Reality TV

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Melissa and Joe Gorga want to give their tenant the boot ... claiming the guy owes 'em $80K in back rent ... and ironically the alleged deadbeat makes a living chasing down deadbeat dads.

TMZ has learned Melissa and Joe filed docs demanding Kai Patterson fork over 4 months of rent -- at $20K/month -- for the Montville, NJ house he rents from them. According to the docs, his rent check bounced in April, then he failed to pay in May and June, and today being the first of the month ...he now owes a total of $80,000.

And in the pot/kettle department -- Patterson actually owns a company that helps single parents get cash out of deadbeat partners ... and claims to have forced R. Kelly and Stevie J to shell out their past due child support.

Patterson tells TMZ the Gorgas left out some important facts in their motion -- like a slew of home repairs that he covered out of pocket. He also claims he paid a $4,416 water bill for them.

As for rent -- Patterson claims it's only supposed to be $10K/month, and he has documentation to back that up. He says he eventually paid that amount in April ... after his check bounced.

Joann Wells -- one of the stars of TLC's, "Gypsy Sisters," -- was busted in North Carolina after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a Target.

Officials from the Cary PD in North Carolina tell TMZ ... Wells befriended two cashiers at a Target last December to aid in her fraud. We're told the cashiers ran fake bar codes on merchandise, forced expired coupons, and cashed gift cards -- and Wells would share the profits.

We're told the scheme took place over a 10 day period ... and racked up a total of $14,700.

A warrant was issued for her arrest, but Wells turned herself in last week and was charged with obtaining property under false pretense, and felony conspiracy.

She was later released after posting bail. Both cashiers were also arrested.

TLC had no comment.

Adam Richman's new show on the Travel Channel just got yanked in the wake of his rant over the term "thinspiration" ... the one where he encouraged a hater to commit suicide.

The cable channel just announced it's postponing the premiere of Richman's "Man Finds Food" -- but hasn't said exactly when it will air ... leading many to believe it could be done for good.

Richman -- who recently lost 70 lbs. -- came under fire for posting an Instagram pic with "#thinspiration.' Online trolls jumped on him for using the term -- claiming it's only associated with people suffering eating disorders.

Adam responded to one critic with ... "Grab a razor blade and draw a bath. I doubt anyone will miss you."

Travel Channel didn't specifically say the suicide taunt was behind the postponement.

Richman apologized this morning, saying ... "I’ve long struggled with my body image and have worked very hard to achieve a healthy weight. I’m incredibly sorry to everyone I’ve hurt.”

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" producers have lured back 2 big stars ... one of whom they fired.

Camille Grammer and Adrienne Maloof are the secret to restoring the show to its former ratings glory ... at least that's what producers are banking on -- sources connected with the show tell TMZ.

Pretty ironic ... Camille was fired after her divorce from Kelsey. Her problem ... she went from crazy to boring after her divorce.

Adrienne was a hell-freezes-over type girl, because we're told producers said they would NEVER work with her again after she quit the show.

But times and ratings change. Now that the show has 86'd Carlton Gebbia and Joyce Giraud crashed and burned, there was a gigantic hole in the cast ... now filled.

We're told Camille and Adrienne won't be on all the time ... they'll be on here and there. They've already shot scenes -- most recently at Kyle Richards' infamous white party.

"Dance Moms" instructor Abby Lee Miller so frightened her students ... one pint-sized dancer needed a shrink ... so the mom claims in a new lawsuit.

Kelly Hyland claims Miller made her daughter Paige so nervous during rehearsals ... the girl started suffering panic attacks to the point she couldn't breathe.

Hyland says in the lawsuit producers made it even worse by shoving cameras in Paige's face during her anxiety attacks. She says the whole thing was so traumatic, Paige had to go to a psychiatrist.

Hyland claims Miller tormented her, too ... calling her an alcoholic stage mom ... and insulting her with 8 bottles of tequila as an XMAS present.

We reached out to Miller about the lawsuit ... but all she did was brag about her new book.

"Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Bambi Johnson adamantly denies putting a hit out on castmate Erica Pinkett -- but says she is related to the attacker.

Bambi says the woman -- Stephanie Harp -- who's accused of slicing Pinkett with a razor blade during a nightclub brawl earlier this month is her sister ... Johnson says Erica started the fight.

Bambi claims her sister says Erica threw a drink first -- triggering the fight inside Atlanta's Taboo nightclub. Bambi also claims her sister did not have a razor blade ... adding reports claiming the scene was bloody are false.

As we previously posted ... Erica says Bambi ordered the attack because the two have had arguments over Johnson's boyfriend Lil Scrappy.

Don't go checking TV Guide for a Chris Brown reality show anytime soon ... 'cause the singer says it's just not his style.

Chris and Karrueche Tran were heading out of 1Oak Friday night in L.A. when we asked about BET's intense interest in signing him to a deal ... but Brown nixed the idea straight out.

We broke the story ... BET put the word out to several production companies that they badly wanted to air a reality show chronicling Brown's life after jail. They even held focus groups and prospective viewers approved.

"Little Women: L.A." star Terra Jole and her friends are just shakin' what their mamas gave 'em ... starring in a new music video that celebrates the beauty of booty.

We're told "Booty Bee" is the first music video with a little person -- Terra -- in the starring role.

Terra -- who's become a little famous playing Mini Britney and Mini Gaga -- not only sang and danced in the video ... she also wrote the music and lyrics.

French Montana has only been with Khloe Kardashian for a few months ... and he dropped nearly $100,000 on her birthday presents.

French got Khloe a Jeep Wrangler Sahara, which we're told cost around $50K.

But wait. There's more. He also gave her a $25,000,18k gold ring with natural green Colombian emeralds and natural yellow canary diamonds from Rafaello & Co.

And still more. French gifted her 2 grills (one with diamonds and one without) at a cost of $10K. Khloe wore one to her birthday bash.

Love ... it don't come cheap.

Elyjah Marrow -- grandson of rapper Ice-T -- was arrested after he accidentally shot and killed his roommate ... TMZ has learned.

Cops tell us ... 19-year-old Marrow was fiddling with a handgun in his Georgia apartment Tuesday when it accidentally went off, fatally wounding roommate Daryus Johnson, who was also 19.

Marrow was charged with involuntary manslaughter, possession of firearm in the commission of a felony, and reckless conduct. He was also hit with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a stolen firearm.

He is currently in custody.

Marrow appeared on his grandfather's reality show, "Ice Loves Coco."

So far ... no comment from Ice-T.

BET is gunning to air a Chris Brown reality show ... and they've already held focus groups to find out if viewers will flock to their sets or stay away.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... BET has made it clear to several production companies ... the network would absolutely air a Chris Brown reality series, chronicling his life after jail.

We're told several production companies are angling to sign Chris, but so far that hasn't happened. If it does, we're told the show will get on the air.

A focus group was held Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley ... asking participants if they'd watch a reality show in which Chris tries to stay on the straight and narrow -- free from violence and drugs.

Katie Cleary -- the "Deal or No Deal" model whose husband committed suicide Sunday -- was so thirsty for fame she schemed to become a cast member on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" ... a move that helped drive her husband to financial ruin ... sources close to the couple tell TMZ.

Our sources say Katie was demanding with hubby Andrew Stern, imploring him to help her penetrate the walls of Hollywood celebrity. Her big plan was to join RHOBH and she executed it by latching on to Taylor Armstrong -- once a star on the show -- and her husband Russell.

We're told Katie dragged Andrew to dinners, parties and other events where the Housewives hung, but her plan didn't work. Instead her play created a big problem, because Andrew got involved in Russell's investments and lost a bundle.

Andrew hit rock bottom financially and we're told that contributed to his downward spiral that ended Sunday when he shot himself in the head at a firing range.

And one other eerie note ... Russell and his business partner, Alan Schram, both committed suicide.

The contestants on "Naked and Afraid" don't have the basic luxuries of life ... like a separate bathtub and toilet -- so necessity being the mother of invention ... they've combined both.

The new season of the heavily-blurred Discovery Channel show premieres Sunday at 9 PM EDT... and we got hold of a clip showcasing the delicate balance between the need to bathe and the need to pee.

Chris Miles won't have to worry about finding a summer job ... the 15-year-old kid rapper just signed his first record deal ... which could make him a millionaire.

Miles -- who first shot to fame when his rap audition for "America's Got Talent" went viral -- inked a deal with Warner/Chappell to write and rap on as many as 5 albums.

According to the contract -- filed in court and obtained by TMZ -- Miles will get an $182,500 advance for the first album that's released.

If the album does well, the next 4 combined could land Chris more than $1.5 MILLION ... PLUS ROYALTIES!

Beats selling jeans at Gap.

"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Erica Pinkett was savagely attacked in a nightclub ... and Pinkett says she told police the hit was ordered by a jealous rival on the show.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Pinkett was coming out of a bathroom in Atlanta's Taboo Club June 9 when a woman came up from behind her, hit her in the face and then threw her to the ground and slashed her arm with a razor blade. It was reported the gash spewed blood so badly, it looked like a scene from a horror movie.

Pinkett tells police ... she thinks the attack was ordered by fellow "L&HH:A" star Bambi Johnson ... because the two have had arguments over Pinkett's relationship with Johnson's boyfriend, Lil Scrappy. One of the fights (see video below) aired on the show.

According to the police report - obtained by TMZ -- the beating suspect left the club before cops arrived ... Stephanie Nicole Harp was arrested this morning for committing aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The police report does not mention Bambi allegedly ordering the hit, but Erica insists she told cops all about it.