Here are a few pics of Hills minor character, soon-to-be The City major character Whitney Port enjoying an afternoon of shopping at K-Star in the SoHo district of NYC this week with a female friend. While I’m sure that cutting edge fashions were on their shopping list, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ladies were also shopping around for interesting plots to interject into Whitney’s reality TV progam, which is currently being filmed around NYC:

Earlier today, we saw pics of Britney Spears’s same day shopping trip to SoHo but I doubt that Whitney’s presence in the area caused much of a sensation all on its own. It was just Whitney and her friend, walking along, shopping here and there, filming a television program just like any other person in the city — now that’s what I call reality.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

Filming continues here in NYC on The Hills spin-off show The City anchored by Whitney Port, which means all the drama and frivolity that we love to watch filmed on the West Coast is being recreated here on the East Coast. Since Whitney is a central figure on this new spin-off, she needs to start generating more drama of her own rather than merely reacting by way of various facial expressions to the adventures enjoyed by Lauren LC Conrad and her inner circle. Which means that Whitney had to dig up an old flame for use on the show. Apparently, she and ex-boyfriend Ben Lyons have been “heating up” over the past few weeks (according to In Touch Weekly, that is) just in time for filming … here are new pics of the cozy couple (tho, a few Pink readers think this dude is not Ben Lyons but an Aussie named Jay Lyon) filming scenes for The City at an eatery called Extra Virgin here in NYC this week:

Whitney Port of The Hills is getting cozy with her old flame Ben Lyons. The fashionista, whose NYC-set spin-off started filming in August, was spotted with the At the Movies co-host at the Rose Bar in the Big Apple on September 15. “They were ordering drinks and talking very closely,” an insider says. “Ben was being affectionate and making her laugh until they left at about 1 a.m.” Whitney and Ben were first linked in 2007, but refused to confirm they were a couple. “He was a good guy for a while,” Whitney, 23, said in 2007 about Ben.

I guess he’s a good guy again … and a dead ringer for Hills favorite Justin Bobby (Audrina Patridge’s main squeeze). If MTV is planning on basically duplicating The Hills almost exactly then they are off to a very good start. I’m not sure if this plan of attack will actually generate ratings but … I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

In related Hills news, MTV just announced that Britney Spears’s new single Womanizer will have it’s television broadcast debut during this Monday night’s episode of The Hills:

Britney Spears’ triumphant appearance at the “2008 MTV Video Music Awards” and her subsequent wins for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video Of The Year for “Piece of Me” proves to her fans and critics alike that the Pop Diva is on her way back to the top. As an added bonus for her fans, Britney’s first single “Womanizer” from her upcoming album Circus, will have its exclusive Television debut on MTV during the Monday, September 29th episode of its hit series “The Hills.” Britney Spears’ sixth studio album, Circus, on Jive Records will be released on Tuesday, December 2nd, her 27th birthday. “Womanizer” was officially released to radio on Friday, September 26th.

You wanna bet Womanizer is gonna be used in someway with the Doug dating Stephanie behind LC’s back storyline?

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

In Touch Weekly magazine has got some new info about the upcoming Hills spin-off show that will feature Whitney Port in NYC. According to the mag, Whitney will be leaving her job at People’s Revolution for a much fancier gig with the legendary fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg:

Whitney Port has moved from The Hills to the Big Apple — and there are big changes in store for the 23-year-old fashionista on her upcoming New York City-set spin-off. Whitney will reportedly leave her job with People’s Revolution for a new gig with legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg. “She’s such an inspiration, I’d be honored to work for her,” Whitney told In Touch at the 2008 U.S. Open/Heineken Premium Light party at The Empire Hotel rooftop. In the running to share top billing with Whitney on the new show is Samantha “Sami” Swetra, a 22-year-old manager at Bergdorf Goodman. “I just met her a few weeks ago, so she wasn’t someone I already knew, but she’s a sweet girl,” says Whitney. “She’s seasoned in fashion and we get along really well.” An insider tells In Touch that the fiery Samantha could be the breakout star of the MTV spin-off. “Sami’s the perfect foil to Whitney’s ‘nice girl’ image — she’s sure to add a ton of drama!” says the insider. “Her circle of friends are a whole different breed — very high-fashion, not beachy like the girls of The Hills.” Whitney’s show is not her only new declaration of independence from Lauren Conrad and company. “I’m developing a clothing line,” she says. “It won’t be like Lauren’s stuff, which I loved. Mine will be a little more high-end.” Filming on Whitney’s show started August 27.

You may recall that I posted a few pics of Whitney canoodling with a mysterious (and hairy) new dude on the streets of NYC and in front of the cameras on Tuesday August 26 (the photos were snapped the day before) so it’s unclear when exactly filming began on her new spin-off show. At this point, we don’t know the name of the series but I am intrigued by this new Sami person … she sounds fun. I am very much looking forward to seeing the beautiful Diane von Furstenberg on screen moreso than the … harsh … Kelly Cutrone at People’s Republic. Will this show rise to heights of Hills fame? Prolly not but it may yet provide much entertainment nonetheless … after all, think of all the facial expressions that NYC is bound to bring out of Whitney Port!

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Here are a few photos of Hills star Whitney Port lookin’ awfully cozy with a very hairy gentleman on the streets of NYC this week … could this be a possible new love interest for Miss Whit?

Well now … not too shabby, Whitney. Sure this new guy has got a whole lotta hair but he looks like a cutie. I wonder if we’ll be seeing more of this gent on future eps of The Hills? After the jump, find out what’s really going on in these pics …

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The site Popcrunch has published some interesting information about the current cast of MTV’s hit reality drama The Hills. They claim to know the salaries paid out to the season four castmembers (information gleaned from In Touch Weekly, I might add) and I think you’ll find these numbers very interesting … you’re never gonna guess how much it costs for us to get our weekly fill of Hills drama, y’all:

How much does MTV pay the stars of its smash unscripted series The Hills? Lauren Conrad earns $75,000 per episode-and that’s a fact that has left some of her series co-stars seething, a new In Touch Weekly scoop claims. “The only reason LC gets paid more than anyone else is because she demanded in her original contract that no one could ever get paid more than her.” “The salaries are based on who people care about watching more,” says a mole. “If you bring drama, you’ll get more money.” Fashion forward LC is expected to earn $1.4 million for the complete fourth season of The Hills. Let’s see how much her castmates earn.

Heidi Montag: $65,000 per episode ($1.25 million per year)
Spencer Pratt: $65,000 per episode ($1.25 million per year)
Audrina: $35,000 per episode ($665,000 annually)
Whitney: $20,000 per episode ($380,000 per season)
Brody: $10,000 per episode ($190,000 a year)
Lauren “Lo”: $10,000 per episode ($190,00 for The Hills Season 4)
Stephanie: $8,000 per episode ($152,00 for Season 4)
Frankie: $0

HMMM … the numbers make sense, as does the idea that castmembers that bring the drama get paid better, after all — it’s all about the ratings, baby. While I don’t necessarily believe that these numbers are totally correct (these sorts of leaks are never exactly right), I do believe that the numbers are proportionally correct. That said … poor Frankie. Why does the Latinoid have to be the one to get screwed? What do y’all think, are these folks worth this money?

[Source]

MTV has updated the official website for The Hills with a bunch of new promo photos of the main ladies of the show. Here are a few of the new season 4 promo pics of the main Hillstress Lauren LC Conrad:

MTV always does a great job with these photoshoots, LC looks amazing … as does Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge and Whitney Port. After the jump, check out a few of the promo photos for these lovely ladies as well …

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