TV

Trevor Noah has just rocked cable news and news itself ... he's leaving his gig on Comedy Central.

Trevor made the announcement Thursday, telling the audience his 7-year tenure is coming to an end ... and he made the announcement on his 7-year anniversary.

A Comedy Central source tells TMZ ... his decision has to do with his schedule, which is hardcore crazy ... and it's just too much of a grind for him to do a daily show.

Comedy Central says, "We are grateful to Trevor for our amazing partnership over the past seven years. As we look ahead, we're excited for the next chapter in the 25+ year history of 'The Daily Show.'"

It's unclear when Trevor will leave the show ... our Comedy Central source says Trevor and the CC team are working together on "a timeline for his departure."

TN has hosted "The Daily Show" since 2015, taking over for longtime host Jon Stewart on the satirical news program.

During his time as host, Trevor won a Primetime Emmy Award ... and was nominated for a bunch of other awards.

In 2017, Trevor extended his contract with Comedy Central through 2022 ... and now he's leaving altogether.

It will be interesting to see who Comedy Central tabs as the next 'Daily Show' host ... but one thing is for sure, they will have some big shoes to fill.

Chris D'Elia's been accused of threatening to share intimate videos of a woman in a new restraining order, but not only does the comedian claim he's never met his accuser, he says she's also been sending him threatening audio and text messages since earlier this year.

TMZ has obtained the docs, filed by Caroline Schmitz in L.A., in which she claims she and D'Elia met back in 2017 when she was working as a comedian. Schmitz says she and Chris hooked up several times, and then heard from him again when he contacted her through OnlyFans in May.

As for the communications on OnlyFans, Schmitz says a profile -- who she believes D'Elia was behind -- threatened to post intimate videos she'd recorded and told her she needed to get out of Los Angeles.

Schmitz says she believes D'Elia was behind the OF account because she, "recognized his style of writing." She also says she believes Chris hacked her phone.

D'Elia's attorney, Andrew Brettler, tells TMZ, "These accusations are as fantastical as they are defamatory. Chris has never met this person. But over the last year, she has sent him increasingly disturbing text and audio messages, including making threats against him and his family. If anyone is going to get a restraining order here, it’s going to be Chris.”

We've obtained some of the many messages Chris says Schmitz sent to him through Instagram where you hear a woman rambling at times about being a stripper. He also says she messaged him, "Have me killed or leave me the f*** alone - I'd die to get the hell away from your evil ass."

"Futurama" fans will still be able to hear Coolio featured on their favorite show -- the late rapper recorded segments for the animated series before his death -- giving show creatives a chance to give Coolio, and his character, a proper send-off.

David X. Cohen, Executive Producer of "Futurama," tells TMZ he was shocked to hear about Coolio's passing, especially because he recorded lines for their upcoming season just weeks before.

For those unaware, Coolio's appeared in a few episodes of the show in the past, playing Kwanzaa-bot -- a counterpart to Chanukah Zombie and Santa Claus Robot. His first appearance was way back in 2001.

David says the rapper looked and sounded great as always when laying down his lines ... even taking over the recording session by producing tracks on the fly for the episode.

The "Futurama" team is going to dedicate his episode to him and feature Coolio rapping over the closing credits so they can give him "the best send-off we can."

David adds, "Coolio was one of my favorite guests. He was always totally upbeat and genuinely enjoyed coming in to record as his character Kwanzaa-bot." David says Coolio also shared he had picked up a new hobby during the pandemic ... sewing!

Boosie Badazz isn't a fan of Netflix's new series centered around serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer ... and he wants the Black community to rally to boycott the whole project

According to Boosie, Netflix’s record-breaking "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" needs to be banned from the face of the earth and all the victims’ families should be paid restitution. Many of Dahmer’s victims were both Black and homosexual, and the Louisiana rapper wants African Americans to unify and get the show booted from Netflix.

Boosie didn’t mince his feelings on the series, repeatedly calling the show "sick" throughout his spew.

The call for a boycott comes off the heels of the family members of Rita Isbel, one of Dahmer’s 17 victims, lashing out at Netflix for continuing to rehash history for no cause other than making money.

It’ll be a tall order to get the series removed … Netflix is boasting its fifth-highest premiere behind titles like "Stranger Things" and "Squid Game" with 196.2M hours watched to date since debuting September 21.

Perhaps Boosie is just being suckered by a good storyline. Michael McCann, the former Milwaukee D.A. responsible for locking Dahmer up, recently told TMZ that Netflix’s troupe about cops refusing to take the disappearance of minorities and gay people seriously played no role in the serial killer’s long reign.

"Kenan & Kel" star Kel Mitchell is remembering all the good times he had with Coolio ... telling us the late rapper was super fun to hang out with because he was always full of good vibes and good stories.

The former Nickelodeon star joined "TMZ Live" Thursday where we asked him about his experiences with Coolio, who famously teamed up with Kel and Kenan Thompson back in the day for their show's theme song.

Kel says folks still ask him about the song, and he says Coolio brought the "magic" to the catchy track.

TMZ broke the story ... Coolio died Wednesday at a friend's house in Los Angeles.

Law enforcement sources tell us first responders performed CPR for 45 minutes in a frantic effort to revive him.

Kel says Coolio was like everyone's favorite uncle ... because when he showed up at the function, it was a sure sign of a good time.

Carole Baskin has no choice but to shelter in place as Hurricane Ian passes over her Florida sanctuary ... because places like hotels aren't down to take on 45 big cats onto their property.

Carole tells TMZ ... her 21 bobcats, 8 tigers, 6 servals, jaguar and leopard -- just to name a few -- are staying put and riding out this hurricane ... some of the other animals like chickens have been moved to a different sanctuary for the time being.

She's been working with her husband and volunteers this past week to protect them from the storm -- Carole says they've built structures, chopped down branches that could pose a threat, and loaded sandbags throughout her property.

People have donated equipment and chainsaws to help with the prep, and they've been able to collect generators and gas in case the power goes out. They also have a big propane tank just in case -- that'll help with the food prep for the cats.

The famous house from "Stranger Things" has a new owner who's going to bring in new tenants ... 'cause it's been sold, and is about to become a cash cow.

Of course, we're talking about the Byers' house -- where Winona Ryder and her onscreen sons lived for the early part of the series, and which featured some iconic scenes. Katie Siplon of TriCounty Real Estate in Savannah, GA tells TMZ ... it's been snatched up by one of her clients.

We're told the guy who bought it isn't famous, dude's an investor, and as soon as he heard the Byers' home was for sale in Georgia ... he told Siplon to pounce.

And get it she did -- Siplon says they made a cash offer, above the $300k asking price. The house only spent a week on the open market.

As for what this new owner plans to do with the property -- which is relatively modest and just 1,846 square feet on 6 acres of land -- we're told he's actually doing what investors do best ... make money. Siplon tells us it's being turned into a top-of-the-line Airbnb.

The new owner, we're told plans to recreate the Byers' home from the show to a T ... with different parts of the house made to look like "The Upside Down."

They also plan to recreate other places and scenes from the series on the six acres of land.

Siplon says they're trying to get something up and running by Halloween, and they're hopeful super fans come flocking to rent this thing for a good, long while. Let's be honest, y'know they will.

Whoever said "necessity is the mother of invention" probably wasn't thinking about TV reporters putting condoms up to their mouths in the middle of a hurricane ... but, yeah, that's a thing now!

NBC's Kyla Galer is practicing safe reporting down in Florida as Hurricane Ian roars across the state -- proudly, and gently we're sure, rolling out latex protection for her microphones while out in the field.

As Kyla's pointing out to curious viewers ... "It is what you think it is. It's a condom. We can't get these mics wet ... so, we gotta do what we gotta do."

Translation: No glove, no love live shots from this reporter!

Just to wrap this up ... Kyla's getting pounded in the Naples area, just south of where Ian's eye came onshore Wednesday. She, and tons of other TV reporters, are out in the elements getting whipped by heavy wind and rain -- but a little prophylactic preparation goes a long way.

The prosecutor who put Jeffrey Dahmer behind bars is pushing back against the narrative Netflix puts forth in its new show -- namely, that cops ignored obvious clues because the case involved gay and/or Black people.

Former Milwaukee D.A. Michael McCann -- who personally prosecuted Dahmer in the '90s -- tells TMZ ... the notion that MPD officers turned a blind eye to Dahmer's victims because of their race or sexual orientation is ludicrous, despite what "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" portrays.

The true crime drama is getting a lot of buzz right now, and while McCann says he hasn't seen it yet ... he's aware of how Netflix and co. are playing things -- very anti-cop and leaning into perceived racial and homophobic bias throughout the episodes.

McCann is flatly denying that characterization, saying neither race nor sexual orientation had influenced how police investigated Dahmer. He insists if they'd known they had a serial killer in their midst, they would've moved in immediately to put a stop to it ... regardless of the victims' backgrounds.

He explains Dahmer's M.O. simply didn't allow for them to discover the truth any sooner than they did in 1991 -- when one of his victims escaped and brought cops to Dahmer's apartment.

McCann notes Dahmer didn't leave a lot of obvious evidence lying around, and covered his tracks well.

He also thinks there's something to the fact that Dahmer's victims were men -- saying women who went missing back then were investigated by assuming the worst. On racism and homophobia generally, he acknowledges it's been a problem historically in law enforcement ... but is still adamant that it played no role in how officers went about handling Dahmer.

Of course, not everyone will buy what McCann's selling here ... especially seeing how Glenda Cleveland -- played by Niecy Nash -- alerted Milwaukee PD to Dahmer's behavior many times before he was eventually captured. Many suspect cops wrote her off because she was Black.

Katie Couric, a TV icon, is battling breast cancer.

The 65-year-old former "Today" show anchor just revealed she was diagnosed in June. Cancer is no stranger to Katie ... she lost her first husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer in 1998. Her sister died from pancreatic cancer and her mother-in-law died from ovarian cancer. She said, "My mood quickly shifted from disbelief to resignation. Given my family's history of cancer, why would I be spared? My reaction went from, "Why me? to Why not me?"

Katie said, "Every two minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. On June 21st, I became one of them. As we approach #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, I wanted to share my personal story with you all and encourage you to get screened and understand that you may fall into a category of women who needs more than a mammogram."

She went on to describe her struggle ... "I felt sick and the room started to spin. I was in the middle of an open office, so I walked to a corner and spoke quietly, my mouth unable to keep up with the questions swirling in my head."

Katie underwent surgery back in July. She started radiation treatment early this month.

Amy Schneider's going from winning "Jeopardy!" to just flat out winning in life -- the historic TV champ says she's hitched, and she actually did it on the Q.T. quite a while ago.

Amy revealed her marriage news on her social media, where she announced ... "Genevieve Davis and I are delighted to announce that on Monday, May 9, we were married in a small private ceremony at the Alameda County Recorder."

The newlyweds said they'll be doing a more "traditional wedding next summer, but our lives have been much too busy this year to get very far in planning it, and we couldn’t wait that long to proclaim our love and commitment to each other."

They posted photos of the civil ceremony with the caption ... "A year ago today, I was in LA, waiting to fulfill a dream. The year since has been full of good days, but by far the best one was May 9th, when Genevieve and I got married. Without her, none of the other good days would have happened. I’m so lucky to share my life with her!"

Schneider had a historic run as the trivia champ, racking up 40 consecutive wins and earning $1.3 million. It placed her second on the all-time champions' list -- only behind G.O.A.T. Ken Jennings -- and up there with the best of the best.

Schneider was the first woman on "Jeopardy!" to ever cross the million-dollar mark, and the first trans woman to qualify for the "Tournament of Champions" show ... which will air later in October.

She got engaged to her wife in February, and now they're riding off into the sunset.

Actor Robert Cormier, best known for his portrayal of Finn Cotter in "Heartland," died last week after an apparent fall, this according to his family.

His sister, Stephanie, told the Hollywood Reporter that Robert passed away Friday in an Ontario, CA, hospital from injuries he suffered during the fall. No official cause of death has been released.

An online obit described Robert as an "athlete, an actor, and a great brother" who loved to help others and always wanted to achieve more. It ended with ... "Rob's memory will live on through his passion for art and film."

Growing up in Toronto, Robert would tell his dad to call him "Robbie Van Damme" after his favorite actor, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Robert was a bartender before he got his big break in TV, landing roles in "Heartland," "Ransom," "American Gods" and "Designated Survivor." He also made a splash as Kit Jennings in the popular Netflix series "Slasher."

UPtv — which streams episodes of Heartland — released a statement on IG, calling Robert "an amazing talent, gone too soon," next to a photo of him with costar Amber Mitchell.

The network added ... "We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Our sincere condolences go out to his friends, family, and co-workers."

Robert is survived by his parents, Robert and Lisa, and 3 sisters Brittany, Krystal and Stephanie.

He was 33.

You can own one of the most iconic props from one of the most iconic shows -- Negan's barbed wire-wrapped bat, "Lucille," from "The Walking Dead" -- giving a whole new meaning to hitting the auction block!

If you watch TWD, you know Lucille.

The bat has been at the center of some of the series' most shocking moments ... and now it's available at Goldin Auctions. Bidding starts at $3K ... but the bat will ultimately go for much more.

During the season 6 finale/season 7 premiere, one of the show's most beloved characters was brutally killed by Lucille ... at the hands of Negan, leader of the Saviors, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Several versions of the bat were made and used in production. This specific bat is a "hero version" ... meaning it was meant for up close shots on television, so it's the highest quality of the props.

Lucille is 34 inches long and has a "4" marked on the knob of the bat ... to signify the bat's length (inches past 30).

GA doesn't only have the bat on the block. They're also selling other iconic TWD items ... including Daryl's 1992 Honda CB 750 Nighthawk motorcycle and Rick's (rubber) Colt Python Stunt, and his worn and bloodied Sheriff top.

The Walking Dead series -- which premiered in 2010 -- will air its series finale in November.

The auction wraps October 15 ... eeny, meeny, miny, moe!

The "Riverdale" actor convicted for murdering his mom could end up behind bars with the worst of the worst -- something he and his attorney find gravely concerning, considering he's a puny guy.

Ryan Grantham -- who was sentenced to life in prison in Canada -- is at risk of being brutalized, or worse, if he's forced to serve his time in a maximum security facility ... according to his lawyer, Chris Johnson.

Johnson tells TMZ that Grantham is small in stature and slight in build -- standing a mere 5'2" and weighing about 100 lbs. While the guy is 24, we're told he passes for a teenager ... and looks exactly like the frail characters he's played in movies and on TV.

Johnson is concerned his client could be "physically, psychologically and sexually intimidated" if he's locked up in a max security prison. Basically, he feels Grantham doesn't belong there, not just because of his physicality ... but because, in his mind, the setting for the punishment doesn't fit this specific crime under these particular circumstances.

Johnson tells us his age, size and mental state during this saga should be considered by prison officials -- suggesting even if the crime fits the bill for someone to be thrown in a maximum security prison ... anyone with eyes can see he simply wouldn't fare well.

We're even told the judge who presided over the murder case actually recognized the potential concerns if Grantham ended up in a max security prison, and even recommended a medium security facility.

Thing is, Johnson says the judge has no final say about where he's sent ... it's up to correctional authorities.

Poppy Montgomery and her husband are allegedly stiffing their former housekeeper ... and now she's suing.

The "Without a Trace" star and her hubby, Shawn Sanford, just got hit with a lawsuit from their hired help, who says working for the couple was anything but a dream job.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the housekeeper claims she worked for Poppy and Shawn in their Pacific Palisades home from 2014 until May 2022, and she says the couple still owes her a bunch of money.

Poppy and Shawn's housekeeper says they kept her so busy cleaning, cooking and taking care of their kids, she often couldn't take her legally required breaks ... claiming the couple owes her more than $48,250 for missed meal and rest periods.

The housekeeper also says Poppy and Shawn owe her more than $36,000 in unpaid wages plus nearly $7k in overtime.

On top of all this, she's looking for thousands more in various penalties under California's labor laws.

American actor Daniel Benson was just 20 years old when he was cast as Zeke Beakerman -- the exceptional student and cheerleader at Tribeca Prep -- in Disney's 2007-2012 series "Wizards Of Waverly Place."

Daniel shared the screen with David Henrie as the oldest Russo kid who has the ability to create his own spell, Justin Russo, Selena Gomez as Justin's sneaky younger sister who is not the most studious when it comes to her wizard trainings and school, Alex Russo and Jake T. Austin as the third Russo child who eventually loses his powers, Max Russo.