Reality TV

Barbara Corcoran's got a hot tip for those looking to take advantage of their upcoming stimulus check ... and it's a lot less sharky than you think.

The "Shark Tank" star tells TMZ ... if you're fortunate enough to not have to immediately use the government money to feed your family -- sadly, that's not a given for many Americans -- you should use the stimulus cash to improve your current financial situation.

Barbara says start by paying off your credit cards -- the higher interest ones first -- because those will kill you in the long run.

After that, she advises sitting down and focusing on some good old-fashioned budgeting. We'll let her tell you why it's a good idea ... and there's no better time than the present.

For those looking to use the dough on a stock market bargain ... this 'Shark' doesn't suggest swimming in those waters. Too risky right now.

Howie Mandel is back judging "America's Got Talent" ... and while it's gonna be much different, he's hoping everyone is getting on his level when it comes to getting touchy-feely!!!

The comedian and famed germaphobe joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" to talk about 'AGT' getting back to work, shooting the show remotely. That seems to suit Howie just fine, considering the coronavirus scare they had on set last month.

You gotta see his description of the moment Heidi Klum coughed, throwing Howie into a tailspin. As we reported, 'AGT' lost its studio audience shortly after that, and then shut down altogether.

You'll recall, that was around the time Howie showed up in a hazmat suit to shoot the show. We all laughed, but he says the fear was real for him ... although, thankfully, Heidi ended up testing negative for COVID-19.

As for adjusting to life in the middle of a pandemic -- he's taking social distancing to the extreme, and has one major takeaway. The man who quit handshaking many years ago, says it's time everyone else realizes, "There's no reason to touch anybody!"

Jonny Fairplay -- one of the most notorious "Survivor" contestants -- is pimping hard-to-get BUFFs for hardcore fans, who can use 'em as protection from the coronavirus.

The BUFFs were already for sale on Amazon and CBS' website but they've been sold out. Enter Jonny, who already has a well-earned rep as a scoundrel, with a stockpile of the merch that's signed by some of the show's biggest stars.

Check out the video ... Jonny says season 34 winner Sarah Lacina and "Arrow" star Stephen Amell are some of the signed BUFFs in his possession. He's selling them for $150 to $200.

We know what you're thinking, but Jonny swears 100% of the proceeds are going to a charity that builds Christian schools in South Africa.

As you know by now ... the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending the use of cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. It should be noted ... on CBS' website it explicitly says BUFFs "are not intended to be used as medical-grade face masks or as effective measures to prevent disease, illness, or the spread of viruses."

But, Jonny says something is better than nothing. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Lindsie Chrisley's sad her father, Todd Chrisley, caught the coronavirus and could have died -- but says even that's not enough for them to patch things up.

Our first clue on how deep the rift is -- Lindsie tells TMZ ... she found out about Todd's diagnosis through social media. She says people actually asked her if she was happy he'd been diagnosed with COVID-19.

As we reported ... Todd went to urgent care and eventually the ER as he battled the deadly disease for several weeks. He says "this bitch called corona" really kicked his ass.

Lindsie says she's glad he's feeling better. That being said, she doesn't feel this episode will change their relationship for the better. You gotta see how she puts it, but essentially it's ... what's done is done.

As you know ... Lindsie and Todd have been on the outs since last year when she accused him of sex tape extortion, and he's accused her of wrongdoing in his tax case.

Lindsie also says she's almost certain she too battled the virus back in mid-March. She says she "felt like death" ... the worst she's ever felt in her life. But, she never got tested for the virus because, at the time, none were available.

Todd Chrisley says the coronavirus "made me the sickest I've ever been on this earth" ... and forced him to get his ass to an ER, stat!!!

The "Chrisley Knows Best" star revealed his diagnosis Wednesday, and said he's been battling COVID-19 for 3 weeks. He says his treatment required 4 days in the ER. Seems like he's back in decent spirits for a couple reasons: He was able to record his podcast, and referenced the virus by asking, "Can we talk about this bitch called corona?"

He went on to reveal he'd been battling high fevers -- from 100 to 103 degrees -- and added, "Hopefully, I will get better every day, but as of right now, folks, I still am not clicking on all cylinders. I am probably about 70 to 75% of what I normally am, but that last 25% is kicking my ass."

Todd's daughter Savannah opened up in great detail in an Instagram post saying, "I have never been so scared in my life ... After a couple of days mom and I talked him into going to urgent care."

Savannah said Todd was eventually tested and sent home to self-quarantine. But, the test came back positive a week later. As if things couldn't get any worse ... Savannah said Todd finally woke up one Sunday and "He woke mom up saying he has to go to ER [because] he couldn't fight it any longer."

Seems Todd's back on the mend, but Savannah urged her fans ... "The point of me telling u all this is so that u take it seriously...STAY HOME! SOCIAL DISTANCE! And most importantly...LOVE HARDER THAN EVER! Life is so short."

MTV star Johnny Bananas says the network's new season of their daredevil reality show, 'The Challenge,' can fill the void pro sports left behind ... and he might have a case here.

Johnny was breaking down his show's 35th season ... "The Challenge: Total Madness," when he threw out his theory that it's exactly what the sports doctor ordered for fans in quarantine without a single ball game to watch

His reasoning ... 'TC' is just as competitive and physically demanding as anything you might see on a court, field or rink -- and there's some added drama in the mix to make it more compelling.

If you're unfamiliar with the program, 'Challenge' participants have to pull off VERY extreme tasks that a professional stuntman might do on the set of a movie. It's like 'Ninja Warrior' meets "Fear Factor" meets U.S. Navy Seal boot camp all in one.

We're talking about jumping out of planes, hiking up mountains, firing a tank and all in all ... surviving the elements. Johnny says this season was shot in a remote area of Prague, at an abandoned Cold War-era missile bunker, where contestants slept.

As for whether people would rather watch this than their beloved NBA or MLB games -- Johnny might be on to something.

"Saved by the Barn" star Dan McKernan says just dipping your toe into a plant-based diet could help reduce viral pandemics ... and, of course, spare more of the animals he rescues.

Dan was on "TMZ Live" Tuesday when he made a pitch for the vegan lifestyle, and the positive impact it can have on the planet. He's not militant about it, and instead suggests you start slowly -- a method he says worked for his 63-year-old "stubborn farmer" dad.

He also believes reducing animal consumption will reduce the number of pandemics caused by viruses jumping from animals to humans -- a la the coronavirus.

Dan's main focus, though, is on saving animals across the country and raising them on his Michigan farm. He's had a lot of success ... documented on his new show.

So far, he's saved over 100 animals -- none cuter than his pal, KJ the goat!!! Watch our video with him, we think you'll agree ... and catch the premiere of "Saved By The Barn" Saturday at 10PM on Animal Planet.

Colton Underwood looks like a walking clean bill of health after being stricken by coronavirus -- and the first thing on his checklist was a jaunt with his boo.

The ex-'Bachelor' hit the road Monday for a walk with his girlfriend, Cassie Randolph, and her sis, Michelle. The good-looking trio took a stroll down the coast near Huntington Beach, CA ... and Colton's looking good as new, compared to a few weeks ago.

You'll recall ... shortly after he disclosed he'd caught the 'rona -- Colton was looking pretty ill and down in the dumps.

Now he's looking much better and feeling that way, too. He says, "I have made a full recovery from the coronavirus and we managed to keep the entire family healthy as well."

Colton added, on IG ... "I am now working with medical professionals to figure out the best way to support their efforts against the coronavirus."

He also thanked Cass and her fam for caring for him while he was sick.

Anyway, Colton has another reason to celebrate right now -- his new book, "The First Time," is coming out.

Doc Antle, former mentor to Joe Exotic, says his animals in Myrtle Beach are safe from the coronavirus, and they've been that way since long before a Bronx Zoo tiger tested positive ... and Carole Baskin's confident her Big Cat Rescue felines are fine too.

Doc, who, of course, was one of the 3 stars of 'Tiger King,' tells TMZ ... his Myrtle Beach Safari is a much different setup from that of the Bronx Zoo. He says he and his 25 employees all live onsite, making for a much more controlled and self-isolated environment.

He says he put his facility on lockdown immediately after the government released guidelines to stay at home and practice social distancing. Doc says his staff has been under strict quarantine since then. No visitors or physical contact with outside groups allowed.

While we humans have had "wash your hands" drilled into our heads ... Doc says his big cats are also bathed and cleaned regularly. He adds, specific caretakers are assigned to the animals, and that doesn't change ... thereby limiting potential exposure to the coronavirus.

If one of his big kitties somehow contracts COVID-19, Doc says it will be treated like a person and placed in self-isolation for 14 days to keep it from spreading it to other animals. Still, he says there's a very low chance of that.

Joe's nemesis, Carole Baskin is equally confident about the well-being of the animals at her tiger rescue outside of Tampa. Folks down there tell us they're monitoring the animals closely and none have shown any symptoms.