TMZ Live

Bob Tur -- a legendary news helicopter pilot who captured the Reginald Denny beating that triggered the L.A. Riots, the O.J. Simpson slow-speed chase and countless of other seminal news events -- is in the midst of a transgender procedure that will make him a woman.

Tur was on TMZ Live Wednesday ... and explained he always felt he was a woman trapped in a man's body. He's currently in the early stages of the procedure, has been receiving hormone injections and says he's already "thinking like a woman." When the procedure is done, he says Bob Tur will be "dead" and he will become Zoe.

Tur -- whose daughter Katy is a star reporter on "NBC Nightly News" -- did say something troubling. He says he doesn't believe women can make the same quick, decisive decisions like men when piloting an aircraft.

Brandi Glanville broke down in tears on "TMZ Live" Friday while talking about her dog that may have been "stolen" from her house ... a theft that has some very strange markers.

TMZ broke the story ... Glanville returned home from Palm Springs after her assistant informed her someone had broken into Glanville's home and made off with her chihuahua Chica ... but nothing else -- nothing.

Glanville said it seemed odd that the dog was the only thing taken, but told us, "I don't wanna blame my assistant. I don't know if she lost them and is making up the story and only found one … But I have to believe what she tells me because I don't know."

Forget "Mr. Nanny" ... or "Suburban Commando" ... Hulk Hogan tells us, burning his hand last weekend was by far the dumbest thing he's ever done in his life.

We posted the gnarly photos over the weekend showing Hulk's injuries -- but the wrestling legend has never explained what happened ... until now.

Hulk called in to "TMZ Live" today, telling us the accident occurred Sunday when his speedboat overheated. Hulk says he tried to be a badass and tried to hit the radiator release valve with his bare hands, and the radiator cap popped off ... burning the bejesus out of his hand.

In the words of Hulk, "It was the dumbest thing I've ever done."

You gotta listen ... it's hilarious.