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Lauren Conrad turned the big 4-0 earlier this month -- but her birthday bash brought her all the way back to her high school days on 'Laguna Beach.'

The former star of the popular reality show enjoyed a high school-themed 40th bday bash, which captured the spirit of her actual high school prom that was filmed for one of the "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" episodes from 2004.

On Friday, Lauren posted a carousel of Instagram photos from her "Senior, Senior Prom" soiree and, as you can see, she's beaming from ear to ear with all of her friends and her musician husband William Tell.

Lou Diamond Phillips is sharing Tim Robinson's secret sauce ... he says the reason "The Chair Company" is a hit is because it's so relatable.

We got Tim's costar on the HBO series at LAX and our photog asked him why folks are going nuts over Tim's latest offering.

Lou says pretty much everyone can relate to being on hold for hours on end trying to get some customer service ... and he says that's the reason 'Chair Company' is now in the national zeitgeist.

Huda Mustafa is showing love to her ride-or-dies who stood by her when things got messy ... thanking fans for sticking with her through last year's racial slur controversy.

TMZ caught up with the "Love Island" star Thursday at the Runway 7 fashion show at Sony Hall in NYC, where she made it clear she hasn’t forgotten the support she received after the backlash involving her and boyfriend Louis Russell’s livestream.

You'll remember, Huda apologized at the time after laughing when a caller used the N-word -- explaining she was caught off guard. And it's clear the whole ordeal turned into a major learning moment for her, telling us she's grateful fans rode with her through the highs and lows.

"90 Day Fiancé" star Elizabeth Castravet’s father, Chuck Potthast, died from blunt force injuries after falling in a bathtub, TMZ has learned.

TMZ has obtained docs from the Hillsborough County, Florida Medical Examiner ... and Chuck’s cause of death in November was listed as blunt impact injuries to the face and neck, including facial lacerations and a fractured C6 vertebra. The report also notes positional asphyxia as a factor.

The medical examiner listed chronic alcohol use, liver cirrhosis, and acute alcohol intoxication as contributing causes ... meaning he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol before the fall.

We want you to be a part of TMZ, so every weekday, between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM PT, we take you inside our newsroom via live stream.

You never know what you're gonna get ... a big story that breaks, an argument erupts in the room, or someone's just joking around.

Your comments are a big part of the stream, and the staff spends a lot of time speaking directly to you. Every day is different!

Television is going the way of the dodo, a popular influencer says ... because streaming is on the way to usurp the old mass media technology.

We caught up with Yonna Jay -- a TikToker with nearly 4 million followers on the platform -- at an event in Hollywood earlier this week ... and, we asked her what she sees in the future of streaming.

YJ says people are all obsessed with seeing what everyone else is doing 24/7 ... so, she imagines a world where TV is totally replaced by the new medium.

Andy Cohen is reacting to the Jill Zarin firing ... and he says he knew it was bad when a fabrics company with a family connection to Jill came out hard against her on social media.

The Bravo host addressed Jill's recent firing from the E! reunion show "The Golden Life" on his radio show ... and he says what sent things over the edge for him was an Instagram post from Zarin Fabrics.

As you know ... Jill got canned for her controversial comments on the Bad Bunny performance at the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. Some folks took her comments on Bad Bunny singing in Spanish as racist. She also lamented a lack of white people in the production.

The GoFundMe set up for James Van Der Beek's widow and his family is surging towards the $2 million mark ... and Steven Spielberg just gave it a serious boost.

The legendary director and wife Kate Capshaw dropped a massive $25,000 donation ... quickly landing the coveted "top donation" spot on the page set up to help James' family cover crushing cancer treatment costs.

Spielberg’s connection to James runs deep ... he was famously the filmmaking idol of James’ character Dawson Leery on "Dawson's Creek," and even showed up to the show's reunion last September while James battled his illness.

Jill Zarin is out at the 'RHONY' reunion show "The Golden Life," but producers aren't looking to fill her big shoes, at least as of now ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... producers currently have no plans to replace Jill on the E! series after she was fired this week over her controversial statements about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, which many people found to be racist.

We're told the show's producers feel the remaining women are more than capable of carrying the show and don't need anyone else to take over Jill's spot.

Our sources also tell us fans could still see familiar faces from past RHONY seasons because there's chatter about cameos during filming. Speaking of former cast members, Dorinda Medley has just joined the reunion show ... but not as a full-time cast member, as of now.

We want you to be a part of TMZ, so every weekday, between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM PT, we take you inside our newsroom via live stream.

You never know what you're gonna get ... a big story that breaks, an argument erupts in the room, or someone's just joking around.

Your comments are a big part of the stream, and the staff spends a lot of time speaking directly to you. Every day is different!

Kevin Williamson -- the creator of "Dawson's Creek" -- is thanking fans for their outpouring of support after James Van Der Beek's death ... while also promising to be there for his widow, Kimberly.

The writer and director shared a heartfelt tribute to his late friend Thursday morning ... telling fans he's truly felt the love since we broke the new of Van Der Beek's Wednesday.

Williamson says he's trying to put into words what James meant to to him, but he hasn't been able to capture the brilliance of the late star with words ... and, he's not sure when those words might come.

"Dancing With the Stars" pro Emma Slater saw her 'DWTS' partner James Van Der Beek just days before his death ... and she expressed her gratitude for their final meeting in an emotional tribute to the late actor.

Emma was paired with Van Der Beek in Season 28 of the dancing competition show in 2019, and she posted her favorite pic from their season to Instagram on Wednesday, calling him her "big brother."

She wrote ... "All those who had the pleasure of having you in their lives are blessed. Forever changed by your brilliance. We got to have these beautiful years sharing life together. It started with being dance partners and I was beyond excited to be dancing with you, and it continued into the deepest of friendships."

Christine Quinn's "Selling Sunset" chapter could be reopening ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... production for the Netflix hit series is gauging Christine's interest in a possible return for Season 10, asking whether she'd consider coming back.

We're told premature conversations have taken place and are ongoing ... but nothing is official, and no contracts have been signed.

Christine starred on the show from Seasons 1 through 5 and quickly became one of its most polarizing personalities, known for her over-the-top fashion, sharp tongue, and explosive feuds with Chrishell Stause, Mary Fitzgerald, Heather Rae El Moussa, and Emma Hernan.

Nicole Curtis is addressing the controversy surrounding HGTV pulling her show "Rehab Addict" from its platforms following the release of leaked footage showing her using a racial slur during filming.

Curtis tells TMZ ... "I want to be clear: the word in question is wrong and not part of my vocabulary and never has been, and I apologize to everyone." She tells us she was unaware of HGTV's decision to pull the plug on her show on the same day it was set to return to air after a hiatus.

Despite the surprising split, she tells us, "I'm grateful for the 15-year journey we've shared. It's been a meaningful chapter, but my focus isn't on my career. My focus, at this moment is rightfully on my relationships, and my community -- the people who truly know my character and where my heart is."

Tributes are pouring in for James Van Der Beek following his death today at 48 -- with celebs making their heartbreak loud and clear.

Derek Hough shared an emotional IG post sending prayers to James’ wife and children, while Sarah Michelle Gellar reflected on growing up alongside him. Noah Beck posted a still with James from the comedy "Sidelined: The QB and Me," writing simply, "Bye for now."

Alfonso Ribeiro paid a lengthy tribute to his 'true friend, brother and life guide," while Rumer Willis shared a link to a GoFundMe set up by James' family and friends to help cover his medical bills.

James Van Der Beek's family says his declining health and his death brought on significant financial strain ... and now a crowdfunding page has been set up to help pay the bills.

James' wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, said on Instagram her friends organized a GoFundMe with a $500,000 goal ... and it's already crossed $200,000 in donations ... including a $1,000 pledge from 'DWTS' pro and EXTRA host Derek Hough.

We broke the story ... James died today at 48.