house ... because she's made it to the "jury house" and will remain sequestered from the outside world until the show ends in September.