14 DAY TRIAL // Nicole Richie is making her comeback to television with a new comedy series for ABC, which she will produce and star in, as she happily announced herself a short while ago. Despite talk that Ashlee Simpson has been axed from the popular “Melrose Place” remake series due to her lack of talent, Richie is convinced that she’s a good actress and wants her for the upcoming show, MonstersAndCritics says.
Sources close to Richie who, nevertheless, refuse to reveal their name because of the delicate position they claim to be, are telling the media she really wants old acquaintance Simpson for a part on her show no matter how much critics and the public in general say that she isn’t cut out for acting. As of now, Richie hasn’t yet decided on which part she’ll give Ashlee but, whichever that turns out to be, it will not be an insignificant one, reports say.
“It was recently revealed that the 28-year-old will be developing a sitcom for ABC, which she will star in as well as produce. Reports now claim that Richie is keen for her friend and actress Simpson-Wentz, 25, to appear alongside her.” the publication writes. “Nicole adores Ashlee, and she truly believes in her talent. With few other prospects on the horizon, Ashlee – who desperately wants to establish herself as an actress – was feeling down until Nicole stepped up.” a source further explains.
As we also reported at the time, when Ashlee’s part on the CW show was terminated, producers on “Melrose Place” insisted it had nothing to do with her ability to carry the part as that was a decision that had been made ever since her character was created. Later on, it emerged that Heather Locklear, who makes a comeback on the reimagined “Melrose Place,” had a hand in the dismissal as she felt the younger Simpson was somehow stealing her thunder.
Shortly after that, it was believed that Ashlee had been booted of her own fault, for putting on a diva attitude that made work on the set impossible. “Ashlee Simpson’s diva behavior got her booted from the CW hit ‘Melrose Place.’ Ashlee was kicked off ‘Melrose Place’ because she was a total diva on set, late all the time, and deeply disliked by fellow cast members. It created a lot of Discord among the cast. She could barely act.’” Fox411 was saying a while ago, citing an unnamed source from the set.