Reality TV

There's a bunch of camera activity at the famed 'Brady Bunch' house -- maybe the most its seen in more than 40 years -- as HGTV begins pre-production for a new TV show about the groovy pad.

The network started shooting Tuesday at the crib in Studio City, CA ... capturing establishing shots of the exterior, and using a drone for aerial pics.

Although HGTV's production crews probably aren't getting a warm welcome from pissed off neighbors -- it's full steam ahead with chronicling the redesign of the iconic home. We're told filming notices have been distributed around the block.

As we reported ... HGTV beat out Lance Bass in a bidding war for the property.

We've also learned the house hit the market because the owner died and her family wanted to sell to the highest, most qualified bidder. Kelsey McCallister, the granddaughter of the previous owner, will help produce the show and even hopes to be one of the hosts.

LB Bonner called 911 before he shot himself, but the operator couldn't help him out because she couldn't hear him ... according to the audio.

The former "My 600-lb Life" star can be heard trying to give his location on the call -- obtained by TMZ -- but hangs up after the dispatcher explains she's having difficulty understanding him. She then tries to call him back ... but it goes straight to voicemail.

L.B.'s mother also called 911, saying he'd been posting threats about hurting himself online and she's afraid he's going to "do something stupid." According to his mom ... L.B. reached out to many people -- including producers of the show -- about his suicidal thoughts, but then nobody could reach him.

We broke the story ... Bonner's death was ruled a suicide by the coroner, from a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head.

Bonner appeared in last season's "My 600-lb Life" ... which documented his journey as he dropped more than 300 pounds.

The White House didn't work out for Omarosa ... but she might be a better fit in a different house.

D'Andra Simmons, one of the stars of 'Real Housewives of Dallas,' is certain Omarosa could be the next big thing on her series, which returns Wednesday night.

We caught up with Simmons in NYC, and she tells us Omarosa would be "an amazing Housewife" cast member -- mainly because she's proven she's not afraid to mix it up with people ... just ask President Trump. Remember, she told us he's trying to start a race war.

Tony Rock says Omarosa may have turned on Trump, but forget getting back in the good graces of black America.

We got Tony Monday at LAX and he wasted no time ... he thinks she's seen too many 'Mission Impossible' movies ... reportedly recording private conversations with a pen.

Tony concedes ... she's a master at selling books with the PR she's been getting by releasing tapes of her getting fired and Trump playing dumb afterward.

'Last Chance U' coach Jason Brown tells TMZ Sports ... HUNDREDS of players have hit him up wanting to transfer to his school, thanks to the way he was portrayed on the Netflix show.

FYI, to say Brown is "fiery" is a tremendous understatement -- during the show, he unloaded full-throated nuclear verbal attacks at players, refs and his own coaches ... and many have criticized him for being way too aggressive.

But Brown says his coaching style hasn't scared anyone away -- in fact, it's attracted so many recruits to Independence Community College in Kansas, he's had to turn away hundreds of players.

"We've had to turn down about 400 kids in the first weekend alone. I had about 5,000 emails in 24 hours."

But that's not the only perk from being on the show -- Brown says he's gotten A LOT of attention from female fans looking to get to know the coach on a personal level ... though Brown says he's playing hard to get.

And this is just the beginning, Netflix has announced they're working on a season 4 ... which will also feature ICC and Coach Brown.

Brown admits he hasn't watched the full series of the show yet, but says he's not gonna make any changes to his approach to coaching. So, be ready for more tough love. And expletives. LOTS of expletives.

Lindsay Lohan is backtracking on some eyebrow-raising comments she made about #MeToo -- calling women who speak out as looking "weak" -- and is setting the record straight.

LiLo issued a statement Sunday apologizing for her remarks and any harm inflicted. She says ... "The quote solely related to my hope that a handful of false testimonies out of a tsunami of heroic voices do not serve to dilute the importance of the #MeToo movement, and all of us who champion it."

She continues ... "However, I have since learned how statements like mine are seen as hurtful, which was never my intent. I’m sorry for any pain I may have caused."

The original comment came out recently in a Times interview, in which she criticized some women for coming out with their stories of sexual abuse way after the fact -- rather than address it in the moment -- and added speaking out now made strong women "look weak."

Honey Boo Boo is learning a hard lesson ... dancing can really suck.

The 12-year-old dissolved into tears after a rehearsal Saturday at CBS Studios in L.A.

All is not bad ... she's getting $50,000 just for signing to do the show, and the longer she competes the more money she'll pull in. If she makes it to episode 3 she'll get $10k, episode 5 she'll get another $15k, episode 7 she'll get $20k, episode 8 another $15k, and if she's in the finale she'll get another $20k.

HGTV -- the house remodeling network with wholesome hosts -- is PISSING OFF neighbors with their 'Brady Bunch' house expansion plans ... 'cause they fear lasting chaos.

Various neighbors on the San Fernando Valley street where the iconic house sits are fuming at the prospect of HGTV's production turning their sleepy enclave into a massive construction zone.

TMZ broke the story, after snagging the house in a $3-plus million sale, the network plans to blow out the back of the house ... and expand it from 2,400 square feet to more than 6,000 square feet.

Neighbors are dreading the construction noise, street congestion, traffic, lookie-loos and HGTV production trucks as cameras chronicle the remodel.

We're told the last time a production crew showed up, an entire street was shut down making it a nightmare for residents to access their houses.

Neighbors just wanna know from HGTV ... how long y'all gonna take on this project?

Drita D'Avanzo was dead set on rearranging Farrah Abraham's face, but Farrah backed out 'cause getting mangled in a celebrity boxing match was just too much to handle ... this according to Drita.

Drita tells TMZ ... Farrah's camp reached out to her manager about making her the opponent for a celebrity boxing match. ICYMI ... Farrah had said she would be interested in fighting Kim Kardashian or even the "Mob Wives" star.

After getting called out on social media, Drita responded saying she'd be down to fight "in a #cage where u belong u filthy #animal." Shortly after that post, Farrah rescinded the offer ... reportedly saying bullies aren't allowed in the ring with her.

But, Drita tells a different story ... saying Farrah called up the event promoter and expressed she was too scared after hearing what Drita wanted to do to her -- punch her squarely in the face for the knockout. Drita says she's pissed and annoyed at losing out on the chance.

Farrah's instead gonna fight 'Flavor of Love' star Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander. As far as Drita's concerned ... Farrah's lucky she went with someone besides her.

Now THAT'S an itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini!!!

"Little Women: LA" star Jasmine Arteaga Sorge took a trip down to the beautiful sands of Hermosa Beach, CA ... where she showed off her curves and looked pretty in pink. Jasmine kept it cool as she took a dip in the ocean and laid out to catch some rays.

The baby daddy of Heidi's Klum's oldest child, Leni, has not been a part of her life for years ... but it looks like that's changed after a reunion in Italy.

The biological father of Heidi's 14-year-old daughter is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore ... but the couple split before Leni was born in 2004, so she was was adopted and raised by Klum's ex-husband, Seal.

Heidi and Flavio have long stated he has no involvement in Leni's life, but something apparently changed recently ... as the father/daughter met and embraced at the Cala di Volpe hotel in Porto Cervo late last month.

We're told Heidi was there with her entire family, including her parents and her 3 other kids ... and everyone was happy and having fun. Flavio joined them all for a meal and was seen chatting with Klum as well.

9:55 AM PT -- Sarah Huckabee Sanders has just responded on behalf of the White House, calling Omarosa a "disgruntled former White House employee" who is "trying to profit off these false attacks."

8:42 AM PT -- George just released a statement, saying, "The allegation is not credible, and indeed is ridiculous, particularly in light of the timing of her departure from the White House -- December 12, 2017. It's absurd all around."

Although Conway does not specify why the timing is significant, it appears the majority of his public criticism of 45 came well after Omarosa's departure.

Omarosa says she has dirt on Donald Trump ... and it's racial.

Omarosa -- who briefly worked for the Trump Administration -- claims in her upcoming book, "Unhinged," she witnessed Trump use racial epithets in talking about the husband of White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway.

According to Omarosa, Trump referred to George Conway, who is half Filipino, as a "Flip" and a "Goo-goo."

Omarosa also says there are tapes that exist in which Trump used the n-word on the set of the TV show, "Celebrity Apprentice."

The Guardian first reported her claims.

HGTV -- which just bought the famous 'Brady Bunch' house -- is going to make the inside of the house 1973 authentic, cottage cheese ceilings and all ... and the people who may end up benefiting the most are newlyweds who want to have sex in the bedroom, kitchen or wherever.

Sources familiar with the project tell TMZ, the network plans to expand the 2,400 square foot house. It's on a big-ass lot and we're told they could add as much as 4,000 square feet to the back.

As for the interior ... the house needs gutting, because it bears no resemblance to the place Mr. Brady hung his hat. The exterior is authentic, but the interiors were all shot on a sound stage. Our sources say HGTV will duplicate the '70s look from the iconic show.

As we reported, Lance Bass wanted the house really badly, and bid nearly $3 mil but, in the end, HGTV offered more. The good news, we're told there's talk of getting Lance involved in the renovations -- which will be the subject of a new HGTV show. Fact is, he flips houses and he's a good host.

Now, get this ... we're told once the renovations are completed and the TV show is wrapped, HGTV will sell the house. Our sources say several hotels are already interested in buying it and turning it into an off-site guest suite ... perfect for honeymooners or anyone who's just really into Florence Henderson.

2:40 PM PT -- Sources close to Dorit say that, while she and Paul know Ryan Horne, he never fronted them a dime ... and they'll respond appropriately to his claims in court.

'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Dorit Kemsley and her hubby have just been slapped with a lawsuit alleging the couple royally screwed a business partner.

Ryan Horne filed new legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- claiming he struck a deal back in August 2017 to partner up with Dorit and her husband, Paul Kemsley, to make bathing suits. In docs, Ryan claims they each owned a third of the biz and he says he fronted them nearly $130k in merch plus $75k for other expenses.

But, Ryan says he never saw a dime after Dorit and PK sold the bathing suits for a huge profit and lined their pockets without paying him back. He's now suing to get the money he fronted Dorit and PK, plus a cut of the profits from the bathing suit sales.

We've reached out to Dorit and PK, so far no word back.

Lindsay Lohan isn't letting the backlash from her recent comments on the #MeToo movement keep her from doing her thing in Greece.

Lindsay was spotted Wednesday heading out to film her new MTV reality show, "Lohan Beach Club," in Mykonos. She was smiling and wearing a floral sheer dress with a Moschino belt.

The "Mean Girls" star recently slammed the #MeToo accusers, calling them weak in an interview with The Times. But it doesn't look like the actress is too worried about her comments.

The good news ... Lindsay's back on her feet after being hobbled by a bum ankle during filming.

Lance Bass might have lost a bidding war with HGTV over the 'Brady Bunch' house -- but he's still got a shot to be a part of the iconic property's future ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the situation tell us HGTV brass privately reached out to the 'NSYNC singer Tuesday after he publicly reacted to news the network was the mysterious "corporate buyer" that beat him out in what he initially called a shady deal.

We're told HGTV and Lance are scheduled to meet next week to discuss getting him involved in the network's future plans with the house -- namely, restoring it to its 1970s form on the inside for a new TV show. The crib's remained pretty much the same on the outside.

It's unclear what role Lance would play on the project, but we're told anything from producing to even hosting is possible ... and he's open for anything.

If everything works out, the stars will truly align for Lance. Sources close to the singer tell us his original plan -- had he won the bidding war -- was to gut the inside and recreate the TV set.