Reality TV

Shelby "Swamp Man" Stanga -- one of reality TV's biggest bad ass loggers -- got a little carried away with his ax, and ended up getting busted for murder ... of a neighbor's tree.

Stanga was arrested and hauled off to jail down on the bayou this week for allegedly cutting down a cypress tree 3 years ago. Problem is the tree was standing in a swamp on his neighbor's property.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office tells us Stanga -- star of "Ax Men" and his own spinoff -- was nabbed Monday. There's been a felony warrant out for his arrest since he took down the tree. He was released the same day, and now faces a felony theft charge.

We haven't been able to contact Stanga. Mobile phone service just ain't great in the swamp.

FUN FACT: The bald cypress has been Louisiana's official state tree since 1963.

Ray J's ex-girlfriend is pleading for the singer to give their dog Boogati back to her ... because their other pooches are so devastated they can't stop crying.

Princess Love tells us she tried her best to keep Boogati during their really bitter break up -- because she's the better canine caretaker -- but it fell on deaf ears.

As we previously reported ... the doggie argument got so bad Ray J's security had to step in and break it up. Ray J won the battle, but the war is still up for grabs.

Princess says their 3 other Malteses shouldn't have to go through a break up as well ... they are heartsick and visitation won't work because things are so acrimonious.

Ray J and girlfriend Princess Love broke up Thursday night and things went nuclear when she tried to leave with their dog Boogotti ... and a huge custody battle for the pup is now underway.

According to our sources, when the "Love & Hip Hop" stars called it quits, Ray offered to leave while she packed her belongings. But we're told when she started to pack up Boogotti's things, Ray J went off.

Our sources say the two went at it over the three-pound Maltese puppy, to the point where Ray J's security had to step in.

We're told Ray J's security guard eventually got hold of Boogotti and the dog is with Ray J now ... but our sources also say Ray J knows this won't be the the end of the battle.

Princess Love took the fight to Instagram and posted an old photo of her with Floyd Mayweather.

Cold blooded.

"Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller so terrorized her pint-sized pirouetters ... they now suffer panic attacks and extreme anxiety ... this according to a new lawsuit filed by A 13-YEAR-OLD!

Paige Hyland claims in her new lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- Miller was downright cruel to the dancers ... sometimes pinching them 'til they bled. Paige says she feared being physically battered because she saw Miller physically attack others on the set.

Paige says Miller's M.O. was to make the girls cry, deriding them for being emotionally weak, calling them names, insulting their looks ... all for drama.

Paige's lawyer, Michael Shapiro, says "I'm not looking to make a lot of money off this. I think what Miller has done to the kids is intolerable and has got to stop. It's the most repugnant case I've been involved in after 49 years of practice."

Aside from emotional distress ... Paige claims she was worked like a horse in Central Park -- 60 hour weeks and 12-hour days were routine.

Paige's mom, Kelly Hyland, and Miller HATE each other. They've each accused the other of physical attacks in the past ... and Kelly has already sued Miller for emotionally abusing Paige.

We reached out to Miller... so far no response.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Teresa and Joe Giudice could get their heads cracked open in prison if they don't follow one simple rule ... so says convicted drug trafficker 'Freeway' Rick Ross.

Rick spent 13 years in the pokey after his L.A. drug empire collapsed in the '90s ... so he knows a thing or two about life behind bars -- and he's got one important piece of advice to maintain the peace.

Here's a hint ... less Real Housewives ... more Jerry Springer.

Just watch. Especially if your last name is Giudice.

Tyga and Kylie Jenner were out together Monday night ... and we're told it was a date, but the way "date" is defined is, well, a sensitive issue.

The youngins went to Kabuki restaurant in Hollywood. Sources close to Tyga tell us they are "dating" but are quick to add that does not mean they are physical. It's important, because he's 24 and she's 17.

One Tyga source told us ... if we even insinuate they are having physical contact he will deny he's dating Kylie ... even though the source says Tyga privately says he's dating her.

BTW ... sitting on the same side of the booth is prima facie dating, right?

Baby North West has a couple of interesting toys -- doll versions of her famous parents -- and they are the spitting image of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, right down to her hips.

Teresa and Joe Giudice scored a HUGE payday before shipping off to prison ... a deal so sweet the restitution they owe to the government has almost been whittled down to nothing.

The two "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars snagged $325,000 for a two-on-one interview with Bravo head honcho Andy Cohen ... sources close to the deal tell us.

We're told the network offered $275K for Teresa alone, but kicked in another $50K to have her less interesting husband onboard.

The Giudices owe around $400K in restitution -- which means all of the money they made will go directly towards paying off their debt ... but days after the sentencing they can now see the light at the end of the financial tunnel.

Let's hope they remember to pay taxes on the $325K.

UPDATE: Bravo disputes the amount.

Two big victories for Dallas Cowboys stud Orlando Scandrick ... first, he beat the Texans -- and then, he GOT BACK TOGETHER WITH HIS EX!

Just two months after "Basketball Wives: LA" star Draya Michele kicked him to the curb, the two were back in each other's arms in Dallas this weekend.

Michele went to the game -- rooted for Orlando -- and even sat with his family members.

Afterward, she posted a pic on Instagram with the caption, "We might not HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER, but TOGETHER we HAVE IT ALL."

Back before the split in August, Draya had said the two were close to marriage.

Some people eat their favorite meals, some people say their goodbyes ... but Teresa Giudice prepared for prison by pissing off her castmates -- showing up over 4 hours late to their reunion taping.

Sources close to the production tell us her "Real Housewives of New Jersey" co-stars were furious about the tardiness Sunday afternoon ... same for Bravo head honcho Andy Cohen.

And what's worse ... we're told Giudice continued to delay the process once they began filming -- making producers continually start and stop the taping because Teresa said she was "going through a lot" and needed a break.

Her list of visitors in prison will be short.

Bruce Jenner changed his look up for the Elton John concert in L.A. Saturday night.

B.J. went to the show with his son Brandon Jenner and Brandon's wife. Another random girl tagged along ... but no word on who she is ... or if it was any sort of date.

Bruce and Kris Jenner made their split official last month when Kris filed for divorce.

In case you haven't been to an Elton John concert ... that's the place you let your ponytail down.

Slut, skank, whore ... "Big Brother" contestant Christine Brecht's been labeled all of the above and worse since last week's finale -- and the wave of hate is so brutal, she now needs semi-professional help to cope.

Even though she's married, Brecht carried on a very affectionate relationship with fellow house guest Cody -- and she's paid the price on social media. One 'BB' fan wrote, "Christine is a motherf*****g trash ass thot bitch motherf****r whore cheater scum." And that's the abridged version.

Brecht tells TMZ it got bad enough that CBS set her up with ex 'BB' star Shelly Moore ... who's now giving Christine advice on how to re-enter the real world. She says Shelly's Rule #1 is ... stay off social media and keep your life private.

Brecht's hoping comments like, "Karma is a bitch you cheater!" will start to die down.

As for whether she cheated with Cody -- Brecht would only say, "My husband and I, we're golden."

The Situation's tanning salon is on the verge of shutting down for good -- according to an ex-employee who says her paychecks have been bouncing so hard ... she has to sue just to get some scratch.

The accuser says every check she got from the Boca Tanning Club during her 3 months of employment bounced ... according to court docs obtained by TMZ.

The woman tells us she reported Sitch to cops in Middletown, NJ every week ... and every week he would quickly cough up cash to cover the bad check. She says she quit in June, and of course ... the final paycheck also came up lame.

When she went to the bank ... she claims she was told the salon's account had been closed -- so she believes Sitch's days are numbered in the tanning biz.

Hulk Hogan is vowing to drop the legal hammer on a "nephew" who's pushing a reality show about finding the perfect 3-some ... telling TMZ Sports he's a DISGRACE to the Hogan name.

The man behind the reality show is David Bollea -- who calls himself King David Hogan ... a pro-MMA fighter who last stepped in the ring back in 2012 and claims to be Hogan's "nephew."

King David is trying to shop a reality show called, "My Girlfriend Wants a Girlfriend" ... in which he sorts through 16 different ladies to find the perfect addition to their freaky sexual lifestyle.

But Hulk is PISSED -- telling TMZ Sports he barely knows the guy and can't believe he would try to cash in on the Hogan name without permission.

"I've only met him twice in my entire life ... he knows nothing about the Hogan family, the Hogan name and has no right to use it," Hulk says.

And now for the threat ... "I will pursue legal action against him for diminishing the Hogan brand."

SF 49ers superstar Vernon Davis has SURVIVED ELIMINATION ... 'cause his superhero short film made it from the Final 20 to the Final 10 in HBO's "Project Greenlight" competition.

As we previously reported, Davis plays the title character in the comedy/action flick "Captain Torpedo" ... and if it WINS "Project Greenlight," the movie's director will get to helm a full-length Hollywood feature film.

The good news for Davis (an aspiring actor) -- the director LOVES him ... and if he wins, he's vowed to include Davis in the cast.

The competition started with hundreds of films ... it was narrowed to 200 ... then to 20 ... now it's at the final 10. And the winner will be announced in November.

Teresa and Joe Giudice blew past reporters Thursday after they were sentenced to prison ... but it wasn't because they were too upset to speak ... it's because they were ordered to shut their traps until Andy Cohen could ask them, Wasssup?

Our Giudice sources tell us ... the felonious couple will break their silence Monday on a special "Watch What Happens Live: One-on-One with Teresa and Joe."

It's pretty funny ... when Teresa was begging the judge for mercy she was quick to say she didn't give a crap about TV anymore. What she FAILED to disclose is that she had a secret deal with Andy!

As for what's on Andy's docket ... we're told he'll discuss the Giudice's fears, family and fraudulent ways.

Gotta say ... brilliant move on Bravo's part. And ... it's not like the judge can sentence her for lying ... something Teresa's clearly got down pat.