HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Expect a giant pool party when Heather Locklear returns to the set of "Melrose Place."

"We're all really thrilled that Heather is coming back!" Ashlee Simpson-Wentz tells People of Locklear reprising her role as the take-no-prisoners ad executive Amanda Woodward. "Of course we are — she was kind of the heart of the show. It's been great to have a lot of the original cast, and to have Heather join is really incredible. I'm excited!"

Locklear was billed as a "special guest star" on the original "Melrose," even though she joined the series in the first season and remained on the show until it went off the air in 1999. She'll make her first appearance on the revamped CW version on Nov. 17.

"We do a table read on Thursday so I'll meet her [today]," said Simpson. "I'm really looking forward to it."