Reality TV

Christopher 'Big Black' Boykin, who was the other half of Rob Dyrdek's hit MTV show "Rob & Big" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

His rep tells us Chris died Tuesday morning. No official cause of death yet, but multiple people connected to Chris tell us they believe it was a heart attack.

He was Rob's best friend and bodyguard on their reality show, which ran from 2006 to 2008 -- and also later appeared on 'Fantasy Factory.'

The pals got into a bunch of random adventures -- like breaking Guinness World Records, exorcising their house, installing an ATM ... and, of course, catching people with their net gun.

Chris and Rob's relationship became strained while shooting their show. Rob talked about their falling out a couple of years ago.

They eventually patched things up. Not only did they work together on 'Fantasy Factory' ... but Chris recently posted a throwback pic of them from the show's heyday.

Before he was a TV star, Boykin served in the U.S. Navy. He's survived by his 9-year-old daughter.

'Big Black' was 45.

#RIP

Kim Zolciak just shared an up close and personal post-surgery photo of her son's injured face after he was gnarled by a dog ... and the attack left several marks.

Kim posted a pic Tuesday of 4-year-old Kash Biermann, with a long caption thanking fans who sent prayers during the ordeal. She says ... "Kash has healed up incredibly and has perfect vision in his left eye. Stitches on his water line, and his eyeball was never touched! God is Good!"

Kim also thanked the doctors who operated on her son.

As we reported ... Kash had to undergo surgery after he was bitten in the face. At the time, Kim cited his injuries as "traumatic." She's never said anything more about the attack or whose dog was behind it.

Great to see Kash is doing better now.

Tarek and Christina El Moussa hired a guy to find homes for them to flip, but he claims the "Flip or Flop stars haven't paid him a dime, and are now more than $30k in the red with him.

Jonathan Schmier is suing the reality TV stars for stiffing him on deals for 5 homes in North Carolina. In docs, Schmier says the couple's company -- Next Level Property Investments -- hired him last year to lock potential flip-worthy Carolina pads.

He says he was told the El Moussas, who normally only shoot in SoCal, would be branching out to the East Coast.

Schmier says he delivered what they wanted, but never got what he wanted ... a paycheck. In the suit, he says he was promised $5,000 per home ... plus he wants minimum wage for the hours he logged. Grand total owed -- $37,800 ... according to Schmier, anyway.

We've reached out to reps for Christina and Tarek.

Former "Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller is going to prison for a year and a day after a federal judge handed down her sentence Tuesday morning in federal court.

Miller had been indicted on 20 counts of fraud connected to hiding $755,000 in earnings from the government. During the trial she took the stand and begged the judge for mercy, saying she had fallen victim to the sudden fame that came when "Dance Moms" took off.

Abby will reportedly serve her sentence in a federal facility near L.A. ... and after she gets out she'll be on supervised release for 2 more years. She will also have to pay about $160k in fines.

Doesn't sound like it, but she got off easy. She could have gotten 5 years in prison and $5 mil in fines.

Deadline first reported the sentence.

"Love & Hip Hop: New York" star Tahiry Jose got an awful birthday present -- handcuffs and a trip to jail after an alleged beatdown.

The incident went down on Cinco de Mayo, Tahiry's 38th birthday, after she got into a physical altercation with a woman who was staying in her New Jersey home.

According to arrest docs, Tahiry punched and scratched the woman in her face ... and yanked her hair, leaving "reddish bruises" on the right side of her face.

Tahiry tells TMZ ... SHE was the victim, and was merely defending herself. She claims she got home and the woman -- whom she'd just recently allowed to stay with her -- jumped her and started breaking stuff.

Tahiry was booked for assault and released the next day, but says she plans to press charges too.

We'll say this, the ex-roomie probably stepped to the wrong chick. As 'LHHNY' fans know, Tahiry's always down to throw down.

Phaedra Parks won't be showing her face anymore on 'RHOA' -- she's been fired for spreading lies and rumors about cast members conspiring to rape ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the production tell us Phaedra was let go due to a rumor she told Porsha Williams about Kandi Burruss during the course of this latest season, which came to dramatic end Sunday night.

We're told that during filming for the show, Phaedra had told Porsha that Kandi and her hubby, Todd Tucker, were planning to drug Porsha and take her back to their home to take advantage of her sexually. Kandi threatened Bravo if they aired that clip ... so they didn't.

But during Sunday's finale of a 4-part reunion following the 9th season, all those secrets finally spilled in front of America ... with Phaedra being outed as the source of the nasty rumor.

We're told Bravo felt like Phaedra's allegations were so out of line, they simply couldn't continue working with her and informed her in early April.

Teresa Giudice is possibly risking more jail time after failing to report 2 traffic tickets ... during supervised release in her fraud conviction.

According to court docs, the 'RHONJ' star failed to give her probation officer the heads-up after she was ticketed. The first one was for making an illegal turn last year. She and her lawyer were warned that any future contact with law enforcement had to be reported. But then she got another citation last month for using her phone while driving -- and, again, she didn't tell her P.O.

In the docs, her P.O. makes it clear ... this is her last written warning before she's dragged into court again over it.

Teresa's attorney, James Leonard Jr., tells TMZ ... both tickets were reported, but not within the required time frame. He adds Teresa's been fully compliant other than these incidents, and ... "Both she and I have spoken to her officer and understand exactly what is required should she have any future contact with law enforcement, which we do not anticipate will happen."

Phaedra Parks is still legally married to Apollo Nida but that's not stopping her from dancing on couches at the club dressed in head-to-toe lingerie.

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star hit up the Banco Lounge in Atlanta for celeb stylist Jeremy Haynes' birthday. As you may have guessed ... lots of skin.

"Basketball Wives LA" star Angel Love, "Married to Medicine" star Quad Lunceford, Toya Wright, Monyetta Shaw all showed face. Kenya Moore's ex-beau, Matt Jordan, was also front and center.

As we reported, Phaedra's divorce had been finalized back in November but a judge overturned it because Nida, who's behind bars, hadn't been properly served.

"American Idol" will go to ABC, because TMZ has learned the deal is now closed.

TMZ broke the story ... ABC made the offer nearly 2 weeks ago, and the networks's plan is to officially announce it at the Upfronts in a week.

As we reported, FOX came on strong with an offer at the last minute, but the ABC deal was sealed Friday night.

Sources involved in the deal tell us ... the co-owners of the show, Fremantle and Core, along with ABC, want Ryan Seacrest to host the show. As we reported, the show will be filmed in Hollywood and Ryan would have to make 2 round trip coast-to-coast flights in as many days to shoot the show each week.

That now appears to be a reality.

Our sources say the show will debut in March of 2018.

Ashley McNeely -- who appeared with Tila Tequila on her reality show, 'Shot at Love' -- was found dead Thursday ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops responded to an incident and found him dead in his hometown, Beckley, WV. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.

McNeely had his moment ... in 2004 he rang in the New Year with Ryan Seacrest for the Times Square crystal ball drop on ABC.

Ashley also appeared on 6 episodes of the series, "That's Amore!"

He was 35.

"Love & Hip Hop: Miami" just made a HUGE, GIGANTIC free agent pickup ... 'cause ex-NFL Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie is joining the cast ... the 1st athlete in the history of the franchise.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ Sports Mckinnie has actually been shooting with 'L&HHM' for a couple of months now, and will be a fixture on the new show next season.

It actually makes sense for Bryant, who's a Grammy Award winning music producer, and is currently in the studio working with big-time people like Lil' Kim.

Prince's estate wants to get into the reality show biz, and that's why it went to war to shut down the release of a new album on the anniversary of his death.

Sources close to Prince's heirs tell us the reality show, featuring family members, is in the works right now, and will focus on how their lives have changed since he died.

We're told the family's fighting George Ian Boxill, the producer of the "Deliverance" EP, to keep the music under wraps ... so they can debut it on the show. So, the good news is ... there's still hope the music will see the light of day. The question is when?

We're told the reality show is still in early development. They have a production company on board, but no deal to air yet.

Meanwhile, the court has ordered Boxill to turn over the music to the estate, but he's still fighting that.

NeNe Leakes is inching closer to striking a deal for her return to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" ... and it might lead to a starring role on a new show.

Sources close to production tell us ... NeNe's ready to come back for season 10 of 'RHOA' but hasn't signed the paperwork yet. We're told Bravo's trying to sweeten the deal by working with her on a spin-off ... à la Kim Zolciak's "Don't Be Tardy."

There's also the matter of money. We know NeNe wants to be paid as much as, if not more than, Kim. Our sources say Leakes will only return to 'RHOA' as a part-time cast member. Once again ... just like Kim.

"Vanderpump Rules" star Scheana Shay and her now ex-husband finalized their divorce, and she's the one who will have to shell out a chunk of cash.

Here's what she gets to keep:

- 2016 Ford Explorer, with a $49k note
- '09 Nissan worth $19k
- bank account with $1k in it
- a retirement fund worth $31k

Mike Shay gets to keep an '05 GMC Sierra, and Scheana has to fork over the $50k to balance out their assets.

Chris Soules' lawyers are going after the Sheriff's Dept. and prosecutors, clearly trying to establish they're in bed with the media by leaking damaging information about Chris that could affect his right to a fair trial.

Lawyers for "The Bachelor" star have just filed legal docs looking to find all contact the Sheriffs, prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies involved in the case had with the media. The lawyers want text messages, emails, electronic log books (presumably this includes cell phone calls), journals and appointments between law enforcement and the media.

The docs also ask for any evidence that payment was offered to members of law enforcement for interviews or statements.

The lawyers are demanding law enforcement preserve all these records, presumably so they can be inspected.

As for why ... several reasons. First, Soules' lawyers have already complained media coverage has tainted the case and inaccurately portrayed their client's actions the night of the fatal crash.

Kenya Moore's ex-BF, Matt Jordan, no longer has to stay away from her because a judge tossed the restraining order when she couldn't find him to serve legal docs.

Kenya's temporary restraining order was dismissed Wednesday after she was a no-show at a hearing on the matter. Kenya's lawyer tells TMZ ... she only skipped court because she knew the judge would toss it once he heard Matt hadn't been served.

You'll recall ... Kenya said Matt was blowing up her phone 30 times a day and had also threatened her. The temporary restraining order required him to stay 200 yards away from Kenya.