TV

'Masked Singer' costumes don't come cheap, and one contestant's lucky theirs isn't damaged beyond repair after a high kick fail led to a very nasty fall ... all caught on camera.

We got this footage of the Armadillo going down while shooting their televised routine -- the celeb got pretty wild with their choreography and flexibility, attempting some kinda kicking maneuver ... but it did not go well.

While the spill might make ya chuckle, we're told folks on set immediately panicked for a couple reasons. First off, Armadillo landed flat on their back, and backup dancers broke routine to try to help out ... as everyone was concerned about the celeb's well-being.

The other reason is damage to the very expensive costume. We're told they weren't designed to take this kinda beating, and producers worried it could be ruined.

As we've reported, this season has had its share of costume problems ... with some taking tumbles and others being unable to enter and exit the stage properly.

We recently found out that the Hydra -- a towering 3-headed costume that blows smoke -- has become a major safety concern, requiring extra crew just to get them on set.

It might not look like much, but the Armadillo's high kicks aren't an easy task -- with or without a restricting costume. The mystery performer's confidence in their athleticism/flexibility might be a valuable clue.

Issa Rae is shutting down any chatter about her being preggers, and as you'd expect ... she's doing it in the most hilarious way.

The "Insecure" creator and star addressed a new rumor circulating for the past week -- namely that Issa is expecting her first child. Now, this is based purely on a video of her where folks apparently thought they saw evidence she had a bun in the oven.

Welp, IR is finally weighing in, saying ... "I am not pregnant, f**kyouverymuch." For extra emphasis, she added ... "LET A BITCH EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY."

The clip in question was shot last Friday at the Kennedy Center in D.C., where she was hosting a festival touting Black creatives.

She was definitely in a celebratory mood -- dancing and embracing a friend -- and perhaps that spurred people to connect dots that weren't really there. Some commented her stomach seemed to be poppin' ... but those folks were dead wrong, and Issa's now put 'em in their place.

She did just marry her longtime BF, Louis Diame, last year ... so maybe people thought there was something to that as well.

"90210" star Trevor Donovan is using some Hollywood acting skills to show students across the country how to stop being a bystander to bullying and harassment.

Trevor joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" to explain how his 'Team Upstanders' program is empowering students to help each other ... especially those who aren't able to defend themselves against bullies.

His assemblies feature skits where he acts out bullying scenarios with the kids ... which allows them to experience these emotionally charged incidents from different perspectives.

Trevor says letting the kids feel the impact is an effective learning experience, albeit a painful one at times.

By the end of the program, Trevor picks students to be ambassadors ... and it becomes their job to promote an anti-bullying environment.

After a recent assembly at Deer Lakes Middle School in Russellton, PA, Trevor says he was approached by a parent online, saying her kid was a target of bullying. He quickly jumped on a Zoom with the school's counselor and 2 upstanders he appointed -- and they all worked out a solution.

"The Sopranos" actor Paul Herman has died ... and on his 76th birthday, no less.

Paul's former "Sopranos" castmate, Michael Imperioli, confirmed his death in an Instagram post calling Paul a great dude and "one hell of an actor".

He continued ... “Paulie lived around the corner from me the last few years and I am glad we got to spend some time together before he left us. I’ll miss him. Lots of love to his family, friends and community of actors and filmmakers.”

No cause of death has been disclosed yet.

Paul was well-known for his role as Peter "Beansie" Gaeta, who was a drug dealer turned Pizza shop owner on the HBO hit drama.

Herman will also be remembered for his notable roles in many other films, including "The Irishman" and "Goodfellas" ... clearly he was in with Martin Scorsese.

He also starred in "Silver Linings Playbook" and "American Hustle" ... both directed by David O. Russell.

Aside from all his big acting gigs, Paul and his brother Charlie ran a popular cafe in Manhattan that was frequented by actors, gangsters, dancers and even FBI agents in the '90s.

Paul was 76.

When it comes to being successful, Malia Obama can do pretty much anything ... at least, according to Writer/Actor/Rapper Donald Glover ... who hired her for his latest project.

We caught up with Glover -- AKA Childish Gambino -- at San Vicente Bungalows in L.A. ... and asked what he thinks of Malia's screenwriting skills -- something he would know firsthand.

The Emmy and Grammy Award-winning artist says Malia is a jack of all trades. And, he's one to say so ... cause he's got a lot of titles under his belt.

He sang Malia's praises ... saying he feels she can do just about anything she wants and succeed.

ICYMI, Don hired the 23-year-old Harvard University graduate as a writer for his upcoming Amazon series ... after signing an 8-figure deal with the studios back in February 2021.

So, that means he gets to work with her personally ... and clearly, he's super impressed.

Our photog also asked if the former Prez and First Lady ever pitch ideas for his upcoming projects. The answer ... "Not yet" ... but not ruling out the idea in the future.

Ricky Gervais couldn't stop himself from joining the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars drama, and seemingly backing Chris ... tweeting a clip from "The Office" that pokes fun at alopecia.

Gervais retweeted the clip Monday from his David Brent account -- his character on the OG British version of the show -- and it shows David trying to win over his employees by taking them out for drinks at lunchtime.

Ricky's full line in the scene shows him joking about Alcoholics Anonymous, saying "I know someone who is an alcoholic and it is no laughing matter - particularly for his wife. And, she's got alopecia. So ... not a happy home life."

Now, it's not like Ricky captioned it with anything about the Oscars, but it's clearly the only relevance ... coming the day after Rock dropped his "G.I. Jane 2" quip at Jada Pinkett Smith -- who as you know has alopecia -- and, thereby, triggering Will's now-infamous slap.

Jada had announced last year she shaved her head after being diagnosed with alopecia. As TMZ reported ... Rock did not know she has the condition.

It's interesting that Ricky's sounding off about the incident -- he's hosted the Golden Globes 5 times, and always roasted celebrities left and right ... yet no one ever laid a hand on him.

Kim Kardashian isn't your average soccer mom ... at least not when it comes to the wheels she uses to chauffeur her kiddos and their orange slices to games.

Check out the inside of Kim's custom luxury Maybach van, complete with multi-color roof lighting, folding tables, seat heaters and coolers and reclining captain's chairs throughout.

That stuff alone would probably warrant the astronomical $400k Kim dropped for the ultimate mom ride, but as they say ... there's more!

The van also features leather seats with diamond stitching, and that must-have kid distraction ... TV screens in all the seat partitions.

Kim recently scooped this up from her pal RD Whittington, who owns Wires Only ... an automotive and aviation company that specializes in custom whips for celebs.

Not only did Kim buy the luxury mom-mobile through his company, but she also agreed to document the buying process on RD's hit reality show, "Million Dollar Wheels" on Discovery+. Her episode premiered this week.

We should note ... Kim's not the only one in her fam to buy one of these fancy vans. Kanye bought one from RD as well, and recently took it out while grabbing ice cream solo.

Now their kids will have equal luxury with both parents. Co-parenting at its finest ... and most expensive!!!

Speaking of Ye -- he and Kim made big progress over the weekend when they came together with their kids to cheer on Saint at his soccer game.

Doug Ellin is ripping Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock over a Jada Pinkett Smith joke ... saying it's a classic case of supreme narcissism that screwed winners who were overlooked.

The "Entourage" creator even suggested Will has some sort of mental health struggle, going rogue on the biggest night of the year for the movie biz.

Doug says Will made the entire award show about himself because he couldn't take a joke, and he blasts the people in the audience for not only cheering for Will when he won Best Actor, but giving him a standing ovation.

Check out the video ... Doug doesn't mince words. He says if this were a cinematographer or makeup artist who slapped a presenter, they'd be arrested immediately or at the very least booted from the venue.

What's more, Doug -- who we caught leaving his new show "Ramble On" with Charlie Sheen -- calls B.S. on Will going after a much smaller and older man. FYI Chris is 57 and Will is 53.

Anthony Anderson's wife, Alvina, has filed for divorce, ending their 22-year marriage.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ ... Alvina filed on Friday in Los Angeles and is requesting spousal support from Anthony. She also checked the box to block the court's ability to award any support to Anthony ... and also wants him to pay for her attorney fees.

Anthony and Alvina met while attending Howard University in Washington D.C. in 1989 ... he dropped out his junior year due to financial issues, but is reportedly working towards graduating this year with his son.

After marrying in 1999, the two became separated from 2014 to 2016. As we reported, Alvina filed for divorce back in 2015 but dropped the case the following year. This occurred at the same time Anthony booked his popular role on "Black-ish."

Kim Kardashian says her recent comments about work ethic and finding success weren't meant to be a dig at women ... they were just the reality of working hard to achieve your goals when everyone else doubts you.

Kim came under fire earlier this month when she told Variety her advice for women in business, "Get your f***ing ass up and work. It seems like no one wants to work these days."

However, Kim says the whole thing was taken out of context, telling Robin Roberts on 'GMA' Monday, "My message was to anyone who wants to be successful in building a business or brand having come from that very specific space — reality show or social media fame — is to work hard. It’s not easy. You don’t just post something on social media and overnight you become a success."

A source who was there for the interview, tells us Kim made it clear, her comment was not directed AT women, it was a part of her own personal experience, saying, "After 20 years at this I am still put in the box of “famous for being famous. I heard someone say that to me when we did that interview and that’s when my demeanor and tone shifted."

Finally, she states, "My statement was never intended to be a general blanket statement or to even allude to the idea that women don’t already work hard — and I’m sorry that it was received in that way."

The Man of Steel might actually be the Man of Snooze -- at least that's what one comic nerd thinks ... but they're getting drowned out by a swarm of fanboys who beg to differ.

A Twitter user that goes by "brandon" threw out a bit of a fireball of an opinion this weekend about good old Kal-El and his ability to titillate, writing ... "lmk if this is bad take but superman is an extremely boring superhero."

Well, the internet let him know ... and with fervor to spare. Superman lovers far and wide swooped in to defend their guy in tights, vehemently rejecting the idea he's a killjoy or a bore ... and they seem to have the evidence to back it up.

First off, some pointed out that Clark Kent is actually super relatable ... and in many instances, just like us when it comes to earthly matters -- especially in the embarrassing/overbearing parents department.

Others pointed to the source material in debunking Supes's alleged boring streak -- citing the very many comics and subsequent stories that have been written/drawn detailing his wild adventures. A handful of the ones a few felt would make Superman's case ... "Secret Identity," "Superman: Up in the Sky," "All-Star Superman," "Superman: Earth One" and more.

Reading these alone, some argue, will prove the Last Son of Krypton is a complex character ... who has to deal with a lot, and most definitely NOT dull or dry as far as caped heroes go.

Of course, there are others who simply offer up the many animations that have been made about Superman ... including the fabled 'Superman: The Animated Series' from the '90s, which many consider some of the best Superman depictions to date.

Somebody even threw together a quick compilation of the multi-Emmy nominated program ... reinforcing Superman battles not just people he has to beat physically, but politically and psychologically. Case in point ... Lex Luthor is considered one the best big baddies ever, and he doesn't even have powers or anything. He gets under Superman's skin in other ways.

And, finally, there are the live action movies and TV shows themselves ... with actors like Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Welling, Dean Cain, Kirk Alyn and Henry Cavill ... who've all donned the red undies at one point or another, to much acclaim.

So yeah, boring might be a bit harsh ... as Twitter has clearly unanimously decided.

Bill Maher went in hard on "toxic masculinity" ... saying Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a prime example of ... be careful what you wish for.

Nope, Maher's not trashing The Ukrainian Prez ... quite the opposite. He says Zelensky is living proof women actually want some of that masculinity in their men. He points to various polls and social media with an undeniable conclusion ... women, and some men find him incredibly hot.

As the "Real Time" host puts it ... the lesson from this war is that "the world needs grown-ass men!"

Bill's not saying toxic masculinity is always a good thing, but he is making a case that a little -- maybe a little more than a little -- is sexy and, indeed, essential.

His overarching point ... he says there's been such a push by women to make men more like them, the men are emasculated and women no longer are sexually attracted to them. He points to studies showing people having sex is at a 30 year low.

He uses an ad the Obama Administration put out to push Obamacare, and, well, you just gotta watch ... it's kinda brutal.

Bill says Zelensky is sexy because of comments like ... I don't need a ride, I need ammo.  As he says, when there's an invasion, you want a little big d**k energy.

It's a super interesting case he makes ... that some attributes traditionally characteristic of men are now problematic ... as he says, "It's like men were born wrong."

Amy Schumer is letting the world in on what she calls her biggest secret ... the hair-pulling disorder she says has caused her internal shame for decades.

The comedian and actress says she suffers from trichotillomania, the scientific name for compulsive hair pulling -- a disorder she says she's lived with since she was a child, and one she fears may be passed on to her 2-year-old son.

Amy opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about her struggles living with the disorder, saying ... "I'm proud that my big secret only hurts me but it's been what I've carried so much shame about for so long."

There's a genetic component to trichotillomania and, as a result, Amy says she feels like she's having a heart attack every time she sees her young son touch his hair.

She recalls things getting so bad when she was younger, she needed a wig to cover bald spots ... and says everyone at school knew she was rocking a wig, which didn't even fit.

Bob Saget's fans will finally be able to see the touching, and sometimes hilarious, tribute his close friends put together for him -- and the list of celebs who memorialized him is seriously impressive.

Mike Binder, one of Bob's best friends, was the brains behind January's event at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood, and he says it's coming to Netflix in June.

Mike made the announcement on the Dystopia Tonight! with John Poveromo podcast, and says he hooked Netflix when he showed a video of the star-studded event to the platform's head of comedy.

It's pretty easy to see why they decided to buy it as a stand-alone special. Mike shared one clip featuring Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, John Stamos, Jeff Ross and John Mayer.

The guys were jamming a bluesy tribute, and you gotta see the punchline Rock dropped!

There were only a limited number of Comedy Store tickets made available to the public, so very few fans have seen this ... another reason Netflix locked it up.

Mike says Carrey's appearance, in particular, is pretty special because these days he frequents The Store ... but usually just hangs backstage.

Bob Saget's friends and family say he was his normal, happy and joking self in the days leading up to his death ... and allegations he was complaining about being sick with long-term COVID before his last show just don't add up.

We spoke with one of Bob's best friends, who was in touch with the comedian almost daily, and tells us Saget never mentioned feeling off or that he was still battling the after-effects of COVID. Not only that, we're told the friend, who saw Bob regularly, said he never exhibited symptoms of being sick either.

Not only that -- the Saget family attorney tells us Bob's wife, Kelly Rizzo, spoke to Bob the day he died -- and he never mentioned being sick or having hearing issues.

Of course, this goes against what the showrunner at the venue where Bob last performed told investigators in an interview after his death. The woman claimed Bob had mentioned he hadn't been feeling well -- battling the after-effects of COVID-19, including hearing issues and a sore throat.

There was also the valet driver at The Ritz where Bob died, who told investigators he was in good spirits, didn't appear to have suffered any head trauma, and kept his balance without issue. A photo the valet took with Bob showed him to be perfectly fine as well.

President Joe Biden has asked for the resignations of Herschel Walker and Dr. Oz from the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, and the doc is pissed.

Here's the deal ... both Walker and Oz are Republican Senate candidates -- in Georgia and Pennsylvania respectively -- and the Prez has a policy prohibiting candidates for federal office to serve on Presidential committees. So, both candidates got a letter from The White House with an ultimatum ... either resign by 6 PM Thursday or get the boot.

Oz, who was appointed to the board by Trump, went in hard, saying, "Clearly, Joe Biden can't be around anyone who doesn't completely fall in line with his fear-mongering authoritarian one-size-fits-all COVID handling. I am proud of my service and will not resign."

Dr. Oz lost his show after announcing his candidacy and it seemed he knew that was in the cards when he announced, but this pink slip got him all worked up.

What's interesting ... is going after Biden now -- when he's trying to navigate an end to the war in Ukraine -- a smart political move? Remains to be seen.