I hope you don’t hate vampires, because they don’t seem to be going anywhere. Now Amy Heckerling, the woman behind Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless, is getting in on the bloodsucking. According to Screen Daily, Parlay Films has grabbed the international rights to an upcoming romantic comedy called Vamps, that Heckerling will write and direct.

“The film will be a modern-day tale of two young female vampires living the good life in New York until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize their immortality.” Krysten Ritter will star as one of the lead vamps, and they’re still searching for the other bloodsucker. This marks a big jump from the actress, who has moved from bubbly side gigs on shows like Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars to some cinematic supporting roles, a lead gig in the web series Woke Up Dead, and now her first starring film job.

Perhaps I’m being overly hopeful, but it’s time for Heckerling to bring us her next comedy classic, and I’m hoping this is it. There was a 13-year span between Ridgemont and Clueless, and it’s been 14 years since Cher found love with Josh, so could this be the next Heckerling extravaganza we won’t want to heckle? Or, just another project in an oversaturated market?

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“Couples Retreat” star Kristen Bell is the latest actress to find her name on the marquee alongside Stanley Tucci, Cher and “Twilight” villain Cam Gigandet in Christina Aguilera’s big-screen debut, “Burlesque.”

The Hollywood Reporter reports that filming begins November 9 for the movie, directed by Steve Antin and set for a Thanksgiving 2010 release. Aguilera plays a small-town girl who moves to Los Angeles and, thanks to her enormous singing talent, finds work at a “neo-burlesque” club run by Cher.

Bell has been cast as the club’s star, who gets a bit jealous when she sees that Aguilera’s talents are outshining her own. Tucci will play the man who discovers Aguilera.

Gigandet revealed to MTV News that he will be Aguilera’s love interest in the flick. “I am a struggling piano player, and I’m currently working as a bartender at Cher’s burlesque club,” Gigandet said of his character. “Christina and I meet, fall in love, and drama ensues.”

Gigandet is pretty sure that the role won’t call for him to test out his vocal chops. “Oh, right, a duet with me and Christina?” he laughed. “That would be like Kermit the Frog and Christina. I can’t sing.”

But that’s fine, since he doesn’t consider “Burlesque” to be a musical. “There’s music in it, and they do sing,” Gigandet said. “I mean, they’re at a burlesque club, so they do sing and dance. It’s a very sexy, sexy movie.”

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Kristen Bell will star as Christina Aguilera’s rival in “Burlesque,” Screen Gems’ musical drama being directed by Steve Antin.

“Burlesque” centers on the journey of an ambitious small-town girl (Aguilera) with a big-town voice who finds love and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club, reminiscent of the nightclub in Bob Fosse’s “Cabaret.” (Aguilera has guested in cabarets for the Pussycat Dolls.)

Bell will play Nikki, the loose-cannon lead dancer and main attraction at the club who spirals out of control when Aguilera’s character suddenly gets the spotlight.

Already cast are Cher as the nightclub owner and Stanley Tucci as the man who helps turn Aguilera from bumpkin to bombshell.

Shooting begins Nov. 9 with a release aimed for Thanksgiving 2010.

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The show was facing a serious gap with Jane Lynch moving over to “Glee.” But Mullally knows how to improvise, so this could be a good addition. Announcement after the jump.

The official word:

Starz keeps the “Party” hopping and the laughs flowing with the addition of one of television and film’s most beloved comediennes, Megan Mullally, to the cast of the crowd-pleasing original comedy series, “Party Down,” Starz Media EVP Originals Productions and Development Bill Hamm announced today. Production on the second season begins in mid-September in Los Angeles. The half-hour comedy about a Los Angeles catering team – Hollywood wannabes stuck working for tips while hoping for their big break — is tentatively scheduled to return to the air on Starz in April of 2010.

Mullally (“Will & Grace,” Fame) will play Lydia Dunfree, a middle-aged refugee from a lousy marriage who leaves small town life to move to Hollywood where her 13-year-old daughter Escapade hopes to make it as an actress. While the younger endures the audition process, her naïve and eternally optimistic mother Lydia feels honored just to be among the show business “pros” of the Party Down catering company. Her search for Mr. Right only complicates matters for Lydia, but ups the laughs on the show.

She joins a talented ensemble of actors on the comedy, labeled “a must-see” by USA Today and called “straight-up funny” by Entertainment Weekly. As the first season ended, Ron Donald (Ken Marino), the aggressively dysfunctional former leader of the Party Down Catering company, was headed off to manage a Soup N’ Crackers franchise; leaving one-time actor Henry Pollard (Adam Scott) to fill the void as leader; Roman DeBeers (Martin Starr) a self-proclaimed Sci Fi visionary, was still trying to get his screenplay noticed – by anyone; while actor, musician and all round cute guy Kyle Bradway (Ryan Hansen) landed a role in an upcoming action film; and Henry’s flame Casey (Lizzy Caplan) left him at the catered altar to do a few months of stand-up on a cruise ship.

Also returning for the second season are the show’s creators and executive producers: Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars,” “Cupid”) along with John Enbom, Paul Rudd and Dan Etheridge. Starz Media, the production and distribution sibling of the Starz premium entertainment channels, is producer of the series.

“I’m so excited to be joining ‘Party Down,’ one of my favorite TV shows,” Mullally said. “I’m a big fan of the series and really thrilled to have an opportunity to work with such a terrific cast and talented group of writers.”

“Megan is quite simply one of the most talented actresses in the entertainment business today,” Hamm said. “Her impeccable comic timing and multi-faceted acting skills make her a great fit for the show, and we can’t wait to see how she interacts with the show’s terrific cast.”

Mullally won two Emmys® for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and was nominated for another five, for her breakout role on the hit comedy series “Will & Grace.” The role also earned her four Golden Globe nominations, four Screen Actors Guild Awards (and an additional three nominations), and more kudos. Other notable TV credits include “The Ellen Burstyn Show,” the TV movie “Winchell” and her daytime talk show “The Megan Mullally Show.” She has a key part in the upcoming feature film Fame, and performs a song on the feature’s soundtrack.

Equally accomplished as an actress and singer, Mullally made her Broadway debut in the 1994 revival of “Grease” and earned rave reviews starring as Rosemary opposite Matthew Broderick in the hit revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Most recently, she drew critical raves for her role in “The Receptionist” at Los Angeles’ Odyssey Theater.

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Have we found a replacement for Dr. Tara Price?

Emmy-winning actor Christian Clemenson is joining the cast of CSI: Miami, although only in a recurring role. He is set to appear in at least two episodes as a yet-unnamed medical examiner.

Clemenson is no stranger to the CSI franchise, having done a guest role on CSI back in 2005. Once part of the cast of the early-’90s series The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., and also a recurring character on Veronica Mars, he is perhaps best known as Jerry Espenson, a brilliant lawyer with Asperger syndrome, on Boston Legal: the role earned him an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2006.

While the deal is only for two episodes, I’m a bit excited at how this move would turn out. Not exactly because of his Emmy win–that already proves itself–but because CSI: Miami’s taking a new page on the medical examiner character. Of course, Khandi Alexander made that slot her own, and when Megalyn Echikunwoke came in last season, people didn’t exactly warm to her. I’m guessing it’s because Tara Price is a more staid version of Alexx Woods, and the physical similarities didn’t help, either. It’s pretty much new expectations for Clemenson.

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Actress Carlee Avers (Family Wedding, Veronica Mars) has signed on to fill the female lead in NFG’s film which is slated to shoot later this year. “I’m excited to work with Jay, he’s an actor who has been able to do so much with every opportunity. He was amazing in Gone Baby Gone.” Avers says.

Since her guest staring role in the hit drama Veronica Mars, Avers has been carefully choosing her next leading project. “The script is amazing and it’s going to give me an opportunity to really show what I can do. The great thing about a production like this is that so many of us are investing more than time or money on it, and it’s that kind of pressure that I know I can thrive under. When it’s all said and done, I really love the challenge.”

The script follows the exploits of group of Down and Outs in a small Nebraskan town, and the rivalry that flares up with the local Sheriff when an ex-con among them sets his sights on the sheriff’s daughter.

Avers will be playing Hazel, the sheriff’s daughter. Giannone will be playing her father the sheriff

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Max Greenfield is going to appear in episode 5 as Mickey in the Melrose Place webisode. The webisode site. His character’s twitter can be found here

The show will also give viewers a behind the scenes glimpse of the complex and other mainstays like Ella’s PR firm and the trendy restaurant Coal in a series of webisodes. The first webisode, which can be found here, follows real estate broker Mickey Richards on a tour of 4616 Melrose Place. Mickey, who fans of VERONICA MARS and UGLY BETTY may recognize as Max Greenfield, will appear in episode five of the series, as will other webisode characters

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Actress and well-known bad girl Tara Reid is set to star in the indie comedy, “Last Call,” a film where Travis Van Winkle and Ryan Hansen will play cousins that are forced to run the family tavern.

According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, “The supporting cast includes Christopher Lloyd, Tom Arnold, Dave Foley, Diora Baird, Clint Howard, John Capodice, David DeLuise and Richard Riehle.”

“Last Call” was written by Scott Donnelly and Erik Lindsay and will be Greg Garthe’s feature directorial debut. The movie will be produced by Shannon Riggs and Joe Di Maio alongside Donnelly and Garthe through their Mineola Films. David Dobkin and Spence Jackson will be the film’s executive producers.

Prior to his becoming a director, Garthe was a creative executive at Dobkin’s production company, Big Kid Pictures.

Shooting on “Last Call” has already begun in and around Los Angeles.

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Heroes has found an actress to torture Claire (Hayden Panettiere) as her new sorority pledge master. Tessa Thompson, who played Jackie Cook on Veronica Mars during the 2005-06 season, will play upperclassman Becky, who is protecting a secret of her own. Expect Claire and Becky to clash.

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Other Veronica Mars stars/gueststars that made gueststar appearances on Heroes have been Kristen Bell (as Elle Bishop), Francis Capra (as Jess), Dianna Argon (as Debbie Marshall), Dana Davis (as Monica Dawson), Blake Shields (as Flint), Michael B Silver (as Liam) and Cole Williams (as Ryan Hanover on Heroes webseries “Heroes: The Recruit”).

You can say there were two Veronica Mars references in 3×07 “We’re off to see the wizard” and “The Bitch Is Back”