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San Diego Comic-Con, arguably the biggest pop culture fan event of the year, is already feelin' the heat of the SAG-AFTRA strike ... because some of the hottest panels have already backed out.

The West Coast's biggest convention has already seen a handful of cancelations -- "The Rookie" pulled the plug on its scheduled signing event and and "That '70s Show" is no longer hosting its anniversary panel.

Prime Video's "Good Omens" also had plans to do both a panel and a signing, but has instead pivoted to hold an advanced screening for fans, showing its season premiere.

There are loads of other panels and meet and greets set to go down when SDCC starts up next week, including shows like "Abbott Elementary" and "What We Do in the Shadows" ... but time will tell if it all goes dark.

For those unaware, one of the many rules union actors have to follow involves staying away from conventions and fan expos ... so there's a high chance other actors will follow in dropping out.

There were already talks of studios pulling the plug before Thursday's strike call ... with Marvel being a big name that already said it wouldn't hold its big presentation.

Hollywood is officially shut down ... the union representing actors is now on strike, which means actors will join writers on the picket lines for the first time in more than half a century.

SAG-AFTRA's national board met Thursday morning and voted unanimously to strike after its contract ran out Wednesday night, following a 2-week extension at the end of June to keep negotiations with the studios going.

Both sides of the battle agreed Tuesday to have a federal mediator join negotiation talks in a last-ditch effort, but that failed to get the union and the studios on the same page.

You'll recall, roughly 98% of union members voted in favor of a strike last month if a deal wasn't struck ... and that vote came weeks after the Writers Guild stopped working.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher called the studios' responses to their demands "insulting and disrespectful" after the contract expired ... adding, “Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal.”

There are some pretty strict rules that come with this strike ... starting at midnight tonight, actors cannot work on film and TV projects across the globe -- actors also aren't allowed to do any promotions for upcoming projects ... which includes press junkets and premieres.

The big London premiere for "Oppenheimer" happened Thursday, and the studio pushed the event up an hour so stars like Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, and more aren't going against union rules.

The massive cast stepped onto the red carpet, but they weren't present inside the theater -- with director Christopher Nolan saying they left to gear up for the strike.

Actors also can't participate in panel discussions, including those going down at the ultra-popular San Diego Comic-Con, which kicks off next week.

Actors and writers last joined forces on the picket line way back in 1960 -- for context, Ronald Reagan was the president of SAG at that time.

FYI, actors are asking for fair streaming residuals, improved working conditions, and increased minimum rates, among other things ... and as you know, the WGA began fighting for much of the same when it put pencils down at the beginning of May.

Disney CEO Bob Iger took a shot at writers and actors Thursday morning, saying they're demands aren't realistic -- adding the challenges they're adding to the industry are "very disruptive."

Richard Simmons has been MIA for nearly a decade, but he hasn't been forgotten on his 75th birthday.

Fans showed up at his Hollywood Hills home, balloons in hand, to wish the fitness guru well. Richard did not come out of the house ... which is the way it's been for years.

Richard hasn't been seen in public since 2014. He was everywhere before that, but suddenly retreated from the public eye.

TMZ produced a documentary in 2022 on Richard -- "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons" -- and after it aired Richard actually responded to fans who were expressing their concern and sending their love.

As we said in the doc, Richard has knee problems and did not want to appear in public when he wasn't at his best. He was also emotionally drained from his nonstop concern for just about anyone who reached out to him for help.

We're told he still goes out in public, but wears disguises good enough to fool even the paparazzi.

Happy 75th, Richard!!!

Tom Sandoval said a lot in what appears on the surface to be a goofy convo ... a lot about Ariana Madix, Raquel Leviss and even Adele.

Let's start with the goofy stuff. A photog mentioned how Adele's been on his radar, even mentioning the 'Scandoval' during one of her Vegas residency shows. Check out the tune he belts out ... we're guessing it's not gonna end up in Sin City.

As Tom was leaving IntoMeSea Spa in Santa Monica Wednesday with reality show alum, Billie Lee ... the photog pivots to a sore subject -- Ariana.

The question is innocent enough ... how does he think she'll do on "Dancing with the Stars?" Tom noodles on it, and he bends over backward to give his ex high praise. Interesting.

And, finally -- and most important -- the photog asked how Raquel is doing. Before he tells the photog he should ask her, Tom kinda slips and says, "I don't know." If he doesn't, that's pretty revealing.

He's mum on whether Raquel is coming back to the show. As we reported, no deal has been made. Raquel and Bravo are in negotiations, and we're told her mental health is paramount over any reality show.

Getting back with his "Vanderpump Rules" cast members isn't going smoothly for Tom Sandoval -- new video shows him breaking down during their first night out together, but ya gotta wonder if they're crocodile tears.

Witnesses tell TMZ ... Tom was having a chat with his jeweler pal Kyle Chan at SUR Tuesday night in WeHo. As we reported, the whole cast -- except Raquel Leviss -- was there and, around 9 PM, things took an emotional turn.

Check out the clip, Tom starts wiping away his tears, but it's hard to tell what got him in his feels. Ariana Madix was only a stone's throw away from him, so that could've been a factor.

Another possibility, though, is ... producers told him to look distraught. The lighting wasn't great, so we're not gonna vouch for the authenticity of this cry-sesh. You make the call!

On the other hand, Ariana was looking pretty happy and chatting it up with the ladies at the same time Tom got weepy -- but separate 'VPR' cameras were rolling on both scenes.

Remember, Tom, Ariana, and other cast members all stepped into SUR to watch James Kennedy DJ and to grab dinner with Lisa Vanderpump ... marking the first time this season the whole cast has been seen under the same roof.

Scheana Shay got into it with Tom outside the restaurant that night, and you could hear her shout at him, "If you hadn't f***ed Raquel," before walking away.

All the repeated tongue lashings -- which started during the reunion special taping -- could be pushing Sandoval over the edge, or he just knows 'VPR' is now the biggest reality show ... and he's got a role to play.

Lindsay Lohan looks ready to welcome her first child, and not just because her baby bump's growing ... the kid's nursery is also coming together.

The actress showed off her pregnancy progress Wednesday, plus the room she's preparing for her kid.

Lindsay says she designed the nursery with Nestig, a furniture and decor brand for little ones, and she's drawn inspiration from the beach.

TMZ broke the story ... Lindsay's pregnant with a boy -- and, as you can see, she's going kinda traditional with a mostly blue decor.

Looks like Lindsay's kid will be chilling with a huge teddy bear and a sweet crib once he arrives. We don't know her due date, but considering she announced the pregnancy back in March ... it's a good bet she's into her third trimester.

Dakota Fred Hurt, one of the stars of the Discovery show, "Gold Rush: White Water," is dead after a brief battle with brain cancer.

Dakota Fred died Tuesday, according to a statement from his family ... this only 4 months after he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. The fam says Dakota Fred fought his cancer battle "courageously" and died with loved ones by his side.

Dakota Fred's loved ones say they are remembering Dakota Fred as someone who "touched many lives and was loved and supported by many" ... while 'Gold Rush' says "his joy for life and adventure was contagious."

Dakota Fred got his start gold mining in North Dakota way back in the day, and that's how he ended up mining for gold in Alaska on 'Gold Rush.'

He appears in the show's first 4 seasons.

A fan favorite, Dakota Fred and his son, Dustin, returned to the franchise in 2018 with their own spinoff show, "Gold Rush: White Water," this time dredging for gold in whitewater collection pools at the base of Alaskan waterfalls.

Dakota Fred was 80.

Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix can't avoid each other -- they're back to sharing the same space publicly for the first time since the explosive "Vanderpump Rules" reunion, and yes ... producers got it all on camera.

The whole 'VPR' cast flocked to SUR Restaurant in WeHo Tuesday, where James Kennedy was DJing -- apart from Tom and Ariana, Tom Schwartz stepped in ... as did Katie Maloney and Scheana Shay. Sources on the scene tell us the boss lady, Lisa Vanderpump, was there too, hosting a dinner for the whole gang.

Tom and Ariana weren't spotted together while at the spot, but they were for sure under the same roof ... so there's gotta be some tension there.

Sandoval might have dodged Ariana, but he and Scheana got into a pretty intense argument -- it's hard to hear most of the conversation, but at one point you definitely hear her shout, "If you hadn't f***ed Raquel" ... before storming away.

As we reported, TMZ obtained footage of the Toms getting into a bit of a heated argument this week as the cameras rolled, so it seems the beating Sandoval's been taking since his affair with Raquel Leviss will continue into the next season.

In other words ... they're giving 'VPR' fans exactly what they want.

The HBO cameras will be rolling when Aaron Rodgers gears up for his first training camp in the Big Apple -- the New York Jets have reportedly been picked to appear on the next season of "Hard Knocks."

The news broke via Adam Schefter on Wednesday ... who announced Gang Green was selected over the Saints, Bears, and Commanders, who were also eligible to participate in the annual docuseries.

Fans might be thrilled with the choice, but Jets head coach Robert Saleh previously said the squad was opposed to being followed around throughout camp.

When it comes to entertainment value, the Jets were the clear favorites for the gig ... considering Rodgers -- a 4-time MVP and Super Bowl winner -- was traded to the Jets in April, and it will be his first time on the show.

Outside of Rodgers, the team is full of personalities, including star cornerback Sauce Gardner ... who's already had some viral moments in his young career.

The Jets were also on Hard Knocks in 2010 ... which resulted in some memorable clips, including an expletive-filled speech from then-coach Rex Ryan.

Morgan Freeman is on the mend from a nasty infection that derailed his plans to jet across the pond to promote his latest show.

The 86-year-old actor was forced to cancel a UK trip after he came down with a fever ... according to his rep, who says doctors told Morgan he was contagious. Obviously, that meant doing a bunch of interviews was out of the question.

Morgan was scheduled to do a media tour to promote the new Taylor Sheridan show, "Special Ops: Lioness" -- Morgan costars with Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman -- but he was notably MIA from the interviews and Tuesday's screening.

He was also supposed to appear with his costars on the BBC program, "The One Show" -- but his absence was something host Alex Jones (not that one) said she was completely "gutted" about.

BTW, Morgan's also been struggling with fibromyalgia since 2008, after getting hurt in an almost-deadly car crash.

He donned a black compression glove on his hand at this year's Oscars ... something he often wears for comfort after ending up with permanent nerve damage from the wreck.

American actor Ryan Hurst was 32 years old when he first started playing the role of Opie Winston -- the biker best friend and long-time SAMCRO member who married Lyla the porn star -- in the menacing 2000s motorcycle gang TV show "Sons Of Anarchy."

Hurst shared the big screen with Charlie Hunnam as the stubborn and brave SOA member who fearlessly navigates the gang's dealings and family life, Jax Teller, Katey Sagal as the tough unofficial SAMCRO member and matriarch, Gemma Teller and Kim Coates as the wild-eyed aggressive mechanic and womanizer, Tig Trager ... and, of course, Ron Pearlman as the pack's president and heavy-fisted honcho, Clay Morrow.

Joseline Hernandez still hadn't cooled down when cops arrived after her epic beatdown of Big Lex ... and body cameras captured her violent, profanity-laced rage from start to finish.

The "Love & Hip Hop" alum was met by several Sunrise PD officers last month in South Florida -- and this new footage, obtained by TMZ, shows her immediately launching, physically and verbally, at law enforcement.

Right off the bat, she shouts she doesn't want any white men touching her, and things quickly ramp up from there.

Joseline chucks her phone at a guy trying to calm her down -- who seems to be the same person heard calling Lex a "dumb ass bitch" during the initial confrontation. Cops step in, but she shoves one of them ... resulting in multiple officers taking her to the ground.

Throughout the struggle to take her into custody, you can hear Joseline shouting homophobic and racial slurs at the cops after getting cuffed. She even appears to resist while they walk her out, which is when officers pick up her legs to carry her out.

Joseline's intense arrest followed her violent altercation with Lex.

As we reported, the 2 women went at it after Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III's exhibition fight -- Joseline drew a massive crowd backstage as she put Lex in a headlock.

Big Lex ended up calling the cops, hoping to get Joseline arrested ... which is what eventually happened -- but not before another huge blowup.

Fran Drescher's Hollywood union is about to head into a strike this week -- which is why her members are pissed over her chillaxin' in Europe ... just a day before s*** hits the fan.

SAG-AFTRA actors seem to be furious after seeing their President hobnobbing in Italy Monday ... next to none other than Kim Kardashian, who's catching a lot of heat amid the ongoing writers' strike (more on that later).

Fran posed for a cozy pic with Kim at a Dolce & Gabbana event -- which KK posted -- and now SAG members are calling Fran out for what they perceive as not taking their own looming strike very seriously. On its face, you can't blame 'em ... 'cause the clock's ticking.

If a deal isn't reached between SAG and movie studio bosses by midnight tonight, actors of all ilks are expected to walk off sets/hit the streets in a new wave of picketing that could rock the industry ... even more so than it already has with writers fighting their own fight.

While SAG itself as an org has actually defended Fran being in Italy -- saying she was there working as an ambassador on behalf of Dolce and Gabbana, which was know by the negotiating committee -- that hasn't appeased the rank and file. SAG says Fran has been in negotiations every day in person or over videoconference and will be returning to LA tomorrow.

Several SAG members blasted this photo ... saying Fran appears to not really care about the fact that actors/her members are about to be out of work. Rather than trying to hammer out a new contract, they say she's just having the time of her life halfway across the world.

There's another element of criticism ... pointed at Kim. As you know, she's in the new season of 'American Horror Story' -- which had already been written before the writers' strike -- but she's been labeled a scab by some ... seeing how she's crossed the picket line and continues to work with Ryan Murphy -- who's also caught a bad rap in this whole saga.

The fact Fran's sidled up next to her specifically doesn't sit well with a lot of actors, and the consensus seems to be ... at the very least, this is not a good look at such a crucial time.

Bethenny Frankel is weighing in on the whole Jonah Hill controversy with his ex  ... and she seems to be in Jonah's corner on one major point, despite having a horrible run-in with him.

"The Real Housewives of New York" alum posted a TikTok video Monday explaining she once met Hill on the set of Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" years ago and he acted like a "low-grade d**k" to her.

Frankel said, "He was put upon and kind of treated me like he was very better than [me]. I felt like a loser and the nobody that I was."

But Frankel didn't let her personal feelings toward the actor cloud her judgment about Hill's current drama with his former girlfriend Sarah Brady -- on whether the story should have been made public in the first place.

As you know, Brady released on social media a bunch of text messages between her and Hill she claims prove he's a "misogynist narcissist." Brady also accused Hill of being abusive, manipulative and controlling.

Frankel called the Hill/Brady texts "crazy," but she, too, admitted to having similar back-and-forth messaging with people, which in a vacuum can look nuts. She then questioned whether Brady should have published the texts, since Brady was in a romantic relationship with Hill.

Bethenny continued, "I don’t know the whole story, I only read the snippets of headlines, but if you're in a relationship with someone for one year, are texts fair game?"

She ended by saying the notion of publicly sharing texts from exes seems like a "frightening 2023 for me." But Bethenny also mentioned it's not okay to be "emotionally harmful" to your partner, which Brady contended Hill was toward her.

Andrea Evans, the longtime actress who starred in multiple soap operas over the years, has died.

Andrea passed away Sunday from cancer, according to casting director Don Carroll. It's unclear what sort of cancer she was battling, or when she'd been diagnosed.

She is, perhaps, most famous for playing Tina Lord on "One Life to Live" -- she started on that series way back in the late '70s, and had a memorable run through the '80s ... and even popping back during the early 2010s with recurring appearances.

She'd gone on to star in a lot of other soaps, including the iconic ones ... like "The Bold and the Beautiful" -- she appeared in 152 episodes -- and "The Young and the Restless" ... which had her on 19 different times.

Andrea also did a significant amount of work on "Passions" -- which featured her in a whopping 627 episodes -- portraying Rebecca Hotchkiss. Evans had starred in other shows as well ... like "DeVanity," "The Bay," "Out of Control," "CHiPs," and more.

She'd also been in a handful of movies -- so a well-rounded showbiz career.

AE actually retreated from the limelight for several years as a result of a scary stalking situation ... so, the fact she had such a prodigious career is impressive.

Andrea was 66.

Maria Menounos is proving her pancreatic cancer battle isn't keeping her down ... going online to show off her surgery scars, which she says actually make her smile.

The entertainment reporter and host shared the revealing pic Sunday night, showing 4 healing scars across her stomach -- saying her surgery earlier this year is something she's extremely grateful for ... sending love and thanks to everyone that helped her along the way.

She adds, "Now I see the scars that I sunscreen up carefully to protect and I smile." And, as you can imagine, she was met a lot of praise in the comments.

You'll recall, Maria announced her stage 2 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in January, but said last week that her doctors missed her tumor during an initial exam -- resulting in it doubling in size in only 2 months.

Maria said on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast she's since learned an MRI could've spotted the growth ... but is still remaining hopeful as she looks into how docs missed the lump.