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Dramatizations of infamous serial killers use real pain to make a quick buck, and "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" is just the latest show to do it ... so says a prominent filmmaker with a connection to the series.

We spoke to Osgood Perkins -- son of the legendary actor and star of "Psycho," Anthony Perkins -- about the new series ... because his dad plays a prominent role in at least one episode.

If you haven't seen the show, or know about the story, then spoiler alert ... Ed Gein's a vicious real-life killer and necrophiliac whom Robert Bloch -- the writer of the novel "Psycho" -- loosely based his main character, Norman Bates, on. Perkins played the character in the Alfred Hitchcock film classic.

Jimmy Fallon is heartbroken ... revealing his beloved family dog has passed away.

On IG Monday, the talk show host posted sweet snaps of their pup Gary -- writing a heartfelt tribute about how the silence at home feels deafening without her ... but that it’s slowly being filled with stories, laughter, and a few sniffles.

Jimmy even shared a few of those memories -- calling the unforgettable pup their "first baby, a therapist, a pillow, a big sister, a schoolmarm, a comedian, a party girl and a rebel" all rolled into one.

Jimmy first introduced Gary to his IG followers way back in 2012 -- so it’s clear she’s been a huge part of the family’s life for over a decade.

"The Real Housewives of Potomac" cast is really going through it ... and Keiarna Stewart dished to Andy Cohen about how she really feels about Dr. Wendy Osefo after her fraud arrest.

Keiarna said, "I was shocked, and to be honest, I was also a little bit disappointed ... All I have to say is, thoughts and prayers for Wendy at this time, because it's sad."

As you know, Wendy and her husband Eddie were arrested earlier this month and booked in Maryland on multiple counts of insurance fraud.

Wendy Osefo is speaking out for the first time since she and her husband, Eddie were arrested on a slew of fraud charges and she's leaning on faith and fashion to make her point.

"The Real Housewives of Potomac" star took to Instagram Sunday, posting two glamor shots of herself in a plunging black gown, writing ... "And through it all, GOD remains faithful."

She continued, "Thank you for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers for myself and most importantly my family during this time. We are forever grateful🙏🏾."

Sabrina Carpenter turned "Saturday Night Live" into Saturday Night Lust ... delivering a monologue so cheeky, it probably broke a few FCC rules.

Then came audience interaction time which, in true Sabrina fashion, quickly turned sexual. She flirted with a fan named Will from Maryland saying, "Ooh, what a sexy, unusual place," but bailed when he revealed he works in venture capital. "Okay, never mind,” she said.

The singer didn't waste a second poking fun at her reputation, telling the crowd, "Everyone thinks of me as this, like, horndog pop star. But there's so much more to me. I'm not just horny ... I'm also turned on and sexually charged."

"Real Housewives of Potomac" star Dr. Wendy Osefo’s fraud arrest last week shocked fans -- but Claudia Jordan says if you’re a reality star, you better move carefully ... 'cause the spotlight means extra eyes on everything you do!

TMZ caught up with Claudia in NYC on Friday, and she told us Wendy’s bust isn’t about having a target on your back -- it’s simple, you can’t cheat the system. But if you slip up, she says, authorities love turning reality stars into the perfect example.

Catch the full clip -- 'cause Claudia breaks it down even more ... saying she’s actually a big fan of Wendy, and hopes she and her hubby Eddie learned their lesson after the arrest.

Prosecutors charged Wendy with 16 offenses -- including 7 felonies. Eddie was slapped with 18 charges -- 9 of which are felonies.

Sarah Paulson is still mourning the sudden loss of Hollywood icon Diane Keaton ... she was nearly brought to tears fielding questions about Keaton's legacy.

Paulson told Access Hollywood Thursday ... "She was a very dear friend of mine, so it's not something I'm able to talk about yet."

While the pain is still raw for Paulson, she did muster up the courage to offer one special detail about the late Oscar winner ... "What you thought she was as a performer ... she was even more spectacular as a human being. And I was the luckiest person in the world to have had her in my life they way that I did."

Kim Kardashian may play a hotshot lawyer in Ryan Murphy's new legal drama "All's Fair" ... but she looked like a Hollywood starlet at the show's L.A. premiere Thursday night!

As you can see, she stunned on the red carpet in a sleeveless silver dress that fit her contours like a glove on top and featured a draped skirt below. She styled her jet-black hair in a sleek updo.

She radiated confidence as she stood alongside her proud mom Kris Jenner, who dressed in a fun yellow dress adorned with an extra-large black bow for the big night.

Katie Thurston refuses to see her cancer diagnosis as terminal ... especially after the viral rumors about her death hit her hard when they started circulating in August.

We caught up with the former 'Bachelorette' after her appearance on "Good Morning America" Tuesday ... and, we had to ask how she was doing after the online rumor of her passing swept the internet.

Thurston says the early part of the death hoax was the hardest ... and, she tells anyone who might experience it to "show up for yourself" -- adding it's all part of the highs and lows of navigating cancer.

ESPN's long-running morning show "First Take" is officially getting some new blood ... because Shae Cornette just signed on to serve as the host of the hit program.

The network confirmed the selection in a statement to Front Office Sports, and Executive Vice President David Roberts said Shae would be a "great addition" to the show's cast.

Stephen A. Smith also spoke about her hiring, describing her as a "pro’s pro" on Thursday's episode of the show.

Shae isn't unfamiliar to "First Take" fans ... she's been a fixture on the program since September. She's set to make her official debut on November 3, according to Variety.

Cornette worked with ESPN for several years, and she's been an anchor on "SportsCenter,"  which she'll finish on October 25th.

Shae's being brought in to replace longtime host Molly Qerim, who abruptly announced she'd be leaving the program last month, according to the New York Post.

David Del Rio is exploring legal options after he was fired from 'Matlock' following an accusation of the sexual assault of a costar ... and TMZ has learned there is a lot more to his side of the story that's forthcoming.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... David, his wife and his team are having ongoing conversations with lawyers about the situation.

TMZ broke the story ... David was escorted off the Paramount lot and fired from the hit drama reboot earlier this month ... after Leah Lewis accused him of sexually assaulting her on the Paramount lot.

Robert Irwin's emotional dance on "Dancing with the Stars" left no dry eyes in the ballroom ... as he paid homage to his mother.

The 21-year-old and his partner took the floor to Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" ... all part of the show's "Dedication Night," when celebs pay tribute to someone special.

In his confessional, Robert explained how his mom, Terri, "always made sure my dad was present in our lives" ... opening up about how he struggled after losing his late father, Steve Irwin. With that, he wanted to show his mother the gratitude he feels for her.

Jillian Michaels is doubling down and defending her work on "The Biggest Loser" ... she says the reality weight loss competition show wasn't unhealthy and says she's got the data to back it up.

The show -- and Jillian -- have been under fire recently over the show's weight loss methods and Jillian's speaking out in a new interview with Women's Health.

Jillian had this to say about 'TBL' in her sit-down with the outlet ... "If you say it's unrealistic, I totally agree. But if you say it's unhealthy, I'd disagree, and I have the data to back it up."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had plenty of folks worried when the news that a worm had burrowed into his brain made headlines in 2024 ... but now his wife, Cheryl Hines, is downplaying the whole situation -- as best she can, at least.

The actress stopped by "The View" on Tuesday for a conversation with the show's hosts ... which ended up being pretty contentious at certain points.

However, the interview ended on sort of a high note, because Joy Behar asked Cheryl if her husband still had the brain worm ... and she confirmed the invader was dead and gone.

Oh, and she claimed the worm had only eaten "a little bit" of her husband's brain and died.

The news about RFK Jr.'s brain worm went wide when The New York Times published a story regarding his history with the pesky pest last year.

Although he's never specified what kind of parasite he ended up getting in his brain, there's a condition known as neurocysticercosis ... which is what happens when larvae from pork tapeworms reach the brain and form cysts, and can lead to a range of complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic ... it's pretty gnarly stuff, we know.

4:30 PM PT -- A rep for Wendy tells TMZ ... "Contrary to recent media reports, Dr. Wendy Osefo was not terminated from a faculty position at Wesleyan University. She formally submitted her letter of resignation prior to any public announcement made by the university."

They added ... "Dr. Osefo made the voluntary decision to step down from her role. This decision was made independently and communicated directly to the university before any external reports surfaced."

1:23 PM PT -- Wesleyan University now tells TMZ that Wendy resigned from her position at the university.

More bad news for "The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Dr. Wendy Osefo ... she and her husband Eddie were booked on fraud charges Friday ... and today TMZ has learned she's also lost her job.

Wendy had been a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Sociology at Wesleyan University, but the school released a statement to TMZ Tuesday, writing simply, "Wendy Osefo is no longer an employee of Wesleyan University."

In addition to Wesleyan in Connecticut, Wendy also taught at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland before resigning in 2024. She has degrees from Temple University and Johns Hopkins, and a Ph.D. in public affairs and community development from Rutgers.

Stacey Rusch's castmates on "The Real Housewives of Potomac" aren't convinced she actually got divorced from her husband Thiemo Rusch ... but TMZ did some digging and it looks like the divorce is legit.

Here's the deal ... Stacey got called out on a recent episode of 'RHOP' by fellow castmates who claimed she was fudging divorce docs, but court records appear to confirm Stacey is telling the truth.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Stacey and Thiemo divorced last year and it says there was a final decree entered on the docket on December 16, although it remains under seal.