Former American Idol Finalist Injured in Car Crash

Asia'h got to the final 16 during her run in 2008 ... the same year David Cook won the competition. more on this story

Lip Sync Accusation Excuse: Singing Over My Own Voice

(TMZ) Singer Jeremih is adamant ... he did NOT lip sync at a spring break concert Wednesday night -- when he was pelted with drinks -- telling TMZ, he just sang loudly over a recording of his own voice.

According to Jeremih, the situation wasn't ideal regardless -- because the promoters didn't adequately prepare the stage or provide the right equipment for J to perform.

Jeremih tells us, he was late on stage because the crew wasn't ready for him to perform -- but the crowd was chanting his name anyway ... so he decided to make do with what he could.

Big mistake -- because Jeremih says the equipment backfired ... playing his vocal track much louder than he wanted ... making it look like he was trying to lip sync, when he wasn't.

As for the bottle attack -- Jeremih says a girl threw her underwear at him and the girl's boyfriend got jealous, hurling a bottle at Jeremih in retaliation. Jeremih walked off soon after.

Jeremih called the whole thing "a horrible experience" -- and adds, "I would never lip sync period. I am way too talented to do that. I am not the type of artist that has no voice." more on this story

Paris Hilton Escapes Brawl

(TMZ) Paris Hilton left Madeo in the nick of time ... 'cause as she was pulling out of the restaurant in her red Ferrari last week ... a HUGE brawl broke out in the middle of the street ... and it was all captured on tape.

It all started when a valet and a paparazzo (not ours) ... started yelling at each other ... and the valet straight up BITCH SLAPS the pap right in the face.

The pap drops his gear and goes after the valet ... and during the melee, they knock into a man and his date ... who had just finished dining and were waiting at the valet stand.

The male patron flips out ... and unleashes a fists-of-fury style beatdown on the photog ... while his date calmly gets into the waiting car.

After the pap runs out of steam, the patron moves to get into his waiting Mercedes ... but not before yelling out one final taunt.

No word if the patron ever got around to tipping the valet. more on this story

Mike Tyson Going Broadway?

(TMZ) Mike Tyson is best known for taking a bite out of a guy's ear, but now he has his sights set on taking a bite of the Big Apple -- he wants to take his one-man Las Vegas show ... to Broadway!

Sources close to the boxing legend tell TMZ that even though the show has yet to open in Sin City, Iron Mike wants to take it on tour and then tackle the Great White Way. We're told Tyson has always wanted to do a show on Broadway, and he feels this could be his chance.

According to our sources, Tyson and his people are waiting to see how the Vegas show sells first before planning a tour of any kind (with NYC being the main stop). We're told the show has sold well so far, but hasn't sold out yet.

"Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth" runs from April 13-18 at the MGM Grand. more on this story

Madonna Previews Another New MDNA Song

(popmusiclife) Madonna continues to share previews of material from her new album, "MDNA," due out March 26.

Over the weekend, the pop superstar posted the full song "I F-ed Up" (hear it here), and then offered up a preview of another new track, "Best Friend."

The techno-based tune chugs along as Madonna sings, "Your picture is off my wall / But I'm still waiting for your call / And every man that walks through that door / Will be compared to you forevermore / I have no regrets / 'Cause I survived our biggest test / I can't lie and I won't pretend / I feel like I lost my very best friend." Listen here.

L.A. Lakers Da Da Dad Danta Da Sued?

(TMZ) The Los Angeles Lakers are accused of ripping off the famous "charge cheer," which sports enthusiasts know as "Da Da Dad Danta Da."

Bobby Kent claims he concocted the chant in 1980, while he was working as a musical director for the San Diego Chargers. Kent says he liked it so much, he immediately registered the copyright for the song.

Kent claims when he realized the Lakers were using his tune at its games, he contacted management in 2010 and they paid him $3,000 for a one-year license.

That license, Kent says, has expired, but the beat goes on ... and he's angry enough to sue. Kent is asking for $150,000 for every time the Lakers used the song since the license allegedly expired.

But we've done some independent research here at TMZ which may or may not affect Kent's claim he wrote the "charge" ditty. First, "The Flintsones" TV show used it back in the '60s.

Also, a similar "charge" bugle call was used in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava during the Crimean War in 1854. more on this story

Hot Chip Plan North American Tour

(PH) Hot Chip will be crossing the pond and hitting the road for some North American summer tour dates.

The British quintet will make stops in North America in July and September, including a date at Brooklyn's Prospect Park Bandshell on July 18th.

The band have also unveiled "Flutes", the first track from their forthcoming fifth album, In Our Heads (released on Domino on June 12th). more on this story

Russell Brand Facing Felony Charge For iPhone Toss

(TMZ) Russell Brand was NOT arrested for a misdemeanor last week ... turns out it was a FELONY, and the late Steve Jobs may be to blame.

We did some digging and just found out ... in Louisiana property damage that exceeds $500 triggers a felony arrest.

You'll recall, Brand allegedly snatched a photog's iPhone Monday night and hurled it through a plate glass window. The iPhone alone costs more than $500.

Here's the irony ... Russell tweeted a few days ago, "Since Steve Jobs died I cannot bear to see anyone use an iPhone irreverently, what I did was a tribute to his memory."

Steve Jobs famously believed he could charge a lot for the iPhone -- and did. And now Russell is paying dearly for it.

The felony -- simple criminal damage -- is punishable by a maximum of 2 years in prison.

Now prosecutors must decide whether to go forward and file felony charges. more on this story

Booted American Idol Jermaine Jones Finds Forgiveness

(TMZ) God's a lot more forgiving than "American Idol" -- TMZ has learned, the hometown church where Jermaine Jones grew up singing choir still welcomes him with open arms ... despite his checkered past.

TMZ broke the story, "Idol" producers terminated Jermaine's run on the show after discovering the singer had 4 warrants out for his arrest -- and gave multiple fake names to cops.

But Reverend George Holland at Green Grove Baptist Church in NJ isn't so quick to rush to judgment -- telling TMZ, he has known Jermaine since he was a boy ... explaining, "He's well-loved and accepted here. We serve a forgiving God. Everyone has made mistakes in their lives. Hopefully when you make those mistakes you've learned from them and become a better person."

Rev. Holland adds, "I don't know exactly what the charges are so I can't comment on that, but as far as welcoming him back ... there's nothing out there he could've done to make us not welcome him back." more on this story

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries Annulment Hits A Snag

(TMZ) Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are both willing to end their marriage with an annulment, but each is insisting that the other confess to fraud -- and that's what is holding up their settlement.

Sources connected to the former couple tell TMZ ... Kim would be happy to annul the marriage, if Kris will admit he defrauded her by promising to live with her in Hollywood and then demanding that she move to Minnesota -- something we told you about last October.

As we first reported, Kris wants Kim to admit fraud -- that she never had any intention of making this a real marriage ... something Kim has adamantly denied.

We're told Kim will open the vault and spend anything it takes to win this case if Kris insists that she confesses fraud.

As for money ... we've already told you Kris is demanding $7 million from Kim -- something Kim thinks is absurd since he MADE money off the wedding and the reality show PLUS they have a prenup which gives Kris a big fat zero. more on this story

Plaxico Burress Appealing Accident Judgment

(TMZ) Free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress is looking for his next contract -- and in the meantime he's looking to avoid having to shell out six figures by appealing a judge's ruling against him.

As TMZ first reported, Plax lost a lawsuit in January stemming from a car accident back in 2008 and a judge awarded the victim, Alise Smith, $125,000 for her troubles.

Plax has now filed for an appeal challenging the judgment. Smith's lawyer, Anthony Quackenbush, feels it won't do any good. He tells TMZ, "The jury's verdict was thus a just one and went a long way towards compensating Mrs. Smith for her injuries. I am confident the Appellate Court won't overturn that decision."

A judge has yet to rule. more on this story

Real Housewives of Orange County Engagement Staged For Show?

(TMZ) "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Gretchen Rossi is telling friends ... Tamra Barney's new engagement is based on a money-grubbing lie -- manufactured by show producers desperate for a dramatic finale.

Sources close to Gretchen tell TMZ, producers originally approached Gretchen's BF Slade about proposing -- hoping he'd pop the question in time for the show's big finale this year. We're told producers even attempted to bribe Slade with an exotic proposal destination ... and a FREE RING.

We're told Slade turned the offer down -- convinced the public already hated him enough without a fake proposal -- so producers turned to Tamra and her BF Eddie Judge out of spite.

We're told Tamra and Eddie instantly snatched up the proposal package -- and her whole proposal was then conveniently filmed for the show ... at the same exotic location that was allegedly offered to Slade.

Bravo had no comment. more on this story

Keith Sweat Sued For Foreclosed Home

(TMZ) R&B singer Keith Sweat is singing the foreclosure blues ... because even after the bank took his house and sold it ... he's still on the hook for $250,000 -- this according to a new lawsuit.

PMI Mortgage filed the lawsuit against Sweat in Georgia -- claiming the singer defaulted on a $450,000 mortgage on his Detroit home, which he purchased in 2004.

Problem is -- the house was drowning underwater ... so when the bank sold it, it only recouped $200,000 ... a fraction of its losses.

PMI Mortgage sued Sweat for the balance -- $253,000 -- and since Keith failed to respond, a judge ruled in PMI's favor. PMI has since sought a lien on Keith's Georgia property in a last ditch effort to get its money.

Calls to Mr. Sweat were not returned. more on this story

Lindsay Lohan Going On Lockdown Until Probation Ends?

(TMZ) Lindsay Lohan is done gambling with her freedom -- after another bout with trouble just this week, she is following the advice of her closest friends and putting herself on lockdown until her probation is up in two weeks ... TMZ has learned.

Although she claims she did nothing wrong, Lindsay once again found herself in the news this week for all the wrong reasons ... when a clubgoer claimed LiLo hit him with her car in Hollywood early Thursday morning.

According to our sources, the latest incident prompted people close to Lindsay to beg her to stop going out at night until her probation is over. We're told Lindsay agreed and will now only leave her house when she really has to ... like for her court ordered community service at the morgue.

Her probation is scheduled to end March 29. more on this story

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster Coming To DVD

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition DVD set of 1960s TV sitcom is set to be released April 10, 2012.

Glass Onyon sent over these details: Lightyear Entertainment, in association with TV Time Machine Productions, is proud to announce that the brilliant but short-lived 1962 ABC TV situation comedy, I'm Dickens…He's Fenster, starring John Astin and Marty Ingels, will be released.

The I'm Dickens…He's Fenster Golden Anniversary three-disc set contains over 10 hours of content. It features the first sixteen episodes of thirty-two from the show's only season, and includes the following: Sixteen hilarious digitally remastered I'm Dickens…He's Fenster episodes, many of which haven't been seen in 50 years! more on this story

Conrad Murray Prosecutor Wants To Become A Judge

(TMZ) David Walgren, the L.A. County Deputy District Attorney who put away Dr. Conrad Murray ... has thrown his hat in the ring to become an L.A. County Superior Court judge.

Walgren -- who is considered one of the best prosecutors in L.A. County -- has submitted an application to the Governor's office.

Sources connected with the process tell TMZ ... Walgren's application is being taken "very seriously." more on this story