“Straight Up” diva Paula Abdul has been tapped to headline a revival of the classic TV talent show Star Search as part of a $1 million development deal with ABC, Entertainment Weekly’sTV Guy Michael Ausiello dished Monday evening.

The former American Idol judge — who has been linked to numerous hosting and judging gigs since departing the FOX singing competition over a salary dispute last summer — is now reportedly in line to step into the shoes pioneered by late showbiz legend Ed McMahon. McMahon welcomed burgeoning stars like Britney Spears, Aaliyah, and Justin Timberlake to the Star Search stage during the original show’s run between 1983-1995. Although Paula’s role on the show is still being worked out, Ausiello spies believe she would serve as both a host and a judge.

In 2003, CBS brought the show back with Arsenio Hall (who happens to be Paula’s ex) as host and country legend Naomi Judd as a spitfire judge. The revival was quickly axed in 2004 — but not before discovering future R&B singer Tiffany Evans.

Do we want to see a reboot of Star Search? And if so, is it the right comeback gig for Paula?

-The Hard Times of RJ Berger — a new coming-of-age comedy described as part The Wonder Years and part Superbad — will premiere on MTV June 6 @ 11PM ET/PT, right after the MTV Movie Awards.

“The half-hour, single camera, scripted series follows the awkward life of RJ Berger, a late-blooming loser with an anatomical gift….”

-An Illinois insurance agent — who plead guilty to stalking ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews and plastering Peeping Tom vids of the blonde in various stages of undress all over the Internet — has been sentenced to 2.5 years behind bars….

-Charlie Sheen has plead “Not Guilty” to assaulting his crack-addicted wife at knifepoint during a Christmas Day altercation in Aspen.. The star of the hit sitcom Two And A Half Men says he’s looking forward to “clearing his name” during a jury trial….

-The third season of True Blood premieres on HBO June 13…..

-Boxing legend Mike Tyson will train racing pigeons in a new reality series headed to Animal Planet….

-Check out the latest trailer for Shrek Ever After…..

-A risque pic of Adrianne Curry’s derriere has been deleted from Twitter — this comes just a few weeks after a butt shot posted by Coco-T got the model’s TwitPic account shut down. What’s Twitter got against ass?

-Former Diff’rent Strokes star Todd Bridges
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35870991#35870991″>reflects on his years as a child star and the violent path of destruction and drug abuse that followed in his new memoir, Killing Willis…..

-Actress Cynthia Nixon and comedienne Joy Behar were honored by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD) during the group’s annual Media Awards in New York City on Saturday night…..

-Mario Lopez is “pumped” about fatherhood…..

-Filing this under “Disgusting:” Meat (Pun Intended) The Person Who Wants To Be The “World’s Fattest Woman.” Jersey Girl Donna Simpson, 42, already weighs close to 600 pounds, but she won’t be happy until she’s tipping the scales at a ton. Simpson is attempting to double her weight by consuming 12,000 calories a day: “My favorite food is sushi, but unlike others I can sit and eat 70 big pieces of sushi in one go…I’d love to be 1,000 pounds. It might be hard though. Running after my daughter keeps my weight down.”

*Blank Stare….* Nothing against the Fatties, but girl you’re looking like a walking kitchen!

-Lady Gaga’s sister made a cameo in the “Telephone” video….

-A Washington high school has hired its first female football coach……

-Drug-related gang violence in Mexico is on the rise, just as thousands of young Americans converge on the nation for Spring Break festivities…..

-Check out the world premiere of iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove’s new single, “Kissin U,” from her forthcoming debut album Sparks Fly…..

-Former American Idol Danny Gokey promotes his debut country album with Walmart Soundcheck…..

Paul Schneider will exit NBC’s Parks & Rec at the end of the season, The Los Angeles Times has learned.

Schneider, who plays City Planner Mark Brendanawicz on the popular comedy, is departing the show to focus on his burgeoning film career, Parks and Recreation co-creator and executive producer Mike Schur told The Times Monday.

“In the wake of Bright Star and winning a lot of awards. Paul now has this film career that is just taking off in a big way. And the movie opportunities he’s getting are incredibly cool, interesting movies, not the summer blockbuster movies that can be scheduled around TV actors when they need to be… But the goal and the aim is to have him come back as soon as his schedule permits and as soon as the arcs we’re writing call for it.”

Schur promises to leave the door open for Schneider to return to the program in the future.

“He’s not going to be killed in some weird accident….”

Rob Lowe and Adam Scott are poised to join the cast of Parks and Recreation when the show kicks off its third season on NBC next fall.

Tough-talkin’ Dancing With The Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba has fond memories of her days as a Fly Girl — a member of the urban dance troupe featured on FOX’s early ’90s sketch comedy series In Living Color. Carrie Ann’s memories of working with fellow Fly Girl and future megastar Jennifer Lopez? Um….not so fond.

On Monday, reality villain Spencer Pratt walked away from the reality soap that made him a D-list star — MTV’s The Hills — after reportedly finding something he loves more than seeing himself on the small screen – – the cyber security of the nation.

Us Magazine snoops, on the other hand, are telling a different story about Spencer’s departure from The Hills. Word on The Hot Wire is Pratt got canned after flipping out and threatening to put a “very rattled” female producer six feet deep. Tabloid tattles claim the prep loudmouth isn’t allowed back on set until he completes a six week stint in anger management.

“He is leaving The Hills for 6 weeks because he was asked to. He got so crazy that he screamed at [her], ‘I should kill you for even asking me to do that!’ The show agreed that Spencer would leave The Hills for six weeks to do anger management training once a week at home. If he completes it, he can return to the show,” says a set tipster.

There’s one in every family….A woman claiming to be the aunt of American Idol favorite is stumping up votes for the dredlocked single mom on an S&M website. The alleged aunt, 54, uses the handle “Sweet2U”on the fetish website Fet- Life.com. Last week, she posted a passionate (No Pun Intended) appeal on behalf of her talented 24-year-old niece.

“Hey guys if you watch idol I have a niece named Crystal Bowersox who has made it to the finals, wwooo hhoo,” it reads. “She is pretty and has dred-locks. you can see and hear her on UTUBE and go to Crystal Bowersox music.”

Lady Gaga’s latest music video — a 10 minute mini-film in support of the charttopper “Telephone” — has already racked up nearly 16 million views on YouTube after its release late Thursday night — but that hasn’t stopped some music lovers from scratching their heads over the Quentin Tarantino-inspired vid’s controversial concept.

What was the vision? After a harrowing set of concerts in New Zealand over the weekend, Gaga called into “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” on Monday morning to explain just that.

“Telephone,” which stars in a women’s prison and later sees Lady Gaga and Beyonce poisoning customers in a diner and traveling around in” The Pussywagon,” has been one of the most chatted about topics on Twitter and has set off a debate about the video’s risque themes.

Most fans are enthralled with the “Telephone” video, but some critics are getting a bit bored with Gaga’s signature shock tactics. Here are a couple of funny critiques making the rounds on YouTube:

(Caution: VIDEO Contains Profanity…..)

Here’s what the singer had to say: “I really believe in the power of visuals and sometimes visions come to me and I know I have to do them. It doesn’t really matter if it makes sense or if it doesn’t make sense. By the end of the video, it became so much more as we explored each scene it became about transsexual women and it became about making fun of American hallmarks like soda cans and cigarettes and mayonnaise and bread.”

Lady Gaga Explains The Sandwich-Making Scene: “It kind of comes out of nowhere but now that I watch it, in retrospect the way that it works into the video and the commentary on being overfed communication, advertisements and food in this country, it kind of makes sense by the end.”

Gaga On Her Diet Coke Can Hair Rollers: “My mom used to do that when I was a kid, ’cause if we didnt have any rollers in the house she’d slice up some Coke cans and then she’d heat them up and pin them in her hair.”

“I felt like my pregnancy was a sacred moment for me. I stayed in Boston and I didn’t work apart from the contracts I have, and then I only let them use my face…..”

Gisele Bundchen — the world’s No. 1-ranked supermodel — graces the cover of Vogue’s April Shape Issue (shot by Patrick Demarchelier) as she talks mothering her son Benjamin, modeling, and mentoring with The Fashion Bible.

Gisele On Naming Her Son With Husband Tom Brady: “I wanted him to be called River because I wanted something always flowing, immortal,” says the Brazilian, who has been inside her Boston home hiding from frigid temperatures outdoors since giving birth in December. “My husband [NFL star Tom Brady] said, ‘There’s no way we’re going to call him River.’ But my father’s name is Reinoldo, so it’s a homage to him. And it’s like water.”

How Gisele Stayed In Shape While Pregnant: “I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds…”

Gisele Reveals The Challenges Of Mentoring Young Women of Color In Urban Boston: “I thought I was going to be able to save them, guide them. When I got there they were like, ‘Who are you?’ There were a lot of Latina and black girls,” she explained. “In Brazil, everyone is a mixture, and no one thinks about it. In America, maybe you have more problems with that. It took me a week or two just to get them to sit down with me and talk. I had my yoga teacher come up from New York to teach them yoga. I wanted to share something, but I ended up realizing that you cannot save anybody. I forced it, and it didn’t quite go through.”

Ryan Phillippe is the latest actor in the running for the lead role in the upcoming Captain America movie. Producers have been courting the Crash star for the superhero blockbuster after frontrunner, John Krasinski of The Office, dropped out contention for the role early last week.

The last time someone tried to make a Captain America movie, the world was gifted with a 1990 straight-to-video stinker, so Marvel is taking its time selecting the perfect hero. To the producers’ credit, Marvel and director Joe Johnston have tapped Hugo Weaving to play villain Red Skull.

The First Avenger: Captain America will open in theaters July 22, 2011.

Spencer Pratt is finally biting his tongue. On Monday, the reality villain Hills fans love to loathe announced that he is leaving the long-running MTV docusoap to become a cyber sheriff.

…No, we’re not joking….So reset your passwords, PopCrunchers: Heidi Montag’s manbag is making it his duty to patrol the Interwebs for us.

Pratt, 26, is currently studying software engineering with a focus on encryption at the University of Southern California. To devote his full focus to school, Spencer will abandon his role on The Hills and work toward becoming a cyber security officer with the American Defense Enterprises.

Think that’s ridiculous? Allow Spencer to explain…..

“In the last few months I have discovered a new passion and new purpose to my life,” Pratt told PEOPLE.com on Monday. “With this in mind, I have decided to take a break from my obligations to MTV’s ‘The Hills’ and discontinue filming any more episodes for this current season. Upon learning of President Obama’s declaration that the ‘cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation,’ I have decided to refocus my energy and devote my full resources to helping America face this and other unprecedented challenges,” he said.

“I am saddened to take this break from filming,” he continued. “At this time, however I feel I would not be honoring my country or myself if I were to continue this endeavor when I have the opportunity and the ability to assist our nation…..”

Don’t worry, Mrs. Pratt plans to remain on The Hills for the time being. She’ll certainly stir up enough drama for the both of them.