TV

Miami born Bob Vila worked his way into the homes of millions as the hard-working host and blue-collar sex symbol on the long-running home renovation television show 'This Old House.'

Bob Vila tooled around on the PBS program alongside master carpenter Norm Abram starting back in 1979 but Vila demoed his involvement a decade later after an endorsement disagreement ... the show was then contracted out to Steve Thomas ... who continue to build the show after that.

Vila can still be spotted whittling around on the Home Shopping Network selling tools named after himself.

Presidential candidate Eric Swalwell has an answer for Meghan McCain, who called him out over the 9/11 Victims Fund, and makes it clear ... he's supporting Jon Stewart and all the first responder heroes.

The Democratic Congressman was on "TMZ Live" Thursday responding to Meghan criticizing him for missing Jon's powerful testimony this week for the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Swalwell told us his absence was the result of a top-secret matter.

Swalwell has 3 family members in law enforcement and stressed he's voted to fund the 9/11 Victims Fund before and would continue to support what Jon's pitching.

As for his 2020 presidential run -- the California Rep. says he's up for the hectic schedule, but there's one aspect of it that really grinds his gears. He says it's a MUST that he gets in his daily run. As for how far he goes -- it's pretty impressive, considering he's traveling almost every day.

We couldn't let the Congressman go without challenging one of his odd wardrobe habits. Check out his explanation for ... ironing his jeans!!!

4:48 PM PT -- Cuba was also charged with sexual abuse in the third degree.

1:11 PM PT -- Cuba was just escorted out of the building by cops.

12:30 PM PT -- Cuba's attorney, Mark Heller, just spoke claiming his client is totally innocent. Heller says he's analyzed more than 2 hours of video from the night and nothing shows him commit a crime.

11:45 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us Cuba has officially been charged with one count of misdemeanor forcible touching.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is under arrest for allegedly groping a woman in a Manhattan bar ... after following through with his plan to surrender to NYPD.

Cuba turned himself in Thursday afternoon to the Manhattan Special Victim's Unit. He arrived with with his attorney, Mark Heller ... and he's expected to be booked for forcible touching, a misdemeanor.

Heller told TMZ, on Wednesday, he had seen surveillance video from the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge, and felt it showed "no criminality" on Cuba's part. As a result, he said Cuba might not surrender. Obviously, something changed.

As we reported ... a woman called 911 early Monday morning alleging the Oscar winner touched her breast without consent Sunday night at the bar.

We got video of the actor partying it up at the bar with friends. We don't know if the alleged victim appears in the video.

Cuba denies touching anyone inappropriately that night. He was flying out of LAX Tuesday night when he insisted nothing had happened that could even be misconstrued as groping.

Cops will take a mug shot, fingerprints and give Cuba a court date. We expect him to be released shortly thereafter.

"Orange is the New Black" star Lorraine Toussaint is bailing out of her marriage ... she's filed for divorce.

According to court records ... Lorraine filed her divorce petition Thursday in Los Angeles to make the split from her husband, Robert Michael Tomlinson, official, legally.

According to the docs they have no minor children together ... although there have been reports they have a teenage daughter. They were married on June 25, 2017.

Lorraine is asking the court to award her spousal support, and to block the court's ability to award support the other way around.

Lorraine played inmate Yvonne "Vee" Parker on season 2 on the hit Netflix show, 'OITNB.' She's also appeared on many other TV shows ... including "Where I Live," "Amazing Grace," "Law & Order," "Judging Amy," "Ugly Betty" and "Friday Night Lights."

But, Vee was definitely her breakout role -- she even won a 2015 SAG Award for it, along with her co-stars. Lorraine also garnered rave reviews from TV Guide and Vanity Fair.

She's also done several films, and got praise for her role in "Selma."

"The Wendy Williams Show" has never been better -- as far as the staff is concerned -- and it's all due to her estranged husband's departure.

As you know, Wendy is going through a divorce with Kevin Hunter, who was a producer of her talk show until he left in April amid their rising relationship drama. According to sources close to the TV show ... the collective feeling about his departure was GOOD RIDDANCE.

We're told several staff members called Kevin leaving a "breath of fresh air" ... and say the work environment has been 100 percent less hostile. Our sources say Hunter was notorious for being overly controlling and unpleasant, and had employees in constant fear of being fired.

Kevin's exit has had a huge positive impact on Wendy too. We're told she seemed back to her regular, down to earth self in the final weeks of taping before the show went on hiatus ... and you'd never know she was going through a nasty divorce by the way she was on set.

Williams has been enjoying her single life lately -- especially with her new, young "friend," Marc Tomblin -- but the ex-couple have also been exchanging barbs as their divorce moves ahead.

Wendy accused Kevin of keeping her cooped up at home and treating her like a "show pony," and he fired back by calling her lazy.

There's also the issue between Kevin and their son, Kevin Jr., which isn't any closer to being mended.

All that aside, it seems like everyone working for Wendy is happy and rejuvenated, and we're told they're excited to get back to filming the show after its break ... sans Kevin, of course.

Wendy Williams' estranged husband, Kevin Hunter Sr., says her claim he kept her pent up at home is a lie and adds ... she was too lazy to give a damn -- but Wendy says believe nothing her ex says.

Kevin is firing back at the beloved talk show host after she told us she "was cooped up only to be a show pony" during their marriage. Sources close to Kevin say that's a bald-faced lie, and he claims her memory is just off.

The way Kevin sees it ... Wendy orchestrated her schedule and chose, primarily, to do her talk show and go home. We're told Kevin feels Wendy just didn't want to hit red carpet events or put in any effort outside of the on-camera work for her show.

A source close to Wendy is doubling down though ... calling Kevin "extremely controlling and sneaky" during the marriage, and "nothing he says is the truth."

When it comes to business decisions ... sources close to Kevin say Wendy took a hands-off approach and willingly left everything up to her husband -- trusting him for 22 years to handle her career.

As for Wendy's young, new arm candy ... we're told Kevin isn't jealous and understands why she wants to go out and have some carefree fun.

He does, however, take issue with Wendy saying he “had a full baby with a woman he was involved with for 15 years.” We're told he calls that a gross exaggeration because he didn’t meet his mistress until 2008.

We get the feeling the nitpicking is just beginning -- and even though Wendy thinks they'll eventually make peace -- it feels like their divorce is gonna be a long, drawn-out affair.

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Jen Harley are like a broken record, and a trip to Disney World's not going to fix it ... so say sources close to the volatile pair.

We broke the story ... the 'Jersey Shore' star and his baby mama looked more like they were going to prison than vacay early Wednesday morning as they boarded a flight from Las Vegas to Florida with their daughter. They didn't sit together or speak on the flight.

We're told the separate seating was due to booking last minute -- but seeing the moody duo together definitely raised eyebrows.

Our sources tell us looks do not deceive -- Ronnie and Jen are still far from being solid in their relationship and are "on and off" on a weekly basis. We're told family and friends close to them are very concerned and fear things will take another violent turn at any moment.

Yes, even at the "The Most Magical Place on Earth."

As we've reported ... Harley was arrested last month for a New Year's Eve incident in which she allegedly threw an ashtray at Ron's face and bloodied it, the same night he allegedly ransacked her home.

Ronnie was also recorded smashing the security camera at her front door in December 2018 ... and earlier that year he got a black eye during that crazy car dragging incident.

Vinny from "Jersey Shore" is gonna let it all hang out again for Chippendales ... they're inviting him back cause he was huge ... at the box office, that is.

Due to popular demand, as they say, we're told Vinny will headline Chippendales during a 6-week run beginning July 26 and ending September 1st. It's no secret why the male revue would want him back -- Vinny's been very, very good for biz.

We're told ticket sales during his April through May run rivaled Tyson Beckford's legendary 2017 run.

'JS' fans, or just fans of abs, will remember Vinny made the crowd go wild ... first with a sneak peek of his Italian stallions and then with a steamy shower scene. Fans should note, his ripped keto diet fueled bod will be on display for the Friday and Saturday night gigs at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

BTW, Vinny said Chippendales never told him to bare his ass in that shower scene, it was actually his choice ... "Because I've always been known to go hard or go home."

Elizabeth Lederer, the woman who prosecuted the Central Park 5, just resigned from her position as a professor at Columbia Law School amid heavy pressure from black students.

Lederer, the former Assistant D.A. who tried the infamous case back in 1989, resigned Wednesday. She was a part-time professor at Columbia but had come under fire since the Netflix series "When They See Us" debuted.

Lederer, played by Vera Farmiga in the series, worked alongside Linda Fairstein. As we've reported ... Fairstein has also caught flak and recently resigned from a nonprofit board of directors and the Board of Trustees at Vassar College. Her book publisher also dropped her.

The Black Law Students Association at Columbia called Lederer's actions in the CP5 case "racist" ... and pressured school administrators to remove her from the faculty.

Wendy Williams wants to know how all her haters and naysayers are doin' ... because she's doin' just fine.

We got the talk show host heading to dinner at NOBU in NYC Tuesday night with Marc Tomblin, her new guy friend.

Wendy doesn't say much -- verbally anyway -- other than firing off a matter-of-fact message to anyone who feels like they can criticize her or tell her what to do ... you can't.

We broke the story ... Williams is having some carefree fun with Tomblin ... despite knowing he has a criminal past -- he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in Charlotte back in 2013.

Marc did some hard time, but Wendy's been having a good time with him ever since the 2 met in L.A. last weekend ... thanks to barbecue chips and orange soda.

They were spotted out in NYC earlier Tuesday before their dinner date doing some hardcore shopping, and Wendy told us she doesn't give a damn about the optics, saying ... "I am a 54-year-old grown ass woman. I know what I'm doing."

So there ya go. How you doin'?

Wendy Williams is having some carefree fun with that guy she met in L.A. -- and while she's aware of his criminal history, she adds ... it makes no difference because, "I'm not stupid!"

Wendy and the guy, Marc Tomblin, were all over NYC Tuesday doing some hardcore shopping, and yes ... even stopping by an ATM to make a withdrawal. The pics are kinda ironic, considering Tomblin has a record for armed robbery.

According to court records, Tomblin pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in Charlotte back in 2013. Police say he was part of a group of 3 people who robbed a man at gunpoint. He was sentenced to 15-30 months -- none of which is a surprise to Wendy.

The talk show host tells TMZ ... Marc had already told her about his conviction, and her assistant also gave her a heads up. Wendy says her reaction is, "I am a 54-year-old grown ass woman. I know what I'm doing."

Wendy describes it as just good fun between friends, something she deserves.

After all, as she put it ... "Look, my husband had a full baby with a woman he was involved with for 15 years ... where I was cooped up only to be a show pony. Now, I'm living my life."

As for the pics of them at an ATM -- Wendy says she thought, "Oh my God, if cameras are there it will be, 'there she is giving him money.'"

TMZ broke the story, Wendy met Tomblin while she was partying with her pal, Blac Chyna. Wendy says she was jonesin' for barbecue potato chips and orange soda one night, and he knew where to score both.

She joked on social media she was old enough to be his mother -- but Tomblin was still by her side late Sunday night when she got emotional, talking about her family drama.

Kylie Jenner's drama with Jordyn Woods is far enough behind them for them to say hello to each other in public -- but Tristan Thompson is STILL on their no-fly zone.

Kylie, Jordyn and Tristan were all partying Friday night at Bootsy Bellows, and people inside the nightclub tell us Kylie and Jordyn spoke with each other briefly inside the VIP area.

We're told Kylie was inside for about half an hour, and Jordyn was there for about 20 minutes ... and in that small window, KJ went down from her top-level section to say hi to JW, who was in a lower section.

The former BFFs flashed smiles as they said hello, and we're told their interaction wasn't awkward at all. As one source put it, the "good vibes" were flowing. Kylie and Jordyn weren't alone, there were some mutual friends around to help break the ice.

As you know ... Kylie and Jordyn's super close friendship ended back in February after Jordyn hooked up with Tristan at a house party. In the fallout, Khloe broke up with her baby daddy once again, and Jordyn was kicked out of Kylie's guest house.

So, all eyes were on Kylie and Jordyn as they made their way to Bootsy Bellows for the birthday bash of their longtime pal, Stassie Karanikolaou ... and things got even more interesting when Tristan popped up.

Tristan -- who was rolling with Drake, NBA baller Jordan Clarkson and Shaq's son, Shareef O'Neal -- walked up to Kylie and Kendall's section ... but we're told Kylie didn't talk to him, only Kendall did. Our sources say TT and Jordyn didn't communicate either.

By all accounts, Kylie's peace summit with Jordyn went well and it seems like they're getting more comfortable being around each other. They say time heals all wounds ... it's been about 6 months for the ex-friends.

9:25 AM PT -- Jon's in front of the committee and making a passionate plea while also scolding members of Congress for NOT making the bill a unanimous consent. Watch:

Jon Stewart has his game face on for an important day on Capitol Hill ... as he lobbies for 9/11 victims.

We got the comedian as he walked the halls of the Capitol Tuesday morning heading into a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Jon was flanked by a slew of 9/11 first responders as they got ready to testify. The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund is set to expire, and Jon and co. are pushing for the funding to be extended.

Jon's made this his life mission since retiring in 2015 as the 'Daily Show' host.

But, check out the clip ... Jon, with a little help from first responders, leaves zero doubt this is his calling. Jon does seem a little ticked by the fact he has to repeatedly bring 9/11 first responders to these hearing -- as if to say, the committee doesn't really need to hear from them to do the right thing.

After Jon and others testify Tuesday, the committee will vote Wednesday.

Felicity Huffman's fresh off playing a villain on Netflix -- and in federal court -- but in real life, she and William H. Macy are celebrating getting their kid into a cap and gown.

The couple attended daughter Sophia Grace's high school graduation ceremony Monday, as the L.A. High School of the Arts Class of 2019 was honored. The proud parents showed up dressed for the occasion ... for which they've been preparing for a couple weeks.

We've seen Sophia's mom and dad buying graduation balloons and flower arrangements, and now the big day was finally here. It couldn't have come at a better time for Felicity ... who's been going through it professionally and personally.

She officially entered her guilty plea last month in the college admissions scandal, and is now looking at the possibility of up to 4 months in prison when she's sentenced in September.

And, then there's all the buzz around Felicity's role as Linda Fairstein in the Netflix limited series, "When They See Us."

The series paints the former Manhattan prosecutor as the mastermind behind the false convictions of the Central Park 5 -- and Fairstein's been publicly lambasted since the series debuted.

Felicity plays her pretty brilliantly, but PR-wise -- on the heels of her federal case -- a Disney fairy godmother role might have been better. Timing.

Ex-"NCIS" star Pauley Perrette stunned fans of the show when she alluded to a "physical assault" at the hands of her costar, Mark Harmon -- and now we have some clarity about her allegations.

Pauley went on a Twitter rant last Friday vowing to never return to "NCIS," saying she was terrified of Mark attacking her ... and accused him of an actual assault.

In a since-deleted tweet, Pauley wrote ... "You think I didn't expect blow back? You got me wrong. THIS happened To my crew member and I fought like hell to keep it from happening again! To protect my crew!"

Then came her allegation ... "And then I was physically assaulted for saying NO!? and I lost my job."

Quick backstory ... that was all a reference to Mark's dog biting a crew member on set back in 2016, which left the guy with 16 stitches.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Pauley is now claiming that Mark body checked her on set in 2017 in what she perceived as payback. We're told Pauley felt it was an attempt to intimidate her after the dog fiasco.

Our sources tell us Pauley strongly objected to the dog being on the set after the bite and lobbied CBS brass to make it happen. We're told CBS eventually caved, telling Mark the dog would have to stay in his trailer unless it was leashed.

After CBS's new rule, we're told Pauley felt Mark only trotted the dog out when she was around -- which made things tense -- and their relationship was never the same. They hardly filmed any scenes together after that.

As to Pauley's claim she "lost" her job, our sources tell us it's unclear what she means exactly. We've been assured Pauley quit "NCIS" on her own accord in 2018.

Andy Cohen is blasting the upcoming Straight Pride Parade ... calling it the brainchild of absolute morons!!!

We got the TV host Monday in New York City and our photog asked his thoughts on the small group of straight men in Boston planning to march for straight pride ... and Andy didn't hold back, ripping the idea as the "dumbest f***ing thing" he's ever heard!!!"

The parade, an apparent retort to June being LGBTQ Pride Month, is being touted by organizers as a celebration of "the diverse history, culture, and contributions of the straight community."