TV

Grace Franklin -- 16-year-old granddaughter of Aretha Franklin -- is opening up after not making it past the auditions on "American Idol" ... a TV moment that's shocked the country.

Grace -- joined by her dad and Aretha's son, Kecalf -- tells TMZ ... in the moment of being rejected from going to Hollywood, she was pretty disappointed ... but it was the words of judge Lionel Richie that made her realize there's a silver lining to all of this.

Judge Lionel mentioned he didn't want her to stumble too early in her career -- something she's noticed happens to some younger singers. She took his words to heart, coming from a place of love and concern.

Grace says, "I'm a good artist, I know that, but I do know I need to work on some things."

Kecalf couldn't be prouder of his daughter, telling us she's bold for stepping out of her comfort zone and chasing her dreams.

However, Grace says auditioning for 'Idol' in the future isn't likely ... telling us she'd rather try to release some music while working on her voice.

Michael Rapaport is commending President Zelenskyy for his bravery ... giving his seal of approval to a fellow Jewish man and comedian.

We got Michael in NYC on Thursday, and he had nothing but praise for the Ukrainian President -- who Rapaport believes has been a great leader through such uncertain times.

Michael tells us "[Zelensky]'s been vocal, he's been emotional ... it's been inspiring to me as a Jewish man."

As for how he'd handle a situation similar to Zelensky, Rapaport jokes he'd simply call the guy for help.

Of course, Zelensky was a very famous comedian and actor in Ukraine before becoming President, a role Rapaport believes he should keep -- because he's excelling -- and leave the entertainment biz behind.

Joy Behar co-hosts a show that gets rough and tumble, and Thursday the tumble part took center stage, as she performed a spectacular face plant as the show began.

Joy's view from "The View" was hardwood after she tried to take a seat but seriously misjudged where she was plopping down.

Whoopi and a P.A. helped the 79-year-old co-host back up on her feet, and Joy laughed it off. Nevertheless, it was a nasty fall and she could have hurt herself some and tried to power through the show.

Joy actually didn't miss a beat, getting back on her feet and then threatening legal action ... joking of course ... we think 👀.

In case you're wondering, when someone slips and falls on someone else's property, the property owner is not automatically on the hook ... only if there's some sort of negligence, and it seems this one's all on Joy.

Later in the show, Joy used her fall to take a more serious turn ... urging folks not to take these sorta incidents lightly ... mentioning Bob Saget, who died after falling in his hotel room. She said, “If you hit your head, and you feel dizzy or you have blurred vision, or you feel like you want to go to sleep, go to the doctor. Because that will kill you."

A high-profile film set used in the hugely successful "Downton Abbey" and "Peaky Blinders" series is currently engulfed in flames ... after a massive fire broke out in Yorkshire.

Reports say the fire broke out midday Thursday at the historic Dalton Mills building in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Video from the scene shows the scope of the inferno, and there are allegedly more than 100 firefighters on hand to battle the blaze.

As for the actual building, it was once the largest textile mill in Yorkshire, but fans of the show have come to recognize it as the backdrop for the feature film "Downton Abbey" and the Netflix show "Peaky Blinders".

The first episode of "Peaky Blinders" aired in 2013, and the series is currently on its 6th season.

The set was also used for the historical drama film, "Downton Abbey", which was released back in September 2019.

WWE is taking a stand against Russia -- Vince McMahon's organization just announced it is cutting all ties to the country amid the invasion of Ukraine.

WWE made the move official on Thursday ... saying its programs will no longer be shown on Russian broadcast partner Match as a response to Vladimir Putin's decision to attack Ukraine.

"WWE has terminated its partnership with Russian broadcaster Match and shut down WWE Network in Russia effective immediately," the company said in a statement.

The decision to end the business relationship with Match is a major loss for the Russian company ... as it will no longer have access to any of the promotion's weekly programming -- including Raw, Smackdown, NXT shows, and WWE's on-demand library.

The move also means WrestleMania 38 -- the Super Bowl of wrestling -- will not air in Russia ... which is set to take place in Dallas this year on April 2 and 3.

WWE has a huge following in Russia ... but it's clear Vince wanted to send a message.

The "Wheel of Fortune" contestant who missed what many consider the most obvious answer ever says the bright lights played a role in his historically unforgettable moment on the show.

Christopher Coleman -- one of the 3 'Wheel' contestants who failed to solve ..."ANOTHER FEATHER _N YO_R _A_" -- tells TMZ ... the pressure and scrutiny were just too much in his big moment.

It wasn't just the stress of trying to solve the puzzle in crunch time, though ... Christopher says it had been more than 30 years since he last heard the idiom, "another feather in your cap."

By now you have probably seen the clip of Christopher spinning the wheel and guessing "G" before getting another crack and guessing "D" -- neither of which were in the phrase.

As Christopher explains, he guessed "G" because he thought the last word was "bag," but meant to say "C" when he guessed "D" ... a mistake he chalked up to being up against the clock.

Naturally, folks on social media are having a field day at Christopher's expense ... but he's calling for some empathy and has a message for all the trolls out there.

Pat Sajak has come to the contestants' defense ... and Christopher echoed many of Pat's comments, saying folks at home don't know what it's like to be in the middle of a nerve-wracking game, and it's easy to poke fun from your couch.

Christopher is owning up to his mistakes though ... he says he should have just solved the puzzle when he finally figured out the answer, instead of taking a risk on another spin and going bankrupt.

Despite the viral fail, Christopher says going on 'Wheel' fulfilled a lifelong dream and he appeared on the show in memory of his grandmother, Lucy, who recently passed away.

Darren Criss' older brother, Charles Criss, has died by suicide -- and his sibling is sending out a powerful message about mental health in the wake of such a tragedy.

The actor revealed the sad news Wednesday in a social media post, throwing up a bunch of photos of his bro, as well as a lengthy statement about what had happened ... and what the takeaway is for him as a result.

Charles -- who Darren refers to as Chuck -- took his own life sometime last month ... although the exact circumstances are unclear.

What is clear, however, is how much thought Darren put into breaking this to the public -- because his note here is incredibly powerful and well worth a read in full.

To sum it up, he says that Chuck -- with whom Darren actually started a band -- had apparently suffered from depression ... something DC says he and his family were somewhat aware of, but not to the extent they thought it would ever lead to this.

He says his brother lost sight to the darkness -- despite the fact he was so very loved -- and also takes a moment to acknowledge ... this is something that cannot be discussed in just a sentence or two, going on to acknowledge the complexities of mental health that any one individual may be going through ... even if everything looks okay from the outside.

Darren writes, "There is simply no sense, nay, compassion or decency, to try to find blame in any direction other than the inner most tragedy of an untreated illness," going on to add ... "Which is why it is paramount for me to remind anyone reading this that may be feeling consumed by any similar kind of darkness -- that there is absolutely no shame in feeling shame, and furthermore, nothing wrong whatsoever with seeking help."

He also makes sure to hit this point home ... that Chuck's life is not defined by his suicide, and that it was so much more than just that -- acknowledging the great things he contributed to this world, including three young children that he leaves behind.

Darren's brother was just 36. RIP

Jon Stewart is blown away by what he's seeing in Ukraine ... first by Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarkable leadership, and second by seeing war play out in real-time on social media.

We got the former 'Daily Show' host Wednesday on Capitol Hill and asked him about the Russian invasion and what he's seeing from his fellow comic, who is now leading Ukraine.

Jon says comedians are usually not the most courageous bunch  ... which is what makes Zelensky's strong leadership in the face of the massive Russian army so impressive.

The Russians have the military advantage, at least on paper, and are bombing the crap out of Ukraine ... and Jon says it's remarkable to see Zelensky and his people holding it together in the face of danger.

Jon also says it's unfathomable to see the real cost of war unfold on TikTok, pointing out it's a lot more intense than the old WWII footage, and offers this sobering point ... we're not that far away from the grand mistakes of the past.

Kirk Baily -- best known for his role as Kevin "Ug" Lee in the Nickelodeon sitcom "Salute Your Shorts" -- has died.

Kirk's family tells TMZ the actor died over the weekend. We're told he died from lung cancer ... and had only been diagnosed 6 months ago.

Early in his career, Kirk studied comedy at Groundlings and Second City. He got his start as a sound coordinator on the cult classic film "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" before getting acting roles, including "3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain" and "The Sixth Man."

He also landed a number of guest roles on shows such as "Felicity," "Sisters," and "NYPD Blue." Recently, Kirk has worked primarily as a voice artist on a number of anime shows and video games, including "Cowboy Bebop," "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" and ".hack//."

Most notably, he played Kevin "Ug' Lee in Nickelodeon's "Salute Your Shorts" in 1991 and 1992.

In 2019, the cast had a reunion in Hollywood at the Good Burger pop-up shop. He remained close friends with most of the cast members and production staff.

He worked up until the last few months of his life, loving his career until the end.

Kirk was 59.

While Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is desperately hoping the European Union will accept his country, British TV's already welcoming him with open arms by buying his sitcom ... about becoming prez.

Zelensky's comedy, "Servant of the People," is going to be airing on the UK's Channel 4, which purchased the series ... clearly seizing on the Ukrainian leader's worldwide popularity as he stands up to Vladimir Putin's Russian forces.

Channel 4's not wasting any time either -- 'Servant' will reportedly start airing this Sunday night.

The show, which ran for 3 seasons in Ukraine, is about an everyday guy who's elected president and grows into his role as a beloved and heroic leader. Think "Veep" ... minus the heroism.

One scene from the show's already gone viral because it's kinda spot on with real-world events. It shows Zelensky getting a call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who informs him he's been accepted into the EU. The prez starts celebrating -- even drops an f-bomb -- but then Merkel says she dialed the wrong number.

Brian Cox says Russian actors and entertainers should absolutely stand up to strongman Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war ... even if they risk their careers by speaking out.

We got the "Succession" star Tuesday at LAX and asked if it is really worth it for celebrities in Mother Russia to support Ukraine over Putin.

Brian says there are definite pitfalls ... he says folks in Russia could be convicted of treason if they go against Putin ... but with so much at stake, he says it's a necessary gamble.

Remember ... Brian first brought up the pickle many Russians find themselves in during the SAG Awards, when he said it's a shame Russian celebs are being muzzled by Putin.

It's hard to fault anyone for being apprehensive about crossing Putin ... but Brian says he would absolutely speak out, hypothetically, though he admits it would be easier given his age and already long career.

"Euphoria" star Sydney Sweeney looks like she's taken ... wearing a huge rock on her ring finger, in what can only be assumed to be an engagement ring.

It's hard to miss the flashy diamond ring Sydney's rocking on THAT finger ... check out the pics of Sydney chatting up a friend Monday in Los Angeles, the new bling really stands out.

Sydney's not only debuting a new ring ... but also some red hair. So, two really big life changes here.

It's the first time Sydney's been seen with the diamond ring, she's continuously remained mum on her relationship with her likely new fiancé -- Jonathan Davino. Davino's family owns 14th Round and Finalbell ... a device technology and packaging company.

The couple reportedly started dating back in 2018 -- though Sydney's never confirmed their relationship -- but they've been linked and were even photographed together last summer smooching on a yacht.

Sydney, who stars as Cassie on HBO's "Euphoria" and Olivia on "The White Lotus"
is 24 years old ... Jonathan is reportedly 37.

This would be her first marriage.

'Zoey 101' star Sean Flynn is preparing to walk down the aisle ... and his wedding guest list includes a bunch of his old Nickelodeon castmates.

Sean tells TMZ ... he is tying the knot with his fiancée, Lyndsey, on Friday in Georgia and former 'Zoey 101' stars Chris Massey, Matt Underwood and Jack Salvatore are expected to be among the 158 guests.

The wedding is going down at a refurbished warehouse on Atlanta's west side, and Sean says he wishes he could have invited more of his Nickelodeon pals ... but his bride's family is pretty big.

Sean and Lyndsey actually met on Tinder way back in 2014, when they were both living in Los Angeles, but they've since moved to Georgia and she's got a lot of family coming to the wedding from New Orleans. Sean, meanwhile, says he's got a bunch of loved ones making the trek all the way from Israel.

He told us they're having a second line band at the ceremony -- keeping the NOLA vibes going for Lyndsey -- and guests will dine on serious southern comfort food ... including fried chicken, biscuits, mac and cheese and steak and pasta.

For Sean's side of the family ... well, they've got a rabbi officiating.

BTW, the couple's first dance will be to "You're Still the One" by Shania Twain.

Katheryn Winnick says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is just the leader her family's country needs ... and she's confident they will beat Vladimir Putin and Russia.

The "Bones" and "Big Sky" actress has relatives in Ukraine, some of who returned to take up arms against the Russians, and while she says she's heartbroken about the conflict raging on back home ... she thinks the Ukrainians are in good hands.

Katheryn knows what she's talking about ... while many across the globe are just now learning Zelensky's name and what he's all about ... she says she got to know him when he and his wife hosted her for a week in Kyiv, not long before the war broke out.

Zelensky is an entertainer turned statesman ... so there's another connection with Katheryn ... and she says he deserves all the praise he's getting, including those comparisons to Winston Churchill.

It's interesting ... Katheryn was flying out of LAX Monday when she talked about the situation in Ukraine, saying her Uber driver to the airport was actually a Russian who also disagreed with the invasion.

Ned Eisenberg, famous for his work on "Law & Order: SVU" and most recently, "Mare of Easttown," has died after a battle with cancer.

Ned died over the weekend, his wife, Patricia, tells TMZ, "As Ned would say, he was attacked by two very rare assassins — cholangiocarcinoma and ocular melanoma. Over the course of two years, he bravely fought the cancers in private while continuing to work in show business to ensure that his medical coverage paid for himself and his family.”

Ned is known for playing Detective Hauser in the HBO drama "Mare of Easttown" alongside Kate Winslet. His work as defense attorney Roger Kressler in "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" made him one of the series' most regular supporting characters.

While Ned's got a ton of TV credits to his name, he's also acted in a bunch of big movies ... including "Last Man Standing" with Bruce Willis, "Limitless," "Million Dollar Baby," "The Burning," "Flags of Our Fathers" and "A Civil Action" ... just to name a few.

Ned was born and raised in New York City, and started studying acting in high school ... getting his first film credit in 1980 and also touring on the Broadway play "Brighton Beach Memoirs." He also co-founded the Naked Angels Theatre Company in 1987.

Ned is survived by Patricia and his son, Lino. He was 65.

"Million Dollar Wheels" star RD Whittington makes tough decisions when celebs are vying for the same car ... and, apologies to Spider-Man, but Kim Kardashian might get first dibs.

RD's the guy who hooks up celebs -- like Kim, Jamie Foxx, Travis Barker, Ye and Tom Holland -- when they want a rare or luxury ride, and he was hit with a doozy of a hypothetical when he joined us Monday on "TMZ Live."

So, suppose Kim K and Holland -- who, BTW, are both featured on his new Discovery+ show -- want the same car, and there's only one available. Well, hypothetically, RD didn't even break a sweat, and quickly explained why -- in that case, specifically -- he'd give Kim the nod.

Of course, if Tom were buying the car as a gift for his GF, Zendaya, well ... that would throw a wrench in RD's plans, but he still had a solution.

"Million Dollar Wheels" shows RD wheeling and dealing with, and for, famous clients -- a job that's gotten way more challenging because now there's a lot more demand than supply.

As we've shown you, tons of celebs are tricking out cars these days -- Kanye West got a $400k custom minivan from RD -- but after 20 years as a luxury car broker, RD says Jamie is the celeb with the best feel for custom whips.