Celebritology Live

Get the Scoop on the Latest Gossip Making Waves on the Web

When Britney left K-Fed, when Jen and Vince broke up (and broke up again), when Mel Gibson self-destructed on a California highway, washingtonpost.com Celebritology Liz Kelly was here to pass along the buzz, offer some perspective, provide crucial links to juicy alternate news sources and, of course, take your reaction.

Now join Liz each Thursday at 2 p.m. ET to gab about the latest celebrity pairings (and splittings), rising stars (and falling ones) and get the scoop on the latest gossip making waves across the Web.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

Before she started blogging about celebrities, Liz ran washingtonpost.com's Live Online section, where she enjoyed talking to really interesting people -- including some Post reporters -- on the phone. She produces both Carolyn Hax's advice discussion and Gene Weingarten's Chatological Humor*, which is currently on hiatus.

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Liz Kelly: I'm a little nervous so bear with me today. I have been a part of hundreds, possibly thousands, of online chats -- but usually in a behind-the-scenes I'm-not-the-one putting-my-foot-in-my-mouth capacity. I notice some regulars from Chatological Humor have found their way here and I welcome any and all discussion of VPL, "Wildfire" and a shared obsession with Gene Weingarten. For Weingarten devotees, I hope to have an update from himself to post later in the chat, but he's ignoring my IMs so far. Probably talking to his real friends, like his dog or Dave Barry. For Hax regulars, I'll see you again tomorrow, back behind the scenes.
If you haven't read Celebritology today, I talk about stars we love to hate. For me it's Diane Keaton. Inexplicable, but there it is. Thanks to Janie for posting this comment about why she can't stand Matt Damon and Ben Affleck: "They're like the Smuggy von Smuginhausen twins." Well said. Who do you love to hate and why?
What else is on the radar? Is that Courtney Love/"American Idol" fire drill the biggest let down of the year? Is Sienna the next big thing or, as she posits, more famous for being Jude Law's ex than her acting ability? How wrong is it that the new season of "Simple Life" (filming now) sets up Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton as fat camp counselors? And did anyone catch this little item about Jeremy Piven? I'm liking him less and less every time he opens his mouth.
Check out 14's latest masterpiece over at Gallery of the Absurd. If you haven't done so already, I recommend bookmarking her site. Always so dead on.
At the end of the chat I'll give away the topic for tomorrow's Friday List so we can all get a jump on crafting answers.
Today's show soundtrack is The Zombies Single Collection.

Liz Kelly: This is just so exciting to say for the very first time: Let's get crack. I mean, get cracking... Oopsy.

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Ge, NE: Where do you troll for your subjects -- newswires, gossip sites, Gene's little black book, etc.?

Liz Kelly: All over the place. Seriously, I take in way more than the RDA of celebrity news. I look at all the mainstream pubs, regularly spin through news breakers like TMZ.com and Perez Hilton, have a massive list of RSS feeds and have occasionally been known to just Google random word combos -- a strategy that has yielded some results, such as the post I did about the Church of Celebritology.

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Falls Church, Va.: Last night the Fox News at 10 ran a promo during "A.I." that they had a story about an "A.I." star that fell from grace. I watched "Top Chef" instead of their show -- do you know who they were talking about?

Oh, and the Harry Potter pix freak me out ... the hair ... the muscles ... it's shocking.

washingtonpost.com: When Child Stars Attack Grow Up (Blog: Celebritology, Jan. 31)

Liz Kelly: Ah, turns out the big scoop was just a "where are they now" piece with season one finalist Nikki McKibbin, who was eliminated the week before Kelly Clarkson was crowned the country's first American Idol. Turns out McKibbin turned down a 6-album recording contract with RCA because, not wanting to disappoint her fans, she refused to sing country music. Then she apparently had to wait until her three-year contract with "Idol" expired before she could continue pursuing her music career. There were some references to "hard times" and "depression" and a clip of McKibbin flubbing a live performance. She's apparently back now with a new look (Goth) and a new album. Woo.
As for Daniel Radcliffe, yes, taken in the context of Harry Potter, it just comes off as all kinds of wrong. But he is 17 now and perfectly free to shrug off the mantle of his goofy, do-gooding best known role.
Oh, and that linked headline above, there should be a line through "attack." Like so: Attack

Liz Kelly: Duh. I forgot to include the link to the Nikki McKibbin story. Here tis: Life After Idol, (Fox)

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Liz Kelly: I forgot to include this in the intro. "Lost" returns next week and so will the next morning analysis in Celebritology. Also, we can talk "Lost" here next Thursday afternoon. Yay.

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Dayton, Ohio: Hey Liz! I was wondering if you've seen the video of P.Diddy dropping off Sienna Miller at her hotel on TMZ.com? I'm fascinated by this, even though I absolutely don't care about either celebrity. The key moment for me is his reaction when he realizes he's being taped -- it looks like he's planning on following her into the hotel, then he turns around, sees the camera, stops dead in his tracks, and you can see him kind of clench his fists in an "oh s--t" moment. Then he sends his bodyguard over to try to get the dude to delete the tape! Dropping her off at the hotel could be innocent enough, but his reaction to being taped is SHADY.

Liz Kelly: Yes, yes it is. Though both Diddy and Sienna say they are just friends. And, really, what's wrong with the father of two newborn twins clubbing all night with Jude Law's ex?
Speaking of Sienna...

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Anonymous: What can you tell me about Sienna Miller? All I know about her is that she was the ex-fiance of Jude Law. Also that she is going to be in the new movie "Factory Girl."

Liz Kelly: Honestly, there's not much more to tell yet.
Yes, she's Jude Law's ex and kind of became famous for that before she ever appeared in movie. She's appeared in "Layer Cake" with Daniel Craig, starred with Johnny Depp in the box office bomb "Casanova" and opposite ex-love Jude Law in the remake of "Alfie." She's out now promoting her (hoped for) breakout role in "Factory Girl" -- she plays Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick.
She dropped by "Live With Regis and Kelly" this morning and was all gracious humility. Hard to square with reports from late last year when Miller apparently really PO'd Pittsburghians (Pittsburghians? Is that right? Help.) by calling the town an obscenity-containing nickname that rhymses with Pittsburgh.
She's actually the featured article in today's "Life" insert in The Post. In it, Miller bares all, with tidbits like the fact that she's never had a sex dream and dips her fries in chocolate milk.

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Lima, Ohio: What's going on with Jay-Z and Beyonce?

Liz Kelly: Beyond the fact that Jay-Z is lending his name and image to the re-launch of Cherry Coke and Beyonce topped AskMen.com's list of fantasy girlfriends?

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Washington, D.C.: La Liz! Congratulations on your own chat. Is your producer required not to where pants while doing your chat?

Liz Kelly: Actually, my producer is wearing pants. There's a reason I've been exiled to working from home.
By the way, a big round of applause for the show's producer, Live Online Deputy Rocci Fisch. Nothing but the best for Celebritology.

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Liz Kelly: Ha, channeling Gollum, I said "rhymees." Obviously what I meant to type was "rhymes."

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The Celeb I Love to Hate: Elizabeth Hasselbeck. Can't wait for Rosie to deck her on-air.

Liz Kelly: Dude, I'm so with you on this one. She's taken on this self-imposed role of defender of conservative values on the show and the woman has a serious compulsion about sharing every time her kids vomit. Enough.

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Texas: What's the pink ring Hugh Laurie wore at the Golden Globes? Think People.com mentioned it earlier this week -- what is it for?

Liz Kelly: I didn't see the ring in question, but did see a similar one on the CBS morning show earlier this week that I think was meant to signify the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. Yep. Just checked the site and you can get your own for a $5 donation.

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washingtonpost.com: Aw shucks Miss Liz. And re the pants, yes, I do wear 'em and today they're nice gabardines (not to sound snobby).

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Washington, D.C.: Liz -- How come you don't do any reporting of your own? I don't mean that in a disparaging way at all. But Celebritology (which I read regularly) is usually a collection of links, or a personal rant/rave. Do you ever have to call stars publicists to confirm stuff or get comments? Follow up on your own juicy tips? I bet you'd be good at it ...

Liz Kelly: When we were planning Celebritology back in the day the idea was that it would be a good quick morning digest of all the celeb news you need to stay in the loop juxtaposed with opinion pieces about the world of celebrities.
Like any living thing, the mission has changed a little, but still mainly adheres to the Morning Mix and a daily longer post posing a question about celebrities formula. Still, there have been some straight news items to pass along -- for instance when Tom Cruise turned up in D.C. for the Redskins season opener or the Mel Gibson arrest over the summer.
I've also done a handful of reported pieces. You can find several of them in my Extreme Fans category and I've also done a couple interviews with folks like Robbie Rist, one-time member of the "Brady Bunch" cast.
I do want to do more original reporting and actually hope to have an interview update with Ralph Macchio to share with you soon. And if there's anything else you'd like me to chase down, please please let me know -- either here or by e-mailing me at celebritology@washingtonpost.com.

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Radcliffe: Speaking of HP, did everyone catch his appearance in this week's "Extras"? Playing himself as a kid who's trying not to be anymore? Hilarious.

Liz Kelly: I'll have to go back and watch "On Demand." Thanks for the tip. "Extras" is fabulous.

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Greencastle, Ind.: I used to hate Nicole Kidman, she always struck me as a cold fish (I guess that outs me as being male). But since that louse dumped her, I seem to like her a lot better. And Kate Holmes has a crooked face. Not ethically, just symmetrically.

Liz Kelly: Is it so clear that the louse, I mean Tom Cruise, dumped Nicole? Must explore. I don't know that Nicole's a cold fish so much as shy. She seems to have done a great job raising her kids (I guess Tom has, too) and -- until recently -- made some really interesting, good movie choices. It's been a while, though, since she won me over in "To Die For" and "Moulin Rouge," but I am SO excited about her role as the villain in the upcoming big screen adaptation of "The Golden Compass," the first book in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. So, so good.

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Arlington, Va.: Tell me more about Field Agent Frank. He sounds dreamy!

Liz Kelly: Frank, don't embarrass yourself in a public forum like this.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: There was a lot of talk about Angelina Jolie's "behavior" at the Golden Globes -- hostile interview with Seacrest, etc., and why she would have acted that way. Now we find out that her mother recently passed away and since them, the talking heads are attempting to explain away her behavior at the Globes by concluding that, "well, her mother must have been very gravely ill, and that was what was contributing to her foul mood on the red carpet." I'm not buying that at all, especially since she seemed to be out and about and having a wonderful time in New Orleans just a day or so before the Globes. I think she just hates being in L.A. Thoughts?

Liz Kelly: Without the benefit of an explanation directly from Angelina or a psychic to read her mind (where's Charlene Lichtenstein when I need her?) it is really hard to parse Angelina's behavior at the Globes.
Not to take Angie's side, but having lost a parent to cancer myself, I can say that the experience leaves your emotions utterly jumbled. One day you're resigned to it and fine, the next you are withdrawn and in denial and the third you are inappropriately giddy. It makes no sense.
So, this is a long way of saying I don't want to touch this one with a 10-foot-pole.

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Denver, Colo.: Liz, I'd really like to hear your in-depth analysis of the large number of votes Angelina Jolie got in "celebs we love to hate."

Liz Kelly: You think I have time for an "in-depth analysis" in an hour-long chat. You mistake me for Weingarten.
She's definitely a common target in the comments today and several people cite her conquest of Brad Pitt (from Jennifer Aniston) and Billy Bob Thornton (from Laura Dern) as reasons.
I was more surprised at the number of people who said they hate Tom Brady? I'm assuming the haters are all men who are jealous of the Gisele thing.

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Potomac Falls, Va.: Trying to re-submit, I got an error the first time.

Okay Liz -- I'm so glad you have a chat now!

Stars I hate (the list is SO long I'll just give you my top ones) Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, J. Lo, and P. Diddy. I refuse to watch anything any of them does. I love how the world forgave (or chose not to acknowledge) Angelina Jolie for being a home wrecker and Brad Pitt for being an adulterer. As for J. Lo and P. Diddy, they have way too high an opinion of themselves.

Liz Kelly: See, another "home wrecker" slinging Angie hater.
That's fine. I love picturing Brad Pitt as an innocent victim in all of this.

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Oxford, Miss.: I have inexplicable hate for Renee Zellweger and it increases every time she has some plastic surgery disaster that squeezes her face into a knotted balloon shape.

Just sharing.

Liz Kelly: Wait -- what? What plastic surgery disaster? That knotted balloon shape is all natural as far as I know.
She annoys me off screen, but I tend to like her movies. Check her out in the early indie flick "Love and a 45" -- with special cameo from Rev. Horton Heat.

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Baltimore, Md.: My husband has an irrational hatred of Andie MacDowell. HATES her. Any movie that she's in that he likes, he says he would have loved it, but for her, because she "ruins everything she touches." Plus, he doesn't like her hair (I must disagree with him on that one), although that appears to be secondary to the fact that he doesn't understand why she's famous.

Liz Kelly: She did kind of get stuck in that one hairstyle: The long, flowing wavy tresses. And she did kind of ruin "Sex, Lies and Videotape." And "Four Weddings and a Funeral."
Hey, I hate her, too.

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Formerly from the 'burgh: "Pittsburghers" is the correct terminology. Sigh. I liked your "Pittsburghians" better.

Liz Kelly: Pittsburghers. So cute. Want to gobble them up.

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Houghton, Mich.: Hi Liz! Congratulations. Enjoy your blog daily.

But, seriously, Diane Keaton? I kinda like her.

The celebrity that grates me the most is Oprah. I can't stand one single thing about her. Pompous. Boring. Irritating in every degree and manner. I will never understand her success or the cult-like admiration held by her followers.

Liz Kelly: Hey, variety is the spice of life.

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Willmar, Minn.: RE: Nicole Kidman. How are she and Keith doing?

Liz Kelly: Still together. Urban will appear on "SNL" later this month and recently announced a tour to support his new album.
She's standing by him, but I can't imagine a months-long stint in rehab and an extended tour really make for the ideal first year or so of marriage.

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Alexandria, Va.: Liz, Congrats! We GW chat readers are so proud. It is like watching a fledging leave the nest.

Anyway, on to the meat: my husband suggested I pose this Q to you. So the ParisExposed.com guy bought her stuff for TEN MILLION DOLLARS from the people who bought it at auction for something like $2,000. Even assuming lots of people pay $39.95 to see the site, how on earth will he make a dime on it? (especially when you factor in the legal fees to defend Paris' suit).

And a more philosophical question: what on earth do people like about Paris? She is ugly and skanky and I, honestly, am baffled by this fame. She has done nothing. (and had done even less prior to her idiotic TV show).

Liz Kelly: I'm no MBA, so I can't really speak to how he planned on making money from ParisExposed.com. I don't think he'll even get the chance now, though -- the site has been shut down after Hilton filed suit against it.
And I don't know one person that likes Paris, but as I said in this morning's blog posting, we love to hate Paris. Seriously, it's like a drug. Try it. Everyone's doing it.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: RE Nicole Kidman: "She seems to have done a great job raising her kids"

Yeah, but has she even SEEN them since hooking up with Urban? The only time I have seen her with her children was at her wedding. Seems to me that they have been pretty much living full time with Cruise for the past couple of years. Which may or may not be a good thing.

Liz Kelly: Well, but we don't get every moment of their lives documented on film, much as the photogs try. There could be good reason the kids are with Tom lately -- for instance, she's filming a movie, her husband's in rehab and they may be attached to their schools in L.A.

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Washington, D.C.: Nicole Kidman, I was really ambivalent until I saw "Moulin Rouge," too! I love that movie. Anyway, I decided that I'm still really annoyed that Haley Joel Osmet drives a Saturn. Why does this not annoy anyone else? Also, this is odd, but you're like a nicotine patch for my Gene fix. Soon, I'll be all over him and then he'll come back. His hiatus/sabbatical is the D.C. smoking ban.

Liz Kelly: That's so sweet. I've never been likened to a nicotine patch. I just hope I'm a fresh, nicotine-loaded, pristine patch. Not a sweaty, spent been-worn-all-day patch.
He should be back come April. And, jerk that he is, he's still ignoring my IM.

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Love to Hate: Does "American Idol" as an entity count as a celebrity I love to hate? Because I love to hate it. I think the show and its following are the epitome of what is wrong with America.

I also enjoy the irony of something called "American Idol" being the ideal example of America's downfall.

Liz Kelly: Sure, why not.

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Santa Fe, N.M.: I don't care about that Giselle thing -- whatever that means -- but I hate Tom Brady because he's so apple-pie aw shucks perfect American boy. It's just annoying.

Liz Kelly: Thanks for clearing that up.

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Silver Spring, Md.: The comments thread on stars we love to hate is genius. Usually the hating kinda gets me down, but it's just funny to read people's explanations of why they hate various celebrities (even ones I like -- Jack Black is hilarious! C'mon now!).

Liz Kelly: Ya. It's a weird dynamic and kind of freeing to admit that it's okay to hate sometimes.

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Arlington, Va,: One of my guy friends has this weird sick fantasy about him and Diane Keaton. And he's 25.

Liz Kelly: I just don't even know how to respond to this.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Jolie: "She's definitely a common target in the comments today and several people cite her conquest of Brad Pitt (from Jennifer Aniston) and Billy Bob Thornton (from Laura Dern) as reasons"

Why is it that the woman is blamed for "stealing" someone's man? While I'm neither defending or accusing her, why not give equal blame to the men. They had free will you know -- they weren't dragged away kicking and screaming, they walked.

Liz Kelly: 'xactly.

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Bowie, Md.: Who's the biggest "celebrity" in the D.C. area? Or should I say "wannabe celebrity?"

Liz Kelly: Weingarten, no question. Though I don't know -- Kornheiser's return to radio may knock him out of the top spot.

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Clifton, Va.: I love Peter O'Toole but lately he looks ill. According to the newspapers he is 73 years old but looks 93 years old. Also, what do you think about his latest movie?

Liz Kelly: I'm with you. When I saw the trailer for O'Toole's new movie, "Venus," I thought "Wow, Peter O'Toole has to be at least 90 and look at him still acting."
Turns out he's only 73. The corpse-like countenance is probably the result of years of hard partying. O'Toole says as much in a new interview in Newsweek, where he fondly recalls his hey-day sharing a bottle with Richard Burton. Still, I love the guy.

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Woodbridge, Va.: What's up with Courtney Love saying she was asked to be on "Idol." Did she hallucinate the phone call?

Liz Kelly: I'm wondering if this was yet another cry for attention from Courtney. If not, though, she's got to be feeling seriously punk'd, to use the vernacular.

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Arlington, Va.: I sure hope Gene is reading this chat. he should support you for all you have done for him (guilt, guilt). Maybe he can give us a sign.

Liz Kelly: He just IMed me. He may have an update for us today or possibly next week. I think he's drunk.

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Denver, Colo.: "Celebritology" is one of the very best things in the paper. What distinguishes it from a lot of other columns and blogs is that there is cynicism and a little snarkiness, but also an undertone of wry amusement and even affection for the crazy public culture most of us share. I'm a 50-year-old male attorney, and I still know way too much about Lohan's "rehab," the state of Britney's undergarments and Paris Hilton's latest feud. It is the world we live in ... it may be fluff and superfluous, but people need that just as much as news about the Middle East ... and Celebritology is a great way to dabble in it in a concise and amusing way! And I also have an unreasoning hate for Diane Keaton ... and Woody Allen!

Liz Kelly: Thank you so much.

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Gene therapy: Gene's ignoring your IM's because he's in rehab. Everyone else is.

Liz Kelly: Wouldn't it be fabulous if he was in Wonderland with Lohan and Mike Tyson. Great comedic potential there.

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Re: Jeremy Piven: Isn't he some super yoga guru? I saw him on a Hi-Def channel, trotting the globe to exotic places and doing yoga with masters. Something like that. It was on late.

You'd think his consciousness would be higher than to make remarks like that on Page Six ...

Liz Kelly: That's a bad sign for him. Sounds like he's inching closer to "Taradise."

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Chevy Chase, D.C.: Liz:

Since this is the debut of your chat perhaps you could share with us a little about your background and your different responsibilities at The Post. A lot of us became fans of yours based on your acerbic asides while you ran Gene Weingarten's chat. But is celebritology really your calling? We know you have an irrational hatred of Diane Keaton and pleated pants but what else can you tell us?

Liz Kelly: Well, it's all pretty underwhelming, but in a nutshell --
I came to washingtonpost.com in 2001 as the deputy in charge of all Live Online programming. A couple years later I took over when my boss (and sometime Celebritology Clip n' Save) co-author Lisa Todorovich moved on). I absolutely adored my days with Live Online, but wanted to get back to the creative side of journalism. So last year I was lucky enough to land the Celebritology gig and hung up my management keys -- at least for the time being. Throughout the years I've kept at writing and wrote several freelance pieces for The Post: from articles about Day Lilies to my experience with Restless Leg Syndrome.
Before post.com, I spent five years at AOL News. Before that I held a variety of jobs, including catalog copywriter at Boat U.S. and (very bad) restaurant reviewer for The Potomac News.
Celebrity news has always been an obsession of mine, so the blog is a perfect fit and, I hope, a perfect complement to The Post's already excellent coverage of entertainment.

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Denver, Colo.: Whatever will become of the Olsen twins, anyway? I can't hate them, but they're so eminently pitiable.

Liz Kelly: They are also stinking rich. Seriously, in like Oprah territory rich. I think they'll be fine. So save the pity for someone who is much closer to destitution and loss of former glory, like Britney Spears.
Did anyone see the pix of her with her hair dyed black (again) and sporting a huge Star of David necklace?

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Hey, wait a minute ...: Liz, you are ignoring my smart-ass comments just like Gene does. Did.

How do we know you aren't Gene? Has anyone ever seen you two together in the same room???

Liz Kelly: Dude, I didn't even see your smartass comments. Lemme look.
And I'm not Gene. Honest. Would Gene Weingarten admit to loving "Wildfire" and wearing a bra? Well, maybe the latter.

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Alexandria, Va.: All Tom Brady haters aren't men. I think he's a schlub. (And I'm a woman.)

Liz Kelly: Thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: No, no! Don't discuss "Lost" on the new Thursday live chat. I intend to be a faithful follower, but I don't want to be spoiled. (I watch many TV shows exclusively on DVD.) I can avoid your dueling analyses on the blog, but couldn't do it in this format. So please, no spoiling in the chats!

(And, I think it's HI-larious that people are all over Angie and Brad about being home wreckers and adulterers. 'Cause that's never happened in Hollywood before.)

Liz Kelly: Oh man. Good point. I don't want to ruin Lost for anyone. Maybe we can confine Lost talk to the last 10 minutes of each show and I'll post a big spoiler warning.
That okay?

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Detroit, Mich.: Hey Liz,

Love your column, it's a must-read for me every day. What do you think about Lindsay Lohan? She keeps on doing all these dumb things but I can't help but feel sorry for her since she's so young. I think back to all the dumb things I did at her age in college, and feel grateful that I didn't have journalists/photographers following me around then. Do you think people give her too hard of a time?

Liz Kelly: I actually feel sorry for Lindsay, too. As another poster just suggested, I should do a "Celebs We Love" post on the blog along the same lines -- celebs we like even though we know we shouldn't.
I like Lindsay Lohan even though I hate everything about her. Her movies are mostly forgettable, she can't spell, she makes terrible fashion choices and yet I like her. I am pulling for her. I want her to come out of this tailspin and become a real actress.

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Alexandria, Va.: Sienna Miller's career hasn't been, well, stellar, but she did appear in the wonderful but short-lived Fox comedy, Keen Eddie.

Liz Kelly: True. Thanks for reminding us.

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Washington, D.C.: I kinda loathe everyone who does those "a condensed history of all the dresses such and such starlet ever wore."

No specific names, but it's the same people everytime. They are such a waste of space.

Liz Kelly: Ummm, okay. I'll just put this out there in case anyone who might be tempted to compose such a history is out there today.

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Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Dear Liz,

Thank you for all the fantastic blogs and chats!

I was disappointed to hear that Tom Cruise is not, in fact, the next Jesus Christ. If you could have your pick of any celeb, who would you pick to be the next Messiah? And why?

Liz Kelly: Jim Cavaziel/Cazaveil -- I can't spell the man's name, so nevermind.

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Washington, D.C.: What's going on with TomKat? Does anyone in Hollyweird really want to hire Katie since she married the fruitloop? Does anyone really want to hire HIM?

Liz Kelly: Latest update from planet TomKat is that Katie is having a hard time getting her career back on track. Some reports around the Web say studios are hesitant to work with her because of the negative publicity that seems to follow her hubby Tom around like a little black rain cloud (of his own creation).
Katie has also apparently turned down a return role in the Batman sequel "Dark Knight," but did sign on to co-star with Queen Latifah in "Mad Money," a heist movie from the director of "Thelma and Louise." Genius move, Kate. I can't hardly wait.
If you didn't already, you might want to scroll up and check out the Gallery of the Absurd Cruise art I linked to in the intro.

Liz Kelly: I just looked up Katie on IMDB and had totally forgotten she was in "The Ice Storm." Such a great movie. I'm so sad now.

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N.Y., N.Y.: Why is Beyonce singing about "getting another you in a second"? Is that indicative of her relationship?

Liz Kelly: I'm not familiar with that Beyonce line. I'm still trying to figure out what "I don't think you ready for this jelly" is indicative of.

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Holy Toledo: How is it that George Clooney was only mentioned ONCE? Everytime I see his smug face, I want to punch him in the stomach.

Liz Kelly: Wow. Did he do something to you personally?

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Falls Church, Va.: Be for real Liz, no one likes "Lost."

Liz Kelly: There are still a few of us out here watching, hoping the show gets back on track. Over the hiatus, show producers apparently met with ABC suits to lobby for a fixed end date for the show so they could, you know, start planning concrete ends to story lines. No word on if they were successful. I hope so.

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Falls Church, Va.: Congrats on the chat. Your Celebritology blog is like coffee for me, I can't start my morning without it!

oh, I want to add Billy Bush to the celebrities we love to hate list. He looks way too much like his cousin!

Liz Kelly: Oh man. If we're going to go to Billy Bush we are so going to go to Ryan Seacrest. Hate. Him.

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St. Louis, Mo.: Yeah! Somebody else who hates Andie MacDowell! Both me and the wife can't stand her.

For years, Bill Murray was the same way. And the annoying Doritos commercial guy (okay, he's an F-list celeb by now).

Which is why "Groundhog Day" was such an amazing film. As far as our household was concerned, it had all three strikes against it going into the theater and yet, wonderful film.

And Bill Murray's gone off my "Celeb Hate List." Maybe age has taken the annoying edges off him.

Nice seeing ya Liz.

A Weingarten Regular.

Liz Kelly: Thank you. Not only a Weingarten regular, but one who is willing to admit that Bill Murray is fabulous.

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Washington, D.C.: Whoa! I need an editor.

I meant shows, "history of starlet dresses" shows. On Style Channel or something.

Liz Kelly: Ahhh, thanks.

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Chicago, Ill.: Hi Liz,

I have the best of both worlds ... Amy and Roxanne on Wednesday and You on Thursday! Awesome. Okay, down to business ... Stars I love to Hate: Beyonce, Jay-Z, Diddy, Eddie Murphy. I am sure that many will disagree but I think that all of them have gotten old and worn out their welcome with the public. And make a note of this as a prediction of the future ... Beyonce and Jay-Z will still be dating years from now ... Diddy will no longer be with Kim, he will be with Sienna and Eddie Murphy is the father of Scary Spice's child.

Liz Kelly: I can't seem to find the link now, but some site had an image from Mel B's first sonogram yesterday. It was totally straight, but how funny would it have been if the image was like a mini-Gumby?
And no, I am not high.

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West of Eden: "Arlington, Va,: One of my guy friends has this weird sick fantasy about him and Diane Keaton. And he's 25.

Liz Kelly: I just don't even know how to respond to this."

I do -- I just threw up in my mouth a little. And I'm 41.

Liz Kelly: Thank you. Now I know what to do and will act accordingly.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Liz,

What time do you wake up in the morning to complie the Celebritology list?

I miss Gene! But I am glad you are here.

Liz Kelly: Very early. And I go to bed really early, too, with my crosswords and a book. I'm seriously worrying about next week when I will have to stay up way past my bedtime to watch "Lost" for the next 16 or 17 weeks.

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Re: "Lost": So to make the show interesting, the suits had to conclude that it needs to end so the storylines can be answered?

Why watch a lame duck show?

Liz Kelly: That's not lame duck. That is smart story-telling. The longer something goes on the more diluted its essence becomes. You want Lost to devolve into some kind of "General Hospital" soap opera? I don't. I wish more shows would end before they become a sad shell of their former selves.

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Peter O'Toole: Did you see him on "The Daily Show"? Mr. O'Toole was a little slow getting started with the interview and a little out of it. It was cute and touching how gentle and clearly starstruck Jon was with him.

Liz Kelly: Missed that. As I said, I go to bed way early. I am a dork.

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Newark, N.J.: I saw George Clooney eating a Snickers bar once. Now I only eat Snickers.

Liz Kelly: Weirdo.

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Arlington, Va.: From one, it's "Pittsburghers." And yeah, Sienna can "gitahttatahn" in Pittsburghese. Although her nickname for my hometown did make me laugh. She's just a stooge.

Liz Kelly: Nice.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Hi Liz,

I'm glad you have your own chat ... it's about time!

What is the dress code here ... is there a "no pants, no service" rule?

Liz Kelly: Thanks!
There is a no-pleated pants, no mustache rule, but that's all.

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Washington, D.C.: What's your opinion on bloggers and others trying to "out" gay celebrities?

Liz Kelly: Terrible. Not what celebritology is about. I think there may be a special ring of hell reserved for some of the more aggressive, invasive bloggers. There's a line -- granted it is sometimes blurry -- but it does exist.

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Hating: Liz,

"Hanoi Jane" Fonda. I hate her, I won't watch anything she is in nor will I read anything about her.

Andie MacDowell is another although I will watch movies that she is in.

Liz Kelly: Now explain to me real slow what it is you don't like about Jane Fonda...

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Fairfax, Va.: Everytime I hear Chris Tucker's voice it's like nails on a chalkboard for me. It's a real shame because I love Jackie Chan movies. There are now a few I will never watch.

Liz Kelly: Dude. Love Chris Tucker. "Friday" is one of my favorite movies.
"You got knocked the [expletive] out."
Good times.

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Liz Kelly: With his usual flair for the dramatic, Gene shares this mini-update just in the nick of time:
"You probably want the truth, right? Okay. Mostly I have been indiscriminately sleeping with chat readers. The virtual panties had been piling up, making a mess on the floor, and titillating the dog. So that was the real reason I took a hiatus. I have about two months' more of women to go through, and then everything should be fine again.
"When I find the time I am still working on the comic strip with Dan, my son, and with luck that should be debuting in newspapers sometime before the end of the year. Also, I am currently working on a cover story which, unlike previous cover stories that I contended were "secret assignments," really is. It's kind of cool and will be published right about the time the chat returns in early to mid April. "

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Going to bed early: Me too! That's what TiVo (or Comcast DVR) is for.

Liz Kelly: Rock on. I just watched Tuesday night's Idol. I'm not watching Wednesday's. I'm sick of the tryouts.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Liz, I'm posting late because I got all wrapped up in my own blogging instead of yours. I suck, it's true. But you, you're marvelous. Congrats on getting your own chat! You were the only reason any of us ever read Whatshisgarten (but don't tell him that, he's fragile, but you know that already).

Anyhoo, just wonderin': have you heard from Che yet?

Liz Kelly: No, Che has been curiously absent from this chat and the blog lately. Maybe he's gone down to Cuba to be at Castro's sick bedside...?

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Washington, D.C.: I hate hating people. Hate begets hate. Now I hate how much I typed the word hate. That goes right back to begetting. I'm so confused.

Liz Kelly: I know. I felt really weird typing "it's okay to hate." You know what I mean, though, right?

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Take me First: Can I be the first chatter to ask a question on this new chat ?

Liz Kelly: How about last?

Liz Kelly: Okay, Rocci the producer says pleated trousers are still classy. I'm not buying it, though.
Stay tuned to the blog for tomorrow's morning mix and the Friday list, which will basically ask what song you would choose to sing if you were to audition for "American Idol" and why.
Thanks for making chat Vol. 1, No. 1 so much fun.

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