Backtracking Bachelor Star Jason (Really, Truly) Engaged to Molly
Um, second time's a charm?
Flip-flopping Bachelor star Jason Mesnick—whose flaky ways single-handedly launched Melissa Rycroft's career and generated new interest in the ABC franchise—has finally, formally popped the question to his second-banana soul mate, Molly Malaney, Mesnick's rep confirms to E! News.
It was only a year ago that Mesnick opted to spend the rest of his life camera time with Rycroft, thus denying Malaney his final rose. But he quickly and publicly dumped the Dancing queen for the castoff. Mesnick attempted to make amends by proposing in New Zealand, the same place where he initially gave her the boot.
All's well that ends well.
And while the choice of proposal spot may not exactly bring back the most romantic memories for the couple, well, you don't argue with free airfare, folks!
The duo was flown to the idyllic nation as part of a promotion for Tourism NZ, arriving on an Air New Zealand special matchmaking singles' flight and being put up in Auckland and Queenstown to appear in further promotions before heading back home.
You can't put a price on true love. Especially when that price is comped.
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Luckily, it looks like ABC has honed its screening process for future Bachelors. Team WWK breaks down the five reasons newly crowned rose-giver Jake Pavelka may not suck.
Dancing's Melissa Rycroft Bounces Back From Swine Flu
Add Melissa Rycroft to the celebrity swine flu list.
The former Bachelor babe and Dancing With the Stars finalist has confirmed to E! News that she is recovering from a bout with the swiftly spreading virus.
"Like most people who become infected, I thought I had a mild case of the common flu, but when my symptoms exacerbated I immediately went to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with H1N1 and given the proper medications to cure the infection," the 26-year-old reality star said.
Talk about your jitterbugs.
Rycroft was prompted to seek medical attention after consulting the mother of her fiancé, Ty Strickland, who's a nurse.
"I want to stress to people how easy it is to battle this flu when you take the proper steps such as seeking the care of a doctor," she added.
The ex-Dallas Cowboys cheerleader joins a group of such high-profile H1N1 patients as Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, shock rocker Marilyn Manson, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Melissa Rycroft: Bachelorette Jillian & Ed "Madly in Love"
The Bachelorette's Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski are doing just fine despite infidelity rumors, according to her former Bachelor costar and friend Melissa Rycroft.
"Jill's good!" Melissa said at the Victoria's Secret Beauty launch for Heavenly Enchanted, where she was joined by her fiancé, Tye Strickland. "She's so resilient. I know [she] and Ed are madly in love, and they're supporting each other. Nothing's easy when you're in the public eye, but they’re working through it. I love her and I wish her the best."
Someone who never wished Melissa the best on her engagement? Her former Bachelor fiancé, Jason Mesnick—or his current fiancée, Molly Malaney...
Week in Review: Jackson Mania, a JoBro Proposal, Kendra's Wedding and a Farrah Farewell
Remember when all the news was Twilight-related? Alas, not so much these days.
Another week dominated by Michael Jackson headlines is behind us. But as the King of Pop's family scrambled to make funeral and tribute arrangements and as authorities continue to probe the prescription-med situation, some rays of lighthearted news started to show through the cracks. Here's how it went down on E! Online...
1. Considering the bizarre life he led, it's no surprise that MJ's death is turning out to be pretty weird, too. From dad Joe promoting his own record label to Jackson's baby mama (the real one) turning up to throw a wrench into the artist's will-stipulated wishes, we're sensing that the circus has only just begun. At least it looks as if the King of Pop himself will be resting in peace soon enough, and rehearsal video shows him looking happy in his final days.
2. On the potentially criminal side of things, the DEA is collaborating with the LAPD's investigation into Jackson's death, and there are supposedly plenty of doctors and other peeps ripe for the interviewin'.
3. On the complete flip side of the news spectrum, Kevin Jonas is engaged! The 21-year-old Jonas Brother presented his girlfriend of two years, Danielle Deleasa, with a rock he helped design on Wednesday. But dry your eyes, Mrs. Jonas hopefuls—there are still two brothers where he came from!
4. Kendra Wilkinson and NFL stud Hank Baskett tied the knot at the Playboy Mansion, with Hef, Bridget and Holly in attendance. Then it was off to St. Lucia for the honeymoon, where they hoped to get lots of good nudity in before their first child arrives this Christmas.
5. Friends and family gathered for Farrah Fawcett's private funeral at an L.A. cathedral Tuesday. Ryan O'Neal and son Redmond served as pallbearers and read Bible passages, while best friend Alana Stewart delivered a eulogy. Just watching the procession on a wee video screen brought tears to our eyes.
Update
Melissa Rycroft Reengaged!
Melissa Rycroft has officially rebounded.
Barely four months after enduring a nationally televised breakup with indecisive Bachelor Jason Mesnick, Rycroft is engaged to fellow Texan Tye Strickland, the bride-to-be confirmed on Good Morning America Tuesday.
"Sometimes the stars align and the clouds part and everything works out the way it should," she said in a phone call to the morning show.
Per Rycroft, the engagement took place in private at White's Chapel in Southlake, Texas, after which the happy couple "went and met up with our parents and friends"—who were apparently onto something when they were reluctant to meet Jason last year—at a nearby restaurant.
Exclusive
Gilles Marini: "I Feel Like I'm a Bad Dad"
Leave it to Gilles Marini to be thinking about someone else after last night's stunning upset that left him in second place on Dancing With the Stars.
When I tell him how, well, shocked I am that he didn't win, he assures me it's all right. "Don't worry, man," he said after the show on his way to catch a red-eye flight to NYC for an appearance this morning on Good Morning America. "It's OK."
He's hoping his 10-year-old son, Georges, will be OK, too...
Update
Shawn Vaults Past Gilles on Dancing With the Stars
Dancing With the Stars loves its Olympians—maybe because of all those tenths and hundredths of points up for grabs.
Shawn Johnson, a four-time medalist at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, has been named the winner of the eighth season of Dancing With the Stars after edging out the runner-up, French stud Gilles Marini, by the narrowest margin in show history.
"I've loved every second of it," the 17-year-old champion said backstage before she hoisted the almost-as-big-as-her disco ball trophy.
"This has been the best experience ever," she added afterward. "I've grown so much."
(Alas, there was no celebratory back flip.)
Exclusive
Dancing's Gilles: Some Sex With Brothers & Sisters
Gilles Marini may not have scored a perfect 60 last night on Dancing With the Stars like he did last week, but that's OK.
"I'm grateful," the Sex and the City hottie told me this morning. "That's the word of the day. I went all the way, man."
In just a few hours, we will find out who takes home that disco-ball trophy. "No matter what happens, it's all good," Gilles says.
Not so good is the surgery he will undergo very soon for his separated shoulder. Read on for more about going under the knife, dancing with the show's resident cranky judge Len Goodman and the text he received from Sex and the City's director-writer Michael Patrick King after his freestyle finale.
Dancing With the Stars: Alums Cast Their Votes
The pressure is on. Gilles Marini, Melissa Rycroft and Shawn Johnson will dance for the last time tonight for season eight of Dancing With the Stars.
Who will win? Most bets seem to be on Gilles. But that doesn't mean everyone is rooting for him. We caught up with some DWTS veterans and asked them to weigh in on the finale...
Exclusive
Bachelor's Jason & Molly: Life's a Beach
We all know what Melissa Rycroft has been up to since Bachelor Jason Mesnick dumped her on national television for Molly Malaney: winning fans—and mucho votes—on Dancing With the Stars.
So where in the world is Jason? Living it up in the Caribbean.
DWTS' Karina: Why I Want Melissa and Tony to Win!
Lil' Kim had been Dancing With the Stars pro Karina Smirnoff's favorite to win. But once the hip-hop diva was given the boot, Smirnoff began rooting for Tony Dovolani and Melissa Rycroft.
"I think Tony really deserves it," Smirnoff told us last night at the one-year anniversary party for L.A.'s celebrity steakhouse STK. "He's been so close in seven seasons."
Even so, Smirnoff admitted, "I have a feeling Gilles will win."
Smirnoff also talked wedding and baby plans, including fiancé Maksim Chmerkovskiy's big wish to have a baby like right...now!
Update
Big Dancing Shocker: Lil' Kim Dismissed!
Clustered at the top of the Dancing With the Stars leaderboard last night were Melissa Rycroft with 57, and Gilles Marini and Shawn Johnson with 56. Lil' Kim, who stumbled a few times during her waltz, lingered at 52.
And then there was Ty Murray, way down there with 46. Obviously Ty's fans have been a loyal bunch, but did they overpower the numbers this time?
Um, yes they did.
Lil' Kim and Ty were left to sweat out the final commercial break before learning who had snagged the fourth spot in next week's semifinals.
And that person was Ty.
Despite her streak of pleasing performances, Lil' Kim, aka Kimberly Jones, took her final bow tonight after the voters once again rallied just enough behind the rodeo cowboy to keep him in the competition.









