TV News, Spoilers: “Melrose Place,” “Dollhouse,” “Lost,” “Gossip Girl”

– After initial indications suggested “Dollhouse” would remain on the air through November Sweeps, news came this week that FOX has replaced the struggling drama with repeats of “House” and “Bones.”

“Dollhouse” will return in December with episodes shown in two-hour installments. That type of scheduling usually implies a burning off.

– Claire is indeed returning on the final season of “Lost,” with EW reporting that Emilie de Ravin’s character will become “Rousseau-esque.”

– The CW confirmed that Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Colin Egglesfield are departing the cast of “Melrose Place,” with their final episode slated for January. Executive producers Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer told EW the plan had always called for the two to depart at that point; their characters did not fit into the lighter, post-murder mystery version of the show.

Speaking to EW, they also confirmed that Heather Locklear’s reprisal of Amanda Woodward is scheduled to last indefinitely.

– Another big Blair-Serena blow-up is scheduled for an upcoming “Gossip Girl” storyline, says Entertainment Weekly.