The countdown to the inevitable Pete Wentz cameo has begun!
Multiple sources confirm that singer-songwriter-sometime actress Ashlee Simpson has become the latest tenant of The CW’s refurbished Melrose Place.
The onetime 7th Heaven star will play small-town girl Violet, a character whose disarming naiveté masks the calculating, shrewd sex kitten within. In other words, the little tramp’s Sydney.
Simpson joins a cast that so far includes Katie Cassidy (as ambitious publicist Ella), Michael Rady (as aspiring filmmaker Jonah), and, if there is a God, original Melrose icon Heather Locklear, who would be slipping back into Amanda Woodward’s office microminis. “Both sides are talking,” whispers my Melrose mole of Locklear. “It’s looking good.”
Melrose 2.0, which is considered a lock to land a spot on The CW’s fall sked (most likely on Tuesdays after 90210), is being shepherded by Smallville’s Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin. Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) has been tapped to direct the pilot.
Now for the big question: Did Simpson score the part that Mischa Barton had been circling? My sources tell me no. That means the ex-O.C. siren is in talks to stretch her acting chops to within an inch of their life play straight-arrow med student Lauren or revoltingly sweet schoolteacher Riley.
But enough about Barton, let’s get back to Simpson: Thoughts on Melrose’s newest acquisition? Sound off below!
More Melrose:
Three reasons we’re concerned about MP
Meet the new residents
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I’d like to see george nardi have a role as her love interest
I’m actually delighted … hope she keeps her Sydney-style red hair too.
Ew. What a joke this is! It was bad enough that 90210 got recreated.
Has anyone else made the connection that the director Davis Guggenheim, is the real life brother in law of one time Melrose Place resident Billy (aka Andrew Shue)? Davis is married to Andrews sister, Elisabeth Shue (Adventures in Babysitting.
Yikes. This show is shaping up to be a much bigger disaster than “90210.”
I would havel never watch that but I will for her I am a big fan YAY
Darn, I was planning on watching this show but not anymore.
OMG Who decided that she should act? I’d like to shoot them. I’ve seen that clip from CSI NY and DAMN she was bad. So much for me checking out the new Melrose Place. I think I’ll just go buy the dvd’s now.
This is soo exciting. I love Ashlee and am one of the few people who believes in her talents as an actress & musician. I was never going to watch this so and now that she may be on I may be watching it.
Her introduction onto 7th Heaven is actually what made me stop watching. When are people going to stop pretending either of the Simpson sisters has real, natural talent? First her sister goes from being a mildly ok singer to sounding like a dying bird, and now Ashlee is going to be on a tv remake? As if she is anywhere near the likes of Courtney Thorne Smith or Heather Locklear? I’d rather watch Shenae Grimes for hours on end than see Ashlee kill another tv show. Guess the producers are going with the beggars can’t be choosers line.
I want Mischa to be in something. shes so pretty and i just like her. simpson is desperate to reboot her career after everyone forgot about her music. shes a god awful actress
I love Ashlee! She is a real talent and I am glad she is given a chance to show it!
Melrose is now off my schedule.
Overrated. Why do people think she is good? There are other actresses with more talent than her.
Oh god, if Mischa was cast, and Heather Locklear was in a same scene, egos would collide, shoes would start flying, sirens would set, coffee will be thrown, diva antics will roam, and the whole world would implode!
Bringing back Melrose Place? I am now convinced that the TV industry is completely bankrupt in the originality dept. I’m selling my TV and never looking back!
Ashlee’s acting is even worse than her singing. Perhaps, they hired her to catfight cause she is one tough girl. Neither Mischa nor Heather will cross Ashlee or they will be end up on the ground. The girl can fight.
I’m not sure about this, who NOSE? The answer may be yesses, but my bet is for NOSE.
Why did they cast this lip-syncing no talent heifer? There is other real talent out there they could cast instead of her. This is absurd, I’m getting very angry that they are casting nothing but white actors so far for the show. No people of color. Its pathetic and sad, I love MP and was very hyped about it returning, but now my anticpation is fading, I have a feeling its going to flop. Unless they hire other actors on the show that will over shadow Simpson. If not MP will not be on my list next fall.
What a joke. Maybe they’ll be smart and kill her first season! As for the older characters, they should bring back: Amanda, Peter, Jo, Alison, Jane and Jake. After all, all their careers went nowhere, they should be desperate for a job and they were left alive when the show ended.
Well, I was going to watch!! That idea just went in the crapper! Will she be lip-synching her lines? Maybe she could do that goofy dance ala Saturday night live? C’MON, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
Well, I wasn’t planning on watching anyway, because the idea of a Melrose revival is so retarded to begin with. But now I’m REALLY not watching. Not even to see how bad it is. Because it’s gonna be BAD, people. Really, really bad.
So is Michael Rady off Greek now?? No more Max? Aw man, where am I going to get my geek fix now
I love Max!!
Is she going to lip-sync to pre-recorded dialogue or actually speak it herself?
Whatever, I suppose anything that keeps her out of the recording studio is a good thing.
MP 2.0 using Ashlee Simpson in the “Sydney” role is akin to Jessica Walters’ bringing Lucille Bluth to 90210…it makes no sense, but I’m up for the challenge.
Some things should just be left in the past….this show is one of those.
This story really raises the question: when talentless “actress” joins pointless remake of lousy piece of garbage, does it subtract from the appeal of the suckage, or does it make it so much suckier that it actually becomes interesting?
Boo. I was looking forward to the new Melrose, being a big fan of the original, but I won’t watch if Simpson is on the show. I just can’t stand her.
They just lost me!!!
I just hope Mischa isn’t cast. Talk about wanting to revive her career – her’s has pretty much gone nowhere or at least straight to DVD. She’s horrible! And if both she and Ashlee were on the same show – wow, what a train wreck.
I have to admit though it would be pretty funny if Mischa lost this part to Ashlee Simpson!