Stephanie Pratt Pulls Out the High-Heel Defense in DUI Case
Michael Tran/Getty Images
Stephanie Pratt might not be the brightest bulb, but she could be pulling out a novel defense in her drunken-driving case:
Don't blame the booze, blame the shoes.
With The Hills star MIA from court today, it was up to her lawyer to enter a not-guilty plea on her behalf to a misdemeanor DUI count stemming from her arrest last month.
Pratt, 23, faces up to six months in the clink and a maximum $1,000 fine if convicted. Attorney Jon Bryant Artz told the judge she is willing to serve a 30-day stint in live-in rehab, to avoid driving until she gets a valid license and to refrain from drinking to remain free on her own recognizance.
Outside court, Artz told E! News that Pratt was really pulled over for her tinted windows and, "There's no impaired driving or driving that indicates she was under the influence."
He also implied the reason Pratt may have biffed a field sobriety test was because she was having a hard time negotiating the course in her 4-inch-heeled boots.
Party Patrol: Lindsay, Lingerie and The Hills Girls
Toby Canham/Getty Images
Tonight is a total paparazzi dream: Two parties on Robertson Blvd., and one has Lindsay Lohan on the guest list.
The first stop for me and the girls from The Hills and The City is the Undrest lingerie store party, where Lo Bosworth said she came to pick up some sexy things for her boyfriend.
Don't know who he is? That's because he's not on the show.
"We've been dating six months and he has no interest in being on the show," she told me.
Whitney Port made a quick appearance, swooping in and out (with gift bag in hand) in under an hour. Superskinny Stephanie Pratt says she hasn't upped her gym routine, and I actually just saw her eat sushi and two bites of a Sprinkles cupcake before ditching the remainder of the treat. That's her secret! (Or maybe she owes her svelte figure to cutting out alcohol? She's due in court in the morning to be arraigned on a DUI charge.)
And where's Lohan? Follow me...
Exclusive
Stephanie Pratt Bugs Out Behind Bars
Some folks who get locked up will often repent after finding God. But for Stephanie Pratt, all it takes is seeing some of the good Lord's most undesirable little creatures to think twice about what you've done.
Outside the Maxim party at Voyeur in West Hollywood on Wednesday, the 23-year-old star of The Hills talked about her arrest last month on suspicion of DUI and the moment that scared her straight.
"It was probably my fifth hour in jail, when cockroaches were on the floor," she tells E! News about the unfortunate sighting. "I was there for like nine hours."
We can't help but wonder if the reaction was mutual.
—Reporting by Chris Hall
________
Steph says she's scheduled to face the judge in a couple of days. Much like the celebs in our Court Appearances gallery have done.
Kristin Cavallari Thinks The Hills Is Bigger Than Grey's Anatomy
Jesse Grant/Getty Images
Don't look now, but Kristin Cavallari totally drank the crazy punch.
We met up with The Hills understudy star last night at the Rock the Kasbah charity gala in Hollywood, and she insisted that The Hills "is the No. 1 show and we are doing really well."
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but The Hills' ratings are most assuredly down this season, by an average of more than 30 percent overall. (The season started out weak with 2.3 million and sank to 1.72 million on Oct. 13.) Still, when asked about the lower ratings, Kristin insisted: "No, they are not! We had one drop because of the Hip Hop awards on VH1, but then they went up the next week."
Whatever helps you sleep through the night, sweet girl! (Hopefully without Justin Bobby.)
In recent weeks, The Hills' ratings drop has received quite a lot of press, with many critics blaming Kristin's replacement of Lauren Conrad for the dip. Kristin calls that assertion unfair...
Stephanie Prattles a DUI Explanation via Twitter
Michael Tran/Getty Images
We apologize for using the P-word, but Stephanie Pratt has something she'd like to say about that DUI business.
"I was pulled over 4 tinted windows 3 blocks from where i was sleeping and blew a .08...which was 2 drinks. i made the wrong choice to drive and i take full responsibility," the Hills hanger-on tweeted this afternoon, referring to her arrest last weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence following a party for her sister-in-law's 26th birthday at a Hollywood club.
"I would never put other peoples lives at risk and want to be very clear that i was not pulled over for unsafe driving," she continued. "2 drinks... call a taxi! pls learn from my mistake. love u alllll!"
Pratt also thanked her Twitter fam for their kind words and support.
________
Even blowing a .08 can land you in our Mug-Shot Mania gallery.
This Just In: The Hills Viewers Flee Kristin Cavallari
Christopher Peterson/Getty Images
• The Hills: Kristin Cavallari fail. Somewhere in West Hollywood, Lauren Conrad is laughing her ass off. Ratings for The Hills are down one-third this season—i.e., ever since the former Laguna Beach star rejoined the cast, purportedly as the L.C.-equivalent lead character.
• Glee: There's a new sneak peek out of Glee's upcoming Nov. 11 episode (which we've seen and which rocks). "Wheels" centers on Kevin McHale's Artie, and he tells us, "At the end of 'Wheels' there's a huge wheelchair dance number—I can't say what song it is—OK, it's a play on words. It's my favorite number, although I'm biased."
• In Treatment: HBO just renewed the Gabriel Byrne-starring critically acclaimed therapy drama In Treatment for a third season.
• Dollhouse: TV auteur Joss Whedon appeared before his people again yesterday with consoling words about Dollhouse being kicked out of November sweeps: "Howzabout that schedule? Well, I'm not as depressed as everyone else...We get November to try to spread the word...and then December is pure gluttony."
Update
Stephanie Pratt: Hills Dingbat Dinged With DUI
UPDATE: Pratt was formally charged Oct. 28 with misdemeanor driving under the influence. She faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
________
Stephanie Pratt has taken a detour from The Hills into the drunk tank.
The reality TV trainwreck was busted on suspicion of DUI early this morning after a night of partying.
A Los Angeles police spokesman tells E! News that Pratt, 23, was arrested at 3:45 a.m. in Hollywood and taken to Van Nuys jail. She was released around 10 a.m. Sunday morning after posting $5,000 bail.
Pratt and several Hills costars spent Saturday celebrating Holly Montag's 26th birthday at hot spot Empire.
Pratt attempted to cement her nonparty-girl status before heading to the club, tweeting: "its my sissy @hollymontags bday party! just finished dinner and going to Empire but im pretty tired aka yes i am the party pooper :("
Ironically, the Daily 10 correspondent echoed the same sentiments when E! News caught up with her last night. "I'm a party pooper tonight," Pratt said. "I got bad news this morning. A friend passed away in a car accident, so everyone needs to drive safe."
A witness says at around 2 a.m. Pratt, Montag and other partygoers headed over to Beso in Hollywood, where they partied for an hour. After that the group parted ways and Pratt took off in her own car.
Party pooper, indeed. We can't wait for this episode to air.
(Originally published Oct. 18, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. PT)
________
Steph will soon be making a fine addition to our Mug-Shot Mania gallery.
Lo Bosworth: I Am Not Starring in L.A. Candy Movie!
Jen Lowery/Startraksphoto.com
Reports of Lo Bosworth starring in the movie adaptation of Lauren Conrad's novel, L.A. Candy, have been greatly exaggerated.
Lauren was quoted recently saying that not only has Lo taken acting classes, but that Lo was also her first pick for the flick. L.A. Candy is being made for the big screen by the producers of Twilight.
"It was more of a joke than anything," Lo explained to us the other day at Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation's National Read for the Record Day event in L.A.
"We were on the red carpet together and they were like, 'Who do you want to be in the movie?'" she said. "I would love to make a cameo, but I don't think I could handle a big role because I'm not an actress. A cameo would be really fun."
Not so fun anymore? The Hills…
Exclusive
Audrina Is Doing the Single Ladies Dance Again
Lester Cohen/Getty Images
Listen up, gentlemen! Audrina Patridge is available.
She and Aussie BMX racer Corey Bohan's two-month romance is dunzo.
"Yes, she is single," Patridge's rep tells me.
This isn't the first time Audrina and Corey have broken up. They briefly dated in 2008, and he even appeared in four episodes of The Hills before they reunited this summer. No word on what did them in this time around.
Patridge, 24, was solo at last night's Auto Club Speedway's Pepsi 500 party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where she talked about her final days on The Hills…
Spoiler Chat: Can the New Gossip Girl Be Trusted?
Giovanni Rufino / The CW
We've got the dish on Bree Buckley's bad intentions on Gossip Girl. (Did you really think she was as good as she seemed?) Plus, read on to find out which couple is due for some devastating news on One Tree Hill, Lisa Edelstein talking Jen Morrison's House exit, Lo Bosworth spilling on the future of The Hills, and Lance Reddick on an Observer-centric ep of Fringe...
Kelly in Ft. Myers, Fla.: I've heard that our favorite Dollhouse may be in danger. Does it help the rating if people watch on iTunes or Hulu? I always try to do my best.
Lauren Conrad Launches Recession-Chic Line
Lauren Conrad is out of Kitson and into Kohl's.
When she first debuted an overpriced fashion line, it quickly fizzled. Now she's back with L.C. by Lauren Conrad, which retails at Kohl's.
Last night, she feted the launch of her latest line with a party—not at the department-store chain, but on Melrose Place.
While she walked the carpet solo, her boyfriend, actor Kyle Howard, was by her side inside the soiree. The couple was careful not to get photographed together, though.
One former fling missing from the bash?
Exclusive
Lauren Conrad's Robert Pattinson Connection
Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images
Forget The Hills. That reality show is so, like, totally last year for Lauren Conrad.
Just today, Ms. Conrad launched a new clothing line for Kohl's department stores. And yesterday, it was announced that she has struck a deal for the movie adaptation of her debut novel, L.A. Candy.
"I've had a good week," Conrad told me as she was getting ready for a party tonight celebrating her Kohl's collection.
That's putting it mildly.
Her partner in the movie deal is Temple Hill Entertainment, which also happens to produce—get ready for this—the Twilight flicks!
Read on to find out what L.C. told me about working with Kohl's, appearing in the L.A. Candy movie and meeting Robert Pattinson…
The Big Picture
If You Could See Her Now... Fun activities aboard the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship include macramé and a Rihanna concert!
More PhotosMost Commented
- Twilight Rewind: Hot Dish From the Cast Last Year! (798)
- Costars and Suits Give Robsten Their Blessings! (648)
- Blab Blab Blab: Is Twilight Sexist? (551)
- Bitch-Back! What's Eating Angie? (546)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (477)
- Bitch-Back! What's Brad Got to Do With It? (425)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (425)
- Is Ugly Betty Ending? And Who Gets the Girl? (374)
- Ridiculous Twilight Hookups in an "All Taken" Cast (348)
- Dishy Rob Pattinson: Kristen Stewart Cooks a "Mean Spam" (284)
Top 10 Stories
- Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray & More Continue Singing Oprah's Praises
- Michael Jackson's Doc Shipped Propofol From Vegas to L.A., Records Show
- Unleashed Fangirls Derail Justin Bieber Appearance
- Miley Cyrus' Tour Bus in Deadly Crash
- Good News for Miley: She's Officially Not a Racist
- New Moon's "Absolutely Freakish" Debut
- Snipes Appeals Overly Taxing Prison Sentence
- Carrie Prejean's Biblical Boobs Are A-OK!
- Project Runway: Everybody Cries, One Designer Wins
- Ellen: Oprah Will Always Be the Queen of Daytime TV
Fashion Police
Green With Envy?Not quite, but we do give Kristen props for this shot of color during her New Moon press tour
More Photos
-
Soup Honors DWTS' Aaron Carter For Certain Catlike Quality
Give the light-footed man his due more >> -
-
Forget Johnny Depp, Wendy Williams Endorses Sinister Sexuality of Joel McHale
Is your humble Soup host all that and more? more >>
Fun & Games
Latest Movie Reviews
Shop
-
All New Shop E! Online New site, new stuff!
-
Chelsea Lately Coffee Mug Check out the new Chelsea Lately section at Shop E! Online for more
Get Your E! News Now
