TV

'SNL' star Kenan Thompson and his wife Christina Evangeline have made the difficult decision to end their marriage after nearly 15 years together ... 11 of which they were married.

Sources close to the couple tell us they've actually been separated for over a year now, successfully co-parenting their two daughters Georgia and Gianna. We're told lately, Kenan has been in L.A. working on his new show, called "Kenan" and Christina has been in NYC.

At this time, neither Kenan nor Christina have filed for divorce ... but that's expected to happen in the near future.

Our sources say over time, the two simply grew apart, but are able to remain great friends. They got hitched back in 2011 at an Aquarium in Atlanta.

Christina, who recently turned 33, met Kenan when she was 19, she works as an interior designer.

The 'Masked Singer' could've been a massive mess ... cause TMZ has learned, one of their biggest contestants almost dropped out 48 hours before filming this season!

Our 'Masked Singer' sources tell us, no contestant has ever threatened to quit so close to the start of the season before ... so everyone was caught off guard, and without a backup plan ... they were pretty much gonna be SOL.

Basically, execs of the show would have to completely revamp the entire season ... just before it was set to began. Luckily though, they were able to do some serious damage control ... and the show went on as planned.

We've learned there are a number of things that played a part in the contestant's initial decision, ranging from feeling ill-prepared to feeling overly restrained in the costume/mask.

We know what you're thinking ... but this wasn't a case of stage fright. We're told this particular contestant is no stranger to live performances on stage, but the giant costume completely threw them off.

These kinda "wardrobe malfunctions" aren't new to the folks at 'Masked.' As we previously reported, the complexity of the costumes has raised lots of concerns ... ya know like onstage wipeouts, safety of the contestants etc.

In this case, crisis was averted ... that is, after MS producers sent flowers to the performers and gave some much needed pep talks and praise. Turns out, the contestant ended up being a really strong performer and we're told they have the potential to win it all.

It's a wrap for "The Walking Dead" ... and as the blood and guts get mopped up from their set, one of the series' head honchos is promising fans ... they'll be dying over the ending.

We got Greg Nicotero -- an EP on 'TWD' and the lead special effects supervisor on the show -- at LAX Wednesday ... and considering they just finished filming for the last time as a crew just hours earlier, there was a lot to get to as far as final thoughts from the OG here.

For starters ... we asked if Norman Reedus was all good after recently suffering a concussion on set -- and, indeed, Greg tells us he's well healed ... while shedding a little more light on what happened. Sounds like he -- and everyone else -- was burnt out from a grueling schedule.

Greg also told us about future plans -- both 'Walking Dead'-related and otherwise -- and it sounds like he's got quite the slate of work ahead of him.

Now, of course ... we also had to ask what, if anything, he might've taken home as a souvenir -- and lo and behold, he doesn't disappoint. Greg says he certainly has a few mementos from his decade-plus of shooting ... pretty much all the big props you can imagine (shout-out Negan lovers).

Christina Haack is a married woman once again -- and she's making sure things are up to date in her professional life as well, switching out her real estate license ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the couple tell us ... the HGTV star and her now-hubby, Joshua Hall, tied the knot in California sometime over the last 6 months -- although it's not clear exactly when. In any case ... they've kept it low-key, and plan to do the same in celebration.

We're told Christina and Josh will host an intimate ceremony with close friends and family in the near future to mark their nuptials -- but like we said, it's a done deal, legally.

We've also obtained Christina's real estate license which was recently tweaked to unveil her new surname ... now, she goes by Christina Hall.

The license also references some of her old legal names, including Christina Meursinge Haack and Christina Meursinge El Moussa. There's weirdly no mention of Ant Anstead -- her most recent ex-hubby.

Of course, her freshly-minted hubby, Josh, is a big-time real estate agent ... kinda perfect for house-flipping. The couple first went public last summer ... and he popped the question shortly thereafter, as seen in since-deleted photos.

Their relationship has surely moved at a whirlwind pace -- and with that in mind ... it might not be all that surprising that they've already done the deed and become man and wife.

'SNL' showed a different angle of that slap, and it's hilarious!!!

Chris Redd played Will Smith flawlessly, as he jawboned with a fan just before hearing the "G.I. Jane" joke. It's manic, even somewhat believable, but undeniably funny.

We won't give you the blow-by-blow ... watch the video -- it's worth the time.

'SNL' doing the slap was as predictable as the sunrise, and the show delivered several times during the program.

Thing is ... the skit plays off real-life -- Will laughing at Chris Rock's joke, then becoming enraged and later tearfully taking the stage. Manic seems like the proper label.

And, speaking of tearful ... the one thing that got the waterworks going was when "Will" makes a comment about "Red Table Talk."

Smith subsequently addressed the altercation in his Best Actor acceptance speech, in which he apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees but not to Rock. Smith followed up with a written apology to Rock on Instagram on Monday. Smith has since resigned from the Academy as he was facing a suspension or expulsion.

Gunna served as the musical guest, performing his hit song "pushin P," while Jerrod Carmichael hosted the episode and had a hilarious monologue where he shared his own jokes on the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars slap.

On "Weekend Update" Michael Che and Colin Jost got in on the action, saying, "Intelligence officials are saying that Vladimir Putin is being misinformed by his advisors about how badly the Russian military is performing in Ukraine, which is kind of like Will Smith's agent telling him, 'You crushed it at the Oscars!'"

Jost wasn't done, saying Will's actions were "disgraceful" ... because it sets "a terrible precedent for having to defend your wife at awards shows."

Che noted that during his acceptance speech after landing the award for Best Actor, the "King Richard" star said, "Love will make you do crazy things."

And, then there's this ... Smith could join others who have been booted by the Academy -- Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein -- Or as Colin puts it, "Bad Boys For Life."

Estelle Harris, who brilliantly played George Costanza's mom, has died.

Estelle passed away Saturday at her home in Palm Desert, CA, just outside of Palm Springs.  Her son Glen says she died from natural causes, adding, "It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25."

Glen went on to say, "Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy, and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her."

Estelle played a loud, opinionated and confrontational mom who was quick to take on her hubby and George at the drop of a hat. Short story ... she was hysterical!

And, speaking of story ... Estelle played Mrs. Potato Head in the 3 most recent 'Toy Story' flicks. There's a lot more to her CV ... "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "Tarzan II," "The Pinocchio Shop," and tons of other voiceover work.

Estelle was a New Yorker by birth and got her big break on "Night Court."

She was married to Sy Harris from 1953 to 2021, when he died. She's survived by 3 kids -- Eric, Glen and Taryn, as well as 3 grandsons and a great-grandson.

Estelle was 93.

RIP

Actress Rosanna Arquette wrecked her car by crashing into the back of a UPS truck ... an accident that left her in real distress, according to law enforcement and witnesses.

We're told the 62-year-old was behind the wheel of her Tesla Tuesday at the Palisades Village shopping center in L.A. Witnesses say her car was parked about 10 feet behind the truck when it suddenly plowed into the back of the vehicle, causing her airbags to deploy.

Eyewitnesses say she got out of the car completely distraught, grabbing her hair while talking to passersby. We're told cops arrived on scene, but police declined to take a report and just helped the parties exchange info.

Rosanna was eventually driven away by estranged husband Todd Morgan, who arrived shortly after the crash. Witnesses say her Tesla was towed away and the UPS employee was able to continue their route with the truck.

As we reported, Morgan filed for divorce from Rosanna last month after 9 years of marriage. Todd, an investment banker, cited "irreconcilable differences.". Looks like he's still got her back though ... especially in times of stress.

Bill Maher had a hot take on Chris Rock's hair joke that supposedly triggered Will Smith's slap ... if that's the worst thing she's struggling with, she's a lucky woman.

The "Real Time" host said Friday night, "If you are so lucky in life as to have that be your medical problem, just say, 'thank God.'" He went on to drop some numbers -- 80% of men and 50% of women lose hair as part of the aging process.

He said when he first heard Jada Pinkett Smith had alopecia, he paused and thought maybe Chris Rock really did cross the line ... but then he went to rusty trusty Google and discovered what alopecia was all about, and his opinion radically changed. His conclusion ... no big deal.

Maher then looked at it from another angle, suggesting Chris' joke was actually a compliment, referencing "G.I. Jane" star Demi Moore, whom Bill said never looked hotter with her shaved head.

But, then he went in for the kill ... "And you know, just put on a f***ing wig like everybody else at the Oscars if it bothers you so much."

As we reported, both our Chris Rock and Will Smith sources acknowledge this was simmering beef that goes back to 2016, when Jada went in hard to boycott the Oscars because of a lack of inclusiveness and she and Will wanted Chris to join.

We're told Chris' response was that he was a Black man hosting the Oscars so that said more than a boycott. He took a couple of cracks at both Will and Jada during the show, and they were never the same. Multiple sources say the hair joke was just the straw that broke the camel's back.

Chris Rock had another sold-out performance Friday night in Boston, and he left without a trace of emotion, and probably for good reason.

Chris looked stoic as he booked it out of the Wilbur Theater. No way to read his reaction to Will Smith resigning from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. As we've been reporting, Chris has largely avoided the post-slap drama, and based on what we know from our Chris sources it's highly likely he didn't even know Will resigned.

Chris is sticking to his routine ... not letting the slap hijack his comedy act. Fans undeniably wanted to hear from him, but Chris says he'll probably address it later and warned it will be serious and funny.

TMZ broke the story ... multiple sources connected to Chris told us Oscar producer, Will Packer, was lying when he said Chris told him he did not want Will Smith booted from the Oscars. Packer made it seem that's what convinced the Academy to allow Will to stay. Our sources say the ONLY thing Chris said was he did not want Will arrested and he just wanted to leave.

The producer of the Oscars is now saying it was Chris Rock who did not want Will Smith removed from the Dolby Theater after the slap, but according to a well-placed source with direct knowledge ... that's just not true.

Will Packer appeared on "Good Morning America" Friday and gave his blow-by-blow of the evening. He said after the slap he talked to Chris and said the LAPD was present and wanted to know if Chris wanted Will arrested, but Chris made it clear he did not. No one is disputing that happened.

Here's what IS in dispute ... Packer said it was Chris who said he did not want Will removed from the Dolby theater. Sources connected to Chris tell TMZ ... that was NEVER said. As one source put it, "Chris told Packer 'I'm not pressing charges. All I want to do is leave.' He was never asked if he wanted Will removed. This is the Academy covering itself." An Academy source tells TMZ, "Will Packer is not speaking on behalf of the Academy."

Packer's statement more than intimates it was Chris' decision to keep Will in the theater, and our sources simply call that a lie.

"The Walking Dead" has officially wrapped production on its final season, and the show's star, Norman Reedus, gave an emotional speech to the cast and crew, even getting some laughs.

Norman -- who plays Daryl Dixon -- took the mic after shooting the series' final scene Wednesday night, and spoke about how the "Walking Dead juice" is worth the "squeeze."

Sources tell TMZ ... while laughter erupted, everyone got somber, too ... hit with the realization it's a wrap for the "Walking Dead" fam. As Norman expressed his gratitude, everyone was hugging, with zombies in full makeup gripping the closest soldier tight ... of course, it's a grip of love, not hunger.

Behind Norman was fellow actress Melissa McBride tightly squeezing Executive Producer Greg Nicotero ... who also spoke, saying he's a better person because of everyone he's met throughout their 11 seasons.

Sources say the final night felt like an endless party ... everyone taking pics with tears in their eyes.

Julia Fox has had no conversations with producers for "The Real Housewives of New York City," despite rumors swirling she might join the franchise ... TMZ has learned.

Production sources tell TMZ ... no conversations at all have occurred between Kanye West's former girlfriend of 2 months and 'RHONY' execs, whatsoever. But our sources did not shut down the possibility completely.

We're told producers are deep into casting but no decisions have been made yet. Still, we're told there has been no contact between Julia and producers.

In case you missed it, Bravo honcho Andy Cohen announced last week that the network is completely rebooting and recasting 'RHONY' after 13 seasons. Cohen also revealed the network will cast an additional series -- tentatively called "RHONY: Throwback" -- featuring some of the former New York housewives.

The "Uncut Gems" actress, who split from Ye in February, was raised in New York City and is good friends with 'RHONY' star Leah McSweeney, who also served as Julia's sponsor in AA years ago.

"Anchorman" star David Koechner has been charged with DUI and hit-and-run ... following his arrest on New Year's Eve that had him ringing in the new year behind bars.

The Ventura County DA's office tells us ... they've charged the actor with one count of DUI and one count of hit-and-run -- both charges are misdemeanors.

We're told Koechner's case is due in court in a few weeks, and each count carries a possible penalty of up to 6 months behind bars. The reality ... first-time offenders almost never do time, so he'll almost certainly get probation and a mandatory alcohol ed course.

As we reported  ... police were tipped off after they got a call that an erratic driver allegedly hit a street sign with his car. Cops found him and say he failed the field sobriety test. He was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail.

"Jeopardy!" Champion Amy Schneider took a trip to The White House to meet with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, discussing the importance of trans awareness on the Transgender Day of Visibility.

Amy spoke to reporters in the White House Briefing Room Thursday, saying she was invited to meet with Emhoff about advancing transgender visibility and equality in the country ... and on the national holiday that was proclaimed by President Biden the previous year.

The trivia champ was eager to continue her mission spreading awareness of the transgender community, and her time spent with the Second Gentleman was a big step forward.

On the same day as Amy's meeting, Biden announced new measures that, hopefully, make more people feel accepted in the country ... including gender-neutral TSA scanners and the "X" gender option on passport applications.

As you'll recall, Amy was the first transgender "Jeopardy!" contestant to qualify for the show's Tournament of Champions, and is the most successful woman ever in the show's history ... winning 40 games in a row and pocketing $1.38 million dollars!

'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.