July 2009 News Archive (Page 3)

More to Love premieres on Fox next week.

Why should you tune in to this over-sized version of The Bachelor? Because star Luke Conley is someone to cheer for, says Luke Conley.

"The Bachelor is about beautiful people living a beautiful life and hopefully finding a beautiful love,"said Conley, pictured.  "This show is like a sporting event.  You're rooting for someone to find love."

Added executive producer SallyAnn Salsano:

"Every girl in America feels self-conscious and uncomfortable. But these girls have lived it for so long that this is almost like a safe haven for them.  Everyone was afraid to come on this show and be made fun of."

As for Conley, Salsano said he was a natural choice for the dating series.

"We all fell in love with Luke because he is so genuine. He makes the girls feel comfortable."

Will you tune in for More to Love?

Bethenny Frankel may be preparing to slam Kelly Bensimon in a new book, but The Real Housewife of New York City doesn't seem to mind.

She's busy with a rumored new man.

Witnesses told Life & Style that Kelly has been spending time with Uma Thurman's ex-boyfriend, André Balazs.

The pair cozied up to one another on July 17 at a hotel in South Beach, as sources say Balazs and Bensimon were holding hands while dancing, laughing and sharing drinks at a VIP table.

The next night, these two were spotted at André's hotel, The Raleigh, cuddling by the pool and making no secret of their affection for one another.

It's a sentiment not exactly echoed by Kelly's reality TV co-stars.

She might be new to the show, but it sounds like Kandi Burruss makes her presence felt quickly on season two of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

"I just try to be cool and learn people's personalities and be myself," Burruss said of her strategy for the show. "When I think things I say it, I know that doesn't come off too good. [co-star Lisa Wu Hartwell] made it very easy because she is so nice, and her husband is great, they made it so fun."

Unsurprisingly, Burruss has already had a run-in with one Housewife, she said.

"I had my moment with one of the cast mates, but I try to get along for the most part. [NeNe Leakes] and my personalities clash sometimes... There was always something going on that I was getting emotional about. I hate when I cry in front of people, now it's millions of people! I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and people get to see the real reals."

The real reals? Awesome!

For the last couple weeks, we've been introducing readers to contestants on season six of Project Runway.

Now is your chance to learn more about Malvin Vien or Johnny Sakalis, for example.

But we interrupt these characters descriptions and biographies to present a new video brought to us by Lifetime, the new home of Project Runway.

Season six premieres on August 20 and the network has released the following look at every aspiring designer. Enjoy...

Based on her current contractual status, the answer to the question raised above is a resounding NO.

Days after Ryan Seacrest signed a three-year, $45 million deal to remain as the host of American Idol, Paula Abdul's manager is steaming mad that his client has heard nothing about her status.

"It does not appear that she's going to be back on Idol," David Sonenberg told The Los Angeles Times. "I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual... I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that [Idol production companies Fremantle and 19 Entertainment] haven't stepped up and said what they want to do."

What might Abdul do if not asked back for season nine, which premieres in January?

"She's not a happy camper as a result of what's going on. She's hurt. She's angry," Sonenberg said. "I think at this point we're going to be considering everything, including some kind of a competition show. She has tremendous ideas for a whole variety of shows."

Bethenny Frankel is leaving The Real Housewives of New York City for her very own reality show.

But she isn't leaving her feud with former co-star Kelly Killoren Bensimon behind.

Sources have confirmed to Life & Style that Frankel is writing a new book, one that will detail her hatred of Bensimon.

"Bethenny is writing a new book that will deal with their animosity," an insider told the tabloid. "Instead of food, this time it'll be about romance and money and friends and getting rid of all those voices in your head that are trying to tear you down. It's going to be a hot read."

It sure sounds that way... not!

Not so fast, ladies!

While Heidi Klum has told Project Runway viewers to look out for the women, such as Irina Shabayeva on season six, male designers won't just forfeit the title.

Take Malvin Vien, for instance. Tim Gunn says "hen you see this guy, you won't believe he's from Colorado," a reference to the 24-year old's look an eclectic fashion palette:

Vien's inspirations include rural Chinese farmers, Japanese ghost stories and insect anatomy. Yes, you read that correctly. Certainly sounds like an interesting contestant to watch.

Do we really need more C-list stars with Playboy posing pasts?

According to various sources, Dancing With the Stars is considering a change for season nine: producers are contemplating an increased number of contestants, as 16 stars might hit the floor, with two getting eliminated each week for 10 weeks.

The lineup should be announced some time in August. What do you think of this proposal?

Might Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris preside over more stars than usual this fall? We hope not.

As Jill Zarin continues to hold out for more money before agreeing to appear again on The Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny Frankel has a message for her former co-star:

Good luck... and good riddance!

Indeed, The New York Post reports that Frankel has moved on from the Bravo series that made her famous. She's landed her own show titled Skinny & The City.

[Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

"The show will follow her planning her wedding to [fiancé] Jason Hoppy," said a source.

Meanwhile, other insiders claim that Bethenny is penning a second book about "romance, money and friends." It will be inspired by her feud with Kelly Bensimon.

We can hardly wait!

Kendra Wilkinson, Bridget Marquardt and Holly Madison all may have moved on (to a football player; a Travel Channel show; and various boy toys, respectively), but Hugh Hefner is still playing house with a trio of busty blondes at the Playboy Mansion.

And viewers will soon welcome this threesome into their homes: earlier this week, Hefner confirmed a new season of E!'s The Girls Next Door.

It will star Crystal Harris and The Shannon Twins, Karissa and Kristina. Asked about the show at the Sports Dream Celebrity Poker and Pool Party on Monday, Hef pointed to his beautiful entourage and said:

"You are looking at part of the cast here. We are going to have a lot of fun."

So, what will the series focus on this fall? Coming from a man that walks around in a bathrobe, what do you think?

"Fun and games!" Hefner said.