TV

James Best -- who famously played bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on "The Dukes of Hazzard" -- died Monday night at age 88.

Best passed in a hospice facility following a brief illness and complications from pneumonia, a close friend told the Charlotte Observer.

In addition to his role on "Hazzard," Best appeared on several classic shows, including, "Gunsmoke," "Mod Squad," "I Spy," "Bonanza," "Perry Mason" and "Rawhide."

Best formed an acting school in the '70s where he taught the likes of Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, Lindsay Wagner, Farrah Fawcett and Quentin Tarantino.

RIP.

He couldn't hack it on the field ... and now, Michael Sam's been axed from the ballroom as well.

The first openly gay man to be drafted into the NFL found himself on the wrong end of the chopping block on "Dancing with the Stars" Monday night ... after his final rumba didn't cut it with the judges.

Sam became the 3rd contestant eliminated from the show ... following Charlotte McKinney and Redfoo.

FYI -- Suzanne Somers, "Bachelor" Chris Soules and Rumer Willis still remain.

Now, Sam is faced with a decision -- try to battle his way back into the NFL ... or give up and focus on a career in pop culture.

One man's junk is another man's art ... but not always. Waco O'Guin -- the co-creator of Comedy Central's animated series "Brickleberry" -- is blasting Instagram for penile hypocrisy.

Waco tells us he's furious Instagram yanked his post showing an altered "Creation," featuring Woody from the show who dwarfs the "real" Adam and a topless Ethel who mimics a zaftig cherub.

Waco got a message from Instagram that his parody was out of line but the original "Creation" he posted was allowed to remain.

He feels art is art, and Michelangelo's prized work in the Sistine Chapel is not more worthy of Instagram than his stab at greatness.

He also says his creation was featured on Comedy Central, sans blurs, so if it's good enough for the network it should be good enough for the folks at Instagram.

Kylie Jenner let her fingers do some walking down her sister Kendall Jenner's shorts, and then -- because she's a giver -- posted it on social media for the world to see.

The Snapchat looks like it's behind the scenes of a photo shoot ... and shows the sisters doing a lot of sexually charged goofing around -- and then it gets all touchy feely.

Bruce Jenner will not have his spotlight jacked by Kris or the girls, because they will be thousands of miles away when his big ABC special airs.

Diane Sawyer's two hour interview -- titled "Bruce Jenner -- The Interview"-- will air April 24th, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. We're told the women will be in Armenia, although for some reason they're saying the visit isn't tied to the anniversary.

Nonetheless, it won't be easy for the Kardashian women to throw in their two cents.

"Dancing With The Stars" contestant Noah Galloway was hit by friendly fire while rehearsing with partner Sharna Burgess ... and it's brutal and bloody.

When you consider what the former U.S. Army soldier's been through -- he lost both an arm and leg in the Iraq War -- it's gonna take a lot more than a busted tooth to rattle this vet.

It's hard to watch ... while practicing their routine Sharna kicks him in the face and you hear a tooth hit the floor like it's tap dancing.

Yet Noah -- a total pro -- only has three little words to say about it ... "No Big Deal."

Bruce Jenner took a nature hike Sunday in Malibu ... and there's something about his choice of clothing that seems to validate stories that he's gone under the knife for breast enhancement.

It was downright hot this weekend in Malibu and everywhere else in SoCal. Bruce was wearing shorts, but he bundled up almost completely from the waist up with a heavy sweatshirt, a hoodie and extremely big sunglasses. And he's sporting red nails.

We're told Bruce has been undergoing hormone therapy for nearly 2 years. Patients are not supposed to get breast enhancement surgery while undergoing hormone therapy, because during recovery there's an elevated danger of stroke and heart attack.

The hormone therapy, we're told, has run its course, and a month after it ends it's safe to get augmentation surgery.

This is NOT how Kanye West typically rolls, but he wrapped up a fancy Malibu dinner by leaving in a HYUNDAI -- and you can tell he died a little inside while doing it.

Kanye and Kim Kardashian left dinner at Nobu Saturday night, and while waiting at the valet ... Kanye starts grinning from ear-to-ear because he knows what's about to go down.

A Hyundai Elantra -- cost about $18k -- pulls up ... Kanye puts Kim in the backseat, and he jumps in the front passenger seat. Watch the look on his face -- really says it all. Now, Yeezy isn't cutting costs -- looks like the whip (with sweet sport rims wheel covers) belongs to a friend or assistant.

$18k is probably the cost of 2 headlamps on Kanye's $400k Lambo Aventador.

The Kardashian klan celebrated Easter Sunday wearing all white ... some less than others.

Kris, Khloe and Kendall all went to West Hills Church in the San Fernando Valley, along with Kris' BF Corey Gamble. A tattered Kanye, Kim and North West also showed. And the non-dating Kylie was front and center with her non-boyfriend Tyga and his son King.

Kendall didn't wear a full outfit to church, and she wore even less for her Instagram photo wishing people a happy Easter.

Praise the lord.

Kylie Jenner pulled a Julianne Hough by posting pics of herself which appear to show her in black face ... and people are pissed.

Kylie originally posted the pics Saturday night, saying, "What I wish I looked like all the time."

She got backlash from folks who felt she crossed the line with black face, so Kylie deleted the pics, re-uploaded them and wrote, "This is a black light and neon lights. People lets all calm down."

Her response is not particularly responsive, so we gotta ask ...

"Point Break" actor John Philbin pled no contest to a misdemeanor weapons charge for pulling a loaded gun while arguing with his GF -- and the judge told him ... Utah, get me 3 years probation!

Actually, Philbin's sentence was 30 days in county jail, plus 3 years probation -- but he was credited 26 days ... so he's got a short stint left in the clink.

The actor was arrested back in March when a neighbor told cops he walked out of his home waving the loaded weapon after a testy domestic dispute with his lady.

Philbin also has to complete a 52 week AA program and domestic violence classes.

Taraji P. Henson declared it for everyone in Hollywood to hear -- Courtney Love is her "bitch" ... after working with her on "Empire." It's the latest sign Courtney is getting super tight with ... the “community.”

Yes, we mean black people.

Bad news for the Lambert family ... the guy who played Patrick Duffy's surfer dude nephew Cody on "Step By Step" has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Sasha Mitchell -- whose character (now that we think about it) was essentially a Keanu Reeves ripoff -- filed court docs in L.A. seeking to end his 4 year marriage to his wife Rachel.

The two have no kids together. Sasha blames the split on irreconcilable differences.

Dude, you can finally bang Dana!!!

(Update: Dana's actually married now. Sorry brah)

Manuela Arbelaez thought her "Price Is Right" modeling days were over when she accidentally gave away a car, but it turns out ... she should actually be in line for a raise.

Arbelaez was a guest on "TMZ Live" Friday and told us ... she was probably the only person NOT laughing after her epic gaffe. She figured she was a goner until producers told her they thought the whole thing was hysterical.

In fact, Arbelaez now figures the show got more in free press from the blunder than the cost of that Hyundai Sonata SE. That might be a stretch, but more importantly -- how freakin' hot was Manuela on TMZ Live?

Enjoy.

"Without a Trace" star Anthony LaPaglia is headed for divorce court ... TMZ has learned.

Anthony just filed legal docs, with the help of disso queen Laura Wasser, claiming irreconcilable differences in his marriage to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star Gia Carides.

He's asking for joint custody of their 12-year-old daughter Bridget. He's also agreeing to pay Gia spousal and child support.

It's a little odd ... he signed the divorce docs on February 19 but waited a month-and-a-half to file.

We're told there is not a prenup.

Well, this doesn't bode well for Kristin Cavallari.

If Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler wants to turn things around and start playing like a winner ... he's gotta do things that winners do -- and that starts with banging Gisele.

At least, that's the strategy "New Girl" star Lamorne Morris -- a HUGE Chicago Bears fan -- was recommending when we talked to the guy at The Improv in L.A. last night.

"Until [Cutler] starts inserting himself into Gisele every night ... she has a magical vagina ... then I will believe in him."