Reality TV

Celebrity chef Ilan Hall -- the former "Top Chef" winner -- has just thrown in the dish towel in a lawsuit that accused him of fenneling money from investors.

Hall was sued for taking $37,500 from money men to help in the operation of his restaurant, The Gorbals in downtown L.A. And, fun fact ... it's known for bacon-wrapped matzoh balls.

But the investors claim Hall was as unkosher as his meals and pocketed the cash.

We just learned -- in a rosh to judgment -- the case settled for $25K.

The Discovery Channel robbed a 15-year-old girl of her father ... when he perished in a helicopter crash while filming a reality show for the network -- this according to a new lawsuit.

Sonya Joubert -- the mother of 15-year-old Sofia Donatelli -- just sued Discovery on her daughter's behalf ... claiming the 2013 chopper accident that killed 45-year-old Michael Donatelli was the result of Discovery's shocking lapse of judgment for allowing a very dangerous flight plan.

Michael Donatelli -- a Special Forces veteran -- was a passenger in the helicopter when it inexplicably crashed just north of L.A. a year ago.

He was starring in an unnamed military-themed reality project for Discovery at the time. The helicopter pilot and a cameraman were also killed in the crash. The show never made it to air.

Aside from the flight plan ... the suit claims Discovery allowed the chopper to fly at low altitudes, over hilly terrain, with low light, poor visibility, and in frost conditions. The lawsuit also claims Discovery should have known the pilot was "unfit" to operate the helicopter.

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Joyce Giraud is spinning like a pro ... reacting to rumors she's being dumped from the show and suggesting she may be the dump-or.

Joyce seems to acknowledge producers aren't happy about the way she's blended in ... but she makes it very clear the show is NOT going to compromise her principles.

She also makes it clear there are people she loathes.

"X Factor" -- the freshly cancelled singing competition show -- didn't help its chances of survival by booting a contestant who could have become the next Justin Bieber.

17-year-old John Lindahl auditioned for the show back in 2011, and eventually got kicked off in the second round.

Apparently ... Epic Records honcho L.A. Reid -- who was also an 'X Factor' judge at the time -- saw something the show didn't, because he immediately signed the Bieber look-alike to a sweet 5-album deal.

We got hold of the legal docs showing John is getting a $300K advance for his first album, and gets a pay hike for each subsequent album ... which could eventually land him up to $800,000.

The fates are pretty much sealed for two cast members on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" -- we're told producers are gunning to replace them next season ... because they're just not exciting enough.

Sources tell TMZ, there's a 95% chance Joyce Giraud and Carlton Gebbia won't be back for Season 5 -- they're just not involved enough in the series' story lines to justify their coveted spots in the cast.

We're told it became obvious Joyce and Carlton weren't jiving during the reunion show taping earlier this month -- all the other women had great chemistry ... and Joyce and Carlton were clearly outsiders.

But the feeling's not mutual -- at least for Carlton, who tells us, she'd love to return for Season 5 if she gets asked back.

Sources tell us, producers are already on the hunt for replacements ... you listening, Joanna?

TMZ just got VIDEO OF the "Party Down South" star who was busted Sunday in Louisiana for burglarizing a car ... and it's clear this is not a drunken escapade ... it was coldly premeditated.

Check out Lyle Boudreaux scoping out the car. He seems to know it's unlocked and opens the door without hesitation and makes a beeline for the driver's purse. He then takes her credit card out of her wallet and prances away ... not looking drunk at all.

Boudreaux was nabbed in a nearby bar after using the credit card to buy drinks.

One Direction fans can chill ... the boys aren't breaking up yet -- which is awesome news for anyone who isn't named Harry Styles.

That guy's kinda screwed.

Famed choreographer Wade Robson -- who claims he was repeatedly molested as a kid by Michael Jackson -- wants the MJ Estate to ante up evidence they have of Michael molesting underage boys.

Robson has filed a claim with the Estate asking for money as a result of allegedly being molested between the ages of 7 and 14. In new legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Robson is demanding:

-- the names and other identifying info of all boys who were under 18 when alleged sexual misconduct occurred.

-- any settlements involving molestation that have not yet been made public.

-- any evidence of seduction -- even a failed attempt at molestation -- such as giving children wine ... aka Jesus juice.

The Estate has responded by saying all the info Robson wants is privileged. They also say the request is premature because they believe Robson waited way too late to file his claim.

"Teen Mom 2" star Adam Lind was driving recklessly on a revoked driver's license when he plowed his Corvette into a car driven by an 87-year-old woman ... cops tell TMZ ... but they say drugs and alcohol were NOT a factor.

Witnesses tell us ... Lind was driving VERY fast Friday when he slammed into the elderly woman's car as she was making a left turn. Lind was pulled from the wreckage of his 'Vette moments before it burst into flames.

Cops in Sioux Falls, SD tell us Lind has been charged with a total of five crimes -- in addition to the reckless driving and revoked license charges, he's also been cited for driving with a suspended license, driving an unlicensed vehicle, and not having insurance.

But law enforcement tells us ... there's NO evidence that booze or drugs contributed to the crash.

Lisa and Brittny Gastineau aren't just a couple off small-time jewelry thieves ... they're ripping off one of the most famous jewelers in American history -- so says the famous jeweler herself.

Loree Rodkin -- who has designed jewelry for Michelle Obama, Cher, Madonna, Sting, Steven Tyler, Elton John, and others -- is suing Lisa Gastineau and her daughter over their new jewelry line Tres Glam ... claiming their designs are Tres Stolen.

Loree claims she's so famous ... her Michelle Obama ring and jewelry designs from the 2009 inaugural ball are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Loree claims Tres Glam has been shamelessly ripping off SEVERAL of her recent designs -- which are copyrighted -- including the below "Spider Web Bondage Ring" ... and she's demanding the Gastineaus put an end to it ASAP.

Loree is suing for at least $150,000 per alleged copyright infringement ... and she's demanding they stop selling the products asap.

Calls to the Gastineaus weren't returned.

"Biggest Loser" trainer Dolvett Quince still isn't happy with winner Rachel Frederickson's weight -- after she dropped from 260 to a scary 105 pounds -- but he tells TMZ, he's determined to get her healthy.

Rachel won Season 15 earlier this month ... but her dramatic weight loss shocked viewers, who claimed Rachel had lost TOO much weight, bordering on anorexic-looking.

And it appears Quince agrees -- he tells us, "We're going to get her healthy. She's going to be alright ... She's getting healthier every day."

Quince says he's still working with Rachel -- pro bono -- and has a plan to help her get better.

Simon Cowell is not a slave to convention ... because his baby did what most don't -- and what some doctors say is dangerous for newborns ... his kid jetted to Miami for some fun in the sun.

As for flying ... there's a risk for mere mortals because of germs --- newborns are fragile because of their developing immune system ... but Simon flies private so it clearly minimizes the risk.

But some docs do advise against any flying because of pressure during the ascent and descent.

"Party Down South" star Lyle Boudreaux celebrated Mardi Gras in true redneck fashion -- in the pokey -- Louisiana cops busted him after he allegedly stole a credit card to fund his drunken revelry.

The police chief in Maurice, LA tells TMZ ... Boudreaux was at a Mardi Gras parade outside of Lafayette when he allegedly went into an unlocked car ... rifled through a purse in the car ... and stole a credit card from a wallet.

We're told Boudreaux tossed the wallet on the ground next to the car ... someone saw the whole thing and contacted the owner. Cops were called ... and found Lyle drinking at a nearby saloon. Cops say he used the credit card to open up a bar tab.

The 28-year-old was charged with burglary of a vehicle ... and eventually released on $10K bond.

Lamar Odom says there's still hope for his marriage to Khloe Kardashian ... claiming he's not convinced she'll see the divorce through, 2 months after she filed divorce docs.

Odom was doing an interview in Spain -- where he's now playing pro basketball -- and said "only time will tell" if Khloe will finish the job ... though he says he hopes she reconsiders.

We broke the story ... Khloe filed for divorce in December, seeking to end their 4-year marriage after Odom's drug problem spiraled out of control.

"I love my wife. She'll always be my wife, no matter what," Odom says ... "Even if we were divorced, she'd always be my wife."

One of the 'Real Housewives' is going full Mick Jagger on the jeweler who's suing her for ripping off designs -- saying the guy is using her, and he better get off of her cloud ... before she sues his ass.

Kim DePaola from 'RHNJ' tells TMZ ... Ohio jeweler Constantino Frangopolous is "delusional" for claiming she jacked anything from him because she swears she's never met the guy or even heard of him.

TMZ broke the story ... Frangopolous sued Kim -- claiming they had a verbal agreement to design jewelry for her to wear and promote on the show ... but instead she copied his pieces and sold them as her own.

KD thinks Frangopolous is trying to piggyback on her fame, and her only response to his lawsuit is ... "Hop off my coattails and try to mess with someone whose intelligence level is as low as [his]."

The rattlesnake that killed "Snake Salvation" Pastor Jamie Coots a week ago made an encore appearance Saturday night at the same church with Jamie's son at the helm ... and this time no animals or people were hurt.

Cody Coots prayed over a bevy of snakes -- one of which was the rattler that killed Jamie. The video is insane ... it looks like a revival service with a live band and snakes and worshipers all flailing in the air.

As we told you ... Cody made it clear to us ... if the rattler bit him he would refuse treatment ... just like his dad.

But snakes weren't the only trick up Cody's sleeve. He also played with fire ... literally.