Times Square Gossip

Ricki Lake Former television talk show host Ricki Lake will replace Sharron Osbourne as VH1’s Rock Of Love: Charm School headmistress when the reality show returns this summer. Ricki will host the series, which aims to teach trashy young women a thing or two about poise, grace and manners. Osbourne hit the headlines at the end of her stint on the show after she was accused of assaulting a contestant. Osbourne attacked Megan Hauserman during a recording of the television show’s reunion special in Los Angeles California in December after the contestant insulted her by calling husband Ozzy a "brain-dead rocker". Hauserman claims the 56 year old grabbed her by the hair and scratched her. Osbourne has maintained she was the victim in the alleged brawl, hinting that Hauserman purposely targeted her to land her own TV deal. Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna

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."

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.