Heidi Montag expressed concern for husband Spencer Pratt’s new cowboy hat in the trailer for the new “Hills” episodes. He’s been seen all over Los Angeles rocking the hat, and he seems pretty comfortable in the Western gear — but his friends don’t quite get it.

Kristin Cavallari just sort of laughed the fashion statement off in her devil-may-care style. And former bro Brody Jenner can’t quite figure out what Spencer is up to now that he’s in his wild, wild West phase of life.

“Every time I go to film or I’m filming with somebody else, I hear stories that Spencer’s wearing cowboy hats all the time now and wearing charms, some kind of necklaces,” he told MTV News. “I’ve heard a lot of things, but I haven’t been able to see it myself.”

Little sister Stephanie Pratt thinks the whole cowboy look is just odd. “It’s really fun to make fun of him lately. … I go over to their house, and I’m like, ‘Spencer, stop going through Heidi’s clothes.’ It’s really fun,” she said. “He says the cowboy hat is, like, a gift from Dad and blah blah blah, but he’s, like, getting really scary.”

It seems Spencer is the only one who doesn’t see what the big deal is. “Well, it was because my new father-in-law gave it to me, and he gave it to me with such a serious speech connected to it [about] how much it truly meant to him and his life and everything,” Pratt explained. “For me, it wasn’t really more a fashion statement — it was more something for my father-in-law.”

Lauren Conrad was feeling the love with boyfriend Kyle Howard at new West Hollywood nightspot MI-6, where the couple was spotted making out and flirting on the dancefloor. But when the former Hills star ended up seated near her old nemesis – Kristin Cavallari – there might as well have been tumbleweeds blowing between the two women. The frenemies shot glares back and forth as Conrad texted on her phone and whispered with pal Lo Bosworth, who had Frankie Delgado for backup.

Cavallari, meanwhile, was sitting with her new businessman boyfriend and friends – and the new Hills star bounced back and forth, chatting with everyone except her castmates. And while Cavallari wasn’t too affectionate with Smith, at one point she did put her arms around him.

Though her days of battling Kristen Cavallari and Speidi in the realm of reality TV are officially behind her, no way is Lauren Conrad headed for the unemployment line.

But she doesn’t expect to run up the aisle to collect an Oscar, either.

The former “The Hills” star, best-selling author, fashion designer and spokesperson spent her week launching a second clothing line and finalizing a deal to convert her semi-autobiographical novel “L.A. Candy” into a feature film.

“I think my acting is offensive!” Conrad, 23, told PEOPLE in response to a question of whether she’d consider playing the movie version of Jane Roberts, the heroine of her novel.

“I’m an awful actor, I’m not super comfortable with it. In fact I was just trying to do lines … and they’ll tell you, I cannot memorize lines.”

Well, we’re only one episode of Kristin Cavallari-centric “Hills” deep, and I already miss Lauren Conrad.

Which is odd, I know, because let’s face it — Lauren wasn’t adding a whole bunch to the show toward the end of last season, complacently sifting through clothes racks at People’s Revolution and constantly being forced into awkward situations with frenemy Heidi.

But there was something about Lauren’s calm demeanor and subtle eye rolls that endeared her to me. Perhaps the part of her life she revealed on the show wasn’t all that dramatic, but it never seemed like she was spewing outright lies.

Enter Kristin, wearing daisy dukes and very high heels while hopping out of her summer Malibu rental and into her shiny black BMW convertible.

Last week, Kristin admitted she will “pretty much do anything” the producers want her to do on the show. The first of which seems to be feigning romantic interest in resident bad boy Justin Bobby.

There is just no way I can believe that Kristin actually finds JB attractive. Reality check — she has dated the chiseled Brody Jenner and clean-cut “Final Destination” star Nick Zano. They don’t exactly have the snarly beard, suspenders and combat boot look going on.

“He’s so not your type!” I pressed when we met last week at Magnolia restaurant in Hollywood.

“He is a good-looking guy,” she insisted. “No, he’s not someone I typically would go after, but I do have to say after getting to know him a little bit on the show, he’s a good guy.”

Okay. But even if Kristin hypothetically were into JB, her constant Audrina name-dropping made the entire setup feel all too fake.

“How do you think Audrina’s going to feel about us going on a date?” she asked coyly when Justin offered to take her on the back of his motorcycle.

“I think Audrina is still in love with you,” she later said nonchalantly over dinner with Justin at STK. (Honestly, producers? Are we meant to believe a trendy Hollywood steakhouse is JB’s number one choice for a dinner date?)

Justin proceeds to tell Kristin that Audrina was never his girlfriend and that the pair were never exclusive. Is that really supposed to be a huge revelation? Audrina spent an entire season pleading with Justin to make things official. When he refused to put a label on things, she kept seeing him and tried to convince herself and her friends she was OK dating without labels — which she clearly never was.

And in the season opener, at least, it really appears that she’s still in love with Justin.

When Stephanie abruptly dropped the bomb that Kristin and Justin may have gone home together, Audrina’s face instantly dropped and her eyes welled up. Yikes.

Plus, “the stage five clinger,” as bartender Stacie deemed her, prematurely flipped out on Kristin within a couple of minutes of her arrival at the pool party at the London West Hollywood Hotel. I mean, Justin was the one who approached Kristin, and the two had barely exchanged a couple of faux-flirty words before Audrina and sidekick-to-everyone Stephanie got up in Kristin’s face.

“I’m sorry I walked up here and you guys came at me like piranhas,” Kristin said.

“You need to respect Audrina, bottom line,” Stephanie shouted back at her. No wonder she’s ready to exit the show at the end of this season — all of her story lines involve being obsessed with her friends lives instead of her own!

Meanwhile, Spencer and Heidi’s house-hunting pursuits somehow ended up seeming like the most realistic events of the evening. First the pair headed to a suburban house in Brentwood. Spencer wore an interesting get-up, composed of a cowboy hat and boots and a flannel shirt — Poppa Montag’s style influence on his new son-in-law must have been far-reaching.

Despite Heidi’s insistence upon a cozy home with a room for a nursery, Spencer settles upon a modern, glass-filled house perched below the Hollywood sign. I’ll take it that means the children discussion is on hold until that visit to Kitson Baby later in the season.

So, weigh in: Did Kristin’s much-hyped debut live up to your expectations, or did her entrance fall flat? Do you think she and Justin Bobby will make a real love connection? And will Heidi succeed in persuading Spencer to start a family by the end of the season? Chime in below in the comment section.

Photo: Kristin tries to reel in her potential new love interest, Justin Bobby, on “The Hills. Credit: MTV.

The new season of “The Hills” with Kristin Cavallari debuts tonight on MTV — but the show may be over before it even begins.

Stephanie Pratt, Spencer’s sister, says she won’t return to the reality show after this season’s 10 episodes. She also told Hollyscoop that Lo Bosworth, Lauren Conrad’s best friend, may also be exiting.

News comes on the heels of Audrina Patridge’s announcemement last month that she’s “almost done” filming the series and will move on to develop her own reality show with “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett.

“I don’t know how much more I can take of ‘The Hills,’ Pratt said. “It is very brutal. … It’s not because of Kristin. I was going to stay and see what happens after these 10 episodes, but I just don’t think I can stand ‘The Hills’ anymore.”

[Update 5:24 p.m.: In an e-mail to ShowTracker, a rep for Pratt wrote: “At this point Stephanie isn’t certain whether or not she’ll be returning next season. Her focus is on this season’s show.”

Yikes! Is anyone left? It certainly looks like the drama in “The Hills” could be coming to a close.

Through her publicist, Pratt could not be reached for comment. Earlier this summer, she posed in a bikini on the cover of US Weekly next to a headline reading “‘The Hills’ Made Me Bulimic.’ ”

What do you think? Could “The Hills” survive without the girls we’ve all come to know and love? Would you watch the “Spencer and Heidi” show?

So how much do the cast of the hill make per episode?

“Cavallari is being paid $90,000 an episode, which is almost as much as Conrad was making: $125,000 an episode (or $2.5 million a year), according to a person with knowledge of the show’s contracts. Conrad’s deal stipulated that no other star’s salary could match hers while she was on The Hills, but those of supporting cast members Audrina Patridge, Lauren “Lo” Bosworth, and Montag come close: $100,000 a show. As for Pratt, his rate is a slightly less at $65,000 per show, because he only joined as a regular in 2008. (In comparison, the stars of The Real Housewives series receive a reported $30,000 a show.) In the case of Brody Jenner, Conrad’s BFFWB (Best Friend Forever With Benefits), he takes in $45,000. Read the rest here

Enjoying a little quality time together, Lauren Conrad and Lauren “Lo” Bosworth were spotted out at La Scala in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon (September 21).

With LC using Lo as a human shield, the former “Hills” co-stars laughed and hugged one another as they made their way out of the popular local eatery.

Over the weekend, Miss Conrad kept busy by splitting time between boyfriend Kyle Howard and her Kohl’s launch duties.

As part of her line’s launch, Lauren took part in California Coastal Cleanup Day, plugging her new offerings by telling press: “I am very excited to be launching LC Lauren Conrad at Kohl’s later this month because it’s going to 300 stores and it’s going to be on Kohls.com.”

At Clearly chic , according to their site, will be an exclusive membership only site, providing access to women’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at 80% off retail. YES, 80%.

Some of the authentic brands and items they will feature are Coach Bags, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Ed Hardy, J brand jeans and tons of other high end fashion brands. check them out!

Check out these super cute I Love My Boyfriend T shirts

Why am I not surprised that Lauren Conrad’s ridiculously over-priced line of “clothing” died? Um, that’s right, because it sucked. It sucked a lot.

But reps aren’t blaming the actual bad dresses for the demise of the line, they’re blaming, what else, These Economic Times. And I partially agree with that statement, if by “These Economic Times” they mean people are fed up with paying for absolute poop.

But Lauren insists the hiatus will be beneficial for the brand, saying she has decided to “revamp her line and design with more high-end fabrics… things she couldn’t do the first time around. With everything going on in the economy and in her life, she wants to rework her line and offerings.”

I blame the fight between long-time besties Lauren and Heidi for the lack of creativity and poor construction of her line.

Oh and Brody Jenner. He ruins everything.

Lauren Conrad narrowly missed out on a chance to say farewell to her nemesis, Spencer Pratt, at Star Magazine’s Young Hollywood party at Apple Lounge Wednesday night.

Spencer was there with faux wife Heidi Montag, who said she’s releasing a new album soon and using actual professionals to shoot the videos instead of her boyfriend. But as soon as the two finished interviews on the carpet, they left the party.

Of course, not before Spencer had a chance to sound off on L.C.’s upcoming departure from The Hills.

The reality-TV troublemaker says he’s really going to miss Conrad: “I’m actually very depressed,” he told me of her departure. “Who am I gonna beef out with? I gotta find some new enemy on the show.”

So how did Lauren and BFF Lo Bosworth avoid this awkward run-in?

They skipped the carpet altogether and hung out inside at their own VIP table as Lady GaGa played. Stephanie Pratt apparently felt no family loyalty, as she headed to their table and sat with the girls.

Laguna Beach alum Kristin Cavallari was also on hand for the bash, showing up with Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian’s ex-boyfriend. The two stayed together on the patio as Scott smoked a cigarette.

But that didn’t discourage the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star—Kourtney also made it to the party, she just rolled solo.

“Reality?TV, as in a show like The Hills? I don’t think I could do it,” Lauren confessed at Barbie’s 50th birthday bash in Malibu. “Never say never, but at this point I think I’m ready to step away and do my own thing.”

She just finished filming last week, but said she’s been as busy as ever since cameras stopped rolling.

So what will she miss least about doing the hit MTV show…and will her roomie Lo Bosworth be leaving the show, too?

While L.C. says she’ll miss the crew she worked with, she won’t miss the constant camera presence.

“I get a little bit more privacy back and?be able?to make mistakes and not have to deal with the repercussions of my decisions [on-camera],” she said. “I’m going to keep a few things to myself.”

Like her relationship with boyfriend Kyle Howard?

“You’re making me blush! He’s very sweet,” she answered, when asked about her favorite thing regarding her actor beau. “He’s a good guy.”

Lo said she’ll?still be a part of The Hills, but?they won’t?be filming in the new Westwood apartment they just moved to.

“We don’t want Star Tours to come by anymore!” Lo explained of the decision.

And, at least for last night, L.C. and Lo seemed to enjoy not having cameras on them as they took shots and sipped white wine at the party.

Ok. Everyone has experienced a break-up BUT not on TV, seriously! Nice,… Lauren AND the camera crew set-up in Doug’s kitchen so Lauren and end IT! Ouch! And I actually thought Doug was a good guy and a good match for her. Oh well… his consolation is he’s still a part of the show.
Did you see the preview of the next episode where Brody goes to jail and Franky tells Lauren that Doug got punched! What?! Was Brody defending him…?

On a different note, Lo never leaves the viewers wondering how she feels about Audrina. I think she’s jealous of Audrina and Lauren being friends. Wow, does that girl play the snob role well! Not pretty! Ha!

I almost forgot,… is Whitney’s boss the devil? I’m afraid of her and I’m states away sitting in my own living room. Poor, sweet, hard working Whitney. I hope you can hack it with the ol’ boss! So far, so good. Fingers crossed!

Lauren starts the new year out with a new hair do. Check out her latest cut, it’s very cute and makes her look more sophisticated! Click here for instructions on how to style your hair like Lauren did with long locks.

Since Lauren’s big announcement, ANOTHER season of The Hills, she’s been busy with her new line of handbags and making Christmas gifts for friends. Read all about it…Lauren Conrad: Shop Girl.

Since the end of season three, MTV is airing “Lauren Looks Back.” which reflects on her moments of love and heartbreak. If you haven’t seen it it’s worth watching. Looking back, Lauren, Lo, Jason, Stephen, and all the other “friends/cast” seem so young! Still, even then, Lauren maintains that confidence and good girl attitude we all watch for every week!

I can’t wait for season four! Season three gave me quite a few laughs - “Justin Bobby” - priceless! Especially when you call your friends (who watch The Hills) by their name and add Bobby on the end….Jill Bobby, Jenny Bobby, Christine Bobby…like I said, priceless!

Check out Lauren’s lastest photoshoot: