TV

ABC and Warner Bros. Discovery are in meltdown, as a tidal wave of ripple effects from the cancellation of "The Bachelorette" is already being realized.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... the show costs around $2 million an episode to produce, and there's already finger-pointing and, we're told, shouting over who's to blame and who should shoulder the costs.

We're told only one of the episodes -- the one that was supposed to air Sunday night -- is in the can. Three more are in the process of being edited, and the remainder pretty much haven't been touched.

Taylor Frankie Paul is speaking out after ABC pulled the plug on her season of "The Bachelorette" ... she promises she'll tell her side of the story amid the ongoing and escalating drama -- and appears to take a dig at her ex.

A spokesperson for Taylor tells TMZ ... "Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security."

They continued ... "After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm."

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Ketamine and "The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives" don't mix ... at least according to star Demi Engemann, who said ketamine treatment put her in a headspace particularly unsuitable for the reality show.

In an interview on the "Disgraceful with Grace O'Malley" podcast, Demi was very positive about her experience with ketamine ... but she says it left her too exposed to the toxicity of the show.

She said, "What people don't realize is that when you're going through ketamine treatments, it makes your brain extremely raw. A lot is coming up from your past -- a lot of trauma is coming up."

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Taylor Frankie Paul backed out of a scheduled appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," opting to come back another day ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... in light of everything that's happened Taylor's appearance is being rescheduled.

Additional sources familiar with the situation say Taylor had done upwards of 10 interviews earlier that day and was exhausted, so it was mutually decided that they would reschedule the appearance for a future date.

Jordan Wright -- who starred in the British reality TV show "The Only Way Is Essex" -- was found dead in Thailand on March 14.

According to Daily Mail, Wright's body was recovered from a drainage canal where he was found face-down in the stagnant water of a drainage canal.

The publication reports Wright was wearing black pants and a gray T-shirt, but was barefoot. And he'd already made plans to leave soon.

Joseph Duggar -- who was arrested Wednesday for allegedly sexually abusing an underage girl -- once spoke out against his famous older brother Josh Duggar over accusations of child molestation more than a decade ago.

Back in 2015 ... Joseph weighed in on Josh's misconduct after Josh was accused of inappropriately touching five girls, including his own sisters, Jill and Jessa. Both brothers, of course, starred on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting.”

Joseph commented on the scandal in a clip for TLC's spinoff "Jill & Jessa: Counting On" ... saying, "Whenever somebody you respect the most is willing to get up and proclaim what we believe as Christians, about being true to your wife, you'd never think that that's the person who's involved in it."

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Mikayla Matthews has confirmed the show's pause came as a result of Taylor Frankie Paul's ongoing drama with her ex, Dakota Mortensen.

In an AMA on her IG Stories, Mikayla revealed the whole cast was in agreement with the hiatus.

When asked, "Is filming actually on pause?" Mikayla responded, "It was a decision that all us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn't feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening." Of course, she's referring to a bombshell ...

Part 2 of the "Members Only: Palm Beach" reunion wasted no time getting going! The ladies immediately took the gloves off to get down and dirty ... and we have clips.

Watch the video ... Gale Brophy -- tired of being painted a villain -- confronts Hilary Musser, Taja Abitbol, Maria Cozamanis, Ro-Mina Ustayev and Rosalyn Yellin and the sparks start flying, as host Rachel Uchitel tries to keep it on the rails.

Check out the clip to see who Gale says is acting like a wh**e.

"The Real Housewives of Miami" just hit the brakes HARD ... production on the series has been placed on pause, and its future is anything but locked in ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the series tell us production is not moving forward right now, and there are no concrete plans for a new season. Still, the show hasn't been officially canceled ... leaving the door open for a possible comeback.

We're told Bravo is currently taking a hard look at the franchise, with discussions underway about a potential cast shakeup or full reboot to refresh the series. So far, no timeline has been set for when or if "RHOM" will return ...

A former 'Bachelorette' producer is calling BS on the idea that ABC was blindsided by Taylor Frankie Paul’s physical violence allegations involving her ex, Dakota Mortensen ... telling us there’s just no way that slipped through the cracks.

We spoke with Michael Carroll on "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... and he says back in his day, casting was unbelievably strict -- with deep background, medical, and psychological checks on every contestant ... adding that anyone with charges like that against her would’ve been an automatic no.

Catch the full clip, 'cause Michael doubles down, telling us current producers were fully aware of who the 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star was. In his view, this wasn’t a surprise -- it was a setup ... calling it a publicity grab.

"Hannah Montana" star Jason Earles is exposing a "big secret" he had on the set of the popular Disney sitcom ... he told execs he was 10 years younger than he actually was in order to nab the part!

In the inaugural episode of the "Best of Both Our Worlds" podcast, Jason cops to lying about his age in his audition and telling producers he was 18 years old ... because he was really 28, but was supposed to be playing a teenager.

In fact, casting director Lisa London encouraged him to fudge the truth -- except she believed he was only 19 ... because the actor had "lied to her in a different audition."

JE admitted he almost didn't audition because he was "too old," saying ... "Nobody's gonna buy it."

But they did ... for a while. It wasn't until Season One's eighth episode that 'Hannah' producer and podcast cohost Douglas Danger Lieblein learned the truth.

The Disney alum also recalled being found out by a network exec, saying he "showed up on show night and was like, 'Hey, you're, uh, 28? And you're married?' I was like, 'Yeah, that girl I keep making out with … that's my wife.'"

Ultimately, Jason said showrunner Steven Peterman was grateful for the dishonesty and told him ... "Thank you so much for lying to us because we would’ve gotten nervous if we’d found out during the pilot and we would’ve recast you."

Douglas seconded the sentiment, adding that Jason made the show what it was because "the kids thought you were a kid and they treated you as such."

'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ star Taylor Frankie Paul told a counselor she didn't recall much after drinking vodka during her alleged 2023 attack on her ex, Dakota Mortensen, and that counselor determined she was a "problem drinker" ... at least temporarily.

TMZ obtained a 2023 substance abuse and mental health assessment filed as part of Taylor’s criminal case. The counselor who interviewed the reality TV star said Taylor showed up on time and was “smiling and friendly.” The report said Taylor was willing to share information “about the event that brought her in for the assessment.”

Taylor denied having any past or present drug use or prescription drug abuse. The counselor noted, however, that Taylor’s score on an alcohol screening test indicated she was an “intermediate problem drinker.”

Production on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" kept viewers in the dark about serious abuse claims involving Taylor Frankie Paul ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the series tell TMZ ... during filming of the Season 3 reunion, Dakota Mortensen accused Taylor of being abusive toward him ..., but we're told that entire exchange was cut and never made it to air.

However, a production source with direct knowledge tells us ... they BOTH hurled allegations of physical outbursts at each other. The volatile exchange was cut for air because the back-and-forth had nothing to do with the season they just shot.

The "Baywatch" reboot is officially underway, and star Brooks Nader told us she had a lot to learn ... Brooks says she needed someone to give her swimming lessons -- so she got the hottest trainer ever!

We caught up with Brooks on set Wednesday ... and after admitting she didn't grow up swimming and never had any lessons, she assured us she's making up for it.

She joked, "I'm an Olympic swimmer now!"

The model says she's taking acting lessons as well ... and if she acts as well as she takes pictures, we're in for the best show ever! Just watch our video ... we have the first shots of Brooks and Livvy Dunne in the iconic skintight red swimsuits.

Kerry Washington was feeling a little Scandalous -- calling up her former costar Tony Goldwyn for a cheeky chat about their famously steamy chemistry.

It all went down on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast … with Alex Cooper daring Kerry to ring Tony and relive the hottest moment between their characters Olivia Pope and President Fitzgerald Grant ... and yeah, he didn’t hold back!

The two picked up like no time had passed ... with Tony casually dropping that their steamiest scene was hooking up in an electrical closet.