TV

Skyler Page, the creator of the animated series "Clarence," is apparently a big fan of the five-finger discount ... he got arrested for stealing toys from a discount department store.

The Burbank Police Department tells TMZ ... Skyler was arrested and booked for petty theft on Dec. 13, when cops say he went into a Ross, grabbed some merchandise, including Nerf guns, and walked out without paying.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say Ross' loss prevention department called police to the store to report the alleged theft ... and after getting a description of the suspect, whom they described as "unhoused." Responding officers searched the area and found Skyler sitting on a nearby wall with a boatload of Nerf guns.

Cops say the officers questioned Skyler about the Nerf guns, and he admitted to taking the toys ... telling cops he didn't have enough money to pay for them.

The Burbank City Attorney has filed one misdemeanor charge of petty theft against Skyler ... and he pled not guilty in court.

Bill Cosby accuser Stacey Pinkerton is taking him to court ... suing over a sexual assault she claims happened during the comedian's time on "The Cosby Show" ... but Cosby's camp says it's a money grab.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Stacey claims Bill sexually assaulted her way back in 1986 when she was approximately 21 years old ... and she says he used his power, influence and authority as a 'Cosby Show' star to groom her.

Stacey claims she met Bill in 1986 and he invited her to New York, where the NBC hit sitcom was filmed, to be on the show. She says she was working as a flight attendant and model at the time and Bill promised to help her career.

In the docs, Stacey claims she agreed to hang out with Bill in New York under the pretense Cosby was interested in advancing her career as a model and actress ... but she claims he had ulterior motives.

Stacey claims Bill took her to the 'Cosby Show' studio in New York and they filmed an episode, though she didn't appear in the final edit. She says he put her up in a hotel and gave her money, which she claims was a manipulation tactic to gain her trust.

Under the guise of helping her career, Stacey claims Bill arranged for them to meet again in 1986, this time in Chicago, and she says he drugged her food at dinner and then took her to a private hotel room at the Drake Hotel where he sexually assaulted her and forced her to have intercourse.

Stacey claims she was incapable of consent because she was physically helpless ... and she says he used his power, influence and status to silence her after the assault.

In the suit, Stacey claims Bill's people called her in September 1986 and told her he wanted her in the audience for a comedy show, and she says she went there in order to confront him.

Stacey claims when the show was over Bill came over to her and forcefully kissed her and touched her butt without her consent. She says she started yelling and was booted from the venue.

She's suing Cosby for sexual battery ... and she's going after him for damages.

David Robinson, one of Dog the Bounty Hunter's partners for years and the star of "Dog's Most Wanted," died from heart issues.

David's wife, Brooke Robinson, tells TMZ ... the family just got the autopsy report back and it says the 50-year-old died from critical coronary artery disease.

TMZ broke the story ... David collapsed Nov. 30 during a Zoom call and he died in his wife's arms despite lifesaving maneuvers being performed.

David's wife tells us his death has left a void and hole in her life that can never be repaired ... and she says only God knows why David died so abruptly.

David worked closely with Dog on "Dog's Most Wanted" ... tracking down fugitives of Dog's choosing.

Brooke is remembering David for "his smile that would light up the world, his amazing laugh, and just how generous and caring he was."

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' relationship is getting VERY serious on the heels of T.J. filing for divorce from his wife ... and TMZ has the evidence to prove it.

The lovebirds recently flew down to Miami from NYC for a romantic getaway and were caught locking lips with their hands all over each other.

Check out these photos snapped Wednesday, showing the GMA3 cohosts in the throes of passion under the hot Florida sun.

The couple later had some food and drinks at a seaside restaurant, where they were clearly enjoying each other's company, but were less affectionate. They also spent Christmas together in the cooler climate of Atlanta, but we're sure they kept one another warm.

As we reported ... the couple's affair leaked out in late November while both were still married, but separated from their spouses. ABC execs, who produce GMA 3, were blindsided by the news and removed the two from their cohosting duties, pending an internal investigation into whether they broke any company rules.

Actor Bob Penny, who scored minor roles in the films "Forrest Gump" and "Sweet Home Alabama," has died.

Bob passed away in Huntsville, Alabama on Christmas Day, according to an online obit from Laughlin Service Funeral Home. His cause of death was not disclosed.

Penny was a bit part actor in dozens of films and TV shows during his long career stretching back to the '80s. Some of his movie credits include, “Mississippi Burning,” “My Cousin Vinny” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance." He played a “crony” in “Forrest Gump,” and a bumbling, small-town lawyer in “Sweet Home Alabama." He also landed a role in the TV series “In the Heat of the Night.”

He began his acting career doing TV commercials for a local department store and ad campaigns for The United Way.

Bob was 87.

Sonya Eddy's dead, but her Twitter account is still very much alive ... her page is posting cryptic tweets every day, and the company behind it says its hands are tied.

The late "General Hospital" actress has an app linked to her Twitter account that automatically posts her horoscope every day ... and it's still churning out tweets despite her recent death, with confused fans replying to her tweets in droves.

Some of the horoscopes are pretty creepy, like this one from three days after her death ... "Today could reveal some unexpected rewards."

The app Sonya's official Twitter account is using is called Twittascope ... and honchos at the company that owns Twittascope say they can't do anything to stop the tweets.

For Sonya's account to stop posting daily horoscopes, we're told someone with access to her page will have to manually go in and disable the Twittascope app in her account settings.

As we reported ... Sonya died Dec. 19 after being hospitalized with a serious infection.

Ash Ketchum's 25-year arc in "Pokemon" is coming to an end ... and while it seems like a shock, maybe it's something we all should've seen coming -- at least according to Veronica Taylor, who originally provided the voice for the titular trainer.

Veronica tells TMZ ... she was hit pretty hard by the recent news that the popular anime was leaving Ash and Pikachu behind, but after the character was finally named top trainer in the world on the show, the exit kinda tracks.

She says an ending for Ash seemed so distant, but points out how "Pokemon" has taught us so many lessons, one of which is letting go ... and a departure like this would be another great example of that.

For those unaware, Taylor voiced Ash for the first 8 seasons of the show ... and it was announced this month that the new season will introduce 2 new main characters -- but not before 11 special episodes in 2023 to wrap up Ash and Pikachu's journey.

Taylor thinks a cameo in the future is possible, though ... and hopes longtime fans will be just as attached to this new generation.

Tyler Sanders, a teenage actor with roles in big shows like "9-1-1: Lone Star" and "Fear the Walking Dead," died from the effects of fentanyl ... according to his autopsy report.

According to the report, obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner also notes the 18-year-old's death was accidental.

As we first reported ... Tyler was found dead June 16 in his Los Angeles home. Sources connected to the death investigation told us he had a history of drug use and police found a plastic straw and white powder in the room where he died.

In the autopsy report, the ME says Tyler told a friend in text messages the night before his death he was using fentanyl. The report says Tyler did not answer phone calls from the friend after sending the text about fentanyl.

What's more, the coroner says Tyler had no known medical problems but had a history of drug abuse ... including heroin, cocaine, LSD, mushrooms and Xanax.

Valerie Bertinelli is not about to become a crime victim ... because she's got an eagle eye on would-be burglars who are hitting her neighborhood and gave them a big surprise.

The actress/Food Network host lives in an area of L.A. where there have been a string of burglaries, including the house next door to hers.

Well, in the wee hours of Wednesday, 2 guys -- maybe the culprits in the neighborhood -- approached her door at separate times and started scoping out her home. One of the guys was carrying a backpack and several bags. He walks near the camera and apparently spots it, because he beats a hasty retreat. Mission accomplished!!!

The 62-year-old said, "I think he stops because he sees my camera lit up. The other one came an hour before him."

Eddie Van Halen's ex was honest ... "F***ing scary,"

She called the cops, who apparently are still on the hunt for these guys, and is doubling down on precautions ... "I'm installing more motion detector lights and thinking of putting barbed wire on my front fence. And of course my alarm gets set every night."

T.J. Holmes is officially pulling the plug on his marriage ... filing for divorce from his estranged wife Marilee Fiebig, weeks after his relationship with his 'GMA3' cohost Amy Robach went public.

The "Good Morning America" anchor filed docs Wednesday in NYC after 12 years of marriage and about a month after folks found out about his relationship with colleague Amy Robach. Interestingly enough, he and Amy were spotted traveling together over the holidays.

Amy and T.J. made major headlines after Daily Mail published a set of flirty photos of the two spending time out in NYC. It was later confirmed they'd been in a serious relationship for several weeks, but sources said it started once both had already split from their spouses.

While at first ABC kept them both on air, they were taken off after two days. Sources at the network told us honchos and ABC's legal team are conducting a review of their contracts and relationship to see if any policies were broken.

Sorry, Broncos fans ... Peyton Manning says he doesn't have much interest in coaching Russell Wilson -- or anyone else, for that matter -- explaining this week he doesn't want to be in a headset on the sidelines, despite the open job in Denver.

Manning didn't mince too many words when asked this week about the possibility of potentially taking over for the fired Nathaniel Hackett in the Mile High City ... repeating "I don't think so" twice.

Of course, Manning doesn't have any coaching experience at the college or NFL level ... but that didn't stop his former team, the Indianapolis Colts, from hiring his former center, Jeff Saturday, earlier this year.

Peyton, though, didn't appear to have any real desire to follow in his pal's footsteps ... even if his old Denver squad could use him.

As we reported, the Broncos fired Hackett on Monday -- following a tumultuous 4-11 start to his Denver tenure. Many had hoped Manning, known as one of the most cerebral players in NFL history, could come in and save the day.

Clearly, however, they'll now have to look elsewhere.

As for Manning's current gig -- one of the hosts of the ultra-popular "ManningCast" -- he said his dream guest after getting Barack Obama on the air is now Deion Sanders.

Funnyman Jeff Ross may have inadvertently contributed to a Texas inmate's death sentence ... and now, the guy's attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to overturn the sentence.

Here's the rub ... attorneys for Gabriel Hall are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to review the convicted killer's capital punishment sentence, which was based in part on jokes Ross and Hall made to each other ... during the comedian's 2015 TV special.

During the trial, prosecutors used Ross' show as evidence against Hall, which eventually lead to his conviction and subsequent death sentence.

The taped special was shot at the Detention Center where Hall was awaiting trial in TX back in '15 ... it was filmed shortly before Hall's conviction for the murder of a man named Edwin Shaar.

According to the Supreme Court petition, obtained by TMZ, Ross and Hall had a wide-ranging convo that was aired AS A PART of "Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live At Brazos County Jail." The chat lasted 17 minutes with the comedian repeatedly mocking the guy's appearance and joking about his race. During the exchange, Hall made a series of jokes which prosecutors used during the penalty phase which, they said, showed Hall had "a lack of remorse for having committed capital murder." As a result, Hall's lawyers say, the jury voted to put Hall to death.

In their legal docs, Hall's lawyers say that before the Ross special was taped, they sent the Brazos County Sheriff a letter of "no contact" ... asking the deputies to prohibit anyone from talking to Hall without their permission. Clearly, that didn't happen.

Whoopi Goldberg is rolling out a much-needed apology ... after making claims about the Holocaust that many found incredibly antisemitic.

Whoopi offered her "sincere apologies" Tuesday, telling Rolling Stone, "It was never my intention to appear as if I was doubling down on hurtful comments, especially after talking with and hearing people like rabbis and old and new friends weighing in."

She says she's still learning -- but confirms, "I believe that the Holocaust was about race, and I am still as sorry now as I was then that I upset, hurt and angered people.”

As we reported, Whoopi faced severe backlash after recently telling The Times Jewish people themselves are divided on whether they're actually a race or not, even quoting one Jewish friend as saying ... "Not for nothing is there no box on the census for the Jewish race. So that leads me to believe that we’re probably not a race."

Whoopi went on to double down on the notion that the Holocaust wasn't about race, from her POV, by saying ... "Remember who they were killing first. They were not killing racial; they were killing physical. They were killing people they considered to be mentally defective. And then they made this decision.”

Actor Daren Kagasoff's ex-girlfriend has dismissed the temporary restraining order against him ... and he sees this as a huge win -- especially after she claimed he threatened to leak nude pictures of her, amongst other things.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Breanna Trupiano filed a request for dismissal in Los Angeles court last week ... although a reason for wanting to drop the TRO isn't given.

The "Devotion" star's obviously thrilled about the news ... because he tells TMZ, through his attorney, Tiffany Feder, "I was advised by my attorney to not make any statements and let the legal system run its course.  However, I was accused of things that are totally untrue."

Daren tells us the restraining order disappeared as quickly as it surfaced -- and says he's going to go after whoever's responsible for the alleged false claims ... adding "No one should ever have to go through this."

He also says, "We inhabit a world in which everything can be traced back to the sender.  And thanks to a dedicated legal team for being so vigorous in uncovering the truth."

It's one thing to get a bad review ... it's another to be cast in the same light as Kanye West and Donald Trump, but that's exactly what one reviewer did.

Politico writer Joanna Weiss posted a story called, "2022 Is the Year We All Finally Got Tired of the Narcissists," and she had plenty of fodder to build out her story ... in addition to the above names, she noted Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes.

As for Meghan Markle, she says the Netflix doc "Harry & Meghan" backfired in a big way. It's one of the most watched docs in a long time, but that doesn't mean it was received the way it was meant.

Weiss writes, "My natural sympathy for the couple started turning to irritation, and it occurred to me that ego has its limits. And it struck me that the overreach that led to the Sussexes' critically panned mega-series is the same impulse that turned Elon Musk into a terror on Twitter, that prompted Ye to up the ante of outrageous behavior until he crossed the line into blatant antisemitism, that sent Bankman-Fried from the top of the world to a Bahamian jail."

She concedes Harry and Meghan's conduct is more benign than the others, but says it's still problematic.

The documentary is filled with grievances against the Royal Family, including Harry saying it was "terrifying" when his brother Prince William screamed at him after Harry dropped the bombshell that he and Meghan were leaving.

Stephen Greif, who played Speaker of the House Sir Bernard Weatherill on Season 4 of "The Crown," has died.

Greif's reps announced his death Monday, but did not disclose the cause.

The British actor's role in the Netflix hit was his most recognized, but he was a working actor for many decades with numerous credits.

Greif appeared in Touchstone Pictures' flick, "Casanova" back in 2005. He was on numerous TV shows, including "Tales of the Unexpected," and he appeared in the '70s science fiction series, "Blake's 7."

He was also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company back in the '60s.

His fellow actors took to social media in droves honoring him, one calling Greif "a consummate professional and an absolute gent."

He's survived by 2 sons.

Stephen Greif was 78.