Reality TV

Reunion show fights are usually reserved for "Real Housewives" and "Bachelor" wannabes -- but a fracas broke out this week between two of the cast members from the show "Bering Sea Gold" over allegations of stealing.

During the taping, a red-faced Vernon Atkinson accused his captain, Scott Meisterheim, of lying, cheating and stealing from him. That didn't sit well with Scott, and after he threw a drink at Vernon ... the two went to blows.

According to our sources, paramedics and police were called to the scene. Both guys suffered cuts and bruises, but no charges were filed.

A powerful Iranian-American organization is convinced "Shahs of Sunset" will be loaded with tons of negative stereotypes about Persian people ... but the Org. tells TMZ ... it could be a GOOD thing.

TMZ spoke with a rep for the National Iranian American Council who tells us ... judging from the trailers, "[we] believe that it will only play up the negative stereotypes that exist about the Iranian-American community, such as materialism and superficiality."

The rep adds, "We've gone from being viewed as terrorists to being viewed as Beverly Hills brats. Neither portrayal is particularly flattering or accurate, but at least it may get some people talking.

A Persian woman who filed a lawsuit, claiming she was forced against her will to play the role of a bad girl on the new show "Shahs of Sunset" has settled her beef -- but we've learned she's walking away with a big fat nothing.

Sources connected with the dispute tell TMZ ... under the terms of the confidential settlement, producers have agreed to cut Kathy Salem out of the premiere episode of the Ryan Seacrest-produced show, which airs Sunday on Bravo.

According to the suit, Kathy claims she was verbally abused at a fancy Hollywood Hills party and then attacked by a gaggle of Persians, one of whom tried to rip her top off.

But here's the deal ... We're told producers didn't like her storyline anyway, so she wasn't going to make the cut. We beg to differ -- the storyline sounds kind of awesome to us.

And, we're told, Kathy got zilch by way of money.

Simon Cowell says he's still close with Paula Abdul -- even though he just fired her ass -- and plans to work with her again in the very near future.

Cowell just released a statement about the bloodbath at "X Factor" ... saying, "I want to say a massive thank you to Paula, Nicole and Steve for being part of the 'X Factor' last year."

In what might be the most awkward proposal in reality TV history, Chaz Bono popped the question to girlfriend Jennifer Ella ... without actually popping the question.

In a clip from the upcoming show "Being Chaz" ... he gives her the ring, without getting down one knee, on the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. Her dry reaction was simply, "Wow, it's gorgeous. Thank you so much."

Ryan Seacrest is being sued by a woman who claims she was "humiliated" in a taping of the new reality show he's producing called "Shahs of Sunset" ... insisting she was "forced against her will" to play the role of the "bad girl."

The show is being hailed as the "Persian Jersey Shore" -- featuring a bunch of young, rich Persians galavanting around Los Angeles.

But according to a new lawsuit, filed by a woman named Kathy Salem, the show is just as insane and violent as every other reality show in TV ... a lesson she claims she learned at a fancy Hollywood party back in July.

Salem claims she signed a waiver before entering the shindig and understood she would appear on the show ... but "she did not understand that she might be blind sided and forced against her will to play a demeaning and humiliating role."

Salem claims when she was inside the party, she was confronted by the stars of the show -- who began to bully her and become "verbally abusive" because she was talking to a man who was allegedly engaged.

Salem claims things escalated quickly -- and she was attacked by multiple people -- one of whom tried to rip her top off and another who threw a cup of water in her face.

Salem claims the show is set to air in February -- but she wants a judge to force Ryan to pull any footage in which she appears.

Salem is suing Seacrest, his production company and Bravo -- demanding at least $100,000 in damages.

Calls to Seacrest's people have not been returned.

Michaele Salahi has a big, fat diamond ring on her wedding finger ... and her Journey boyfriend Neal Schon put it there ... but TMZ has learned she's definitely NOT engaged ... yet.

Sources close to Michaele tell us ... Neal dropped $15k on the diamond cross ring a few days ago as a "message of love."

Weston Cage and his wife Nikki Williams may have an incredibly screwed up relationship, but they're not willing to spill it on a new reality show.

We're told the fiery couple has turned down an offer to appear on VH1's "Relationship Rehab," a revamped version of "Celebrity Rehab," that deals with bad relationships instead of drugs and booze.

We're told Nikki isn't interested in airing their dirty laundry -- of which there is plenty -- and would rather leave the last four months -- which included two domestic violence incidents that resulted in their arrest (link, link) -- behind her.

Casting for the show is off to a rocky start ... Jonny Fairplay's ex was asked to appear on the show too -- and also turned it down.

"Swamp People" troublemaker Nicholas Payne allegedly battered a FEMALE cop on the night he was arrested ... and then tried to escape into the woods ... this according to Louisiana police.

TMZ has learned ... the 26-year old gator huntin' apprentice was arrested last month for allegedly striking a female police officer in the chest ... while she was trying to write him a citation for disturbing the peace at a private home.

Law enforcement officials tell us Payne tried to run off into the woods after the attack ... so a K-9 unit was dispatched to find him.

We're told one of the dogs located Payne ... and bit the guy so hard, the reality star had to be taken to a nearby hospital so doctors could treat the wound.

Cops say Payne's injury has since healed up.

PERSONALS
Separated 43-year-old man seeks woman willing to compete for his love on television. Please don't be a fan of '80s soft rock music. Ability to talk your way into highly-secure events you were not invited to is a plus.

Sources close to Tareq Salahi tell TMZ he is pitching a dating show to various networks, with the title ... "Seducing Salahi."

We're told the show would shoot at his winery in Virginia and would be of the "Flavor of Love" variety -- with 14 women competing for Tareq's affection.

The loveable gator hunting dog from "Swamp People" is back in action after a heart scare.

Tyler was rushed to a vet back in January after a heart scare. The dog is a fixture on the boat during gator hunts, but he was sidelined after his medical emergency.

The good news -- Tyler is back in action.

Despite being her usual lovely shade of orange, Snooki looks a lot lighter.

The 23-year-old "Jersey Shore" star appeared slimmer at an event in Atlantic City this weekend (left) than she was just over a year ago (right).

Gym, tan, cardio!

TMZ tracked down Bristol Palin's heckler -- the one who screamed, "Your mother's a whore!" at a West Hollywood bar last night, and he's not ashamed at all.

Stephen Hanks is a 47-year old L.A. consultant who would not say what he consults on. He did, however, tell us this was not a setup.

While Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were busy getting married ... TV producers were hard at work behind the scenes SCRIPTING a special moment between Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick ... and it was all caught on tape.

Listen to the walkie-talkie chatter between producers behind the scenes, choreographing the moment Scott and Kourtney decide to bring up the possibility of getting married themselves.

Sounds like K and S are going to go along with the plan to get hitched too ... because when production was wrapping on Kim's big day, one of the lead producers tells the crew, "See you at Kourtney's wedding."

Here's a shocker -- the chick who ditched Hugh Hefner days before their wedding is now trying to shop her own reality show around town ... and even more shocking, there's actual interest.

TMZ has learned ... Crystal Harris already has meetings set up with a few different networks ... hoping to land a deal.

We're told the premise behind the show (beyond just the fact that she's hot) will focus on her struggle to find a career after burning the richest bridge she will ever have.

Did we mention that she's hot?

According to Landry -- the guy who basically cooks everything on the show -- SEVERAL publishers have already approached him about a book deal since "SP" premiered last year ... but he's still weighing his options.

Landry tells us, he's currently compiling a master list of all his recipes -- which includes his most famous dish called "Nutria Sauce Piquante" ... a gumbo made from a semiaquatic rodent called a nutria ... basically an over-sized rat.

Troy says he picked up his recipes while working at his father's restaurant as a kid -- but don't worry ... we're told the cookbook still has kinda normal things ... you know, like deep South chicken (okay, still scary).