TV Business

NBC4 Los Angeles started Wednesday morning with heartbreak ... mourning two of its own after the deadly NewsChopper 4 crash.

The station opened its 4 AM newscast with an emotional tribute to reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, who were killed Tuesday while on assignment.

The anchors told viewers the NBC4 family was grieving, before sharing memories of both colleagues and thanking them for their years of service.

Four planes crashed during the 9/11 attacks ... but we have tons of evidence that a 5th plane was targeted ... and the government is covering it up.

Check out the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, "The Low Down," where we bring you stories that are gripping, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous.

A crowd of robots gathered outside Poland's Digital Affairs Ministry to demand A.I. oversight, chanting "Don't wait, regulate" ... and Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson is talking to the DEA as the feds investigate her suspected drug overdose.

CBS is speaking out against a former "Matlock" writer's claims that the show was a hotbed of racist and sexist comments ... they claim the allegations are a "work of fiction" and want his suit dismissed.

The network filed its motion to dismiss in L.A. Superior Court ... three months after a former executive story editor on the show, John Lowe, sued CBS and claimed the show's creator Jennie Snyder Urman and writers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber "fostered a writers room environment permeated by sexually explicit and discriminatory conduct."

In CBS' filing -- which calls Lowe's claims "demonstrably inaccurate and maliciously fabricated" -- producers and witnesses submitted declarations saying that Urman never used the slur "C***teenth" during the Juneteenth conversation ... something Lowe alleged.

Tyra Banks wants to see exactly what her former friends Miss J and Jay Manuel said about her to Netflix ... even the parts that didn't air on the documentary about America's Next Top Model ... TMZ has learned.

In court docs, obtained by TMZ, the supermodel raises questions about producers' claim that the final doc released on Netflix was the product of "ordinary editorial decisions."

Tyra is suing the producers for defamation and seeking unspecified damages … claiming the producers only used 16 minutes of her 3-hour interview … and manipulated the footage to push a false narrative.

One of the claims Tyra took issue with was that she exploited a contestant's sexual assault on the show.

A sexy model in Florida allegedly turned a routine drive into a demolition derby ... and then bawled her eyes out when cops arrested her for DUI.

Check out the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, "The Low Down," where we bring you stories that are gripping, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous.

Fake 49ers player Daejon Love was still decked out like a Niner when the feds finally caught up with him ... with TMZ obtaining video of his arrest outside Boise Airport.

Jimmy Kimmel is blaming President Trump for getting his TV interview with James Talarico spiked, claiming the commander-in-chief sicced the Federal Communications Commission on his bosses.

That's right ... Jimmy went to town on the prez during his monologue for Wednesday's episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," kicking things off by saying that he was supposed to interview Talarico -- a Democrat running for a Senate seat in Texas -- on his Thursday broadcast ... but it won't air on TV because of alleged threats from Trump's FCC.

Jimmy also explained that for the 20-plus years he's been doing his show, he has interviewed many politicians, including Hillary Clinton and Trump, "with no problem at all."

Elon Musk is calling out his baby mama Ashley St. Clair ... telling TMZ she was never offered the $40 million NDA she claims she rejected.

Check out the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, "The Low Down," where we bring you stories that are gripping, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous.

We also tackle an A.I. researcher who quit his job after warning that the technology he's helping create could wipe out humanity by the end of the decade.

And Lindsay Clancy could potentially walk free thanks to a legal principle called "manifest necessity," which blocks prosecutors from trying her again.

“Wheel of Fortune” did not use an announcer during its latest taping … following the firing of longtime announcer Jim Thornton after he was allegedly caught on a child-predator website … TMZ has learned.

A source close to production tells TMZ … Season 44 rolled cameras Tuesday on the Sony Studios lot, with the usual introductions and announcements noticeably absent.

As we first reported … editors have also begun scrubbing Thornton’s voice from episodes already taped for the current season. We’re told they did not have anyone introduce hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White for Tuesday's taping.

A former "Wheel of Fortune" contestant is defending Jim Thornton from the online pile-on ... saying people are rushing to brand him a pedophile before all the facts are known.

In a lengthy Facebook post, the former contestant -- Joshua Beach -- who calls Thornton one of his heroes -- said he's seen the photos and read what was reportedly on the chatroom, admitting some of it is "disturbing."

But he added ... "I'm also not comfortable watching the internet take a series of photographs and immediately turn them into a complete judgment of another human being."

"South Park" just added another Emmy to its trophy case ... and immediately handed President Trump the punchline.

The Comedy Central series won Outstanding Animated Program Sunday for "Sermon On The 'Mount," an episode that heavily satirized Trump and even depicted him in bed with Satan.

After the win, the show's social media account posted an image of its animated Trump clutching the trophy with the message, "You finally got your Emmy."

Rob Reiner is still getting honored by Hollywood ... winning a posthumous Emmy for his role in “The Bear” months after he and his wife were found dead.

The late actor took home Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys Sunday night for playing Albert Schnurr, a businessman who helps Ebraheim develop a plan to expand The Beef's sandwich window.

Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted the award on Rob's behalf ... and the room erupted in a standing ovation. She told the crowd, “We all wish he was here.”

The Emmy marks Rob’s third win, and his first in nearly 50 years. He previously won for playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family” in 1974 and 1978.

As we’ve previously reported, Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home in December. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.

“The Bear” also paid tribute to Rob during its series finale ... with Ebraheim calling Albert to share news about franchising The Beef before signing off with “as you wish,” a nod to Rob’s classic film “The Princess Bride.”

O.J. Simpson's controversial prank show was supposed to be a joke ... but production wasn't funny -- in fact, his costar says he got really angry at one point.

Investigation Discovery is releasing a new docuseries titled "O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil" this week ... which chronicles the making of "Juiced" -- a pay-per-view prank program released in 2006.

If you haven't seen it... O.J. pretends to try and sell a white Bronco at a car lot, dresses up as an Elvis impersonator, and pretends to have an affair with a man's GF -- basically, a typical prank show of the era. However, one skit seemingly went awry ... with some actual tension bursting to the surface.

Check out this teaser from the doc ... which featured Todd Lewis -- the director and producer of the ill-fated project -- with whom O.J. gets into an argument.

Jim Thornton is 86'd from "Wheel of Fortune" ... TMZ has learned Sony Pictures Television Studios dropped the hammer Friday afternoon.

A Sony spokesperson tells us ... "Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately."

The firing comes days after TMZ broke the story ... Thornton was flying American Airlines to Los Angeles in May when a passenger spotted him on what she believed to be a chatroom for pedophiles.

9/3/2026 4:42 PM PT -- TMZ has obtained photos of pedophilia chatroom messages that led to his suspension.

9:45 PM PT -- Jim Thornton's attorney tells TMZ ... the announcer "did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime. When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go."

8:43 PM PT -- Jim Thornton just appeared on this evenings pre-taped episode of "Wheel of Fortune."

Jim Thornton -- the longtime "Wheel of Fortune" announcer -- has been suspended by Sony Pictures Television Studios ... TMZ has learned.

The studio tells TMZ ... “We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

Sony Pictures Television did not provide a reason for his suspension from the show.

However, we've learned the alleged incident arose while Thornton was on a commercial flight back in May, and a passenger complained to a flight attendant about Thornton.

9:45 PM PT -- Jim Thornton's attorney tells TMZ ... the announcer "did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime. When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go."

Jim Thornton appeared on Tuesday night's pre-taped episode, which was a rerun, of "Wheel of Fortune" ... hours after Sony Pictures Television announced an investigation into the longtime announcer.

Ryan Seacrest tossed to Jim, asking him what was on the wheel that night ... and Jim gave his usual spiel about the guests and prizes. Worth noting -- "Wheel of Fortune" usually tapes episodes a couple months in advance.

As TMZ first reported, Jim was detained by law enforcement after a flight in May. Cops were called after a passenger on the plane complained about him.

Sony Pictures Television previously told TMZ on Tuesday ... "We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton."

Ben Affleck appears to be the mystery man behind the graffiti plastered across Aflac's insurance billboards in Los Angeles ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ has obtained photos of Ben tagging a billboard in an L.A. alleyway Tuesday ... appearing to spray-paint his name across the bright blue Aflac ad.

The images come one week after we obtained photos showing "BEN AFFLECK" scrawled in black, spray-paint-style lettering across Aflac's logo on billboards at several busy L.A. intersections.