Reality TV

The family of the "Cops" crew member who died in a police shootout says the Omaha PD is prolonging their agony ... by refusing to show them video taken during the gun battle.

Sources close to the family tell us ... they had a 1-hour meeting with police Thursday ... to get information -- and some closure -- about how "Cops" sound engineer Bryce Dion died, but they got neither.

Police have released still images from the "Cops" footage of the deadly shootout -- but we're told authorities won't show the family the video because it's now evidence in a criminal case.

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Adrienne Maloof says she was robbed of a priceless necklace, but she's hoping the thief is a kind-hearted bandit who will someday return it.

We saw Maloof at Berri's in L.A. and she told us about a diamond encrusted necklace that was stolen from her house a while back ... possibly during a party at her Bev Hills mansion.

Michael from "Hollywood Hillbillies" needs some lessons from his Mema on the proper way to kiss a girl ... 'cause she's ripping him for doing it all wrong.

You gotta see how Michael slobbers all over the breastacular Courtney Stodden in this clip from their Reelz TV show.

Mema was not amused. She says all the tonsil hockey made her sick, and you'll probably agree once you see her imitate the action.

FUN FACT: Props to Mema for proper use of the word ... 'whoreface.'

Joseline Hernandez was NOT on drugs during that ugly brawl on the set of "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta"... so says her husband Stevie J -- who tells TMZ they're gonna sue the liars who said she was high.

Stevie claims his co-star, Althea Eaton, made up the story about Joseline smoking crack cocaine before attacking her last month at the reunion show. Althea is suing Joseline for assaulting her.

Stevie tells TMZ ... the suit is BS because Althea and her fiance Benzino started the fight by talking crap in the first place. He claims Althea's lawsuit is a smokescreen ... to hide the fact Benzino slugged Joseline during the tussle.

Stevie says he and Joseline have lawyered up ... and plan to countersue because "no grown man should hit a woman."

We called Benzino who told us, "It's clear that him and his whore jumped off the couch and attacked us and whatever happened from there was merely self-defense."

Omaha police officers were running and gunning to make compelling TV when they sprayed bullets at an armed robbery suspect, killing him and a 'Cops' crewman ... so claims the dead suspect's family.

TMZ spoke with one of Cortez Washington's relatives ... who believes the officers used excessive force Tuesday night -- and were "hyped up" to put on a good show when they responded to the Wendy's.

As we reported ... 'Cops' sound supervisor Bryce Dion died after getting hit by friendly fire from Omaha PD during the shootout with Washington -- who was holding a Wendy's employee at gun point.

Washington's firearm turned out to be a pellet gun -- modeled after a real semi-automatic pistol -- and his family thinks officers should have recognized it wasn't a lethal weapon before they unloaded more than 20 rounds. One family member told us, "With everything going on in Ferguson, you think they would use other options."

The relative also said they don't buy Omaha PD's claim Cortez started the shootout by firing two rounds.

Omaha cops say they were not grandstanding for cameras ... maintaining they responded to the robbery with proper protocol ... and engaged Cortez because he pointed and fired his weapon at them.

Omaha police say the "Cops" crew member who was shot and killed during a police shootout with an armed robbery suspect was hit by gunfire from police ... NOT from the suspect's weapon.

Omaha PD just held a news conference to discuss the details surrounding the death of Bryce Dion -- a sound supervisor who was part of a 2-person "Cops" camera crew. They called it a tragic case of "friendly fire."

According to police ... Dion and his partner were riding with a patrol unit that responded to the armed robbery call at a Wendy's. Police say Dion was in the entryway of the restaurant when the suspect fired shots ... and police returned fire with multiple rounds.

Investigators say Dion was caught in the crossfire ... hit by a bullet or bullets from a police weapon. They say Dion was wearing an armored vest, but the bullet went through the arm hole of the vest.

Omaha PD was also adamant -- the officers were NOT showing off for the camera when they opened fire on the suspect -- who also died from gunshot wounds.

Police say the suspect was firing an Airsoft pellet gun ... something the responding officers didn't know at the time.

'Cops' creator John Langley was at the news conference and said other crew members -- who've been taping in Omaha for 2 months -- are getting counseling. Police released still images from the 'Cops' camera footage.

Discovery is permanently pulling the plug on its hit show "Sons of Guns" ... as the show's star faces child rape charges.

A rep for Discovery tells TMZ ... “Given the serious and horrific nature of the charges against Will Hayden, we have decided to halt further production of Sons of Guns and cancel the series.”

TMZ broke the story ... Hayden was re-arrested Tuesday when cops decided to charge him with child rape. Hayden was first arrested 2 weeks ago for allegedly molesting his 12-year-old daughter.

Hayden is the owner of Red Jacket Firearms ... the gun store featured on Discovery's show, which ran for 5 seasons.

Hayden is still in custody after his arrest.

11:30 AM PT -- Will didn't just lose his TV show ...he lost his company too ... Red Jacket Firearms just announced they've severed all ties with Hayden.

A cameraman for the TV show "Cops" was shot while covering a shootout between Omaha police and an armed robbery suspect ... and sources close to the production tell TMZ the photog has died from his injuries.

Officers -- with the "Cops" crew in tow -- responded to a call at a fast food restaurant Tuesday night and found an armed robbery in progress. Police say shots were fired and 2 people were hit -- the cameraman and the suspect.

In police radio transmissions, you can hear cops call for backup during the shootout. One of the officers says, "We've got a 'Cops' cameraman hit ... white male ... he's not conscious ... he's slightly breathing."

A vicious "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" brawl has triggered a lawsuit ... which now alleges one of the stars was smoking crack cocaine at the reunion show.

Althea Eaton has filed suit against Joseline Hernandez, who is caught on tape punching Althea in the face and dragging her to the ground ... then hitting and scratching her for good measure.

In the suit, Althea claims eyewitnesses allegedly observed Joseline smoking crack cocaine out of a pipe backstage during the show. Althea believes Joseline was high as a kite when she attacked.

It's interesting ... Althea is NOT suing the show or the network, which means one of 2 things:

Sean "Diddy" Combs' let one of his reality show contestants slip through his hands ... because she's got real talent -- FILMING HERSELF GIVE BIRTH IN A CAR.

Brianna Smith -- who lost Season 1 of "I Want To Work For Diddy" -- was racing to a Houston hospital with her hubby in the middle of the night when the kid starting popping out.

She had her phone out and made the most of the moment ... shooting the horrendous beautiful moment of birth.

The kid's name is Theodore Roosevelt Smith IV ... which is perfect, because he's already had a rough ride.

Draya Michele just got sued by a club that had claimed she cancelled a gig because there were too many gay people ... but there's now evidence she may be the victim of a smear campaign.

TMZ broke the story ... a VIP hostess at Penthouse nightclub claimed Draya showed up for a scheduled event August 10, surveyed the crowd and then homophobically groused there were too many "f**s" and "d**es." The hostess said Draya stormed out, making the night a disaster.

But in the club's lawsuit ... there is not a word mentioned about homophobic comments. In fact ... the lawsuit doesn't even say Draya showed up. It says they got a text from her saying she was too tired to show.

The story in the lawsuit syncs up with the one Draya told us ... that she never showed up because she was sick. She also told us the club owner threatened to trash her in the media for being a no show.

The question ... did the owner make good on his threat?

Cat-astrophe avoided at "Dancing With the Stars" -- when a stowaway kitten that had been stuck inside a car's motor was rescued by two PAs -- who heard the engine purring -- literally.

Production sources tell us ... the PAs heard noises from a random vehicle on the lot. They walked up to the car and heard the meows ... then discovered a kitten trapped under the hood.

Interesting Fact: Cats are known to climb near car engines to stay warm at night.

Back to the story ... The PAs tried luring the critter out with tuna ... when that didn't work, one of them crawled under the car, reached into the engine compartment and snatched the kitty.

The most amazing part ... the heroes believe the stray was inside the engine when the driver took the car from the San Fernando Valley to Hollywood.

Pharrell Williams' "Voice" could cost him a million dollars.

Mr. Happy is being sued by the producer of his uber-successful YouTube show, "ARTST TLK" .... featuring interviews with big celebs like Spike Lee, Usher and Tony Hawk. The 12 episodes of Season 1 were huge ... scoring a total of more than 1.7 million views.

But the producer says he got big footed when "The Voice" came along and asked Pharrell to join the judge's panel for Season 7. According to the lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- Pharrell told him to pound sand, saying "The Voice" made an exclusive deal so he couldn't do the YouTube show.

Pharrell was kind of insulting, writing the YouTube producer, "Holding me to a contract that prohibits 'The Voice' exclusivity requirement? It's 'The Voice!'" Translation, I can't do your stupid little show.

The YouTube producer says he invested a million bucks in the project and wants Pharrell to pay.

Kim Kardashian assumed auntie duties in Calabasas Tuesday ... taking her nephew Mason Disick to the movies.

Kim didn't have a lot to say but Mason did. He told our photog he went to see "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" in The Commons. He also has a fav -- Donatello.

We're told Kim took Mason out for the afternoon so he didn't go stir crazy in the Montage hotel in Bev Hills, where mommy Kourtney, Daddy Scott and sister Penelope are staying because they claim the house they bought from Keyshawn Johnson is full of dangerous black mold.

For the average driver, pulling out of a semi-tight parking spot is nothing exciting, but when it's Kylie Jenner (aka The World's Worst Driver) it makes for riveting video.

Jenner and a friend were leaving Urth Cafe in West Hollywood Tuesday, when she retrieved her infamous Range Rover from the valet ... which was left parked between two cars ... a Mercedes SUV and a Lamborghini.

"Million Dollar Listing" star Josh Altman practices what he preaches ... he buys good real estate, sells it and makes a killing.

Altman just sold his house above the Sunset Strip for $3.58M. Truth be told ... it's not the prettiest house we've ever seen. Dare we say it's butt ugly. Nonetheless ... he bought it last year for $2.3 mil.

Josh only dumped $17K into the house and he didn't have to pay a real estate commission ... so he cleared well over a million bucks in 270 days.

Did we say the $17K was like putting lipstick on a pig.