Together at last: Teaser trailer for 'The Lego Movie' shows off Superman and Batman

Tease, tease: Warner Bros. unveiled the first teaser trailer for the upcoming film, "The Lego Movie" on Tuesday. The clip clocks in at 2:18, which is pretty long for a teaser, though.

Many are probably aware of various Lego incarnations of "Star Wars" characters and superheroes. The movie (and teaser trailer) will not disappoint. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, a Ninja Turtle and even Dwight Howard make brief appearances.

Then, of course, there are characters developed strictly for the movie, such as Emmet, a little yellow Lego man who is played by Chris Pratt ("Parks and Recreation," the upcoming "Guardians of the Galaxy") and villainous President Business (Will Ferrell).

The film's synopsis is:

Emmet, an ordinary guy, is mistaken as being the Master Builder, the one who can save the universe. With the aid of an old mystic, a tough female and Batman, Emmet will fight to defeat the evil tyrant bent on destroying the universe by gluing it together.

"The Lego Movie" is scheduled for release on Feb. 7, 2014. It stars Chris Pratt as Emmet; Elizabeth Banks as Lucy; Will Arnett as Batman; Morgan Freeman as Vitruvius; Liam Neeson as Bad Cop; Will Ferrell as Lord Business; Nick Offerman as Metalbeard; Greg Cipes as Michaelangelo; Eric Stonestreet; Noah Wyle; Matthew Gray Gubler; Jason Gann; Alison Brie, Charlie Day, and Kevin Hart.

Paris Jackson's AEG deposition reveals nanny's obsession with Jacko

Paris Jackson, during a deposition taken in the family's wrongful death suit against AEG, revealed something strange: the obsession for her father showed by a former nanny. TMZ posted footage of her testimony on Wednesday.

Wednesday was also the day that other media sites noted the strange sidenote in her deposition. While it was reported by some sites that the deposition took place last October, the video footage (embedded) is dated March 21, 2013.

Paris Jackson explained to attorneys for AEG that Michael Jackson warned his children about ex-nanny Grace Rwaramba. When asked if her father said why, she replied:

Yeah. He said she was sneaky. She wasn't an honest person, and she lied a lot.

Jackson was also asked why her father did not fire her, and she replied that he felt bad for her, as she didn't have a lot of money.

Jackson went further, and told them something she said that would "freak them out," saying:

When he would stay in the hotel or whatever, she would call the hotel and say that she was his wife -- she was obsessed with him -- she'd call and say that she was his wife and they'd let her in and he'd wake up and she would be in his bed.

Rwaramba became part of the AEG case when when lawyers for the Jackson family intimated that she had been fired by AEG, just as his personal chef Kai Chase was let go two months prior to Jackson's death.

AEG was the company behind Jackson’s ill-fated “This Is It” comeback tour, and has been sued for the wrongful death of Michael Jackson by his mother, Katherine. Katherine Jackson is seeking up to $40 billion in damages and filed the suit jointly with and on behalf of Michael Jackson's children Prince Michael and Paris, who she is co-guardian of.

Paris Jackson painted a far different image of Rwaramba than her public perception. It had previously been thought that she was like a mother to Jackson’s children Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II, AKA Blanket, over her 17 years of employment by the pop superstar.

It's official: Selma Blair axed from 'Anger Management' after criticizing Charlie Sheen

As was rumored, it's been done. Selma Blair has been axed from the cast of "Anger Management," it was announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, a rep for Lionsgate, which produces the show, said:

We are confirming that Selma Blair will not be returning to Anger Management and we wish her the very best.

The news broke earlier this week. Blair, who had played Sheen's FWB on the show, had complained to the show's executives that Sheen was often late and unprepared.

If you think that sounds like the complaints that some made when Sheen was on the CBS show "Two and a Half Men," you'd be right.

However, once Sheen got wind of the statements that Blair made, he demanded she be fired. He said that if she was not giving her walking papers, he'd walk himself. Apparently, unlike CBS, FX took him seriously and gave him what he wanted.

It's rumored that Sheen wants the show to sign Mila Kunis to a 10 episodes arc at a salary of $1 million per episode. There's no word yet on whether or not that will happen. Ironically, Kunis is the girlfriend of Ashton Kutcher, who replaced Sheen on "Two and a Half Men" after Sheen clashed with CBS and show producer Chuck Lorre.

You can't win them all, apparently, but Sheen appears to have won this one.

Three Atlanta sports hosts fired after mocking former NFL player suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease

Three DJs were fired by an Atlanta radio station on Monday after mocking Steve Gleason, a former New Orleans Saints safety who is now confined to a wheelchair as he battles Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS).

Their skit, so to speak, may have been spurred by a column that Gleason wrote for Sports Illustrated, which appeared Monday. It detailed his battle with the dreaded -- and terminal -- disease. Gleason has lost of his motor skills and writes and speaks with a computerized device that allows him to do so by using his eyes.

As Gleason wrote at the start of his story:

Typing with your fingers or thumbs is sooooo 2012.

The three former 790 The Zone hosts, Steve Shapiro, Nick Cellini and Chris Dimino, performed a mock interview, including a fake robotic voice representing the ailing Gleason. The interview can be heard, embedded.

At one point in the segment, faux Steve Gleason started a "knock knock" joke. It went as follows:

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Smother.
Smother Who?
Smother me. Do me a favor.

Sadly, that was probably the least tasteless part of the skit.

The station wasted little time taking action. A few hours after the show - "Mayhem In The AM" -- ended, 790 The Zone fired all three hosts and released the following statement:

We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on 'Mayhem In The AM' on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS.

790 The Zone also broadcasts Atlanta Falcons games, prompting that team to release its own statement, as well:

The Falcons are disappointed in the comments made about former Saints player Steve Gleason on a local Atlanta radio station Monday morning. The content concerning Mr. Gleason was completely inappropriate and is not representative of the views of the Falcons organization, nor does it represent the way we conduct our business on and off the field. To single out Steve the way he was this morning is totally lacking in taste and discretion.

After the firing, Dimino tweeted the following apology (in two tweets), and asked listeners to leave his friends and family alone.

I have so.many people I have to apologize to. I know this is not who I am...but it is who I am today. An apology here means nothing if I...

Don't reach out to all the people I need to. I am in that process as we speak. Friends and family and most importantly those I know I hurt

ALS moves swiftly. Gleason, 36, was only diagnosed in 2011. He has accepted the DJs' apologies, as he wrote on his organization’s Facebook page Tuesday.

Regarding the DJ skit in Atlanta yesterday. I would like to thank the public for their support. ‘Defend Team Gleason’ now has been officially redefined. Additionally, the DJs have provided genuine apology. Received and accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our mistakes is the measure of who we are.

I think everyone can learn from this event. Its clear to me that, on a national & global scale, ALS is not understood, which is part of why its under funded and largely ignored. In the past 36 hours lots of people have been talking. Lets talk about this… There are zero treatments for ALS. If you take any action as a result of this event, I prefer it to be action to end ALS.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. As the motor neurons die, a person's ability to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to death.

Serena Williams says controversial Steubenville rape comment only 'supposedly said' by her

In the wake of a huge uproar over comments regarding the Steubenville rape victim taht she was quoted as saying in a Rolling Stone article, tennis great Serena Williams issued a statement on her website on Wednesday. The statement -- it wouldn't be correct to call it an apology due to the wording -- details womens' rights causes that Williams has championed, but also implies she never made the original statement at all.

Her comments, taken as she as she and the interviewer saw a news story flash on TV about the Steubenville rape case, were quoted as being:

Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you: Don't take drinks from other people.

She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously, I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different.

On Wednesday, on her site, she wrote:

What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved – that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written –- what I supposedly said -– is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields – anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.

What is most important in that statement and what is easy to miss is the phrase "what I supposedly said."

In other words, Williams is saying she was misquoted and never said that statement. The question is: Did she or didn't she?

The Steubenville rape incident took place in 2012. KnightSec, an Anonymous-affiliated hacker group, not only said the case was covered up -- due to the prestige of the town's high school football team -- it also restored some social media pieces that appear to be clear evidence of the crime.

Blogger Alexandria Goddard also helped bring the case to national attention.

Eventually, two students, Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays, who were both 16 at the time of the crime, were convicted in juvenile court for the rape of a minor.

Paparazzo's lawyer demands Justin Bieber return camera memory card

That memory card that Justin Bieber had his bodyguards take from a photographer last week has created a legal firestorm. According to a report issued by TMZ on Wednesday, paparazzo Gustavo Garces is demanding the return of the memory card.

The letter, sent from Garces' lawyer Lee Marks to Bieber's manager Scooter Braun says, in part:

Please be advised that I represent the above named individual, Mr. Garces, and I respectfully demand the immediate return of the camera memory card which was removed by Mr. Bieber from a camera belonging to Mr. Garces.

Please be further advised that I intend to pursue a claim against your client, Justin Bieber, as a result of his wrongful conduct on June 5th, 2013, pursuant to Florida Statutes and case law, the memory card which Justin Bieber removed and kept from my client constitutes evidence as clearly defined and thus must be preserved. There are dire consequences for the spoliation of evidence under Florida Law, so please advise your client, Mr. Bieber, accordingly.

In other words, the memory card is evidence so don't erase anything. We'd expect, however, that the card has at least been erased, if not tossed.

As we reported earlier, Bieber was skateboarding in the parking lot of a Florida recording studio. Garces took pictures, and on an audio recording (embedded in the earlier story), Bieber can be heard shouting to his bodyguards, "Grab that camera!!! Get that f*cking camera out of here!!!" (about 1:08 in the audio).

Garces is later heard pleading with Bieber, to keep his camera. Bieber -- benevolent as always, but not too much into tech -- says, "Alright, alright. I'm gonna give you your camera back. I'm gonna take your SIM card though."

As an aside, TMZ continues to refer to the card as both a memory card and a SIM card. Those are two very different things, but neither the site nor Bieber apparently knows the difference.

Charlie Sheen threatens to walk if Selma Blair is not fired from 'Anger Management'

"Anger Management" star Charlie Sheen continues on his quest to make co-star Selma Blair his ex-co-star, a new report said on Tuesday.

As was reported on Monday, Sheen became angry when he heard that Blair told show execs that he was difficult to work with, had a poor work ethic, and often showed up late. With that, first he told co-workers he had fired her himself, then said that he told execs to fire her.

The latest report comes from sources who say that Sheen returned to work on the show on Monday and told producers he wants the termination process for Selma Blair started today, or else he'll quit. While the report said that Sheen understands that there can be complications involved with firing someone from a TV show -- and he should know, based on what happened on "Two and a Half Men." Still, he wants show execs come up an exit strategy for Blair by the end of the day.

If Sheen walks, he could potentially be sued for breach of contract. At any rate, he'd be giving the heave-ho to a ton of change, as -- depending on how "Anger Management" does in syndication -- he could make between $75 million and $200 million if he completes the 100 episode order for the series.

Sources said that Sheen has roughly completed half of the order.

Sources said that Blair was not on set on Monday, although it wasn't clear if she was supposed to appear for work that day, or not. On the other hand, TMZ managed to catch up to Blair off-set (embedded video). They caught her out for a walk with her child on Tuesday, and ask about events on "Anger Management."

Her response was to shake her head and reply, "I don't know anything." To be honest, it's likely she doesn't know anything.

Reportedly, the fate of Blair and her character, who is Sheen's FWB on the show, is still up in the air.

Lil Wayne defends himself on Twitter and Facebook; says trampling of the U.S. flag was an accident

Rapper Lil Wayne was filmed trampling all over the American flag while shooting a new music video for the song “God Bless Amerika" in New Orleans last weekend (video embedded). After a huge uproar, on Tuesday he took to Twitter to defend himself, saying it was all an accident.

Video of his "trampling act" was uploaded to YouTube.

His tweet reads:

I didn't step on the flag on purpose! It's a scene in a video where the flag drops behind me and after it drop it's just there as I perform

He also took to his Facebook page, where he posted a lengthier explanation.

It was never my intention to desecrate the flag of the United States of America. I was shooting a video for a song off my album entitled "God Bless Amerika". The clip that surfaced on the Internet was a camera trick clip that revealed that behind the American Flag was the Hoods of America. In the final edit of the video you will see the flag fall to reveal what is behind it but will never see it on the ground.

In most people eyes including my own who were raised in that environment, the Hood is the only America they know and the only America I knew growing up. I was fortunate from my God giving talents to escape the Hood and see the other beautiful places this country has to offer but most people who are born in that environment don't get that chance. That's their view of their America. That was Dwayne M Carter from Hollygrove New Orleans view of America. That's who I'm speaking for in this song.

Among the lyrics of the song are:

My country 'his of thee
Sweet land of kill 'em all and let 'em die
God bless Amerika
This ole' godless Amerika.

Lil Wayne's assertion of it being an accident seems, at the very least, a little lame.  The rapper appears to be looking down much of the time in the video, meaning he knew precisely what he was doing.

To be clear, though, Lil Wayne's act was not a crime. In Texas v. Johnson, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that desecration of the flag is a protected expression of political speech.

Some have called for a boycott of Lil Wayne. Media critic and author of the “Death of Free Speech," John Ziegler, said that a boycott would be perfectly appropriate. It would be a form of free speech, in response to Wayne's own free speech. However, he didn't think it would make much of a difference to Wayne's bottom line.

A boycott here would be perfectly appropriate, but unlikely to be effective because his fan base will not see any negative coverage of this act from the news sources they are likely to consume.

Viral and toxic: Lolo Jones' Vine video about bad bobsledding paycheck

Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones, who has "switched sports" to bobsledding, posted a Vine video on Monday that seemed to be complaining -- but in a tongue-in-cheek way -- about the 741.84 check from the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. Her attempt at humor fell flat, forcing her to issue a statement Monday night, after angering many in the sport.

One statement came from Olympic gold medal bobsledder Steven Holcomb, who calmly responded to questions about bobsledder reaction. While not particularly vehement in his view, he did point out the difference between her former sport (track and field) and bobsledding, in terms of financial backing.

It wasn't taken very well. People were really kind of insulted. You just made $741, more than most athletes in the sport. So what are you complaining about?

The way it came across to a lot of the athletes here was kind of snobby because she's one of the most well-known athletes in the world and she's making pretty good money in endorsements (as a two-time Olympic hurdler). And to basically turn around and slap us in the face because you didn't make any money this year in bobsledding while taking money from other's athletes? She slapped pretty much every athlete in the U.S. federation in the face. That was the general consensus.

Holcomb won a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when he was a member of the gold medal-winning 4-man bobsled team for the United States. That was America's first gold medal in the event since 1948.

Jones had seven sponsors during the 2012 Olympics. Beautiful as well, she received -- and continues to receive -- enormous media attention and financial backing. She failed to medal in the 100-meter hurdles; in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, she was favored to win that same hurdle event, but on a hurdle, and finished in seventh place.

Jones currently competes as a brakeman on the U.S. national bobsled team. She won a gold medal in the mixed team event at the 2013 World Championships.

In the Vine video -- remember that Twitter's Vine allows the posting of six-second repeating videos -- Jones says to a camera:

Seven months with bobsled season. The whole season. That's it.

Then, speaking on a phone, presumably to a faux landlord, she adds,

I'm going to be a little late on my rent this month.

The camera then shows off her paycheck.

On Monday night, Jones released a statement through one of her sponsors, Red Bull.

I didn't want to offend anyone, and I've always wanted to help out my bobsled teammates. Some of them have debt because they've given their life to the sport. My partner Jazmine and I had to raise money for the bobsled to be funded just to finish the season, because only 2 of the 3 sleds are funded by the team. I can't imagine halfway through my track season having to stop and raise money to finish.

The vine of the paycheck is just showing the difference between track and bobsled, and to be honest bobsledders work more hours than track! The bottom line is that all Olympic athletes dedicate their lives to their sports and do not receive lucrative paychecks like athletes in mainstream professional sports. So hopefully this will make people appreciate just how hard Olympians work, often just for the love of the sport.

Jones was forced to defend herself on Twitter -- again, parent service to Vine. She said she posted the Vine video to bring attention to the issue.

Brock Kreitzburg, a 2006 Olympian, tweeted:

Welcome to the world of bobsledding. Try 7 years of it. I think I left poorer than when I first began. #fortheloveofsport?

To that, Jones responded:

Speaking out is the first step to change. That is how Track and field changed our sport. We demanded improvements.

Not all the tweets were critical. U.S. bobsledder Elana Meyers tweeted her thanks to Jones:

thanks for brining the issues to light! Bobsledders aren't high paid pro athletes like you see on tv

Holcomb, for one, knows the price that bobsledders pay. Holcomb was $45,000 in debt prior to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. After his gold medal, Holcomb was able to erase much of his debt, but then accumulated more.

I'm still living in the Olympic Training Center. I'm 33 years old and still living in a dorm because that's the only thing I can afford. After 16 years in the sport, I don't have a dime toward retirement.

Still, he wouldn't change a thing:

We're not here for the money. We love the sport. I love what I do. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Chad Johnson out of jail after a week for 'butt pat' diss

After giving Chad Johnson a week in the slammer to think things over, Broward County, Florida Judge Kathleen McHugh released the NFL player from jail on Monday. McHugh had Johnson incarcerated after she felt he disrespected her court, last week.

As you might recall, Judge McHugh was very displeased when Johnson patted his attorney on the butt in court. The incident occurred as Johnson seemed to be seconds away from walking out of the courtroom a free man, after working out a plea deal for a probation violation in a 2012 domestic violence case.

However, McHugh then complimented Adam Swickle, Johnson's attorney, at which the NFL great playfully patted his lawyer on the behind. McHugh, though, reportedly believed it was disrespectful to the court, and said:

Mr. Johnson, I don't know that you're taking this whole thing seriously. I'm not going to accept these plea negotiations. This isn't a joke.

Instead of a freebie, Johnson was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

That was last week, so Johnson didn't spend all his 30 days in jail. Instead, on Monday McHugh had him escorted into her courtroom, at which she ripped into Johnson over his history of courtroom disrespect. Notably, he was brought into the courtroom cuffed (video embedded).

After ripping Johnson a new one, however, McHugh agreed to release Johnson. All was not bright and cheery for Johnson, though, as the judge also extended his probation by a month, until Oct. 16.

'Anger Management' war, as Charlie Sheen says he -- yes, he -- has fired Selma Blair

No one ever said that on-set life with Charlie Sheen was smooth and without bumps. OK, OK, they might have said that some time ago, but not lately, and certainly his "Anger Management" co-star Selma Blair wouldn't agree, as a Monday report says she's been fired -- by Sheen.

It's hard to say how official that firing is. Reportedly, the dust-up began when Blair complained to "Anger Management" executives that Sheen was hard to work with (putting it mildly). She said that Sheen has a poor work ethic and that he is constantly late.

Unfortunately, Sheen heard about the issue through the grapevine, of sorts, and as you might expect, became quite angry. Sheen felt that Blair was out of line, particularly when one considers that the star of the show has the initials C.S. and not S.B.

In addition, he pulled out the "I have a lot more to do than you do" card, referencing the fact that his after per episode workload is 40 pages of lines, while she has two.

Although Sheen went so far as to tell the rest of cast and crew that he (yes, he, himself) fired Blair, it's said that the executives -- who really should do the firing, right -- are hoping it all blows over.

Sheen, on the other hand, already has plans in place. He not only said that if Blair shows up to work the next time they film, he's refuse to work. In addition, he wants to extend an offer to Mila Kunis ("Family Guy," the world's sexiest woman alive) for a 10-episode story arc worth a cool $1 million per episode.

That would be truly ironic. After all, Sheen was fired from the show "Two and a Half Men." Kunis' boyfriend, Ashton Kutcher, took over the lead role the sitcom, after Sheen moved on.

'Man of Steel' sequel rumored to be fast-tracked for 2014; 'Justice League' in 2015

Marvel has done a boffo job at combining superheroes, releasing individual films in a such as a way as to excite audiences, then releasing "The Avengers." The Wall Street Journal theorized on Sunday that the huge box office results of "Man of Steel" could mean that Warner Bros. -- which owns DC Comics, by the way -- will fast-track both a "Man of Steel" sequel and a "Justice League" film.

Dan Fellman, Warner's president of domestic distribution said,

It's (Superman) more than just a franchise for us; it really opens up the door to do combinations of the DC Comics characters. We can build them up like Marvel did and benefit from the history of DC.

However, Warner Bros. hasn't greased the wheel with alternate and lesser-known characters as Marvel and Walt Disney Studios did.

"The Avengers" starred Iron Man, who had already starred in two feature films by the time of the supergroup movie; The Hulk, well-known from several films and TV; Thor and Captain America, who had recently debuted as lesser-known characters; The Black Widow, who had a supporting role in "Iron Man 2;" and Hawkeye, who had a cameo in "Thor."

With that, as well as S.H.I.E.L.D. from earlier Iron Man films, Marvel and Disney had plenty to work with.

Looking at DC Comics, though, Batman and Superman are the only big-screen successes of note. 2011's "Green Lantern" was an underperformer, taking in $116.6 million domestically in total, and $219.9 million globally. The film was critically panned, as well, and had a budget of $200 million.

A "Justice League" film would need to expand beyond Superman and Batman. Green Lantern is considered a mainstay of the League, and a revamped GL is expected for the film, including a more serious Hal Jordan. Wonder Woman is known from TV, but has not been a big screen character.

Others that most comic book fans would expect in a big-screen Justice League film would be The Flash and perhaps Aquaman or maybe even Hawkman or The Atom.

Notably, the inclusion of The Black Widow and Hawkeye in the first Avengers movie would have taken some by surprise, as neither was among the original Avengers team. The original Justice League of America, or JLA, included neither Superman or Batman, but began with Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and The Flash in its debut in comics (above).

The WSJ's report claims a "Man of Steel" sequel is being fast-tracked for a 2014 release date. The rush there is so that Warner Bros. can similarly fast-track a JLA movie, with "knowledgeable people close to the studio" saying that a "Justice League" film could come out "as soon as 2015."

"Man of Steel," the latest Superman reboot, scored a record for June, with $113.1 million taken in during the traditional Friday to Sunday period, ahead of "Toy Story 3" ($110.3 million). Including Thursday night group sales, it came in at $125.1 million for its debut, the second-best opening of 2013 so far behind "Iron Man 3."

Twitter goes wild with confirmation and congratulations for Kimye's birth

Twitter has been aflame with congratulatory tweets since it was revealed -- on Sunday, Father's Day, 2013, no less -- that Kim Kardashian and beau Kanye West have welcomed their daughter into the world. First confirmation, in fact, seemed to come via Twitter on Sunday afternoon, with matriarch Kris Jenner tweeting:

"HAPPY FATHERS DAY @kanyewest !!!!!!"

We will forgive Kris Jenner for the Internet equivalent of shouting.

Speaking at Sunday's red carpet for the Daytime Emmy Awards, Jenner added,

We're happy, everybody's good and she's beautiful.

The family isn't saying too much, as the happy couple haven't said anything themselves. However, Khloe Kardashian was more effusive than Mom, tweeting:

I can not even begin 2describe the miracle that is now apart of our family. Mommy/baby are healthy &resting. We appreciate all of the love.

More info will come when the time is right! Thank you all for understanding! We love you all dearly! Overwhelmed with love right now ♥

A number of non-familial celebrities tweeted congratulations to the couple. Among them:

Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons: “There is no greater gift in life than a child’s laughter! congrats to Kim And Kanye.”

Pauly D: “Congrats @KimKardashian And @kanyewest On The Birth Of Your Baby Girl !!!!!”

Bethenny Frankel: “All kidding aside, congrats @kimkardashian on your baby girl. It’s the most beautiful, best thing that could happen to you. Girls rule.” (For those assuming, she has a daughter, Bryn Casey Hoppy).

Maria Menounos tweeted, “Congratulations @KimKardashian on your little angel!xoox.”

Rapper Nas congratulated Kanye West: “Congrats to Kanye 4 the birth of his daughter today too! To my bros w/ daughters!!”

Kevin Hart tweeted: "Congrats to @KimKardashian & @KanyeWest on the birth of their new baby girl!!!"

Sally Jessy Raphael tweeted: "Kim Kardashian had her baby a month early?! It's a bad omen when even your infant doesn't want to b near u a minute longer than needed! Lol"

For those wondering, the couple's new bundle of joy was born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, Calif.

The big question now, in addition to a name and tweets from the proud parents, is if the couple will sell the first images of Kimye. People, you'll recall paid a record $14 million for the exclusive first images of Brangelina's twins Vivienne and Knox. It is doubtful "Kimye" will demand that high a sum.

It's also unclear if the images will be sold at all, with West telling the New York Times: "I just don't want to talk to America about my family. Like, this is my baby. This isn't America's baby."

Of course, the Kardashian empire might have something to say about that.

'World War Z' extended clip shows daring rooftop escape from superfast zombies

A (sort of) new extended clip from the movie "World War Z" landed on YouTube on Sunday. We say it's only "sort of new" since the scene had been teased in the earlier trailer, but this clip extends the events into a full scene.

In the clip, U.N. worker Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) and his family have to make to a helicopter for a rooftop escape while pursued by fast-moving zombies (these aren't the shambling creatures you have seen in "The Walking Dead").

The film is based on the best-selling novel "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War." Unlike the book, which is a collection of individual accounts about a zombie war in the form of first-person anecdotes, the film, instead, focuses on Pitt's character. Lane searches the globe for information that can stop the zombie outbreak that is bringing down the nations of the world.

The film had a circuitous route to the big screen. First, Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment had to secure the screen rights to the novel -- it did so via a bidding war with Leonard DiCaprio's production company Appian Way. That was way back in 2007; as can be seen, the film took some time to get to the big screen.

The movie was originally set for a December 2012 release, but the production suffered some setbacks. Notably, in June of last year, the film's release date was pushed back and the crew returned to Budapest for seven weeks of additional shooting.

The film's release date is this Friday, June 21, 2013, which probably means more clips are forthcoming. It stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Matthew Fox and David Morse.

Divorcing again: Billy Ray Cyrus, Tish Cyrus

As rumors swirl about whether or not Miley Cyrus and fiance Liam Hemsworth are still on the road to marriage, one thing is clear: Her parents are on the road to divorce. TMZ reported that Tish Cyrus has filed for divorce, on Thursday.

Not only the story, but the document itself, was dated June 13.

Tish Cyrus' filing comes about three years after Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce. In his case, however, he dropped the filing in an attempt to reconcile.

The couple has been married for 19 years. They have five children, including, of course, Miley. In addition to Miley there are Billy Ray's two adopted stepchildren from Finley's previous marriage, Brandi, (born 1987) and Trace (born 1989).

The couple has two children of their own, in addition to Miley (born Destiny Hope in 1992), Braison Chance (born 1994), and Noah Lindsey (born 2000). Given that, they have only one minor child left, Noah, who is 13. Tish is asking for full physical and legal custody, with visitation for Billy Ray.

Yesterday, Miley Cyrus tweeted:

@billyraycyrus, since your texts and email obviously aren't working would you like to talk like this?"

Sounds like there are some communication difficulties in their relationship.

Notably, when Billy Ray Cyrus filed his divorce papers about three years ago, he said Miley Cyrus' sudden rise to fame hurt their family.

Amanda Bynes retracts 'ugly' tweets to both Miley Cyrus and Drake

Amanda Bynes has backtracked on her tweet calling Miley Cyrus "ugly." After tweeting the Miley Cyrus was ugly, early Wednesday morning (then deleting it), Bynes retracted her tweet on Thursday (then deleted that one, too).

The first tweet said simply:

Ur ugly @mileycyrus

As though she wished to give readers a reason to agree with her, Bynes also attached a photo of Cyrus at the recent Billboard Music Awards.

The new tweet said:

@MileyCyrus thank you for rooting for me doll! You are one of the prettiest girls! I want my nose to look like yours after my surgeries!

The retraction came after Cyrus was interviewed on Hot 99.5 in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

There, Cyrus said that she was rooting for Bynes. At least, she said, she had been rooting for Bynes until Bynes trashed her on Twitter.

The end of this week seems to be apology day for Bynes on Twitter. On Friday, she tweeted an apology to Drake. She said:

I'm sorry about the tweets I said about @drake I didn't mean what I said. I hope to become friends with him instead of smashing him!

Earlier, she tweeted that Drake was ugly, too. It seems that Bynes has had a lot of tweet-in-mouth disease, of late.

Bynes, though, seemed to insert a tweet into her mouth again on Thursday. In a somewhat impromptu tweet, she announced one of her requirements for love:

I could never marry a German because I'm Jewish.

It's unclear what prompted that assertion, but you can bet the tweets will keep coming. She also tweeted:

For those asking, I'm voicing my opinion. I've been asked if I do drugs, I don't do drugs for the last time!

If you don't like how I talk about you. Figure out why I'm talking about you in that way! ;)

Lindsay Lohan leaves Betty Ford early, but with approval

She didn't make it. Lindsay Lohan couldn't last the full 90 days -- required by her plea agreement -- at the Betty Ford Center. Fortunately -- and probably, for most people, surprisingly -- the move to Cliffside Rehabilitation & Residential Health Care Center in Malibu, made on Wednesday, was approved.

Lohan had been sentenced to 90 days in rehab. In what seems to be musical rehab centers, she was first supposed to go to Seafield, in the Hamptons. However, they wouldn't let her smoke, so we opted to move to Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach, Calif., where she could smoke.

However, it turned out that Morningside had its license revoked. Then, on the cusp of an arrest warrant, she checked into the Betty Ford Center in Palm Desert, Calif.

Now, though -- and with the approval of prosecutors, the judge, and Lohan's own attorney, she has moved to Cliffside in Malibu. The reason, apparently, is that everyone feels that Betty Ford is better suited to a 30-day program, and she would be better off completing the remainder of her 90-day sentence at a new place. Lohan had spent six weeks at Betty Ford.

It is reported that the fact that Betty Ford wouldn't allow Lohan to take Adderall wasn't a factor. After all, one source said that "It's doubtful" that Cliffside will let Lohan take Adderall, either.

Security footage shows Justin Bieber innocent of 'latest Calabasas Ferrari race' (more or less)

It appears that all the eyewitnesses -- including former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson, who you would expect would have great vision -- were wrong. Security footage shows that Justin Bieber was not driving the Ferrari in May, the day that it raced around Bieber's gated Calabasas community, TMZ reported on Thursday.

Apparently the driver was Tyler, the Creator, who in fact tweeted that same that information in early June, while the incident took place in late May.

According to law enforcement sources, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies viewed security video from that day, and the video agrees with Tyler, the Creator. He was the one driving Bieber's Ferrari.

The 5-minute video shows the Ferrari pulling into Bieber's driveway with Tyler, the Creator driving. Bieber followed closely thereafter, on his motorcycle. About 30 seconds alter, Keyshawn Johnson appears, just as Tyler exits the car and Bieber gets in, so he can maneuver the car into the garage (it's apparently not easy to do). That could explain why Johnson was sure it was Bieber behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, at least one witness continues to insist that Bieber was driving. However, video doesn't lie, and thus the police are positive that Bieber is innocent. Sources say that the Sheriff's Department will send the case over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for review, but at least one law enforcement source says it's "highly unlikely" that the D.A. will file criminal charges against anyone.

Bieber or not, a Ferrari racing around a gated community that has kids and pets -- or even, just plain people -- in it isn't safe. Earlier reports said that Bieber's neighbors had threatened to withhold their HOA dues until something was done. Whether or not it was Bieber behind the wheel, it was his car and his guest; shouldn't something be done?

Rupert Murdoch files for divorce from his third wife, Wendi Deng

Defending him from a shaving cream pie thrower as he testified to a U.K. parliamentary committee about his paper's phone hacking scandal apparently wasn't enough. On Thursday, it was confirmed that Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corp. and one of the richest men in the U.S., has filed for divorce from Wendi Deng, his third wife.

The divorce filing was confirmed by a spokeperson for News Corp., but the reasons for the divorce were not made clear. However, the company spokesman said the couple's relationship had been "irretrievably broken" for over six months, prior to the divorce filing.

Deng, 44, and Murdoch, 82, met in 1997. She was was working for News Corp. subsidiary Star TV in Hong Kong at the time. Two years later, the couple married on a yacht in New York Harbor. The wedding took place less than three weeks after his divorce from his second wife, Anna, was finalized. They have two daughters, Grace (born in 2001), and Chloe (born in 2003).

He was married to Patricia, his first wife, from 1956 to 1967. He and Anna were wed from 1967 to 1999.

Deng is the daughter of a factory director from Guangzhou, China.

In 2011, Deng "protected" Murdoch from a protester toting a shaving cream pie as he testified at a U.K. hearing into phone hacking. As Murdoch sat there transfixed, Deng punched the protester, beating even security officials "to the punch" (pun intended).

In March, Murdoch was listed at 33rd on its U.S. billionaire's list. His net worth was listed at $11.2 billion.

In the first official trailer for 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,' enter the dragon

On Tuesday, Warner Bros. released the first official trailer from "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." It gives viewers the first look at "The Hobbit's" huge dragon villain, aside from the eye that was revealed at the end of last December's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

"The Desolation of Smaug," which will be released this December, si the second in the trilogy encompassing J.R.R. Tolkien's classic "The Hobbit." That novel is a prequel to the "Lord of the Rings." However, while a long book, "The Hobbit" was not a series of novels, as "The Lord of the Rings" was, and some are concerned that the third film -- and the other two -- will be padded to stretch them to a trilogy.

Originally planned as a pair of films, when the decision was made to make them a trilogy, Peter Jackson said, on Facebook:

It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie - and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life. All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved "yes."

The sequel continues the tale of hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and company, as he accompanies the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the contingent of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) as they travel to the dwarf kingdom of Erebor, which has been taken over by the massive dragon, Smaug.

The trailer shows various dangers our heroes will encounter, along with a number of elves -- including Legolas, Orlando Bloom's character from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Notably, Legolas did not appear in the novel, but considering the lifespan of elves, could have -- if Tolkien had created the character, then.\

Also shown is "Lost's" Evangeline Lilly, who portrays Tauriel, a new character created just for the "Hobbit" films. Luke Evans debuts, as well, as the human Bard the Bowman, who eventually -- oh, we won't give it away for those who have not read "The Hobbit."

Benedict Cumberbatch, the villain of "Star Trek Into Darkness," plays the villain of the sequel, too, via motion capture. He portrays, in a manner of speaking, Smaug, although viewers won't get to hear Cumberbatch's voice for the character -- yet.

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" opens in theaters Dec. 13.

Facebook ghostwriter apologizes to George Takei: Oh myyyyy

Rick Polito vaporized a lot of the fan love of former "Star Trek" actor George Takei when, in an earlier interview, he said that he ghostwrote jokes for Takei’s page for $10 each. With that, the comedy writer, in a follow-up interview with media blogger Jim Romenesko published on Wednesday, said that he had apologized to Takei and Takei's husband, Brad Altman.

The original interview, also with Romenesko, included the following paragraph:

He now writes funny lines for George Takei’s Facebook page and “even at $10 a joke it still feels like a validation to see so many people reacting to my humor. I have written jokes that got 10 likes per second for hours. The power of George is unbelievable. His fans are a viral army. He may not be a stockholder, but he owns Facebook.”

The response on the Internet was fast -- and in some cases, furious. In other cases, not so much.

One commenter on BuzzFeed said:

Was it naive of me to think that George Takei was actually writing all this stuff? I feel duped and sad, and also silly.

However, others were more realistic. One said:

I find it hard to believe anyone thinks that any celebrity actually posts their own facebook or twitter, I am sure they all have a publicist doing it - even the scandals...

Another said:

So what? This is Mr. Takei's page, it reflects his ideas and values. How naive would you have to be to think he personally has the time to put up every post? I'll still be following.

Takei has built a career resurgence on his rather pithy comments and ideas, posted on Facebook and other places. It is somewhat reminiscent of how Betty White's career exploded after her Snickers Super Bowl ad.

In an email the day after the "scandal" broke, Takei asked (yes, in a pithy manner),

What is this hoo-ha about my FB posts?

I have Brad, my husband, to help me and interns to assist. What is important is the reliability of my posts being there to greet my fans with a smile or a giggle every morning. That’s how we keep on growing.

In his apology on Wednesday, Polito said:

I just said that I’d been looking for any mention of my book I could get and that I hadn’t meant to expose anything. I don’t update his page. I’ve had no direct contact with George. I’ve sent him some memes, as have other comedian types, and I was happy for the exposure.

Takei's Facebook page currently has close to 4.2 million likes.

Seriously: Oh myyyyyyy.

Listen as Miley Cyrus rebuts rumors about Justin Bieber and her: 'I'm engaged'

Miley Cyrus quickly rebutted reports of a possible burgeoning relationship between herself and Justin Bieber. Speaking to Hot 99.5 in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning, the actress - singer said such a relationship was impossible.

The reason was, to Miley, quite obviousL: She's engaged.

When asked by the D.J. about the photos that TMZ published earlier on Wednesday, showing Bieber and Cyrus engaged in "hardcore flirting" at Beacher's Madhouse at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday night, Cyrus didn't shy away from the question.

She said: "I'm engaged (chuckling)! I'm engaged. That (a relationship with Bieber, beyond their years-long friendship) is impossible."

Based on that -- at least in the mind of Miley Cyrus -- rumors of her splitting with fiance Liam Hemsworth have been discounted, as well.

Miley was also asked about troubled actress Amanda Bynes, she said:

I won't even entertain that thought. I think it's all so sad, that I don't want to add any fuel to that fire, because it's really so sad to me.

You know, I was rooting for her comeback until you started attacking me. And I just thought it was hilarious that she mentioned my name the moment I was the worldwide trending topic on Twitter. It's just funny because the moment you're a trending topic, it's funny how many people want your name to come out of their mouth because somehow they can then associate and then maybe they could be a trending topic.

On Wednesday, Bynes tweeted an insult at Cyrus, saying "ur ugly" in a tweet along with a recent photo of Cyrus, and no further explanation.

Chad Johnson's lawyer tells judge his butt tap was 'a sign of respect'

NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson's attorney, Adam Swickle, is defending his client in more ways than one. TMZ on Wednesday claimed to have obtained legal docs that Swickle has filed defending his Johnson's in-court butt tap.

As you might recall, Broward County Judge Kathleen McHugh was not pleased when Johnson patted his attorney on the butt in court. The incident occurred as Johnson seemed to be seconds away from walking out of the courtroom a free man, after working out a plea deal for a probation violation in a 2012 domestic violence case.

However, McHugh then complimented Swickle, at which time Johnson playfully patting his lawyer on the behind. She reportedly believed it was disrespectful to the court, and said:

Mr. Johnson, I don't know that you're taking this whole thing seriously. I'm not going to accept these plea negotiations. This isn't a joke.

Instead of a freebie, Johnson was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Swickle's legal filing tries to save Johnson from the slammer.

Chad Johnson, née Ochocinco, learned that the hard way on Monday, when he was sentenced to 30 days in jail for violating his probation. Johnson was facing a plea deal that would get him out of jail time but Broward County Judge Kathleen McHugh gave him the Heisman after Ocho decided to slap his attorney on the butt.

It says, in part:

Mr. Johnson has been a professional football player in the National Football League for eleven (11) years and patting another individual on the backside is viewed as a sign of respect and gratitude.

The filing also noted that McHugh's lauding of Swickle's court performance prompted Johnson into complimenting Swickle himself. In Johnson's case, it was the butt tap.

As for McHugh's anger that about court attendees who were laughing at the butt tap, Swickle added, "This is not Mr. Johnson's fault and he should not be punished for the actions of third parties."

The incident that cost Johnson his plea bargain can be viewed in the embedded video.

Justin Bieber making a move for Miley Cyrus?

Fans may soon begin speculating whether Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, who have reportedly been friends for years, may be bonding over their contentious relationships. It's been reported, but not confirmed, that Cyrus and fiance Liam Hemsworth have split, and Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are always an on-and-off affair. Images and a video (embedded) posted by TMZ on Wednesday seem to point to Bieber and Cyrus getting cozy.

Photos showed Bieber partying with Miley Cyrus at Beacher's Madhouse at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Reportedly, sources say that the pair left the popular celeb late-night hangout -- together -- at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Not only were they seen together at Beacher's Madhouse, there was apparently some hardcore flirting. At least, that is what sources said the two were engaged (pun intended) in while together.

Meanwhile, there is also some video of Bieber, in his leopard-styled Audi, leaving Cyrus' Los Angeles home on Saturday.

To be clear, Bieber and Cyrus have been friends for years. It makes sense, considering their similar mad rises to fame and fortune at such a young age (Cyrus is 20; Bieber is 19).

Recent reports state that Cyrus and Hemsworth have split. That has not been confirmed by the couple themself, however. Meanwhile, Bieber and Gomez are on-and-off to the point that it's unclear where they are exactly.

One rumor said that Gomez was giving Bieber a "trial period." However, that was followed by a report that they are split -- again.

Debbie Rowe as Paris Jackson's guardian: Jackson clan to fight 'tooth and nail' against it

As reports filter in saying that -- although Paris Jackson's birth mother Debbie Rowe hasn't made any explicit moves toward it -- that she would be amenable to becoming Jackson's guardian, sources say that the family is totally against any move in that direction.

TMZ said on Tuesday that sources connected to the Jackson family say that there is no way they would allow Rowe to become Paris' legal guardian.

Her co-guardians are currently Katherine Jackson, the family's matriarch, and T.J. Jackson. TMZ says that "many family members [are] expressing outrage at the prospect Debbie Rowe could become Paris Jackson's legal guardian."

Paris Jackson is reportedly having difficulty connecting with Katherine Jackson, while T.J.'s role is minimal due to time with his own family. It is said that the above scenario is why Paris has reconnected with Debbie, of late.

However, sources say that the Jackson clan believes that Rowe wants to get herself into the public eye, as evidenced by a statement she released to the media following Paris' suicide attempt. One source said: "If her intentions were pure she'd be speaking to the family."

Notably, the family isn't saying that her motivation is money.

However, the family -- a source said -- will fight "tooth and nail" if Rowe attempts to secure guardianship. As reported yesterday, though, if Judge Mitchell Beckloff, who ordered an investigation into the case, decides that Paris isn't doing well under the current system, he may review Paris' guardianship again.

Paris' desires will be given weight, and it has been reported that the 15-year-old would ask to be placed with Debbie Rowe.

Matt Hahn files for divorce from Rachel Uchitel over 'cruel and inhumane treatment'

Rachel Uchitel, who made a name for herself -- or at least a huge one -- as one of Tiger Woods mistresses, is divorcing her husband of one-and-a-half years, it was reported on Tuesday. Uchitel and Matt Hahn exchanged vows in front of 12 friends at Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on Oct. 2, 2011.

That is, ironically, the same location where Britney Spears married Jason Alexander in 2004.

The couple has a one-year-old daughter, Wyatt, who was born in May of last year.

Uchitel's rep said:

It is Ms. Uchitel's goal to resolve this action amicably, quickly and quietly and not in the media. No further details of the action are being released at this time by Ms. Uchitel.

In an interesting twist, it was Hahn who filed the paperwork. Additionally, Hahn, a former Penn State fullback, cited "cruel and inhumane treatment ... ... such that the conduct of the defendant [Uchitel] so endangers the physical or mental well being of the plaintiff as renders it unsafe or improper for the plaintiff to cohabit with the defendant" as the reason for the couple's split.

On May 16, Uchitel called 911 after a nasty verbal argument with Hahn. She asked for help extricating Hahn from the house, but TMZ said she neither followed up nor pursued charges against him.

Uchitel was actually somewhat famous before the Tiger Woods affair. Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, a photo of her holding a picture of her fiancé, who worked in the World Trade Center, was published by the New York Post and circulated globally.

Then, in 2010, she hit the headlines again as one of golfer Tiger Woods' many mistresses as well as for an affair with actor David Boreanaz.

Also in 2010, Uchitel appeared on the fourth season of the American reality television series "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," which depicted her struggle with addiction.

A slideshow of Uchitel images can be found here.

'Glee's' Jane Lynch and wife announce divorce

Jane Lynch, 52, and her wife Dr. Lara Embry, 44, announced on Monday that they are divorcing. The couple was married in 2010 in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legal.

The couple met at a 2009 fundraiser in San Francisco at which Embry was being honored. They wed on Memorial Day in 2010, shortly after confirming their engagement.

The wedding was small and intimate. It was attended by only 19 guests, including Embry's daughter, Haden.

In a statement made to People, Lynch said:

Lara and I have decided to end our marriage. This has been a difficult decision for us as we care very deeply about one another. We ask for privacy as we deal with this family matter.

The "family" affected by the split, of course, includes Haden, whom Lynch has become very close to.

At The Moms Mamarazzi event in New York City last March, Lynch said the following about People:

My greatest pleasure is Haden, my stepdaughter. I am surprised how much love you feel and how you would do anything for your children.

Lynch is currently starring in "Annie" on Broadway and performed on Sunday night's Tony Awards on CBS. "Glee," of course, continues to run on Fox.

Fox News sued after airing live broadcast of man's suicide

Angela Rodriguez has sued Fox Entertainment Group and Fox News Network, along with their parent company, News Corp., in Maricopa County Court, it was reported on Monday. Rodriguez claims that after Fox showed her husband's suicide on "Studio B with Shepard Smith," her children found a video of it on YouTube, and have been traumatized since doing so.

We earlier reported on the incident, which took place last September. "Studio B" broadcast portions of an 80-mile car chase involving the children's father, JoDon Romero, in and around Phoenix, Ariz., on Sept. 28, 2012.

Romero was finally cornered on a dirt road west of Tonopah. After leaving his stolen Dodge Caliber, Romero ran into an open field before pulling out a gun and shooting himself on live television.

The complaint holds Smith blameless, and says:

Studio B's host, Shepard Smith, began saying over and over to "get off," meaning to turn off the broadcast so as to not broadcast the events that were about to happen.

This suicide was broadcast live nationally. Because Fox News did not delay the broadcast by even a few seconds -- despite Shepard Smith's pleas to stop the broadcast -- every person in the country watching the program saw the driver shoot himself in the head.

Notably, the local Fox affiliate, from whom "Studio B" was receiving its live feed, was utilizing a several-second delay, Thus, viewers in the Phoenix area who were watching the incident unfold on the local Fox station (rather than on the Fox News national network) did not see the suicide, as the several-second delay enabled the local technicians to prevent the broadcast of the suicide.

However, news of the incident spread through the children's school, and "generated considerable buzz among the students at the school, particularly with respect to the two older boys," Rodriguez's complaint said.

Later, after returning from school, her two older children found a clip of the broadcast on YouTube, and "as they watched, they realized in horror that they were watching their father."

Since then, Rodriguez said, her two older children "have been, and continue to be, severely traumatized as a result of being exposed to the video of their own father killing himself on live television."

Neither child has returned to school since Romero's death. A psychologist said that the two "described approximately equivalent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that included flashbacks, repeated thoughts and feelings associated with viewing the video of their father shooting himself in the head, re-experiencing trauma, sleep disturbance, and intrusive thoughts.'"

Notably, Smith apologized on-air after the incident, which is mentioned in the filing.

Rodriguez has three children in total. Rodriguez seeks compensatory and punitive damages for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She and her children are represented by Joel Robbins with Robbins and Curtin.