Reality TV

Nicole Murphy decided to tell the world she had broken up with Michael Strahan -- right when he was entering the Hall of Fame -- because that's when she "confirmed" he was unfaithful.

A source close to the couple tells TMZ ... Nicole first got wind Michael might be dating another woman in early July and started investigating ... the way scorned women do. We're told she was finally convinced it was true on Friday and immediately decided to go public.

The source did not know the nature of Nicole's proof.

We're told Nicole insists her timing wasn't out of revenge, rather a total coincidence because that's when she knew for sure. It just happened to come precisely when Michael was getting the greatest honor of his career.

Other sources tell us Nicole and Michael have been broken up for several weeks -- and, in fact, their bi-coastal relationship has been on and off for almost 2 years ... since Michael took the 'Live' gig.

Ultimately this may come down to that old "Friends" theory -- but we're told Nicole definitely did NOT think they were "on a break."

Reps for Michael and Nicole have not responded to calls for comment.

Former "American Idol" contestant Michael Johns may have been dead for more than an hour before he was discovered ... according to the friend who found him.

TMZ has obtained the dramatic 911 call. Michael's friend tearfully tells the dispatcher he had left Johns 2 hours before and he seemed ok, but when he returned Michael was motionless ... and not breathing.

The friend tells the dispatcher he fears Michael is dead and says Michael was cold to the touch and it appeared rigor mortis had set in.

You hear the friend breathlessly perform CPR ... to no avail.

The autopsy on former "American Idol" contestant Michael Johns has been completed, but the medical staff at the Orange County Coroner's Office is deferring the cause of death ... pending toxicology results.

TMZ first reported ... Johns had sprained his ankle and the swelling spread up to his knee. He went to the doctor Thursday ... the day before he died. We're told he was in great pain.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the police were informed Johns had engaged in heavy alcohol use at some point prior to his death. And we're told he was a heavy drinker.

One law enforcement source tells us ... it would be fairly routine if the doctor who saw Johns on Thursday prescribed pain meds.

If there was a blood clot, it would appear it was not clearly the cause of death ... or else the case would be closed. The fact that toxicology tests are being performed suggests the Coroner wants to know if alcohol and/or drugs played a part in Johns' death.

NBC and Bravo got together with major cruise lines and ripped off the idea for a "Top Chef" special from 3 producers who are now suing the networks ... and crying racism -- this according to a new lawsuit.

According to the court docs ... the three accusers pitched a reality show called "Walk the Plank" to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruise Lines. Thirteen chefs would compete against each other on a cruise ship with the winner becoming the ship's Executive Chef.

The cruise lines rejected the idea, but soon after that NBC announced the release of "Top Chef - Chefs At Sea" -- in conjunction with the cruise companies ... according to the docs.

The producers say they're especially galled by the alleged screw job because they say NBC's networks have an agreement with the National African American Leadership Organizations to increase diversity.

NBC hasn't responded to a call for comment.

The producers not only state in the docs that 2 of them are African-American -- they add that even though the third producer is not ... she is married to a Black man.

Michael Lohan has hired Casey Anthony's lawyer to stop the bleeding ... the vaginal bleeding of his pregnant baby mama who Michael claims her jailers are grossly mistreating her.

Attorney Jose Baez is now gunning for a court order forcing the jail to properly treat Kate Major's vaginal bleeding. Lohan claims Kate started bleeding this week -- on 2 separate occasions -- but both times she was taken to an infirmary and sent back to her cell.

Michael says there were no specialists to treat Kate and all they did was an ultrasound which showed a heartbeat ... but Michael says, "You know damn well if someone has vaginal bleeding while pregnant that's indicative of a miscarriage."

Michael also claims Kate -- who is behind bars over a DUI -- was forced to carry her property back to her room while she was still bleeding.

Baez will almost certainly attempt to get an order forcing the prison to have Kate examined and treated by a specialist.

The duo used to be besties. One of the most epic videos TMZ ever shot was when Paris took her new best friend Kim -- whom we had never seen before -- to Hyde back in 2005. They sauntered past Paris' enemy/former BFF Tara Reid ... who defeatedly watched from behind the velvet rope as the duo entered.

But Kim got famous -- even more famous than Paris -- and the relationship went in the dumper. In 2008, Paris bashed Kim during a radio interview saying her butt "looks like cottage cheese stuffed in a trash bag."

5:00 PM PST -- Sources close to Michael Johns tell us he went to a doctor on Thursday to check out the pain he had been feeling in his ankle ... the swelling and bruising had made their way up to his leg.

Doctors didn't find any problems however -- so they cleared him to go home.

We're told the next afternoon at his friends apartment ... Johns' body was found on the couch unresponsive. When paramedics arrived, he was already dead.

"American Idol" finalist Michael Johns died Friday at the age of 35.

The singer's death was caused by a blood clot in his ankle ... sources tell us he had twisted his ankle earlier and was in a great amount of pain.

People close to Johns tell us ... it appears the ankle injury triggered the clot. We're told he died in his sleep.

The singer placed 8th in Season 7 (2008) and following his exit from the show he continued to record music. He recorded an album -- "Hold Back My Heart" in 2009.

He'd also done a tremendous amount of charity work with former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

Lythgoe tells TMZ, "He was a great talent and dear friend. My boys and I are devastated."

Johns was married to Stacey Vuduris. They married in 2007.

The singer's family says, "Our family is devastated by the passing of our beloved Michael, a wonderful husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from all corners of the globe."

The last time we shot Michael he was in great spirits.

Kanye even performed some of his songs -- including "Black Skinhead"

Bloom arrived once Bieber was already inside -- and according to Page Six J.B.'s people put the screws on organizers to keep Orlando out. The actor never got inside.

So sad.

Linda Hogan's ex-BF Charlie Hill claims she made him do a bunch of grunt work for free -- and we uncovered photos of him breaking a sweat aboard her yacht ... during their happier days.

TMZ broke the story ... Hill is suing Hogan for $1.5 mil, claiming she never gave him a dime for all the labor he put in during their 4-year relationship.

In these 2010 pics ... Charlie's relegated to hauling in a hose on her yacht -- aptly named Alimoney (bet Hulk Hogan must love that).

The Love Boat this ain't.

"Party Down South" producers are scrambling to fill a giant hole ... TMZ has learned Lil Bit -- one of the show's biggest stars -- has quit, and it has nothing to do with money.

Sources close to Taylor "Lil Bit" Wright say she told producers she's quitting because she fears for her safety with all the craziness that goes on in the house.

We're told she also has strong religious beliefs and feels the show undermines her relationship with Jesus.

The rest of the cast has already signed contracts to return for season 3, and we're told producers are furious they have to replace LB now ... because it's like having to find a new Snooki at the height of "Jersey Shore's" popularity.

Lil Bit thinks producers are floating it out that she's holding out for a big payday, but we're told she wouldn't do the show again for a million dollars.

A source close to the show tells TMZ producers feel they have a great cast in place and are confident the show will be just fine.

Michael Strahan and Nicole Murphy have called off their engagement ... just one day before he's inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Strahan's rep says it's all about 2,475 air miles -- he lives in NYC and she's in L.A. and it's just too difficult. It's especially hard because they're both real busy.

Murphy was married to Eddie Murphy ... and Strahan divorced Jean Muggli in 2006.

We shot the "Hollywood Exes" star last month after Strahan was threatened by a homeless guy with a knife -- and she seemed in the dark. Now we know why.

Lisa Vanderpump's famous Bev Hills restaurant Villa Blanca has been hit again with a sexual harassment suit.

Pastry chef Martha Diaz filed a lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- in which she claims her manager touched her vagina, called her a fat, ugly whore, showed her porn on his phone and left pornographic pics in her locker.

Diaz claims she complained to upper management and does not mention the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star by name, although she does say she complained to "upper management and ownership."

Lacey Wildd -- the reality TV star who recently underwent her 36th plastic surgery -- squeezed herself into a pink bikini Friday on a beach in Florida.

Wildd is a 46-year-old mother of six (let that sink in) and has had 12 boob jobs alone ... going from an A-cup to the ridiculous LLL-cups she flaunted today.

She's been on TLC's "My Strange Addiction" and is set to appear on the new E! series "Botched."

As far as those shows are concerned, Wildd's a natural.

"Ice Road Truckers" star Tim Zickuhr is clearly a guy who cares about his hair ... his fetish for follicles got him arrested ... and it's only the 2nd weirdest thing he was busted for this year.

Cops tell us ... they responded to a disturbance call earlier this month at a pet hotel in San Dimas ... and found a drunken Zickuhr arguing with an employee and demanding they pony up his pooch. Turns out he doesn't even have a dog.

Cops couldn't help but notice Zickuhr had a shopping cart ... filled with Rogaine, hair straightener, shampoo, a hairbrush and an assortment of booze. Police were understandably suspicious because the errant items were laying in the Albertson's cart -- no bag, no receipt.

Police went to the nearby grocery store, determined he stole the items and arrested him for shoplifting. Zickuhr spent 3 days in the pokey.

The arrest still doesn't compare to Tim's arrest back in April -- allegedly involving a hooker, kidnapping and waterboarding. Maybe let Tim tell it ...