'Hills' Scandal is All Too Real

[Latimes.com] - Just how much of the reality show is scripted is the focus of a hubbub that MTV didn't plot. An "is it scripted or isn't it?" storm is brewing around this season of "The Hills." Some sloppy editing in recent episodes, reported in several newspapers and blogs, have raised the question. And last week an online exposé by its star Lauren Conrad's onetime date Gavin Beasley sent "Hills" fans into a tizzy trying to figure it out.

MTV has always 'fessed to doing "pickup shots," staged scenes that address issues of continuity, not storylines. But in an interview last week, Beasley divulged the level of manipulation that goes on in "The Hills." (Interestingly, the interview was conducted with the blog www.BestWeekEver.tv, a product of MTV sister network VH1. Et tu, VH1?)

The posting is perhaps the most incriminating evidence yet to surface supporting the - let's face it - fairly obvious allegation that the show's drama is largely manufactured by its producers. Beasley divulged behind-the-scenes details of his cameo, including how producers asked him to get Conrad's phone number and listed questions he should ask her. "They wanted me to ask her about the runway show, how long she had worked that day, when would she get off, stuff like that," Beasley said. An MTV rep responded that producers "overheard" that Beasley was planning to ask Conrad out on a date. And while maintaining that the show is not scripted, the spokeswoman acknowledged the producers sometimes help guide dialogue along for clarity.

"Since there are no confessionals or interviews on 'The Hills' to put questions in context (as there are in shows like 'The Real World'), the producers sometimes ask cast members to rephrase to help tell the story clearly."Beasley had also said that producers set up a barbecue party for the gang, specifically so Brody Jenner and he could meet, thus providing the fodder for an episode that would revolve entirely around Jenner becoming jealous of Beasley. MTV denied this, saying that it was the cast who organized the party. Scripted or not, watching L.A.'s most popular layabouts bicker has been the definition of guilty pleasure since its launch a year and a half ago.

You can't write someone like perpetual backstabber Heidi Montag, who made herself so fun to hate during the second season. Montag, however, has been sidelined this season by the considerably more bland Conrad, so can you blame the producers for trying to stir the pot? Especially when their subjects, with the exceptions of Montag and her fiancé, the archvillain Spencer Pratt, are pretty and passive, but dull? At least Team Heidi is trying to live up to the role as bad guys, as evidenced by the routine calls to Ryan Seacrest's radio show, People magazine and TMZ.

If producers are in fact helping things, er, roll along, though, then why is this season so boring? Sure, with former best friends Conrad and Montag on the outs, the series has split in to two so-so shows. The producers have also made the mistake of promoting Whitney Port and Audrina Patridge to being Conrad's chief sidekicks. Unfortunately for them, both are more venting boards for Conrad than anything else. (But, it must be said, thank heavens for Patridge's love interest, Justin "Bobby" Brescia, and his Taoist sayings. On relationships: "We can either kick rocks and be acquaintances . . . or let truth and time tell all.")

Humbly, we offer some suggestions for the producers for the future. As long as you're manufacturing things, let's not give the girls their space. Remember this season's first episode when Conrad and Montag got into a screaming match at the nightclub LAX? We like that. Their run-in at Ketchup? Gimme more! Maybe an 18-episode season wasn't the best idea. We know the show is MTV's bread and butter right now - "Kaya" had a lukewarm reception Tuesday, and "Making Menudo" tanked - but you're stretching things thin. Monday's episode, inaccurately titled "Stress and the City," sent Conrad and Port to New York, where (a) Port gave a horrible presentation to the Teen Vogue staff and was soon relieved to find that as a "Hills" regular no harm can befall you; and (b) Conrad did a some grunt work for her idol Marc Jacobs (only to play it a little too cool when they were introduced).

We'd settle for 13 episodes where, ya know, better stuff happens. Also, acknowledge "The Hills'" popularity on the show. Follow them to nightclubs. Watch them address the press. Crash the photo shoots of Conrad and Montag (dueling magazine cover girls last month). Get in on Montag's and Pratt's publicity strategy sessions - you know they have them - and their calls to Seacrest. All this reality behind the reality is what's made the show a hit, right? Then again, that might be a little too real for this reality show.

Lauren Conrad's Crush On...Zac Efron?!

[National Ledger] - Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron seemingly face speculation and innuendo surrounding their relationship every day and this will be no different. The two young High School Musical stars known as Zanessa are the new "it" couple and now Reality TV star Lauren Conrad of "The Hills" has admitted that she is just like many other young women - she has a crush on Zac Efron.

Can you blame her? Us Weekly has a cover story on LC this week and in it the mag asks, "What do Zac Efron and Mark Wahlberg have in common? Conrad digs them both."

She certainly has good taste. "I've always loved Mark Wahlberg. He's just so cute. Ever since I first saw his movie the Italian Job, I've loved him." Conrad admits of Wahlberg, But she admits, "He's a little old for me."However one super cute and red-hot star is not too old for the 21-year old nemesis of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt. "He's so cute!" Conrad says of 20-year-old Zac Efron. "He is younger than me, and it's just because I'm the hugest dork, but I love Zac Efron. His hair is always so pretty!

Scoring a coup like Zac would blow Heidi and Spencer out of the water and really elevate Lauren. Of course that would mean heartbreak for many fans, as Zac would have to split with [long-term girlfriend and co-star Vanessa Hudgens].

Audrina Heats Up Les Deux For Halloween

Unlike BFF Lauren Conrad, who kept things simple in a sexy sailor get-up, Audrina Partridge went all out with her costume in celebration of Halloween at Hypnotiq's Hollywood Halloween party at Les Deux last night.

Dancing and chatting the night away with singer Christina Milian (whose costume was similar to The Hills star's), the twosome schmoozed it up with fellow clubbers during the evening, and before heading out, Audrina responded to recent comments about the MTV show which claim the programme is staged, saying:

"Everything is real. Lauren and me are real friends. We live in our apartment. That's real, like where we work, everything. The situations are real." However, Audrina does admit that the producers "tweak it a little" by recommending they go to certain places on certain nights. "I mean, they might be kinda like, 'Okay, we want you to go to Les Deux tonight,' so we go and whatever happens, happens. And they might do things to tweak it a little bit, but our reactions - it's totally real. It's reality."

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Lauren Conrad Gets Nautical at Les Deux

Hallo'ween appeared to bring out the inner sailor in The Hills leading lady Lauren Conrad. The 21-year-old reality star donned some sexy nautical wear for the spooky goings-on at her Hollywood nightclub of choice, Les Deux.



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Lauren Conrad's New Dating Rules

It'd be fair to say Lauren Conrad can be pretty picky about guys - but Us Weekly has the real reasons from LC herself...

"Pickup lines have become so cheesy, people hear them as a joke now," Lauren says in the latest issue of Us Weekly. And the worst chat-up lines she's been subjected to?

"A guy the other day said, 'You're a smoking babe and I think you should call me,' and handed me his number," Conrad says, adding, "I just wonder if that's ever actually worked. 'Smoking babe'?"

And it gets worse! "I had a guy come up to me and ask for a Band-Aid and I said, 'No, I don't have a Band-Aid.' Then he said, 'You're supposed to ask me why,'" she told the magazine.

When Lauren played along and asked him, the guy replied, "Because I scraped my knee when I fell for you." Conrad recalls, "I didn't understand it. I was like, 'Did you really fall?'"

Still, Conrad understands it can be indimidating for everyone - including herself - to approach guys, or in their case, girls. She admits, "I've pretended to know a guy before" in order to get his attention. "I said, 'I think I know you from somewhere.'"

And, says Lauren, "It's hard to walk up to someone out of nowhere and be like, 'Hi, I'm Lauren.'"

Easier for you than me!

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Lauren Conrad's Favourite Things

[People.com] - It’s no secret that we covet Lauren Conrad’s easy style — so we had to know what her favorite things are! The Hills star let PEOPLE in on her fall must-haves — and we are thrilled at how affordable a few of them are. L.C. loves her heels, and among her favorite pairs are the “Rio-8″ spectator Dolce Vitas. Says lauren, “I love Mary Janes, they’re really cute. This pair of Dolce Vita’s make me tall.” The California girl likes sticking with easy breezy dresses but when she does slip into a pair of jeans she opts for the Lux high waisted three button jean. Her dress of choice? The Audrina, from her namesake clothing line. “I love the Audrina dress. All the pieces are comfortable and emulate my personal style.” The designer’s favorite accessory is a Hamsa hand red string bracelet. “This was a gift from friends when I was having a hard time. It protects me,” says Lauren. And when it comes to fragrance, Lauren loves her Miss Dior Cherie.

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Speidi Dress Up For Hallo'ween

Oh dear. Happy Hallo'ween, everyone - let's celebrate with some more posed shots of Heidi Montag and greaseball fiancée Spencer Pratt, Hollywood's most loathed man. Heidi & Spencer (now attractively nicknamed 'Speidi' - oh I love the onomatopoeia) got 'accidentally' snapped heading to a friend's Hallo'ween party near Santa Monica this past Sunday...coincidentally dressed in head-to-toe. Even bigger the coincidence was that Heidi's enormous breasts were on show...again. Ugh.

Heidi went as The Little Mermaid (but still managed to look like a slut), and Spencer went dressed in a full Spider-man outfit.

When asked whose party they were on their way to, the couple replied (hilariously), "Britney Spears".

Audrina and Justin-Bobby Get Into Screaming Match

Whilst we'd prefer to see Heidi and Spencer having an enormous bust-up, unfortunately it was another Hills couple at war last night. TMZ cameras caught the MTV crew filming for an upcoming episode of the show outside Opera - when outside the club appeared Audrina Partridge and sometimes-boyfriend Justin "Bobby" Brescia, and continued to have a huge argument. Justin soon disappears into the shadows after Audrina shows him the double-barrel salute, screaming, "He doesn't even have the balls to come and talk to me!"

Retreating to the parking lot with BFF and roommate Lauren Conrad, the MTV crew sprinted after Audrina, obviously ecstatic that something genuinely happened for once!

Check out the video here.

Music Guide for Newport Harbor

Just a quick post to say that: if you're looking for any of the music played in the recent series Newport Harbor, you can find out what it is here at newportharborfans.com. The site also offers extended cast bios, pictures, an episode guide and news stories.