Duff will “Gossip’

Hilary Duff is joining the cast of “Gossip Girl” –but not on a regular basis.

The CW series’ spokeswoman, Melissa Burton, says the 21-year-old singer and actress will guest star next season as “a movie star looking for a typical college experience.” Duff’s character, named Olivia Burke, enrolls at New York

University and becomes roommates with “Gossip Girl” hipster Vanessa, portrayed by Jessica Szohr. Oh, what a tangled web: Burton says Olivia will spark a romance with aspiring novelist Dan, played by Penn Badgley. As fans know, Vanessa used to have eyes for Dan –then they dated other people.

Duff begins her “Gossip” arc on Oct. 5.

Season three premieres Sept. 14, as the prep kids head off to college.

More Frey fiction

James Frey is writing for young people, and Hollywood has signed on.

Frey, a former screenwriter best known for his discredited memoir “A Million Little Pieces,” is collaborating on a four-book series of teen science fiction novels that Harper- Collins will publish.

Screen rights for the first novel, “I Am Number Four,” have been acquired by DreamWorks and “Transformers” director Michael Bay.

Frey’s co-author is Jobie Hughes, a recent graduate from the creative writing program at Columbia University.

Frey is best known as the author of a memoir of his supposed life as a drug addict before being rehabilitated. The book was promoted by talk show queen Oprah Winfrey before it was exposed as a lie by The Smoking Gun Web site in 2006.

The hoax sparked lawsuits and Random House agreed to pay $2.35 million to readers who bought the book, while Winfrey apologized to her TV audience and castigated Frey during his later appearances on her show.

Always keep a key

Police say the wife of actor Gary Coleman was booked into jail after an argument at the couple’s Utah County home.

Shannon Price was arrested Wednesday and held for about two hours before posting $1,205 bail. Utah County Jail records show the 23-year-old Price was booked for investigation of domestic violence, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

An arrest affidavit says police were called to the home after Price allegedly locked Coleman out during an argument and was yelling obscenities out the window, had thrown items around the home and upended furniture.

There is no indication that the 41-year-old Coleman, best known for his stint on “Diff’rent Strokes,” was injured.

Holmes getshappy

So Katie Holmes thinks she can dance –and in a couple of weeks, she’ll display her moves before a discriminating audience.

Nigel Lythgoe, who is the producer of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” confirms the 30-year-old actress will perform for the reality contest’s 100th episode, airing July 23.

Holmes will pay homage to Judy Garland. In a taped number, she’ll sing and dance to the Garland classic “Get Happy.”

Holmes’ TV cameo is meant to promote the new foundation she launched with Lythgoe and “Dancing With the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The nonprofit, called Dizzy Feet, aims to support dance education.