Who's lining up for the next 'Celebrity Rehab'? Tila Tequila is out; Jeremy London considers it

The bread and butter of "Celebrity Rehab," the VH1 show that attempts to get troubled Z-listers back on the wagon, is the drama the cast experiences on the road to recovery.

So it's not all that surprising that the show's casting process has itself been a bit sensational. Over the last couple of months, it has been rumored that a wide variety of somewhat recognizable personalities may participate. The most recent tally includes "A Shot at Love" reality TV star Tila Tequila; "Party of Five" actor Jeremy London; London's wife, Melissa; Lauren Conrad's ex-boyfriend and former "Hills" star Jason Wahler; Playboy playmate Shauna Sand and oil heir Jason "Gummi Bear" Davis.

A number of these participants have continually confirmed or denied their involvement with the upcoming season of the show, but VH1 has remained mum.

In June, Tequila announced on her blog that she was checking into "Rehab" due to an addiction to prescription painkillers. But in an e-mail sent to The Times on Tuesday, she said she "was having anxiety attacks at the last minute and decided to back out."

She added that the decision not to appear on the program had to do with the show's contract, which "says that [VH1 has] a right to mis-represent you."

"I feel toying with that is not something ok," she wrote.

Meanwhile, Radar Online reported last week that London and his wife would appear on the show. The actor made headlines in June after claiming that three men held him hostage on a hours-long joyride during which he was forced to smoke drugs.

London's publicist, Dominic Friesen, confirmed that "there is interest" in the actor and his wife joining the "Celebrity Rehab" cast, though their participation has yet to be confirmed.

The actor has had an "outside relationship" with Dr. Drew Pinsky -- the show's host -- in the past, which might lead him to sign on, Friesen said.

"The thing with Jeremy is, having grown up in the spotlight, he's a very private person and he successfully dealt with his issues privately. I think making that public is always a consideration," Friesen said of London's concern about participating. "I think that's always a challenge with reality TV, is really getting a sense of what you're signing up for. Something like ["Celebrity Rehab"], you don't really have control over the experience."

A representative for Wahler did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a representative for Sand said she was not allowed to confirm any news because her client "wants to get paid for that."

A spokesperson for VH1 said the network was not allowed to comment on the cast until show participants actually move into the rehab facility in Pasadena, which has yet to occur. (A production date for the show has yet to be determined.) 

Chad Ochocinco hopes to score with 'Ultimate Catch'

Chad Ochocinco is once again jumping into reality television.

Except this time, the Cincinnati Bengal is trading in his dancing shoes for a shot at his heart.

With “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch,” the "Dancing with the Stars" alum is hoping to score a touchdown at love and find the lady of his dreams -- on VH1. He already knows what you’re thinking.

Dating "is not working on the other side, off camera. At all. Like for real,” he says. “You’re laughing, but it’s not.”

It’s not that love is a laughing matter, it’s just the quest for love on national television, VH1 at that, hasn’t had the greatest track record of everlasting success. Flava Flav. Ray J. Bret Michaels. Chilli. The list goes on of celebrity dating shows, that although highly entertaining and drama-filled, aren’t exactly the stuff that true love is made of.

But in true Ochocinco fashion, he tells the naysayers not to doubt him.

“I was allowed to be me,” he assures. “Regardless of what show I’m on, I’m going to be me.”

On the show, that premieres Sunday, 85 women from across the country take part in his “dating training camp” which was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  He eventually whittled down his ladies to 17 draft picks for his team. Yes, there are teams.

Bret Michaels returns to VH1 with new series

Can’t get enough Bret Michaels?

The stringy-haired rocker is heading back to VH1. Just don’t expect a bevy of ladies vying for his affections. In the new docu-series  “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It,” viewers will get an insider’s look at the former Poison frontman’s “home life when he isn’t touring, shooting, partying and rocking out,” the network announced Monday. But maybe not a glimpse into what’s it’s like to recover from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which the 47-year-old reality star suffered in April . 

“We have temporarily halted production on the series with Bret’s health as our primary concern,” said Jeff Olde, executive vice president of original programming and production, in a statement. “Production will resume when it is cleared by his doctors … in response to the flood of well wishes the network has received from Bret’s fans, we’d like to celebrate Bret’s recovery with this sneak-peak special featuring the next chapter in Bret’s story on VH1.”

The first-look half-hour special of  “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It" will premiere May 31 at 10 p.m.  The forthcoming series is tentatively scheduled to premiere this fall with 10 episodes. 

--Yvonne Villarreal

Photo:  Michaels poses for a portrait in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles in 2008. Credit: Associated Press.

David Letterman calls Jay Leno 'a bit of a knockwurst'

David Letterman had some kind words Friday for his late-night rival, Jay Leno.

He said Leno was the accomplished comedian that he and others looked up to when they were all struggling comics in Los Angeles during the 1970s. And he also gave Leno "a lot of credit" for participating in this year's highly hailed Super Bowl commercial with him and Oprah Winfrey.

But Letterman couldn't resist taking more than a few shots at Leno during his appearance on "Live with Regis and Kelly": "He's a bit of a knockwurst."

Letterman, who rarely gives interviews or appears on shows other than his nightly CBS talkfest, fired the barb in a wide-ranging chat with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa on the syndicated morning show, discussing the recent "Tonight Show" fracas between Leno and Conan O'Brien, and his own recent troubles following his admission that he had sex with several staff members.

Letterman said he found the behind-the-scenes brouhaha that erupted between Leno and O'Brien "highly entertaining," and launched into a hilariously pointed impression of Leno.

When Ripa praised his Leno voice, Letterman replied, "It's easy to do a demeaning, insulting impression of him, and once you've got that perfected, you're good to go."

-- Greg Braxton 

VH1 renews 'Fantasia For Real'

You can only win "American Idol" once but, apparently, you can be a reality TV star forever--or at least two seasons--if you're Fantasia Barrino.

As part of its Upfront presentation to advertisers on Tuesday, VH1 will announce that  it has renewed "Fantasia For Real" for another season.

The docu-style show will continue to follow the "Idol" third-season winner as she works with Sony on her third album and takes care of her family.

--Maria Elena Fernandez (follow me on Twitter @writerchica)

Photo:  Fantasia Barrino and her daughter, Zion Quari Barrino. Credit: Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times

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TLC's Chilli looking for love on VH1, 'Scrubs' need not apply

Chilli knows exactly what she wants in a man, and she's never been shy about expressing her needs.

As one-third of the platinum-selling R&B trio TLC, hits like "No Scrubs," "Creep" and "Ain't 2 Proud to Beg" offered less than subtle hints at the type of man who wins her desires.

But after dating on her own for so long, the singer, who put the ‘sexy’ in “Crazy, Sexy, Cool,” decided to take another route, albeit a more entertaining and as of late conventional one. She opted to turn on the cameras to document her search for love.

On her new VH1 show, “What Chilli Wants,” she takes on the age-old question of what exactly a single, successful woman wants in a man, though she has a laundry list of requirements that eliminates most eligible bachelors.

In the series, the singer has enlisted the help of Tionna Smalls, a self-proclaimed relationship expert who wrote a book called “Girl, Get Your Mind Right!” It’s Smalls’ job, which quickly drifts into mission impossible territory, to find Chilli a man, one that meets the requirements she's laid out: He can’t smoke or drink, he has to be gorgeous, sensitive, charming, has to love God and kids and he can’t eat pork. Of course being equipped with washboard abs and being, well, endowed also make the list as well.

What sets Chilli’s quest for love apart from other well-known VH1 "celebreality" dating romps is the singer isn’t seen living in a mansion with her suitors, or even traveling together on a tour bus.

Chilli said her eight-episode series was never going to be a “For the Love,” “Flavor” or some other spin-off linked to the massively successful dating franchise that originated from Flavor Flav's so-sleazy-it's-good dating show.

VH1's new reality TV lineup for April: celebrities, wives and more

If you like celebrity reality TV and reality TV wives, VH1 has four new shows premiering in April that are right up your alley.

"Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business," "Basketball Wives," and "What Chilli Wants" will air on Sunday nights, beginning April 11. "VH1 Tough Love Couples" premieres April 12.

"Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business" focuses on singing siblings Brandy and Ray J Norwood, their parents, and their family business Rn'B Productions. Viewers will observe as the family business undergoes a significant transition as mother, Sonja, steps down as its manager. The 11-episode series will air at 9 p.m. and is produced by 51 Minds Entertainment.

"Basketball Wives" follows the lives of seven women who are best friends and are either the wife, ex-wife or girlfriend of NBA superstars. The series follows the women as they balance raising their children, building their businesses and fighting off groupies. The eight-episode series will air at 10 p.m. It is produced by Shed Media and is executive produced by Shaunie O'Neal, who stars in the series with Jennifer Williams, Royce Reed, Erikka Moxam, Evelyn Lozada, Suzie Ketchem and Gloria Govan.

"What Chilli Wants" is a man. Singer Chilli from TLC has enlisted a relationship expert to help her find a man because the criteria she has been using are not working for her. Among her requirements for The One: eight-pack abs, a gorgeous face, has to be funny, has to love kids, has to be religious, and he can't smoke, drink or eat pork. The expert will narrow down her list and introduce her to many men. The eight-episode series will air at 10:30 p.m.

The new Monday night show is a spinoff of "VH1 Tough Love Couples" in which matchmakers Steve and JoAnn Ward help six couples decide whether to get engaged or break up. It will air at 9 p.m.

--Maria Elena Fernandez (follow me on Twitter @writerchica)

Photo: The cast of "Basketball Wives" from left to right: Jennifer Williams, Royce Reed, Erikka Moxam, Shaunie O'Neal, Evelyn Lozada, Suzie Ketchem and Gloria Govan. Credit: VH1

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Are viewers over Jessica Simpson? Ratings are in for her VH1 show 'The Price of Beauty'

Not gonna lie: It isn't pretty.

Just 1 million viewers tuned in to the Monday premiere of Jessica Simpson's "The Price of Beauty," a new VH1 documentary series chronicling her journey around the world in search of what beauty means in different cultures.

To put that in perspective, the premiere was beat by far less-hyped programming on cable, everything from a rerun of "NCIS," a TruTV series called "Operation Repo" and BET's "Rip the Runway" to Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and History Channel's "Pawn Stars."

The results are surprising: John Mayer had put Simpson back in the spotlight when he compared the former couple's bedroom activity to "sexual napalm" in an interview for Playboy magazine. And Simpson herself went all out to promote the show -- Oprah and David Letterman had her on earlier this month -- speaking candidly with anyone who would listen to her talk about Mayer's comments, being called fat in the media and her return to television (Simpson's first since MTV's "Newlyweds").

Ratings for "Price of Beauty" even paled in comparison to VH1's last high-profile launch, the reality series "Fantasia For Real," which last month debuted to 2.3 million viewers. (On the other hand, "Fantasia" numbers have since cooled significantly, and VH1 overall is in a bit of a slump: In February, the channel drew an average 644,000 viewers in prime time -- off 20% from February 2009.)

Could it be that viewers are suffering Simpson fatigue? Happy to see her as they page through the tabloids, but not wanting to tune in for a full half-hour? Or maybe no one's yet realized the show isn't entirely about Simpson. In its review of the show, Time magazine gave the series credit for being a less trashy reality TV option:

"While Simpson can be, shall we say, less than culturally sensitive at times (she gets a Thai massage and says she assumed it came with a "happy ending"), she comes across not snarky or superior but as a good-naturedly clueless American willing to learn something. It's not 'Frontline,' but it's a refreshing change from VH1's dating shows."

-- Denise Martin

Photo: VH1