TV

Taraji P. Henson may have let the cat out of the bag Thursday night, telling Courtney Love she's coming back to reprise her role on "Empire."

The 2 women couldn't hide their affection for each other, although Courtney made it clear what's gonna happen to her when Cookie has her way.

A couple of things about the video.

-- These 2 chicks genuinely dig each other

-- Courtney has it together

"Mob Wives" star Big Ang received the news she was dreading -- the tumor on her throat is malignant.

Ang’s sister, Janine Detore, tells TMZ the tumor is on Ang's voicebox and her voice is deteriorating as a result. She says doctors determined the lemon-sized growth was cancerous after looking at it with a scope and running blood tests.

Janine says the family is awaiting results of another test to determine if the cancer has spread.

There's no history of cancer in the family, but Janine says they fear Ang's 42 years of smoking might have contributed. She adds ... doctors have ordered Ang to quit smoking immediately.

None of the ordeal has been filmed for "Mob Wives" ... but Janine says it might be addressed on the show at some point. Ang is scheduled to have surgery next week to remove the tumor.

Janine says, "We are hoping for the best and are focusing on getting through the holiday. We love the fans and want to thank them."

Sean Whalen -- the "Got Milk" guy with a mouthful of peanut butter who couldn't say Aaron Burr -- now has a tough pill to swallow ... his wife is ready to call it quits.

According to the docs ... Whalen's wife, Deborah filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences after 21 years together. She's asking for joint custody of their two kids, and spousal support.

Besides his milk career ... Whalen also landed roles in "Men in Black," "Charlie's Angels" and the soap "The Bold and The Beautiful."

Sean's rep tells us the divorce is amicable and they are "remaining friends and focusing on being the best parents they can for their children."

In other words ... they're pulling a Gwyneth & Chris.

"Dallas" star Charlene Tilton says her Burbank apartment has been overrun by 20 sweaty dudes with jackhammers, and it's driving her crazy.

Tilton, who played Lucy Ewing on the show, claims in a new lawsuit she plunked down $2,600 a month for a nice Burbank apartment, but her peace was shattered when the landlord broke ground on a 3-month construction project, which involved several weeks of breaking concrete.

Charlene claims her building is now a living hell. She can't use the pool or gym, the elevator doesn't work half the time, she can't open the windows because of ear-shattering noise, and the dust is unbearable.

The 56-year-old actress says she's suffered extreme emotional distress and wouldn't wish the apartment on her worst enemy ... which we're guessing would be the photographer on the soap.

Charlene believes the apartment is unlivable, so she's suing for rent she paid during construction and all sorts of other damages, including emotional distress.

The landlord tells TMZ, he's tried to work with Charlene and even offered a discount in rent, but they just can't reach an agreement.

John Stamos and Bob Saget enjoyed a fine meal on the town Wednesday night, and we didn't know at the time ... but they were celebrating the return of "Full House."

That's right ... word came down Thursday afternoon Netflix is close to announcing a reboot of the classic series and titling it "Fuller House." Yes, that's the actual name.

The series is slated to star Candace Cameron Bure and Andrea Barber, who played D.J. and Kimmy in the original series. Stamos, Saget and even Dave Coulier are being eyed for the occasional guest appearance.

When we spoke to the fellas, we had no clue about the new show (who could've guessed?) so we just chatted about Roasts.

TMZ Sports now brings you concrete-ish evidence that the on-again/off-again marriage of former NBA star Daniel "Booby" Gibson and his R&B star wife Keyshia Cole is currently ON AS HELL.

We got video of the couple -- plus their adorable son -- out at LAX together yesterday and when we asked Booby how the relationship was doing he replied, "We're doing great."

The two were famously on bad terms until just recently ... when they were seen all over each other at the premiere of Keyshia's new reality show -- begging the question ... reconciliation?!

Rev. Robert H. Schuller -- the minister behind TV's "Hour of Power" -- died from esophageal cancer Thursday morning.

Schuller was at a nursing facility in Artesia, CA when he passed away. He'd been diagnosed with cancer in 2013.

Schuller was one of the early televangelists ... launching the "Hour of Power" in 1970 -- and he continued to preach on the program until 2010.

The reverend was also famous for building the 2700-seat Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA ... which opened in 1981. He retired as senior minister there in 2006. His son initially took over, and eventually his daughter became the church's leader.

The Cathedral filed for bankruptcy in 2010, but Schuller's legacy continues on TV -- one of his grandsons took over the "Hour of Power" in 2013.

Schuller was 88 years old.

"Mob Wives" star Big Ang is currently in the hospital after complaining of pain in her neck ... and doctors have since discovered a tumor in her throat the size of a lemon.

According to our sources, earlier this week Ang was admitted to a Staten Island hospital where doctors will soon perform surgery to remove the tumor. We're told it is not yet known whether the tumor is cancerous.

Ang was scheduled to begin shooting for a different reality show, other than "Mob Wives," when she began experiencing the pain.

Ang appeared this past weekend at a reality TV event in New York City where she kept her neck covered up. It's unclear if she was experiencing pain at the time.

The stepchildren of the woman who was killed in the Bruce Jenner car crash are gearing up for a wrongful death lawsuit, TMZ has learned, and what's especially interesting is that we're told they had virtually no relationship with their stepmom.

Kim Howe was driving her Lexus on Pacific Coast Highway on February 7th when Bruce slammed into her, sending her car careening into the lane of oncoming traffic where a Hummer demolished her car.

Howe has no direct relatives. Her husband died in 2003, and it appears her parents are deceased as well as other immediate blood relatives.

Kim does have 2 grown stepkids, neither of whom live in California. We spoke with people who were extremely close to Kim who tell us she had "virtually no relationship" with either stepchild.

Nonetheless, were told both stepchildren have lawyered up, because they're the only remaining people who have a legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In California, stepchildren have legal standing to sue, even if they were estranged from the stepparent.

Sources tell us, the lawyer for one of the stepchildren has already asked his client to find as many pictures and other evidence showing some relationship between himself and Kim ... presumably to help establish damages in the lawsuit.

One thing we know ... the stepchildren will not inherit Kim's property. We're told she has a trust with millions in assets that are earmarked for charity. And there's a will with a modest amount -- $55k -- that also benefits various animal charities, including, PETA, Lange Foundation, PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society), Doris Day Animal League and The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee.

Ex "Teen Mom" and "16 and Pregnant" star Mackenzie McKee got a case of the shakes -- the good kind that'll help her cover expensive repairs on the SUV she drove into a ditch.

A source close to the situation says McKee is one of the best promoters for 310 Shakes -- and when the company got wind of her accident ... it stepped up with $10,500 she needed to help fix her ride.

TMZ broke the story ... Mackenzie said her diabetes caused her to zone out and drive her new and uninsured Kia off the road.

We're told the cash came without strings ... 310 just told her to keep up the good work -- a reference to her promoting skills. Not so much her driving.

"Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller is bringing her east coast, in-your-face style to the west coast ... and setting up shop in L.A. ... and we're guessing some thirsty L.A. moms and their daughters will be standing in a long line.

According to our sources, Miller is opening up a branch of her dance studios in Santa Monica, which will be known as ALDC LA (Abby Lee Dance Company Los Angeles). Our sources say Miller is renting an apartment nearby.

We're told Miller is working in the same studio where "Dancing With The Stars" rehearses while she waits for her new space to be renovated.

Miller's L.A. victims will appear on her show. We're guessing there will be a fresh look of plastic ... among the moms.

Former "Heroes" actress Brea Grant channeled her super sonic character to evade the man who chased her down a street ... and a court has just granted her a restraining order.

According to the docs ... Grant -- who played the speedy Daphne Millbrook -- got a judge to slap a restraining order on the complete stranger she claims tried to barge his way into the home she shares with boyfriend Kevin Pereira and screamed he loved her on the front lawn.

Grant says she even called the cops twice on the guy back in November after he chased her to her car and down a city street.

The man is ordered to stay 100 yards away from both Grant and Pereira

He better learn fast.

Farrah Abraham is an example to young women on what NOT to do -- and yet pre-teen girls are flocking to her like she's a modern day Mother Teresa. Apologies to Mother Teresa's spirit.

Abraham and her sparkling resume -- teen mom, stripper, porn star, author, DUI arrestee -- were leaving Planet Hollywood in NYC ... when an alarmingly young fan stopped her for a photo.

And then we got an even bigger shock as Farrah revealed she's going to become a plastic surgeon! Seriously ... she says.

The phrase, "Do what you know" comes to mind ...

It's nice to set goals ... and for Rob Gronkowski, his newest target is to nail the hot chick from "Wolf of Wall Street."

Gronk's appearing on Wednesday's season premiere of "The Jim Rome Show" ... and explained that he's wanted to bone Margot Robbie ever since he first saw her in the Leonardo DiCaprio flick.

But get this ... Gronk also laid out the qualities he wants in his FUTURE WIFE.

You gotta listen to what he says ... Gloria Steinem is gonna have a heart attack.

Count Marlon Wayans among those who believe the world is not ready for the N-word on "Empire," because what big company wants to be associated with that?

Wayans was leaving the gym Monday afternoon when our photog asked him about the topic that seems to have divided the show -- Terrence Howard is for using the word, but some of the writers and Taraji P. Henson are against it.

It doesn't sound like Wayans is against using the word in general -- you gotta hear his slave chains metaphor -- but he thinks sponsors would drop like flies if Lucious Lyon started tossing it around.

He's worth a gazillion dollars (or something like that) ... but even super rich "Shark Tank" star Robert Herjavec thinks paying $87,500 for a ringside seat to May vs. Pac is nothing short of crazy.

Herjavec was leaving Craig's in West Hollywood Monday night when we asked about the first fight tickets to hit the market -- and his reaction is interesting ... considering he's exactly the kind of guy who could actually consider forking over the dough for a seat.