Hilary Duff
Gossip

An all-new episode of TV's most overhyped hottest show, Gossip Girl, airs tonight, and as you may have heard, Tyra Banks and Hilary Duff will be appearing.

All told, it could have been a lot worse, but also better. Here's the rundown on the episode a little early if you simply can't wait for this must-see CW event:

• Hilary Duff, while much maligned by some of the show's ardent fans as a stunt casting move, can at least act. Tyra Banks? That's pure stunt casting.
• Duff's character, Olivia, enrolls at NYU to live a normal college life. She's a movie star, which new love Dan (Penn Badgley) somehow doesn't know.
• Banks' character, Ursula, is co-starring with Olivia in a movie premiering in New York. Serena (Blake Lively) gets a job as Ursula's new publicist.
• Jenny (Taylor Momsen) does not want to rule high school with an iron fist. Blair (Leighton Meester) wishes she were back where she still could.

Check out some photos below and follow this link for more Gossip Girl spoilers!

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for: Hilary Duff joins the cast of Gossip Girl! She looks kinda like ... Hilary Duff, only on Gossip Girl.

Duff's character, Olivia, is a movie star trying to live the typical college life. Assigned to be Vanessa's (Jessica Szohr) roommate at NYU - their dorm room is the setting of the photo below - Olivia gets to know Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley).

Olivia becomes attracted to Dan, and vica versa. Of course, there's a twist: Dan is so tuned out to pop culture that he doesn't realize the girl he's falling for is a huge star famous for her role in a Twilight-esque series of vampire movies.

So that's like Dan not knowing who Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are. Come to think of it, that sounds kind of like Dan. It just might work.

Here's Hilary Duff entering her dorm room at NYU ...

Miley Cyrus just can't avoid controversy.

Days after her controversial, stripper-themed performance at the Teen Choice Awards, the young star finds herself in an intense battle with another teenage icon.

Indeed, Cyrus donned the Marchesa mini-skirt seen below for the American Music Awards in November; meanwhile, Duff filmed a scene for her new role on Gossip Girl in the same gold and black dress!

Fashion faux pas?

Fashion face-off! Vote below.

Who looks better in this outfit?

As advertised, Hilary Duff is coming to Gossip Girl in the teen drama's new season, and the singer-actress was spotted on the New York City set Monday afternoon.

The Duffster is set to play a famous film star named Olivia who ends up studying at NYU with some other characters (Dan, Blair, Vanessa, Georgina, Scott, etc).

Here's Hilary and her rumored love interest, Penn Badgley:

Gossip Girl returns, with Hilary Duff guest starring, for its third season on September 14. Are you excited for Hilary's arrival? [Photos: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

In other guest star news, Gossip Girl signed Tyra Banks to appear on the show this season, reportedly as a character in a faux movie starring Duff's character.

Is this a sign of the show getting more notoriety and credibility, or of jumping the shark? Should we see more of Blake Lively in low-cut tops instead?

What do you think, Gossip Girl fans?

When Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr turned up at a Louis Vuitton party, we got our first glimpse of Hilary Duff’s new Femme for DKNY Jeans line.

Szohr sported a $59 floral cardigan from the collection. Now the ads are out, starring Hilary (who will be guest starring on Gossip Girl this season) alongside models Sophie Srej and Gracie Carvalho in a NYC street-inspired campaign.

Combining Hilary’s personal style and the individuality of New York - the inspiration behind her designs - the Femme for DKNY Jeans fall '09 ads were shot on the Manhattan streets by Scott Schuman, of the style blog The Sartorialist.

With Hilary Duff joining the NYC-set series this fall, what better theme than the gritty and glam streets of the Big Apple for her latest venture?

Check out one of the Hilary Duff DKNY ads here ...

Is the Upper East Side ready for more star power? We'll find out as Hilary Duff is coming to Gossip Girl for a guest role this fall, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The actress-designer-pop singer will play Olivia Burke, a movie star (typecasting lives) who enrolls at NYU in search of the traditional college experience.

Her character will room with the unpopular Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) at the college. Duff will debut in this season's fourth episode, slated to air October 5.

Gossip Girl producers spotted an opening in Duff's schedule after NBC passed on her comedy pilot Barely Legal. She was to play a lawyer in it, of course.

Last night, Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points as the Denver Nuggets evened their series with the Los Angeles Lakers with a 106-103 win in Game Two.

It was a tough loss, but Kobe Bryant and the Lake Show remain the #1 game in town. Here's Tom Cruise and son Connor Cruise at last night's game:

CRUISE CONTROL: Tom and Connor are locked in on NBA action.

While Los Angeles' pro baseball team has been making a strong case of late (check out our gallery of celebrity Dodger fans), L.A. Lakers games at Staples Center remain the hottest sports spot for celebrities from A-List to Spencer Pratt.

Click to enlarge pictures of stars showing their L.A. Lakers love:

Before Ottawa Senators player Mike Comrie saw the premiere of Hilary Duff's new film, Stay Cool, at the Tribeca Film Festival, he knew he'd enjoy it.

"It's always fun watching her work," he told Us in New York Thursday.

The long-distance couple say they make an effort to cheer each other on - Duff is a staple at Comrie's hockey games - whenever they get the chance.

"We have a lot of fun," the NHL star said. "We both live such different lives, but its always fun to support each other and spend time when we get to."

With Mike Comrie playing in Canada and Hilary Duff shooting across the country, the couple has few moments together in the same city.

Yet they're still going strong.

"If it's worth it, you make it work," Comrie said.

"It's natural for us, which I think is great," the Duffster added. "We both have busy jobs, and we're both very focused people, so that helps. Since we are apart so much, it's not like one person is at home waiting for the other."

Interestingly, Comrie's teammate, Mike Fisher, is also dating a cute, blonde celebrity in Carrie Underwood! Those Ottawa Senators have all the luck.

Click to enlarge more pics of Hilary and Mike ...

Ten days ago, we brought you the photos from Hilary Duff's sexy Maxim cover. Today, well, we've got some more outtakes from this glorious photo shoot.

Hey, when Hilary Duff comes into her own and kicks the good-girl image to the curb (or at least in that direction), it's worthy of multiple posts. Exhibit A:

Hilary made Maxim's list of Sexiest Stars of 2009, along with the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Vanessa Hudgens, Hayden Panettiere and Blake Lively.

Click to enlarge more Hilary Duff Maxim photos ...

Hilary Duff looks positively hot in the new issue Maxim. We feel kinda weird saying it, because we've been conditioned by Hilary Duff not to talk that way about Hilary Duff.

But there's no denying it. Check her out and click to enlarge ...

NOT ENOUGH DUFF! Hilary takes her image to a new (awesome!) level.

Maxim's Sexiest Stars of '09 apparently include singers Katy Perry and Rihanna, High School Musical's Vanessa Hudgens, Heroes' Hayden Panettiere and Gossip Girls' Blake Lively. But it's the Duffster who truly caught our eye with that cover photo.

Why? Because she's clung to her good girl, teen queen image for years. We thought she'd never kick it to the curb, but bless her heart, it looks like she has!

If those Hilary Duff pictures weren't sexy enough, follow the jump for her music video for "Reach Out." This video may make you wanna reach out and, um, forget it.

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