Posted Sep 16th 2008 1:10PM by TMZ Staff
Two strippers have filed a class action lawsuit against several strip clubs, alleging they'd do better financially picking grapes in a field.
Demetria Ann Leshay and Roxanne Roberts allege they're basically working for free, dancing at Starz, First King, and King Henry VIII. They claim they're essentially working for tips, and part of that gets kicked back to management. The lawsuit alleges they're not even getting minimum wage. To add insult to injury, they're required to work for five hours at a time without a meal break. Oh, the humanity.
One thing the clubs do pay for: An L.A. county "sheriff's permit" for each girl to bump and grind. You need a sheriff's permit to strip?
Then there's this: The lawyer for the strippers cite a court case, ruling that dancers can be considered full-time employees even though they're "transient" and "lacked specialized skills." Patrons would beg to differ.
Filed under: The Biz, Wacky & Weird
Posted Aug 20th 2008 11:54AM by TMZ Staff
Jonas Brothers, meet jumpable shark.
That's the buzz after flaccid first-week sales of "A Little Bit Longer," which, according to Billboard, fell short of the big numbers. The projections were for 600k-plus and as many as 725, but they came in at 515,000.
In the perspective department, Lil' Wayne did well over a mil in the first week, but Jordin Sparks -- she won "American Idol," memba? Her grand total -- 119,000.
Filed under: Music, The Biz
Posted Jun 3rd 2008 8:13PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained the 911 call when the Universal backlot caught fire, and the dispatcher has a little trouble wrapping her head around the fact that there's such a thing as New York Street in So. Cal.
Filed under: Movies, The Biz, Meltdowns
Posted May 22nd 2008 1:37PM by TMZ Staff
So everyone knows that Diddy is the new $100 mil brand-builder (don't say spokesman!) for Ciroc vodka -- but a source tells TMZ that the folks who make Ciroc are pissed that he's still quaffing 1800 Tequila like water.
Puff stands to make a fortune from his multi-year Ciroc deal, but the man does love his 1800 -- we hear he's been ordering it everywhere from Nobu to Prive, and Ciroc's parent Diageo -- who paid him to pump out the hooch -- isn't happy.
Neither P.'s peeps nor a Diageo rep got back to us with comment.
Filed under: The Biz
Posted Apr 8th 2008 5:15PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned that there's a skeevy bastard out there who's pretending to be "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin to try to get into girls' pants -- and he's apparently gotten good enough that a note went out to agents and actors last month warning them against the skeezer.
One veteran manager tells TMZ that the fake Ellin called him back in 2006 wanting to meet a specific and very hot female client of his that very night for a role for the upcoming season of the show. "The guy knew more than enough about the show, and Mark Wahlberg, and particular members of the crew to convince me," says this manager. He also knew the name of Ellin's assistant, casting peeps and future storylines.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: TV, The Biz, Wacky & Weird, Entourage
Posted Apr 3rd 2008 12:13PM by TMZ Staff
Diane Sawyer might want to take another look at her rice pilaf at lunch -- the ABC-Disney cafeteria in New York has a mouse problem, and we're not talkin' about Mickey!
That's what the NYC Health Department said in their last inspection of the joint, giving the ABC cafeteria 20 violations, including -- gag -- "evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas," as TVNewser uncovers. NBC got cited for "food item spoiled ... contaminated or cross-contaminated" and CNN had "sanitized equipment" issues -- probably not referring to Anderson Cooper. (28 violations will get you shut down.)
FOX doesn't have a caf, so the staff eats at Wendy's in the basement. Guess what? The grease pit had fewer violations than any of the news commissaries. An ABC rep tells TMZ it's "looking into" the problem.
Filed under: TV, The Biz, Wacky & Weird
Posted Mar 17th 2008 10:45AM by TMZ Staff
Maria Shriver got paid a fortune by NBC over the last three years -- even though she worked exactly once for the network since 2004.
According to "statements of economic interest" filed in Cal-ee-for-nia, NBC shelled out "between $100,000 and $1 million," the L.A. Times reports, in each of the last three years, as part of an "exit agreement. " The network was uncomfortable about Mrs. Schwarzenegger reporting news while Arnold served as Governor and took her off "Dateline NBC" back in February 2004.
NBC felt there was a conflict of interest because she became first lady of Calif. -- so what's the deal with the sweetheart arrangement? Interesting.
Maria's chief of staff, Daniel Zingale, confirmed the payments to the Times, though he didn't indicate what her total windfall was. NBC was mum.
Filed under: TV, The Biz
Posted Mar 10th 2008 11:10AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned that a big New York PR shop hired P. Diddy's former chief of staff to be their marketing point man in Sundance -- only to see the guy totally ditch them on the first day of the festival!
In a lawsuit filed in New York, 5W Public Relations alleges that Akil Rucker took the post of Director of Marketing -- and a $250,000 budget -- to get the party started for several of the firm's clients at the Sundance Film Festival.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, The Biz
Posted Mar 5th 2008 12:33PM by TMZ Staff
Remember that vid making the rounds of Kanye and Beyonce playing Connect Four in K's dressing room? Looks like Kanye wasn't kidding about being a Connect Four junkie. Pretty sneaky!
TMZ has scoped his concert rider, and it demands a Connect Four setup in his dressing room at every show, even though he travels with a set. (Never know when you might lose a black piece!) And even Jay-Z's getting Connect-ed: There's new video of him playing with a pal, too.
Other than that, though, Kanye's list of must-have's is more triathlete than rap star: Lots of grilled chicken, steamed veggies, and lowfat chips. However, you'll be glad to know that the "male band" room has to be stocked with a bottle of hand lotion along with the catering.
Filed under: Music, The Biz, Wacky & Weird
Posted Jan 21st 2008 1:20PM by TMZ Staff
In the '70s, Donny Most played practical joker Ralph Malph on "Happy Days." Guess what he looks like now!
Filed under: The Biz, Beauty, 'Memba Them?!
Posted Dec 24th 2007 11:40AM by TMZ Staff
Hyde had an impressive run as the "It" Hollywood club, but it's time for a new top hotspot in town. Sorry, Alfonso Ribeiro!
Villa is a West Hollywood club that's so exclusive, you have to be invited by one of the owners or investors. Celebrity patrons TMZ has spotted so far include Matthew Perry, Wesley Snipes, Avril Lavigne,Orlando Bloom and Leonardo DiCaprio. In fact, they won't even valet your car until the doorman says it's okay!
This could make getting denied from Hyde a little less embarrassing ... but not much.
Filed under: The Biz, Life Style, Star Catcher
Posted Nov 14th 2007 2:57PM by TMZ Staff
Rumer Willis at the Golden Globes? You betcha!
In fact, the celebuspawn of Bruce and Demi was picked to be this year's Miss Golden Globes -- which means she'll get to help hand out those shiny gold statues. What could possibly go wrong?
Perhaps it will inspire her to make, er, different decisions about her own acting career.
Rumey will next be seen in the comedy "I Know What Boys Like" -- about a Playboy bunny who gets kicked out of the Mansion and joins a sorority.
Filed under: The Biz, Awards/Awards Shows
Posted Nov 12th 2007 2:58PM by TMZ Staff
The Jackson family is stuck in development hell -- at least their new reality series is.
Last spring, CBS ordered 8 episodes of "Pop Dynasty," a competition to find the next superstar music family. Jermaine Jackson was listed as executive producer, and was all set to judge alongside brother Tito and sister LaToya. Then nothing happened.
"It's still in development," producer Steve Kroopnick tells TMZ. "We are hoping it will come to fruition at some point, but right now, nothing is happening ... it is for purely financial reasons."
Filed under: TV, The Biz
Posted Oct 26th 2007 12:15PM by TMZ Staff
Reality shows capture real people in their real environs, doing their everyday real things -- with the help of several cameras, boom mics, light filters, multiple takes and story outlines! Lights. Camera. Acting?!
Photographers snapped LC and Whitney -- and a few of their closest "Hills" production staff friends -- enjoying lunch on Thursday. Pretend we're not here!
It's just like a documentary -- and wrestling, Jerry Springer and infomercials!
Filed under: The Biz, Wacky & Weird, The Hills
Posted Oct 10th 2007 11:23AM by TMZ Staff
Today marks three years since Christopher Reeve died -- nine years after he suffered a paralyzing injury when he was thrown from a horse. His wife Dana died of cancer in 2006. Seems like just yesterday when Superman saved the world!
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation continues the work of the heroic couple, supporting spinal cord research and therapies for people living with paralysis.
Filed under: Movies, The Biz
