TV

Ron Newt ... the former pimp who's suing Terrence Howard and Lee Daniels for jacking his life story to make "Empire" has created a reality version of the show, and he's shopping it around.

"The Newt Empire" follows Ron and his family full of music hopefuls as they try to make it in the biz -- and Ron tries to repair relationships he's destroyed over the years. Based on the promo reel ... Ron clearly thinks he's the real Lucious Lyon.

Unlike Lucious ... Newt doesn't have a white daughter-in-law. Instead his is a very light-skinned black woman -- but you've gotta see her describe her first meeting with Ron.

An ex "Buckwild" star is behind bars for the holiday -- finally serving her sentence for a DWI arrest from nearly 2 years ago.

Law enforcement sources tell us Ashley Whitt turned herself in to the Pitt County Detention Center on Friday to begin her 30 day stretch in the lockup. Cops busted her in Greenville, NC back in May 2014.

It's unclear why the case took so long to be resolved.

A lots changed since Ashley's big MTV debut back in 2013. Or maybe not much at all ...

Miley Cyrus is getting the chair. We've learned she'll be a coach on "The Voice" Season 11.

It's a big deal for lots of reasons. It's an extremely high-profile show, and producers have decided not to rotate Gwen Stefani back into a coaching role, currently held by Christina Aguilera.

Our sources connected with the show say Miley will be a key player because she appeals to the desired TV demo.

It also means Shakira's on the back burner.

Amanda Bynes won't be part of Nickelodeon's "All That" reunion -- she wasn't even invited.

Sources close to Bynes tell us she found out about the reunion when a trailer was released online ... she never got a heads up from producers.

Bynes got her start on the '90s sketch comedy series, and went on to star in her own Nickelodeon show, "The Amanda Show," a few years later.

Amanda tells friends she would've declined the offer anyway, because her focus these days is fashion, not acting.

As we reported, the "All That" reunion won't feature new material. Instead it will be a lot of reminiscing with "All That" alums Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli, Lori Beth Denberg and Josh Server.

Maybe producers just asked Ashley by mistake ...

"Return to Amish" star Chapel Peace was peddling more than butter and blankets ... prosecutors say she was deep into meth.

The 33-year-old was one of 27 busted in Pennsylvania this week during a massive drug sting. According to the State Attorney General, detectives seized more than $90k of meth, $8,400 of heroin and more than $27k in cash.

Peace, who's been featured on the series, was charged with possession with intent to distribute and for having paraphernalia. Chapel was also reportedly arrested last year with heroin.

No word if this will affect Peace's gig on the TLC show.

1:44 PM PT -- Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ Shandling died from a massive heart attack, with no prior warning whatsoever.

Comedian Garry Shandling died at an L.A. area hospital on Thursday ... TMZ has learned.

The 66-year-old star was not suffering from any illness ... as far as we know ... so, it appears this was sudden. A source connected to Shandling says he was healthy and speaking to people on Thursday morning.

Our source says there was a 911 call from "The Larry Sanders Show" star's home, and he was transported to the hospital. We're told Shandling was alive when he arrived at the hospital.

Last weekend, Shandling was hanging with friends Kathy Griffin and Bob Odenkirk ... who also co-starred with Garry on 'Larry Sanders.'

Story developing ...

Alexandra Godino, the woman who sued "Say Yes to the Dress" for scheduling her episode before her wedding -- and thereby jinxing her marriage -- got shut down in court.

A judge ruled Godino signed a standard release which made no mention of specific air dates. The bride-to-be insists she had a verbal agreement with producers.

Godino was seeking an injunction so the episode wouldn't air Friday, claiming it would spoil the surprise of her wedding dress before her May nuptials.

The judge didn't buy it and reprimanded Godino for waiting until the last moment because she knew about the air date since mid-February. One last blow ... when the judge asked if Godino could just ask her fiance to not watch the episode, Godino's attorney replied, "she could."

Garry Shandling made the 911 call himself, telling the dispatcher he was experiencing a severe medical emergency ... but he never made it through the call.

Sources connected to Shandling and familiar with the situation tell us, in the middle of the 911 call the comedian lapsed into unconsciousness.

Paramedics were dispatched and we're told when they arrived no one answered so they had to kick in the door.

As we reported, our sources say it appears Shandling died Thursday of a massive heart attack.

Our sources say Shandling appeared in good health and there were no signs of medical problems prior to his death.

Karrueche Tran had a slip of the tongue ... nearly letting the cat out of the bag about her rumored turn as an “America’s Next Top Model" judge -- or at least it appears that way.

Our photog caught Chris Brown's ex at Hollywood & Highland and asked if she'd be a regular when producers bring back the show sans Tyra Banks and J. Alexander. She double clutches on her answer ... so hard to tell if she's in like Flynn or still waiting.

"All That" fans might've prematurely slimed themselves over Nickelodeon's reunion announcement -- TMZ has learned the special isn't what it seems.

Nick sources tell us the reunion won't have any new sketches -- no Repairman, no Vital Information, nada -- instead it'll be reruns of Nick's classic '90s shows with commentary in between from cast members Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli, Lori Beth Denberg and Josh Server.

But there's still hope for a REAL reunion -- with new sketches -- according to Tamberelli.

The chances are solid since Thompson, Tamberelli and Server all still do sketch comedy -- sometimes together -- and Danny believes they'd be down if their schedules allowed it. Mitchell's back on Nick with a new show.

Denberg -- the only non-performing cast member -- is a wedding officiant. But Tamberelli says if she or anyone is on the fence, he'll press them hard to get on board.

All they need now is a green light from Nickelodeon.

Well, that was quick.

Just one day after it was announced the L.A. Rams would be the featured team on the HBO docu-series "Hard Knocks" ... cameras have already started to roll.

Check out the scene at the Rams facility in St. Louis ... it appears cameras are capturing Rams officials packing up the old offices and workout center -- even removing Super Bowl mementos from the walls.

Lights. Camera. Action.

David Letterman the late night host is no more -- replaced by someone who looks a lot more like Joaquin Phoenix from back in the day.

The 68-year-old already is getting more unrecognizable by the day. He's down in St. Barts sporting a new bald and even bushier bearded look.

If any ZZ Top cover bands are hiring in the Caribbean ... get Dave a guitar.

A blushing bride-to-be is beet red with anger because she says the TV show "Say Yes to the Dress" is about to spoil the biggest reveal in a girl's wedding.

Alexandra Godino claims she moseyed into Kleinfeld -- the bridal shop where the show is shot -- back in September. She says producers approached her and asked if she wanted to appear on the show, because apparently the bride who was scheduled flaked out.

Ali said 'yes' to the show with one proviso ... the show couldn't be broadcast before her May, 2016 wedding. Her reason ... she wanted to preserve the surprise for her hubby.

Much to her horror, she recently learned the program is scheduled to air this Friday. She says she begged producers to back down and honor her oral request, but they told her to pound sand.

Ellen Barkin had a medical emergency on the set of her TV show Tuesday after choking on her lunch.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us, Ellen had taken a break on the set of her new TNT show, "Animal Kingdom," when food apparently went down the wrong pipe. Ellen showed signs of distress and began to panic. It got worse ... so bad she actually passed out.

We're told the 61-year-old actress was rushed to an L.A. hospital where doctors performed a variety of tests. It's unclear how the food was dislodged.

We're told she's ok and was released Tuesday night. The trooper she is ... Ellen showed up for work Wednesday morning.

"Legends of the Hidden Temple" host Kirk Fogg is a lost treasure that has just been found again.

We got Fogg doing the TV remake in his hosting outfit ... 20 years after the game show was yanked off the air, and it looks like he's living the life of Dorian Gray.

Producers were hounding Fogg, who's been out of the biz for years, for a cameo.

No word how many saving bonds they had to give him -- if you're a fan you get it.

Set the clock for 3 minutes!!!

David Letterman is BALD in St. Barts!! ... but the beard remains off limits.