Wendie’s done a great job of covering the the craziness surrounding Rachelle LeFevre getting the boot from New Moon because of scheduling conflicts. But don’t expect to hear any more poison-tongued statements from either camp: they’re taking it to their lawyers.

In short, Lefevre wants her money. Summit is arguing she’s due nothing because the studio insists she’s in breach of contract for signing on for the indie flick Barney’s Version.

“Rachelle’s contract says she’s allowed to do smaller projects like Barney’s Version,” one source said.

Meanwhile, her Twilight and New Moon costars are “devastated,” said another source. “As nice and lovely as Bryce [Dallas Howard] is, they feel like a family member has been taken from them.”

But don’t expect them to go public with too much anti-Summit talk. … Lefevre’s dismissal sends a very strong message—or warning—not to mess with the studio.

Sources also tell me that shortly after Summit announced Lefevre’s dismissal, the rest of the cast was told not to elaborate on the circumstances to the media, beyond repeating that it was due to a scheduling conflict.

Man, this Barney’s Version better be a damned good indie flick, and not wind up like this. Was it worth it, Rachelle?

As TLC prepares to air the new episode of Jon & Kate on Monday, the talk shows and the morning shows are scrambling to turn the excitement into ratings, and, as such, Uncle Kevin and Aunt Jodi are back on TV to complain. This time, though, they’re very clear about blaming TLC rather than Kate or Jon. They say they’re on TV “for the children,” and they want a politician “with a heart for children” to step up and introduce legislation to prevent the kids from being filmed so often.

I’m kind of bored of all this Jodi and Kevin nonsense. These kids are just fine — as fine as any young children in the middle of their parents’ divorce can be. Both their parents love them and spend time with them, and they have opportunities in life they never would have had if it weren’t for the show’s success. What do you guys think? Are Jodi and Kevin doing this for the kids, or are they just trying to reclaim the spotlight they lost when Kate kicked them off the show?

No, sadly, it’s not Hollywood’s newest hot couple — yet. Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift — two of my favorite kiddos in the biz — are filming a movie together called Valentine’s Day in LA. How much cuteness can you get in one photo? I love these two. I hope they fall in love!

I’m loving this interview Newsweek did with Mark-Paul Gosselaar. They ask him about rumors that Dustin Diamond is writing a tell-all about his days on Saved by the Bell. Here’s how Mark responded:

What is he going to say? We were banging groupies at 14? I can’t wait to read his book, because I don’t have a memory of a lot of the shows. Maybe it was because I was doing lines off of the audience members’ asses. I’m sure he’s going to write something crazy like that. The truth is?the reason why the show worked and why it’s still on today?we were good people and good to each other. We were innocent, naive kids. We were not jaded. So him writing a book, I’m not really afraid of what he has to say. There are not too many skeletons in my closet.”

You know what? I believe him. I think those kids were relatively well-behaved. There’s not a single one of them that’s gotten into serious trouble since the show wrapped. Admittedly, there’s not a single one of them that’s had a stellar career since the show wrapped, either, but personally I’d rather be sane and sober than wildly famous. But that would never happen today — an uber-hit show with a teenage cast where none of them ended up as tabloid fodder with a DUI. The lure of the paparazzi is just too tempting. I get sad about it for a minute — sad about what the media and the industry does to our teenage celebs today — and then I remember that I’m not especially qualified to do anything but be a part of that media at this point, and then I’m okay with it. I like having a job.

Anyway, Mark also threw in this little tidbit, which I didn’t know and which thrills me:

I met my wife on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. She literally walked by in the hallway and said one word to Zack. Zack looks at her, and gives a look at the camera and winks. It was 16 years ago. We’ve been together ever since.

His wife, Lisa Ann Russell, is the one pictured with him above. How freakin’ adorable is that? Again: That never would have happened without the whole world knowing about it today. And the paps would have stalked that poor girl and made up stories about Mark cheating on her and they never would have stood a chance. My, my, how the world has changed since the days when the Bayside Tigers ruled the world.

Damn, I gotta admit this is a super-hot track. Probably the most awesome diss track I’ve ever heard. In fairness, Mariah started it, with her “Obsessed” song and the video that clearly targeted Em. But Eminem is following suit, with a full-length diss track called “The Warning.” He talks some serious smack about Mariah — calling her a whore, a liar and an alcoholic — and threatens to release naked photos of her if she denies anything he says in the track. To cap it all off, he samples some Mariah shit off what I think is a studio session they did together. Oh, and he calls Nick Cannon a “faggot.” Lovely, just lovely. Seriously, though, love him or hate him — you gotta admit Em’s a genius. This is a truly brilliant diss track.

Remind me never to date a rapper.

 
Brooke Hogan performed a song from her Redemption album, “Hey, Yo” on Good Day NY this morning.  I must say, I’m disappointed in that I thought it was going to be so much worse than it was.  It did seem like she was having a little timing/rhythm issue, but overall she wasn’t half as atrocious as I’d been hoping.  I feel a little disillusioned, actually.  I think it helped that she wasn’t singing alone — she had Colby O’Donis to carry her and to drown out her vocals with his guitar.

Of course then I watched this brief behind-the scenes-interview and was relieved to see that she’s still the same bagel-scarfin’ ho she always has been.