TV

Jesse Metcalfe is still channeling his "Dallas" character Chris Ewing with his recent big purchase – a $2.975 million crib above the Sunset Strip.

The show was canceled last fall after 3 seasons, but Metcalfe's making good use of his hard-earned cash. He purchased the 4 bedroom, 5 bath home in the celeb-favored Birds Streets neighborhood for $175,000 under asking price.

His girlfriend, actress Cara Santana, is also on the deed ... they've been dating for 5 years, so there's plenty of room to settle down and start a family.

"OITNB" star Taryn Manning is clearly pissed at her former film collaborator over a movie that has languished for years, even though she's the biggest star by far in the flick.

Taryn's filed suit against Cline Mayo, who was working with her since 2007 to get her film "Droppers" made. Taryn was slated to star in the movie and a trailer was finally cut this past February.

But something happened between the 2, because Taryn says their partnership abruptly ended, even though she says she worked tirelessly on the project, funding the trailer and creating the "look, feel, and scenario."

It seems Taryn's lawsuit is a preemptive strike, because she says Mayo is about to sue her for copyright infringement.

According to Taryn's lawyer, "Ms. Manning simply wants to set the record straight - she did not engage in any form of copyright infringement and Ms. Mayo does not even have a valid claim to the sole copyright ownership of 'Droppers.'"

Taryn wants the judge to hold the Mayo ... accountable.

Legendary TV actress Valerie Harper was rushed to the hospital Wednesday night in Maine ... TMZ has confirmed.

Harper was at a theater where she was getting ready to go onstage for a play, when she went unconscious.

Someone called 911, an ambulance arrived, but by then Valerie had regained consciousness.

As for how serious ... we're told the ambulance driver did not use his siren, but obviously it's still serious.

The 75-year-old was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2013 and only given three months to live ... but since then she's responded well to treatment and even performed on "Dancing With the Stars."

According to the hospital, she was discharged Thursday morning.

Jason “Jace” Alexander spent a decade directing "Law & Order" but Wednesday he was living out an episode when he was popped on child pornography charges.

Alexander was charged with two felonies -- possessing and sharing illegal and obscene performances of sexual conduct by children under the age of 17.

He was nabbed after an investigator downloaded child pornography off the internet and traced the file’s IP address back to Alexander’s address in New York.

Cops searched Alexander’s home and say they found computers and external hard drives stocked with files of minors engaged in child pornography.

His bail is set at $10k. He faces 7 years if convicted.

John Stamos returned to work with a vengeance to kick off "Fuller House" ... and even cracked a joke about his DUI arrest.

Audience members went crazy as Stamos stepped out on set as Uncle Jesse ... a day after he left rehab. TMZ broke the story, Stamos was busted for DUI in Beverly Hills last month and he was so bad off he was taken to the ER. But 30 days in rehab for substance abuse did him well.

Stamos told the audience about a scene they couldn't shoot because the prop car didn't show. John joked, "Well, I have a car ... but I can't drive."

It brought the house down.

As for the rest of the taping ... we're told John nailed every scene.

Have mercy.

"Game Of Thrones" has a fan base as big as a White Walker army, and one of those fans just threw away a ton of dough at a failed attempt to impress Khaleesi's right hand girl, Nathalie Emmanuel.

Nathalie, who plays Missandei, was clubbing it up with her gal pals at London hotspot China White last Saturday ... when a wealthy mega fan at the club dropped $55k to party with her, with the help of 12 bottles of Dom and a 6 liter bottle of Belvedere, which he sent to her table.

The mid-40s fanboy also commissioned a personalized show in which he controlled club lights and a CO2/confetti cannon.

Problem is, Nathalie wasn't impressed and sent the booze back.

A true fan would have known, such tactics would have only worked on Cersei Lannister.

Dann Florek is rooting for El Chapo to get Donald Trump.

The "Law & Order: SVU" star was in NYC Monday when our photog asked about the escaped criminal and his threats against Trump.

Yanet Garcia -- now known as the sexiest meteorologist on the planet -- is breaking down borders between Mexico and the U.S. ... thanks to her greatest asset.

In a move even Donald Trump would applaud ... Yanet has come stateside, and our photog got her in Central Park. Yes, her English is still a little rusty, but we're guessing no one will really care.

Besides, her YouTube star BF (buzzkill) Doug Censor Martin played translator as we found out if Yanet is considering a permanent move North ... and what that means for her booty's Q rating.

She's kinda of amazing in this clip -- and not at all concerned about potential ass competition she'd face from the likes of Nicki Minaj or Kim Kardashian.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. taught Hollywood "It" girl Ruby Rose a few things about boxing -- during a Las Vegas meet-and-greet that must've had Floyd thinking he was seeing double.

Ruby went to the TMT gym on Thursday to watch the champ training for his upcoming fight against Andre Berto. Sources at the gym tell us the "Orange Is the New Black" star said she's been a longtime fan of Floyd's and just really wanted to meet him.

We're told a mutual friend of Floyd and Ruby's doppelganger, Justin Bieber ... helped set up yesterday's meeting.

For NASCAR star Brad Keselowski ... getting devoured by fake flying sharks is way harder than driving into a corner at 180 mph -- cause he told us his "Sharknado 3" cameo was actually a bitch to shoot.

The former Sprint Cup champ joined us on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" to talk about his epic death scene in the latest 'Sharknado' flick ... and dropped a bombshell.

Brad says it took him 40 to 50 takes to get it right, even though the scene is less than 10 seconds long! It's not what you think -- BK says he has acting experience. He just doesn't have "Sharknado" acting experience, and it's a totally different beast.

Nicki Minaj went on TV to tell the world ... Taylor Swift screwed up when she assumed Nicki was attacking her over the VMA noms.

Nicki went on 'GMA' and revealed she and Taylor had a chat yesterday and Swifty admitted she was wrong when she went after Nicki on Twitter, jumping to the conclusion that Nicki was ragging on her over "Anaconda" being passed on for video of the year.

Donald Trump's loss is Magic Johnson's gain ... according to NBA star Anthony Davis who's throwing his sizeable support behind Magic for the now available "Celebrity Apprentice" host position.

The Pelicans stud center was chilling with Sacramento Kings star Ben McLemore down in Anguilla at the Viceroy hotel. AD's down there for his Anguilla Youth Sports Foundation basketball camp, but we talked reality TV with him.

Davis explains why he thinks Magic would be great in the boardroom -- but also why you won't see him in the ballroom. Yes, Davis says he was offered a spot on "Dancing With the Stars" ... only to turn it down because ... well. Dude can't dance.

DeAndre Jordan makes really bad choices ... is what Mark Cuban told us about the Clippers star who got away -- and he wasn't only talking about the infamous free agency flip-flop.

The Dallas Mavericks owner was out in L.A. Wednesday night, and we asked ... if DeAndre was on the open market again, would Mark bite? He responded with a funny metaphor about himself being able to dunk, but you can tell he's really saying ... HELL NO!

Then Mark took a bigger swipe ... at DeAndre's favorite dessert. Earlier this week, Jordan told us the butter cake at Mastro's Steakhouse was his jam. Watch how Cubes crapped on that too.

By the way, Mark had fans (even in L.A.) swarming and calling him, "Mr. President." How awesome was he in "Sharknado 3"?

10:40 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Ruby was not the one who called police and it didn't happen at her home. We're told a man was trying to break into her neighbor's house and was arrested.

Ruby Rose got a terrifying taste of L.A. -- she spotted an armed man in her backyard as police swarmed her house ... searching for the man.

Ruby shot video of the panic -- cop cars on the street and helicopters above her house. She narrated the clip, saying ... "Policemen ... looking for a f**king gunman."

She also live tweeted the incident throughout the search ... "This is petrifying. Helicopters, police, dogs ... and a crazy person"

Ruby says the gunman was eventually arrested ... and she deleted all her tweets about the incident.

It's unclear if the suspect was trying to get into her house ... or just running through the neighborhood. Either way ... scary night for the "Orange is the New Black" star.

Caitlyn Jenner is not quite the lady pimp she appeared to be ... but she's definitely as showy.

As we told you ... a Lamborghini Aventador -- base price $400k -- showed up in her driveway on Tuesday ... via flatbed delivery truck. While we're sure she COULD afford one ... turns out Caitlyn did not buy it -- it's just a rental for her docuseries.

Sources close to "I Am Cait" production tell us the show rented the exotic whip for a scene they're shooting.

Remember, Caitlyn's still into Bruce's fave hobbies -- driving ATVs and motorcycles, so it's not shocking she might feel the need for Lambo speed.

Brad Keselowski's played the role of NASCAR champion, and even NASCAR villain -- but his greatest role yet will be ... shark food.

Yes, the former Sprint Cup champ's got a meaty role in tonight's premiere of "Sharknado 3" ... and he's very proud of the work he put into what he calls, "a story that had to be told."

BK gave his fans a behind the scenes look with this video -- and even got co-star Ian Ziering and famed Thespian David Spade to co-sign on his performance. It's pretty hysterical.

And watch for the scene stealer in this clip ... Brad's teammate Joey Logano.