There has been endless speculation over the cause of Ashlee Simpson’s departure on the new Melrose Place and while publicly those involved with the show have been saying that it was planned for Ashlee to leave early all along, many are assuming that there’s more to the story. An insider on the set told Star Magazine that there is, in fact, more to Ashlee’s departure than is being said and it apparently has to do with the arrival of another diva: OG Melrose Place star Heather Locklear.

The two are said to have butted heads on set many times. Ashlee was caught whispering things about Heather’s age to others and Heather was fed up with Ashlee’s lack of talent and wannabe diva attitude. The producers, knowing that Heather was bound to bring some new eyes to the show and boost ratings, made the executive decision to cut Ashlee and her co-star Colin Egglesfield in order to keep Heather around.

While I can see Ashlee’s diva schtick being both obnoxious and unwarranted, I do have to say that I think Heather has to have a pretty high opinion of herself if she thinks she can get employed anywhere other than the Melrose Place set. Let’s face it: After her last few years in the headlines, she’s not exactly A-list and I can’t think of the last time that she did anything reasonable. Plus, this quote from the set insider, “Heather was jealous of Ashlee immediately. She knew Ashlee was one of the bigger names on set, and she wanted her gone so she could make it her show. Heather is very political and calculating…”, not only makes Heather sound like a bully, but it seems kind of pathetic.

Either way, I can’t imagine that this show is going to be around long enough for it to make a huge impact on either actresses career.

It’s official:  The bitch is back.  Heather Locklear is returning to the saddest little neighborhood around, Melrose Place, to see if she can yet again save this sinking ship.

The first time MP was on the air there was no plot line,  it had horrible actors and was at the bottom of the ratings — wow, this new version really is a remake in the truest sense.  Heather Locklear came on board and saved the show; it ran for seven years.  Now, she’s coming back.

I’m sure after that nuclear disaster of a premiere, the producers knew that only Amanda Woodward could save the day.  Here are my questions:  Will Amanda’s glorified belts — the wardrobe people called them “skirts”, but I debate that classification — be as short as they were in the ’90s?  Will this show make it to the end of season 1?  And, just how much money do you think they had to throw at Heather Locklear to get her back on this show?

Public appearances by Heather Locklear have been exceedingly rare since she was arrested on DUI last year, but she showed up at with her boyfriend, James Wagner, to the opening of Reality Check in LA yesterday, hosted by Carole Bayer Sager And Mergie Perenchio.

I swear, this woman does not age! For all she’s been through, she still look about 28 years old. STUNNING!

The infamous DUI-er gets out of the car holding a copy of Get Out of My Life for the paps to see.

Cute.

It took awhile, but prosecutors in Santa Barbara have charged Heather “Prettiest Mug Shot Ever” Locklear with misdemeanor driving under the influence, citing prescription drugs.

Her attorney had no comment.

Heather has been flying under the radar since her traffic stop in September led to her arrest.

This shit is bananas!

B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

So now we’re hearing reports that the chick who made the 911 call to police about Heather Locklear driving drunk was none other than Jill Ishkanian, that chick who got fired from Us Weekly and then hacked into their computer system. After calling in the tip, Jill tipped off her paparazzi buddies, who got the shots of Heather’s arrest and sold them to TMZ for $27,000.

This is soooo fucked up.

And probably not illegal, either, unless someone can prove that Heather was definitely not driving erratically. Says Jill’s lawyer: “The fact she witnessed Ms. Locklear’s erratic driving and reported it to the police did not mean she was disqualified from reporting the story, which she in fact did.” And, ya know, he’s right. There’s nothing illegal about this, sadly, if Heather was, in fact, behaving like a drunk driver.

However, another witness near the scene denies that Heather seemed drunk.

“She seemed to be acting normal, totally normal. She was just really messy, but not drunk,” says Santa Barbara resident Alex Paillon, who spotted Locklear in a shopping center moments before her arrest.

“I was really surprised to hear she got a DUI because, I mean, I just saw her coming out of the store,” Paillon continues. “She looked fine.”

And how does Harvey Levin over at TMZ feel about the fact that these photos are soooo dirty? (Although, in fairness, he didn’t know the whole set-up when he paid for them.) “Ultimately, these are photographs of an arrest,” he said.

The D.A. is still determining whether or not to file charges.

Because, I mean, whether or not the police tip-off was set-up, the police still decided to go ahead and put her under arrest, so she must have been exhibiting some signs of impairment, although it’s been determined alcohol was not involved. If she’d been totally sober and sane, they would have let her go. The police don’t go ahead and arrest every single person they come into contact with on the road.

While the CHP said there was no sign Locklear, 47, had consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, a “drug recognition expert” told officers she appeared under the influence of an unspecified drug. She was tested and prosecutors are awaiting the results.

“Toxicology is one piece of information that I want to have in hand before I review the case,” explains the D.A.. “Obviously, I want as much information as I can get before I can review the case for any filing, if there is going to be a filing.”

This is going to be very, very interesting to watch play out. I am certain some fucked up shit went down either way.

As the world speculates about her DUI last week, Heather Locklear solemnly meets with her real estate agent in LA on Tuesday.

Are you going to issue a statement, Heather? An apology? An explanation? Anything?

Extra has the 911 call that resulted in Heather Locklear’s DUI arrest. Check it out here.

It’s an interesting listen.

Anyone who thinks she maybe took one or two too many Vicodin is probably just being wishful.

It sounds like Heather was trashed.

Says Janet Charlton:

According to acquaintances, Heather has been abusing prescription painkillers every day for around 20 years. Specifically vicodin. This kind of long term pill popping can easily lead to kidney damage and the need for dialysis. One of her exboyfriends is hooked on the same pills so they had a great time while it lasted. Obviously, Heather’s recent aborted attempt at rehab where she claimed it was for “depression,” didn’t help at all. It makes one rethink the possible causes for her divorce from Richie Sambora. Heather is well liked in Hollywood and everyone hopes she’ll finally get a grip on this problem.

Dude a bottle of Vicodin sounds damn good to me right about now. I’m super grumpy and I can’t figure out why. I’m just a grumpster. It’s been a stressful day. I told you guys about the Dell drama last night, and then this morning I thought my health insurance had expired without my knowledge (it hadn’t, it just got transferred to a different company, but it took my all day to figure that out and in the meantime I was trying to figure out how the hell to get health insurance, like, NOW) and then Leo had to go get tested for heartworm (he’s fine, the vet just called with the results) and my new health insurance provider will only cover prescriptions if I order them from some stupid online pharmacy that needs like a whole special fancy order form faxed in by my doctor and, like, I can’t even remember who prescribes my birth control these days so I have no idea how I’m going to get that dealt with and my car needs emissions testing and there are only like four places in the county that do it, none of which are close to where I live, and I didn’t sleep well last night and am exhausted.

Oh and also the economy’s totally collapsing and I need to go to the store and stock up on bottled water and the like to prep for the apocalypse.

Oh and ALSO what’s up with no new House tonight? Someone explain that BULLSHIT to me, stat.

I think it’s my nap time. If someone wants to stop by my apartment with chocolate bars, that would be nice, too. Because I totally don’t have a good drug hook-up in Seattle, so I’m gonna have to rely on chocolate for now.

First off, she wasn’t drinking.

Authorities are still waiting on the results of other tests.

The person who reported the incident said she saw a woman who was visibly impaired, later identified to be Locklear, getting into a car in a Montecito parking lot Saturday afternoon about 4:30, Marshall said.

Locklear showed bizarre behavior, driving back and forth over a pair of sunglasses on the pavement and revving her engine. After leaving the parking lot, she stopped her car on the street and stumbled into the traffic lane, according to the caller, who followed Locklear out of concern, Marshall said.

When the CHP officer arrived, Locklear’s car was parked on State Route 192 partially blocking a lane, Marshall said. The officer talked to her and determined that she was disoriented and “under the influence of something.” She was taken to the CHP’s Santa Barbara-area office to be tested for alcohol and drugs.

Locklear tested negative for alcohol. Other drug tests will be returned in a few days, Marshall said.

Hm. She was visibly impaired, but she hadn’t been drinking.

Soooo … are we talking weed? Cocaine? Vicodin?

Or was little Heather Locklear into something a little bit harder?

Can’t wait to find out!

Well, that didn’t take long.

Somebody’s headed back to rehab.

Heather Locklear was arrested on DUI in Santa Barbara on Sunday.

Locklear, 47, was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer Saturday afternoon after a resident reported seeing the actress leaving a parking lot and “driving erratically,” patrol spokesman Tom Marshall said.

The officer noticed Locklear’s car parked on a state highway and blocking a lane in Montecito, a wealthy community about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles. She was believed to be alone in the car, Marshall said.

“In talking with her, (the officer) determines that she seems to be under the influence of something,” Marshall said.

Locklear was taken to the police station, where she was tested for alcohol and drugs. She was booked at 7 p.m. on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication. She was later released from custody.

Wow, this does not sound good at all.

Hopefully Heather can get the help she needs.

Heather’s finally been sprung from the Arizona facility where she was being treated for “anxiety and depression” (and, if you believe the rumors, a little bit of drug and alcohol abuse).

“Heather’s feeling really great,” says a close friend. “And she looks beautiful, just radiant.”

We’re rooting for you, Heather!!!