Scoop: Ashlee Simpson moves into 'Melrose Place'

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

'Gossip Girl' exclusive: 'Lost,' 'Veronica Mars' alums flash back

"Let's do the time warp again!" is becoming a familiar refrain for more and more actors, now that Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are filling out the cast for their '80s-set Gossip Girl prequel.

On the heels of Andrew McCarthy's hiring as the dad to Brittany Snow's Lily, my moles tell me exclusively that Lost alum Cynthia Watros is thisclose to a deal to play Lily's mom, CeCe. Also coming aboard, I hear, is Ryan Hansen, best known as Veronica Mars' aptly named Dick. He'll play Owen's (Shiloh Fernandez) pal, Shep, who's crushing (futilely) on Krysten Ritter's Carol. (Hansen is currently appearing on Schwartz' web series, Rockville.)

So what do you think, peeps? Is all this gossip getting you psyched for the show? Or did Schwartz have you at leg warmers and shoulder pads? Don't keep it to yourself, share with the class below. (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)

'Smallville' exclusive: Two characters will die

The Grim Reaper is once again descending on Smallville, and this time he's not foolin' around.

Multiple sources confirm to me exclusively that two pivotal characters will bite the dust in this May's season finale. And in a bit of a departure for Smallville, both deaths will stick. "These characters will die and they will stay dead," maintains my insider. "This is the real deal."

Of course, that's not to say producers aren't planning a twist or two, because they are. But I'm told those twists do not involve bringing either character back to life.

If you're looking for another clue, you're out of luck. I'm not even going to do one of those morbid charts where I assess each character's chances for survival. I wouldn't want to do anything beyond writing this spoilery story to ruin the surprises in store.

Eh, one more little tease won't hurt anyone: One character qualifies as a Smallville vet... the other one, not so much.

Let the speculation (and prayer vigils) begin in the comments section!

'CSI' plots fraktastic 'Battlestar' crossover

If you had any doubts that CSI's creative team was made up of a bunch of rabid Battlestar Galactica fanboys and girls, this next story should erase them.

As first reported by Chicago Tribune, an upcoming episode of CBS' still-powerhouse procedural will feature guest appearances by BSG's fifth cylon, Kate Vernon, and the show's creator, Ronald D. Moore.

"It's about a murder at a science fiction convention," explains executive producer-BSG fanatic Naren Shankar of the April 16 installment, which once again puts the show's lab rats front and center. "It has a bit of a Battlestar Galactica vibe to it."

I'll say. In addition to boasting Vernon and Moore, Shankar says the ep also features, "Hodges (Wally Langham) and Wendy (Liz Vassey) re-enacting scenes from a campy -- and entirely fictional -- 1960's era sci-fi TV show."

As you'll recall, CSI producers were eyeing BSG's Katee Sackhoff to replace Jorja Fox last season, but they were ultimately overruled by execs at CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

So, what do you think? Are CSI and BSG two great tastes that taste great together? Share in the comments!

'Heroes' scoop: Early sneak peek at season 4!

The ink on NBC's unofficial renewal of Heroes is barely dry and already the show's producers are looking ahead to the fourth season. Truth be told, they've been looking ahead for some time now.

"We've spent a lot of time in the writers room talking about what season 4 is going to look like," consulting producer Bryan Fuller told me earlier this week. (At the time he was cautiously optimistic about the show's chances of returning.)

Fuller says the final moments of the season 3 finale will set the stage for what's to come in the fall. "Basically, the last act of episode 25, similar to what's been done in the past, opens up a new chapter of Heroes. It sets up arcs for a variety of characters."

That's particularly true in the case of Claire, Fuller says. "We set all the pieces up in terms of Claire's attitude and what her trajectory is going to be in season 4. You will have a very strong idea by the end of this season's final episode where Claire is going and what's going to be happening with the Petrellis."

Of course, the bigger question is whether anyone will care where they're going. Personally, based on what I'm hearing about this season's final batch of episodes, I actually do care. But enough about me, let's talk about you: What do you think of Heroes' early (and still unofficial) pickup? Relieved? Indifferent? None of the above? Sound off below! 

Scoop: Julianna Margulies eyes CBS drama

Julianna Margulies is heading back to court.

The ER vet has been tapped to headline the CBS drama pilot Good Wife, sources confirm to me semi-exclusively. The potential series focuses on a politician's wife who pursues her original career as a defense attorney.

Margulies, who will slip back into Nurse Hathaway's scrubs on ER next Thursday, is no doubt hoping Wife fares better than her last law-based series, Fox's short-lived Canterbury's Law. The Denis Leary-produced drama was axed after just six episodes.

Glad Margulies isn't giving up her legal ambitions without a fight? Or is it time she moved on to another faux career? Comment away!

'Bones' exclusive: 'Major health crisis' looming for Booth

Is the long-awaited nookie for Booth and Brennan in the season finale of Bones just a lovely parting gift for David Boreanaz's character? Probably not, but it sounds like the wisecracking detective will stare death in the face later this season.

"He will be going through a major health crisis," reveals executive producer Stephen Nathan, "which will cause him to hallucinate."

Exclusive: 'CSI: NY' says RIP to one of its own

"That's right," says CSI: NY executive producer Peter Lenkov. "We lose a member of our family [in the season finale] -- and that's just in the first 10 minutes."

The other 50 minutes of the hour will probably be pretty killer, too. Leading up to it is episode 5.22, titled "Yarzheit," which features not only Lou Grant... er, Ed Asner but also comic legend Shelley Berman. In this one, "Our CSIs find themselves investigating a crime that takes them into the world of racism and bigotry, only to uncover a deep, dark secret that dates back to the Holocaust," teases Lenkov. "Also in this episode, Mac will learn something about his father he never knew.

"And in the season finale" -- which also has Craig T. Nelson winding up his arc -- "the CSI: NY team is on the trail of a team of sophisticated kidnappers-turned-cop killers," he continues. "Their crime will forever change the CSI: NY lineup."

So who do you think bites the dust? Danny? Lindsay? Mac? Stella? Post your theories in the comments section!

More TV Scoop:
NCIS shocker: Is someone leaving?
Grey's: Mer-Der proposal twist!
24: Beloved character will die

'NCIS' shocker: A 'tragic' fate for Tony and Ziva

"Tiva" fans, I've got good news for you, and, as the title of this story suggests, bad news -- potentially very bad news. But hey, first the good: NCIS executive producer Shane Brennan tells me that for viewers who are in love with the duo -- and I know there are lots of you -- "the last four episodes of the season are going to be amazing. They will not believe what's in store for these characters. We focus on Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) in a way that we haven't focused on them in six seasons!

"I'm very serious," he adds. "They carry the last four episodes in a way that is really, really shocking, and in a way, the audience will not see any of this coming."

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Grey's,' 'Housewives,' 'Big Bang,' 'How I Met Your Mother,' '24,' 'ER,' 'NCIS,' 'Heroes,' 'The Office,' 'Smallville,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'House,' and more!

Question: You got anything on the Mer-Der proposal on Grey's Anatomy? --Cas
Ausiello: Mer not only learns about the engagement ring in next week's episode, but she sees it, too. Unfortunately, the circumstances are less than ideal in both cases.

Question: Please, give me some spoilers regarding Cristina and Owen on Grey's Anatomy. I'll settle for anything! --Kelly
Ausiello: Even if it's a little icky? Okay, you asked for it: Owen's post-traumatic stress disorder will take a turn for the worse when he ends up physically hurting Cristina, albeit unintentionally. To find out what happens next, pick up the Spring TV Preview-themed issue of EW (on sale Friday) and turn to page 35.