RICKI LAKE PRAISES NEW HAIRSPRAY STAR

Former Television talk show host Ricki Lake is heaping praise on Nikki Blonsky for her performance in the remake of Hairspray. Blonsky, 19, starred as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 version of the musical the role which propelled Lake to fame in 1988 in the hit John Walters movie. Lake went on to host her own long running TV talk show which ran from 1993 to 2004.And now the actress-turned-presenter has made her feelings about her younger replacement very clear. She tells New York Post’s gossip column PageSix, "I just adore her. She’s so great in the film, and I’m entering into a whole new phase now, it’s so interesting to see her launch."

RICKI LAKE DENIES JOHN MAYER AFFAIR

Former Talk Show host Ricki Lake has denied tabloid reports she’s romantically involved with John Mayer after the singer confessed he has had a crush on her for years.Lake met Mayer at a Christmas party last week, and the pair exchanged phone numbers before going their separate ways.But Lake insists rumors of a romance are far fetched.She says, "I swear to God, there is no story. I met him at a party. He admitted he had a crush and I admitted, hey, vice versa. That was it. I wish there was actually something to tell. There was nothing." Meanwhile rumors are abound when Mayer was spotted recently walking down a New York City street kissing a guy and holding his hand.