'The Bachelor' Zach Shallcross Had Enough of Reality TV ... I'll Take a 9-5, Please!!!
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"The Bachelor" star Zach Shallcross is already over his reality TV stint, and attempting something rarely seen in Hollywood -- he hoping to trade in his on-camera lifestyle for an average Joe's job.
Zach tells us he wants to have a real career again ... saying it all boils down to wanting a sense of normalcy, which obviously has changed since doing reality TV. He says even while filming the show last year, he had thoughts of getting back to a normal life.
After starring on "The Bachelor," Zach says he was making appearances on behalf of the show, but now he's got time on his hands, and he's on the hunt for a job.
Before 'The Bachelor,' he was a tech exec at Oracle and Zach says he still wants to work in that industry ... for a company like Microsoft. He's posted on LinkedIn and says he's already had a ton of folks reach out with job offers.
Bachelor Nation first met Zach on season 19 of "The Bachelorette" ... and then he was THE guy for season 27 of "The Bachelor," which aired earlier this year. He wound up proposing to Kaity Biggar on the finale, and they're still together.
ZS makes it clear ... he didn't go on the show to take advantage of fame, but to actually find love. Now, he's ready to get back to basics with a 9 to 5.
However, he does have one remaining showbiz aspiration -- Zach tells us his dream is to follow in the voice acting footsteps of his uncle Patrick Warburton, who's done nearly 300 episodes of "Family Guy."
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'Vanderpump' Star Tom Schwartz Talks Meteoric Rise & Fall of Scandoval ... On FOX's 'Stars on Mars'
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Tom Sandoval has been in a vortex of bad press these past few months -- all over his cheating scandal, of course -- and now ... his best bud's weighing in on the galactic fail.
Of course, we're talking about Tom Schwartz -- Sandoval's right-hand man in business and fellow costar on "Vanderpump Rules" ... who's had a front-row seat to all the drama unfolding of late. Naturally, seeing how he's close with Tom #1 -- Schwartz caught flak too.
Now, the dude's spilling his guts about it all in the aftermath -- as seen on FOX's new reality show, "Stars on Mars," on which TS is a contestant -- and it sounds like he wants to distance himself from Sandoval/his poor decision-making ... trying to get light years away.
BTW, if you think our space references are a bit much ... wait 'til you hear how Schwartz puts it. The guy's got a ton of creative ways to explain how out of this world Scandoval has been from his POV ... and this is just a taste. He'll dish even more on Monday's episode.
Also, if you're wondering what the "Stars on Mars" show is ... we'll tell ya. The series just launched and it's very much so in the vein of "Big Brother" -- only here, celebs are living together in a manufactured Mars-like environment ... competing against each other.
The other contenders run the gamut of stardom -- folks like Lance Armstrong, Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman are on ... as are Ariel Winter, Porsha Williams, Ronda Rousey and others. It truly is a who's-who of reality TV ... also, William Shatner's hosting!
If you're curious, then tune in on FOX ... "Stars on Mars" airs Mondays at 8 PM ET/PT.
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Bryan Cranston I Ain't Retiring!!! Just Pausing Professionally
Bryan Cranston recently made it seem like he was hanging up his Hollywood career as he approaches age 70 -- but that's not quite the case ... as he just clarified himself.
The actor posted an IG that attempted to set the record straight on comments he made in a GQ interview -- which strongly suggested he was going to retire from showbiz, and maybe even every other endeavor he's involved in professionally too ... including his tequila brand.
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Of course, people were freaking out over the prospect of him leaving the spotlight -- but now, he's saying it won't be a full-blown retirement ... more so a long pause. BC writes, "I am not retiring. What I am going to do is hit the pause button for a year after I reach my 70th birthday in 2026." He says he's not sure what pausing means, but adds he'll take at least a year off to focus on other things in his life ... like his marriage, for example.
Bryan explains ... "First, it will allow me to spend time with Robin (my beautiful wife of 34 years now) in a way that I haven’t been able to in the last 25 years…not as a wife of a celebrity, but as a loving married couple entering into - well, let’s be honest, our latter years, with new hopes and goals and experiences."
Another thing Bryan's hoping to achieve with his career pause ... a newfound approach to acting. He says he's out of fresh ideas on how to play certain characters and feels as though he needs to replenish his soul to figure out another way to get into roles.
Plus, the dude wants to read and stuff -- so he says he's unplugging from all social media and business he's involved in to recenter and refocus. In the meantime, Bryan says there are more film and TV projects of his that'll be coming out before the 2026 deadline.
He thanks his fans for the support and love over the years, promising to return.
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Zachary Quinto Kim K's Got Some Acting Chops!! 'Really Impressed' By Her 'AHS' Performance
Kim Kardashian's got some serious star power as an actress ... according to Zachary Quinto, who says he was 'really impressed' by her work on the upcoming season of “American Horror Story."
Zachary gave Kim the kind words at the recent Tribeca Film Festival premiere of his new flick "He Went That Way," which he stars in alongside "Euphoria" actor Jacob Eldori.
The 'AHS' alum not only confirmed he'll be returning to Ryan Murphy's franchise as a cameo, but says Kim did pretty damn well from what he saw ... saying "She seemed really in her element, and I was really impressed by her spirit and her openness."
He says he's extremely excited to see her work in the final product -- adding she's going to do a wonderful job. Zachary even admitted, "I don’t think she needs my advice."
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As we reported, it was revealed in April that Kim K would be joining the ranks in season 12 of "AHS," titled "Delicate" -- the big announcement also revealed Emma Roberts would be returning to the long-running series, although everyone's parts are kept under wraps.
Kim was spotted heading into a Bev Hills meeting last month with a script for the show in hand. Looks like she's taking the acting game seriously ... and according to Zachary, she definitely does.
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'Breaking Bad' Mike Batayeh Dead at 52
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Actor and comedian, Mike Batayeh, who "Breaking Bad" fans came to know as the manager at Gustavo's infamous laundromat has died ... TMZ has learned.
Mike's family tells us Batayeh died June 1 in his sleep of a heart attack while home in Michigan. His sister Diane says his death was very sudden, as he didn't have a history of heart issues.
A family statement about his passing reads, "He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many."
Mike appeared on 3 episodes from 2011 to 2012 on the award-winning AMC hit as Dennis Markowski, the manager of Lavandería Brillante industrial laundromat.
The laundromat, owned by Gustavo Fring served as a disguise for the meth lab where Bryan Cranston's Walter White and Aaron Paul's Jesse Pinkman turned out tons of product.
Apart from his work on "Breaking Bad," Mike was a successful comedian, traveling the globe and did voicework as well as made appearances on "The Bernie Mac Show," "Boy Meets World" and "CSI: Miami."
Mike is survived by 5 sisters, and tons of nephews and nieces ... we're told everyone is devastated.
He was only 52.
RIP
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'RHOA' Kim Zolciak I'll Be Back on Real Housewives ... But You Won't Hear About My Divorce!!!
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Kim Zolciak knows how to promote herself, teasing a comeback to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" on the heels of her divorce, but fans aren't gonna get the tea on her split ... TMZ has learned.
Kim shared a group pic Thursday with 'RHOA' OG cast members Sheree Whitfield, Lisa Wu and DeShawn Snow. "See you soon 🎥 @bravotv #RHOA". Of course, fans immediately began to speculate Kim was brought back on the show because of her divorce with Kroy Biermann.
Sources with direct knowledge tell us … Kim's got a cameo on the upcoming season 15 of the series, which is currently airing on Bravo. We're told Kim will appear on the show in a small capacity and when she filmed with the other ATL ladies, it was several months ago before the divorce.
Sources connected to the show tell us 'RHOA' is not currently in production and there are currently no conversations being had between Kim and producers to bring her on full-time or to cover the fallout between her and Kroy.
TMZ broke the story ... Kim and Kroy filed for divorce after 11 years and 4 kids.
As we reported, the former NFL star accused Kim of having a gambling problem and she's accused him of being a pothead who needs to take a drug test. Remember, Kroy has asked for sole physical and legal custody of their kids while Kim is asking for primary physical custody.
On top of that, the estranged couple is dealing with financial issues ... deep in the hole, owing more than $1 million to the IRS.
We covered it all in the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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'Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent Spotlight Maybe Isn't For Raquel ... But I Feel Bad After Emotional Reunion
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"Vanderpump Rules" star Lala Kent says she and her castmates might've gone too hard on Raquel Leviss during the explosive reunion finale ... but also says reality TV doesn't seem to be the best line of work for someone like Raquel.
We got Lala at LAX Thursday and she's feeling much different toward Raquel after watching Wednesday night's episode ... compared to the "dirty" feeling she had in March after the reunion filming.
She says she recognizes the work Raquel's been putting in at the mental health facility after she got pelted with attacks from her costars for the affair with Tom Sandoval behind Ariana Madix's back. Lala feels all the suffering Raquel's been going through is a sign the public spotlight isn't for her.
As you know, Raquel -- as well as Tom -- were the punching bags during the 3-part 'VPR' reunion, and Raquel eventually broke down and confessed the full accurate timeline of when she and Tom started having sex ... debunking some of Tom's claims.
She started sobbing when she admitted a huge secret -- they'd slept together in Ariana and Tom's home while Ariana was away at her grandma's funeral.
Raquel's been at a behavioral health and trauma center for more than 2 months now ... and Lala says she's really happy Raquel's getting the help she needs -- despite their fierce differences up to this point.
We covered all the 'Vanderpump Rules' drama in the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Eric Andre Drops 40 lbs., Shows off New Bod ... Jokes Dieting Not Worth it!!!
Eric André has a brand new look after shedding 40 pounds, and while he's opening up about all his sacrifices to get a ripped body ... he's less than thrilled with the process.
The comedian says he went from 213 pounds to 173 pounds, and less than 9% body fat over the span of 6 months! Impressive, no doubt, but Eric told GQ, it the changes he had to make weren't worth the end result.
He's definitely, at least partially, joking ... saying things like, "There is a reason skinny people are bitches and fat people are jolly" -- and adding, "Skinny people have f**king attitudes because they’re f**king starving."
At one point he frankly said, "I say stay fat. If you’re fat or chubby, stay that way. I felt great ... but it wasn't worth cutting out French fries."
So, why the hell did he go through with it? Eric says suffered through "boring" foods and cut out boozing with friends ... so he could slim down for the new season of "The Eric André Show," which premiered Sunday.
On his IG, he reflected on all the major diet and lifestyle changes he's made ... saying, "I'll never do a body modification again! That shit was brutal for both season."
Whether he's serious or not, there's no denying the huge transformation and his toned abs.
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Scheana Shay Rips Tom & Raquel For Banging At Her Wedding ... My Guests Caught On!!!
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Scheana Shay is shaming Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss for heating up their affair while they were in Mexico for her wedding ... claiming other guests picked up on the vibes.
We got the "Vanderpump Rules" star and her husband at LAX on the heels of the reunion show, and our photog asked if there were any surprises that came out of part two.
Scheana says they knew all the details of Tom and Raquel's scandal ... but tells us it's still pretty "disgusting" how they hooked up behind Ariana Madix's back at her wedding.
Remember ... Raquel revealed she and Tom banged multiple times during Scheana's August wedding in Mexico, which flies in the face of Tom claiming it was just a "one-night stand."
Scheana says when the cheating scandal broke, wedding guests started reaching out to tell her they noticed something strange going on between Tom and Raquel ... and everyone began connecting the dots.
Raquel and Scheana had their own beef in the wake of the scandal ... and we also asked Scheana if she feels any empathy for Raquel now that she's in a mental health treatment facility.
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John Amos Hospitalized, Daughter Claims Elder Abuse ... John, Rep Say She's Lying
12:27 PM PT -- We spoke with John Amos, who tells us the details laid out by his daughter Shannon Amos are a lie ... no one is abusing him and he hasn't been fighting for his life. He says he's got no idea as to why Shannon may have started the GoFundMe.
As for the hospitalization, John's rep, Belinda Foster, tells us he's been in the hospital because his lower body was filling with fluid, all the way to his abdomen, and causing issues with his heart. Foster says doctors have been able to drain all of it, and John's recently started to feel 100%.
"Good Times" star and "America's Dad" John Amos was left fighting for his life in the hospital after falling victim to elder abuse and possible financial crimes ... according to his daughter.
Shannon Amos just made the shocking announcement, saying she got a distressing call from her dad last month ... who informed her he was in the hospital in Memphis. Shannon says she was able to get John on a quick FaceTime -- as she was out of the country -- before his pain became unbearable.
Shannon says in the last few weeks, the Amos family has learned the 83-year-old, "Had fallen victim to elder abuse and financial exploitation."
She doesn't give details as to who is involved -- only saying a "caregiver" -- or what exactly happened to Amos, but does note, "His home had been violated, stripped of anything valuable." She also says the family is working with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and cops to get justice.
In an attempt to help her dad's recovery and help bring those allegedly responsible to justice, Shannon's set up a GoFundMe with a $500k goal. Shannon says the money will be used for John's care, legal fees, and aftercare.
While many would say John's biggest role was James in "Good Times," he also starred in "Roots" and was on "The West Wing."
We've reached out to Shannon for additional details ... so far, no word back.
Originally Published -- 11:32 AM PT
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Bam Margera Lamar Odom Joins Him Bedside in Hospital ... As He Starts Rehab
Lamar Odom is helping Bam Margera through every step of his detox and rehab process, even sitting bedside with the former "Jackass" star as he works to get better.
Check out the photos, you see Bam in a hospital bed and hooked up to several monitors as he poses with the former NBA star. Our sources say Lamar was there as Bam was discharged from a psych hold Wednesday and immediately got him into detox at one of his own facilities.
It's obviously a good sign for Bam, who has been struggling for years with his sobriety, and wants to get better for his young son, Phoenix.
After detox, our sources say the plan is for Lamar to get Bam into a rehab facility for continued care ... lucky for Bam, Lamar owns multiple rehab locations, so you gotta imagine he'll get some of the best care.
While the duo may seem unlikely, Lamar's had his eye on Bam's story for quite a while ... telling us several weeks ago he wanted to help Bam's situation. Their paths were finally able to cross when Bam was picked up by LAPD over the weekend and placed on a psych hold.
As we reported, Lamar went to visit Bam in the hospital during his mandatory hold ... and from there the two worked out the plan we now see in action.
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'Vanderpump Rules' Reunion Finale Tom And Raquel Admit They're Still In Love ... Ariana Reacts With Disgust
The "Vanderpump Rules" reunion reached its climactic conclusion Wednesday night as Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss professed their love for one another -- doing so right in front of Tom’s jilted ex Ariana Madix.
The dramatic sequence went down halfway through the third and final part of the 'VPR' Season 10 reunion when Bravo host Andy Cohen asked Raquel why she didn't slam the brakes on her affair with Tom.
Raquel said it was "almost impossible" to turn away from their relationship, prompting Andy to explore if she was in love with Tom at the time. After a tense moment, Raquel nodded and said, "Yeah."
Predictably, Ariana lost it and did some name-calling, but Raquel stayed composed and went on to admit she was still in love with Tom.
Andy then turned to Tom and questioned whether he had the same feelings for Raquel. Tom took a deep breath and thought about it for what felt like an eternity ... then he finally blurted out, “I’m sorry. Yes.”
Of course, Ariana reacted with disgust, labeling Tom and Raquel "grody" and their expressions of love as "the most pathetic thing I've ever heard." Earlier, Ariana promised to never see or speak to Raquel again after the reunion and compared her to an evil "Dementor" creature from the 'Harry Potter' films.
The other 'VPR' cast members -- Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Tom Schwartz and Lisa Vanderpump -- chimed in from time to time, but it was mostly the Tom, Ariana and Raquel show.
As for Scheana Shay, she watched the fireworks on TV from a nearby trailer because of Raquel's restraining order against her. That matter has since been resolved after Raquel dropped the whole thing.
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Don Lemon CNN Return Wouldn't Be Surprise After Chris Licht Firing
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Don Lemon might be able to make a return to CNN after the firing of former CEO Chris Licht ... as folks in Don's world would not be surprised if the network reaches out in the near future.
Sources familiar tell TMZ ... the potential reversal of fortune wouldn't be shocking due to the well-documented and long-standing tensions between Chris and Don.
As we reported, Chris took over as CNN's head honcho in May 2022 and clashed with Don many times about things Don said on-air, as well as an outfit choice Don made for the premiere of "CNN This Morning."
You'll recall, Don claimed he was completely blindsided by his April termination after 17 years with CNN, coyly saying ... "It is clear that there are some larger issues at play."
Many insiders saw that as a not-so-subtle way of saying Licht was fighting for his own job. Obviously, it's been less than a day since his ouster, so none of the execs at CNN have reached out to Don or his people just yet.
What's more, Amy Entelis, CNN's Executive VP for Talent and Content Development, has been tapped as one of the network's interim leaders, and she's someone Don's been close with for nearly 15 years.
Meanwhile, Don's doing exactly what he said he would ... taking the summer off from work, but we're told he's still entertaining all meetings, and is open to hearing out all options.
Never say never.
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'Vanderpump Rules' Tom Schwartz I'm Taking a Break from Sandoval ... Haven't Spoken to Him!!!
Tom Schwartz seemed to be one of the only folks sticking by Tom Sandoval's side in the wake of the affair but now, even he's taking a step away ... saying he hasn't seen or spoken to his pal in a while.
The "Vanderpump Rules" star was on Wednesday's episode of "When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany", and he got candid about where things stand with his longtime buddy and business partner ... now that the whole 'Scandoval' has hit the fan.
Schwartz tells the hosts, he pretty much felt caught in the middle of the entire thing and became an "unfortunate confidant" for Sandoval while he was having an affair ... but that's no longer the case.
He made it clear, he feels super-exploited by someone he called a friend ... adding, he hasn't seen or spoken to Sandoval in quite some time. Schwartz says he still loves Sandoval but the bottom line is, he can't support what he did.
It doesn't sound like the Toms are on great terms right now ... because Schwartz flat-out says Sandoval made a huge mess and needs to take more accountability for his actions. He also added, Sandoval needs to drop his ego and apologize without making up excuses.
As you know, Sandoval has come under fire since word got out he was cheating with his girlfriend of 10 years, Ariana Madix, with their friend/costar Raquel Leviss.
Up until this point, Schwartz was one of the few people to maintain a friendship with Sandoval ... despite other castmates pressuring him to cut him off.
You'll recall, things got super messy when the other 'VPR' stars found out Schwartz may have known more about the affair than he led on.
Now though, he's picking a side and he's making it super clear.
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'America's Got Talent' Winner Michael Grimm Sedated By Doctors After Mystery Health Issue
Michael Grimm, famous for taking home the title on "America's Got Talent" season 5, is sedated and in intensive care after a mystery health issue.
The singer's wife, Lucie Zolcerva-Grimm, says Michael has been hospitalized since Memorial Day and remains unconscious, though he's finally breathing on his own again.
Michael's wife says the root of the issue is not clear ... but he had not been feeling well for a while, lacking energy and having a tough time finishing his recent performances.
She says things reached a head last month when he became increasingly sick. Michael's wife says he could barely walk and couldn't lift his head, so she rushed him to the emergency room, where things got worse.
Michael's wife says his blood pressure skyrocketed when he got to the ER and he started talking gibberish, so he was rushed to the ICU ... where he remains.
Doctors put Michael on a ventilator and sedated him, his wife says, and he's only recently been taken off the ventilator ... though he's still sedated.
Michael's wife says most of his upcoming shows this month have been canceled ... noting he will not only need to regain consciousness but also undergo physical therapy because he's been bedridden for over a week.
What's more, she says Michael has no voice and will have to undergo vocal chord repair due to his time on a ventilator. While the situation sounds dire, Michael's wife says fans shouldn't panic because he has great doctors.
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'Dubai Bling' Star Kris Fade Expecting 1st Baby With Wife Brianna ... After Health Issues
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"Dubai Bling" stars Kris Fade and his wife Brianna's dream has come true -- she's pregnant with their first child ... something they feared wouldn't happen due to some serious health concerns.
Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Brianna is pregnant, and she's close to the end of her first trimester.
The news is particularly special because Brianna recently opened up about being diagnosed with Graves' Disease, which caused her to have Hyperthyroidism. She also developed fibroids ... causing the couple to put off trying for a baby for a while.
However, Brianna recently explained on TikTok her thyroid levels and her vitamin deficiencies are leveled, and she's off all medication.
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Just last month Kris, who hosts the no.1 radio show in Dubai, reflected on his 2019 engagement to Brianna ... saying they were hoping to start a family. It's unclear if he already knew she was pregnant at that time, and just didn't want to jinx it.
Kris has 2 daughters from a previous relationship -- and he and Brianna are hoping for a boy this time around.
Their lavish 2022 wedding was featured in the first season of "Dubai Bling." Fans will get the inside scoop on their pregnancy in the new season, which began filming earlier this year.
Congrats!