MELISSA DANCING WITH THE STARS

Dancing With the Stars:
which just happens to needs a new celebrity - has reportedly hired the wronged woman to compete in the new season which starts tonight.

The dance show lost two competitors - singer Jewel and "Access Hollywood" host Nancy O'Dell - to injuries last week, before the first show.




Holly Madison, the Playboy model, ex-Hugh Hefner girlfriend and star of the reality show "Girl Next Door," had already been hired to replace Jewel.

According to People magazine, Melissa, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, agreed a few days ago to take O'Dell's spot and has been busy rehearsing.

Melissa, 25, became an overnight sensation last Monday night when an audience of more than 17 million saw Jason, who had proposed to her last fall, dump her in favor for another contestant from the hit reality series.

She called Mesnick a "bastard" and stormed off the show, the approval of millions of sympathetic viewers.

Kim Kardashian Spills Reggie Bush's Birthday Gift!

Kim Kardashian may have missed her boyfriend Reggie Bush's Miami birthday bash last week, but she'll be there to celebrate with him in Vegas this weekend.

At the Old Navy Supermodelquins event at Guy's last night, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star even spilled what she got her man for his big day.

"This year, I got him a really nice watch," she told E! News.

But Kim doesn't exactly get points for originality with her gift idea, as she confessed that Reggie got her a watch for her birthday as well.

Kim also said her footballer beau will be showing up a lot more in the new season of the show.





"He's gotten a lot more comfortable in front of the cameras," she said of her shy guy. "We film at his house a lot."

Lacey Schwimmer on Dancing with Jackass

Lacey Schwimmer Dishes on Dancing with Jackass Star Steve-O In 2008, dancer Lacey Schwimmer went from So You Think You Can Dance veteran to Dancing With the Stars newbie with a few fleet turns of the foot. And in a stellar showing, she took Lance Bass all the way to the finals before going on a nationwide tour with the show. Back for season 8, Lacey is partnered with comedian Steve-O and spoke with PEOPLE about why she was wrong about the Jackass star, whether they have any stunts planned and why she thinks they’ll do well in the competition. – Scott Huver So let us have it — how’s Steve-O? Steve-O is a workhorse. He is here everyday, five hours. He says, “Is five hours enough, Lacey? Do you think I need more than that?” So he’s just such a hard worker and we’re in very intense rehearsals everyday. Were you worried that because of his history he wouldn’t be the most disciplined partner? Absolutely, and that’s what I thought going into it, too. I was like, “Oh, man. He’s not going to want to practice and this, that and the other.” But I walked in and the first thing he said to me was, “I’m taking this very seriously. So you’re the boss. You tell me what to do. I’ll do whatever you want.” Ever since, he’s been such a great person to work with. Were you surprised? It’s funny because he’s been eleven months sober from drugs and alcohol and so I think his mind is now thinking, “I really have to now achieve this goal. I have to do this.” His head is really clear. I look up to him in that sense because as hard as he’s working on so many things, I feel like I should be working harder. I wasn’t expecting how nice of a guy he turned out to be and how much of a gentleman and how adorable he is. He’s so sweet and so cute and everyone who meets him just falls in love with him. Does he have any dance experience? He comes from a background of circus training. He graduated clown school, I believe, and he has these really interesting tricks that he can do that I’ve never seen anyone on the show do before. So we’re definitely going to try and incorporate what he already can do and I’m trying to develop things that he could potentially do. How about incorporating elements of Jackass into your routines? Of course! He’s already told me things that he’s wanting to do on the set. I’m like, “You have to remember that this is live television and it’s ABC Family. I don’t know if me kicking you in a certain area would look good on TV.” He’s having fun and has great ideas and is a really creative guy. We’re both so silly and we love to laugh and have a good time. I get him. I get his humor and I understand what he’s thinking. We work really well together. What do you think are your chances? I think he’s this little dark horse of the competition. People don’t really know what to expect from him … I keep getting these messages on Myspace or on Facebook and they’re like, ‘Oh, man, you and Steve-O. I’m so sorry.’ I look at them and think they have no idea about this guy.

The Clintons Bid Farewell to Socks the Cat

Former First Cat Socks, one of the world’s most famous felines, died Friday at the age of 20 after battling throat cancer since November. A stray cat rescued by the Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, Socks lived in the governor’s mansion in Arkansas and later moved with the family to the White House.

"Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere," the Clintons said in a statement, released first to PEOPLE.COM. "We're grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years."

Currie, the president's personal secretary, and her husband, Bob, took over care of Socks after the Clintons left the White House. It was near their home in Maryland that Socks was put to sleep Friday morning. "He could no longer stand and wasn’t eating," according to family friend and presidential historian Barry Landau.

His Pal Buddy the Lab
Though much was made of the fact that Buddy, the family’s beloved brown Labrador retriever – who died after being hit by a car in 2002 – remained with the Clintons while Socks did not, Landau says, "The truth be known, Betty asked if Socks could come live with her. The Clintons didn’t abandon Socks. They were totally conflicted. It broke their hearts, but they knew it would be the right thing for Socks’ welfare.”

"Betty had lost a close family member and a dog and they wanted to do something nice for her," continues Landau, noting that Hillary Clinton had just been elected to the U.S. Senate.

Hillary Clinton with Socks in 1999 Photo by: J. Scott Applewhite / APThe Clintons Bid Farewell to Socks the Cat| Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton
During the family's days in the White House, Socks had become attached to Betty, with whom he spent many hours every day. "Socks was always curled up on a blue striped silk chair, next to Betty," in her office outside the Oval Office, Landau says. "Socks didn’t act like a cat. Socks was very dog-like, and Buddy and Socks got along well.” Landau adds that even visiting heads of state asked to have pictures taken with the cat.

A Taste for Chicken
In the years since he left the White House, Landau says, "Socks had an incredible life. Betty cooked for Socks," he said, noting the cat loved chicken. He was also the subject (along with the family dog) of a book by Hillary Clinton titled Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets.

On Thursday, Currie took Socks for one last walk; she plans to have the cat cremated.

Rihanna Assures Fans She 'Remains Strong'

Rihanna spoke out for the first time since allegedly being assaulted by Chris Brown, issuing a statement of thanks to her fans. "At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown," says the statement from her rep on Friday. "She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time." The statement comes on her 21st birthday and a day after she was spotted in Los Angeles after spending nearly two weeks in seclusion. The singer was photographed Thursday heading to an airport the same night a graphic photo reportedly showing her battered face surfaced on the Internet, upsetting her father, who criticized police for their "sloppy work." Prior to the statement, neither Rihanna nor her representatives had commented since the arrest of Brown, 19, on Feb. 8 On Friday, friends in Rihanna's native Barbados marked her birthday by taking out an ad in the local paper wishing her a happy 21st "amidst all the negativity about Ri Ri. God will continue to bless her." "I just really love that girl," Sharon Thompson, who bought the birthday greeting, tells PEOPLE. " Some nights I cry because of what I'm hearing. It has me deeply hurt. She's just so lovely."