Bummer news for the old skool Melrose Place fans … according to Entertainment Weekly magazine, Heather Locklear has decided to pass on reprising the role of the micro-skirted, tough-as-nails Amanda Woodward in the upcoming CW redux of the 90’s hit TV series Melrose Place which is currently in production. Earlier this month we learned that Ashlee Simpson had signed on to appear in the Melrose redux. A day later we learned that Marcia Cross (who played Dr. Kimberly Shaw-Mancini on the original series) is “too busy” to worry about returning to Melrose Place. Rumors were swirling that producers were desperate to get Locklear to reprise her role but, alas, it wasn’t meant to be:

One person who won’t be moving back into Melrose Place? Heather Locklear. The actress — who played the key role of Amanda Woodward on the original series — has turned down an offer to join the cast of the CW’s update of the hit Fox serial, EW has learned. “There wasn’t a way to bring her back that made sense,” says a source close to the situation. While the network and studio won’t comment, her reps do confirm that Locklear has passed. It’s no secret that the CW was aggressively pursuing Locklear and will likely want to secure another star from the original show. The reboot, which is slated for the fall, has already cast Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Jessica Lucas, Michael Rady, and Katie Cassidy.

It’s no wonder that the Melrose folks really wanted Locklear to return … before she debuted on the series the first time around, MP was a kinda boring-none-too-special run-of-the-mill TV series where everyone loved one another and there was no drama to speak of. Enter Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward and all hell broke loose … the back-stabbing, the bitch fights, the sleeping around … the show found new life and went on to become one of the most successful series of the decade. That being said, I don’t understand how producers think that Locklear would be able to work the same magic this time around. Even if she reprises her role as Amanda Woodward, I doubt her character would still have the same punch after all these years to invigorate the show. I’m not sure if any of the old MP characters can do that … but that wont’ stop producers from trying. They need to get a female old skooler to return … they’ll prolly get Laura Leighton (who played Sydney Andrews) or Daphne Zuniga (who played Jo Reynolds). They’ll prolly also get a male old skooler or two (Grant Show? Thomas Calabro?). At least now we know, for sure, that Heather Locklear won’t be returning … and it’s prolly for the best.

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Heather Locklear may have gotten herself arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence this past Sunday morning but that ain’t slowing down her bizzy work schedule. Heather was spotted at a lunch meeting with her real estate agent at an LA cafe yesterday afternoon one day after she was arrested in the Santa Barbara, CA area for alleged DUI. Interestingly enough, the woman who called 911 on Heather and reported that she was “driving drunk” turned out to be none other than former US Weekly editor Jill Ishkanian … curious, no? Here’s a pic of Heather at her lunch meeting yesterday and the curious deets of Ishkanian’s involvement in her weekend arrest:

The woman who called 911 on Heather Locklear is a former Us Weekly staffer who was under investigation by the FBI — and she’s the one who tipped off the paparazzi! Jill Ishkanian, who allegedly hacked into Us Weekly’s computer system to locate celebs after she left the mag, was following Locklear in the Montecito area. Ishkanian watched the actress go to a market. When Heather got in her car, Ishkanian called 911, even though the car wasn’t even moving at the time … sources say immediately after Ishkanian called 911, she called a paparazzi agency to give them the heads up Heather was about to be popped … Ishkanian apparently is the only witness who says Locklear was driving erratically and that she was drunk, even though it’s already established she was not under the influence of alcohol.

Shady, shady. Something tells me that absolutely nothing is gonna stick to Heather Locklear from this arrest … the fact that the only witness to her crime is a former tabloid magazine staffer who was stalking her and then alerted the paparazzi to photographer her arrest seems to point to a situation where all charges may be dropped. It looks like Heather may have gotten lucky on this one … hopefully she’s learned her lesson and will stay squeaky clean from here on out.

[Photo credit: X17; Source, Source]

Yesterday morning TMZ broke the news that Heather Locklear was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving while under the influence … this morning they provide photos of Heather’s actual arrest — from Breathalyzer to handcuffs to mugshot — which, even if she never has to actually pay for her crimes, should be detrimental to her attempts to win custody of her daughter away from ex-hubby Richie Sambora. Click HERE to see the pics:

TMZ has obtained photos of Heather Locklear’s DUI arrest on Saturday near Santa Barbara. The actress looks somewhat dazed as she’s taken into custody. But after taking a closer look, she could have an interesting defense. A resident called authorities after allegedly seeing Locklear driving “erratically” in a parking lot. But the CHP didn’t see her driving — she had pulled over on her own accord before they got there. There are reports she was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription medication — but we’re told the tests are still being analyzed. As we posted yesterday, no alcohol was involved. The bottom line — Locklear has a lawyer with a Ty Cobb batting average, Blair Berk. Especially given that deputies apparently didn’t see her driving, look for a plea bargain and very possibly a reduced charge — e.g., reckless driving. By the way, check out the huge rock on her finger. She was apparently staying at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito with Jack Wagner.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure since the police have no evidence that Heather was actually driving while under the influence of whatever it is she may have been under the influence of, the prosecutor is going to have a tough time getting anything substantial to stick. Plea bargain looks they way to go … which is pretty much what I predicted yesterday. Also, I gotta say that I’m pretty disturbed by the photo of the police officer taking a cellphone photo of Heather getting arrested … can they actually do that? Are police officers allowed to take photos like these (which can be sold, for example) while they are on the job? Just wondering. In any event, altho Heather will prolly not have to serve any sort of real punishment for this arrest, I’m sure these photos will come back to haunt her. Is that enough to keep her clean? I guess time will eventually tell.

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TMZ is reporting that Heather Locklear (who is currently going thru a custody battle for the child she has with Richie Sambora — who has also been busted for DUI) was arrested in the Santa Barbara, CA area last night under the suspicion that she was driving while under the influence … of something:

TMZ has learned Heather Locklear was arrested yesterday on suspicion of driving while impaired. Locklear was pulled over while driving in the Santa Barbara area. Law enforcement officers tell us alcohol was not involved, however they are conducting tests to determine if Locklear was under the influence of drugs. We’re told she was released on her own recognizance, without having to post bail. This could set up a bizarre custody battle given that Locklear and ex hubby Richie Sambora have both been busted for similar charges.

You may recall that Heather voluntarily checked herself into a medical facility in Arizona to treat depression last June … but could she be dealing with substance abuse issues as well? I’m actually pretty floored that the police just let her go on her own recognizance just because she’s a celebrity. It’s really just … mind-boggling that these sorts of things happen in our justice system and no one really bats an eyelash. In any event, I’m sure we’ll know soon enough if she was under the influence of something and whether or not she’ll be punished for this alleged crime. My guess … nothing will ever come of this at all.

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