Celebritology Live

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

When stars shave their heads, couch-jump, commit a fashion faux pas and or random acts of tomfoolery, washingtonpost.com Celebritology blogger Liz Kelly shares the buzz, offers perspective and provides crucial links to juicy alternate news sources and, of course, takes your reaction in her daily blog.

Join Liz on Thursday, Oct. 25 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.

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

Celebritology Live Archive

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Liz Kelly: Welcome to today's chat. Before we get started I just want to remind the "Lost"-o-philes out there that next Wednesday at Noon ET we'll be discussing the October "Lost" Book Club selection, "The Turn of the Screw." At around 200 pages, it's a quick read. So make haste. Get thee to a library, download the audiobook from iTunes for just $15.95 (the horror!) or read the entire thing online for free here.

On a sadder note, I am duty-bound to share the following: TMZ.com is reporting that "Lost's" Daniel Dae Kim (Jin) was busted early Thursday morning in Honolulu on suspicion of a DUI. Kim is the fourth Lostie to face DUI charges -- he is preceded by Michelle Rodriguez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Cynthia Watros.

Anyhow, let's get started...

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Richmond, Va.: I just left you a comment about this but figured I would see if I could get you to answer on your chat.

How do you decide which items are headlines and which are gossip?

Liz Kelly: Let's see, I answered this once in the blog. Or was it here... let me see if I can locate it.

Liz Kelly: Done and done. Here's what I answered in a previous chat and I stand by myself. (Hey, wait...)

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Liz Kelly: Not too complicated. I go through about 100 or so sites each morning (and evening) (and most of the day) to see what is being buzzed about.

There are ranges of what makes it to the Morning Mix, though. Despite outward appearances, that is only a small portion of what's available. Hopefully it's the good portion -- the high calorie stuff that somehow doesn't leave you feeling guilty after consumption.

Back to the ranges, though.

-- There are "duh" stories that are obviously big news to celeb news devotees. Keifer Sutherland getting popped for a DUI falls into this category. As does most Britney Spears news these days.

-- The next category are stories that are being buzzed about all over the place. If a story is likely to generate watercooler buzz, I want you to find it in Celebritology first. Depending on how much I trust the source, the quotes and the news, though, that story could wind up in either "Headlines" (stuff we know to be true) or "Rumor Mill" (stuff that might be true, but we're not comfortable reporting it as such). Other "Rumor Mill" includes might be stuff we know is definitely not real. We'll report it as such, but let you know that the very fact that it was out there generated buzz. An example of this would be the false story earlier this week about 14-year-old Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) being pregnant. A rotten hoax, but best to know it was false than hear someone else pass on bogus news.

-- The next category, one that is increasingly filling up the bottom of the "Headlines" area, is crime blotter stuff. Small incremental stuff -- Pamela Bach's court dates, Snoop Dogg's latest charges... that kind of stuff. Seems to be more and more every day. Maybe it should be its own category.

-- Beyond that, I look for things I, and I hope you, find entertaining. Good, bad and ugly pix, YouTube videos, and pretty much anything that I think will keep the blog interesting.

Needless to say, there's not been a shortage of material.

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Syracuse, N.Y.: Speaking of Lost, when does the new season begin?

Liz Kelly: Early February. I've asked my co-"Lost" blogger Jen Chaney for the exact date and will post it if and when she responds. She's currently reeling from the Daniel Dae Kim news.

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Kim is the fourth Lostie to face DUI charges : It's the island that's doing it. There's something strange about Oahu.

Liz Kelly: Yes, something in the water, perhaps?

Like vodka.

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Methinks: Hi Liz,

If true, that whole David Copperfield rape charges story is pretty chilling. Any word/buzz/etc., as its truthiness?

Liz Kelly: I don't know much more than you. But, yes, pretty creepy stuff.

For anyone not following this story yet, David Copperfield is being investigated by the FBI for apparently offering to pay a woman $2 million in cash to not charge him with rape.

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Centreville, Va.: (Sigh) With all the driving problems they've had with the "Lost" cast (traffic and DUI), I begin to wonder why the producers haven't instituted the easy solution: don't let any of them drive.

"Hi, welcome to the cast. Here's your driver, Steve -- he'll be helping you out here. By the way, you should know that we've distributed your picture to all the rental agencies; you will not be able to get a car until your contract runs out. Have fun here in Hawaii!"

Liz Kelly: Let's hope Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are having that exact brainstorm right about now.

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Alexandria, Va.: I just read that "24" will be filming in D.C. this weekend...any idea where?

Liz Kelly: Well, according to this item scouts were arriving in town yesterday to start sussing out locations. The most interesting part of the story, though, is this:

"But if you see Sutherland driving around town, think twice before lunging yourself at the hunk: There will also be a Sutherland look-alike on hand to do driving scenes and any other scenes in which a mere Bauer Blur will substitute for the real thing."

Betsy Royall Casting is reportedly providing the extras for the two weeks of filming, but there's no information on the site yet about "24" specifically.

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Washington DC 20071: Do we get to see the ink already? PLEASE?!

Liz Kelly: The tattoo is not yet complete. The outline and most of the shading is done, but I still need to go back in a couple of weeks for the color. I'd rather wait and show everyone the completed piece.

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Jeff City, Misery: Okay Liz, if you show us yours, we'll show you ours. Tattoo pics, c'mon! Perhaps tiz time for someplace to host pictures of all our glorious body art.

In the meantime, a review of body art 'not' to get:

Horrible Tattoos Compilation (LiveLeak)

Liz Kelly: Well, as I said above, I'm not ready to show mine yet.

That compilation is fab. The harpiscord accompaniment also adds to the experience.

Here's another grouping a friend sent me last week.

Liz Kelly: Oh, actually, that's the wrong one (though also good). Here's the right link.

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Washington, D.C.: Liz -- What is it with successful male actors and waitresses? These men (Damon, Clooney, Cage) and all date/marry women without careers. Sure waitressing/barkeeping can be good jobs done by smart people -- but in the real world people tend to be with those with similiar professional achievements. What's up with this?

Liz Kelly: Women without careers? Are you telling me there's no such thing as a professional waitron? I have several friends who would disagree.

And Clooney's latest catch was also a "Fear Factor" contestant. So she's what one might term "multi-talented." And although Damon's wife, Luciana Bozan Barroso, was working as a bartender when he met her, she was actually an aspiring actress.

Nicolas Cage's choices in wife and child's name (Kal-el), however, remain a mystery.

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Chicago, Ill.: Liz, what do you think of the Halle Berry kerfuffle (about her joke on the Tonight Show)? I'm Jewish, as is my husband, and neither we nor any other MOTs (Members of the Tribe) with whom we have spoken took offense. We all thought it was pretty funny. Face it, my people do tend to have the largish noses. Of course, we also control the media, so it all works out.

Liz Kelly: Hmm. I'm not sure everyone would agree with those generalizations. But to speak specifically to Halle Berry's comments, I think she goofed. She put her foot in her mouth in a huge way. For anyone who isn't up to speed, Halle showed this pic of herself on the Jay Leno Show and described it as her "Jewish cousin."

For what it's worth, I don't think Halle meant the comment to be malicious. Confirming my long-held belief that she's an airhead, Halle just blurted out the first stupid thing that came into her mind. But, like children who can parrot bigoted comments made by their parents or others, the words are still offensive. I'm sure she's sorry and can now call Cameron Diaz and commiserate about how much it bites to be unintentionally insensitive.

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Liz Kelly: An aside: I ran home from meetings and quickly changed my clothes before logging on. I put on a zip hoodie and, although I know I washed it yesterday, it smells like old socks.

Could this be some kind of Halloween haunting? The stench of gym socks past?

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Washington, D.C.: No! Not DDK -- will they now be killing him off as well (which actually is making me think they could do some pretty effective public service announcements about drinking and driving = death).

Liz Kelly: Well, there does seem to be some precedent so I'd watch my back if I were Daniel. Though, it must be noted that Cynthia Watros (Libby) will be returning next season.

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Halloween, Va.: Okay, so this maybe counts as a celebrity question, or at least a celebrity from the far distant past..

I have a beard, which tends to limit my Halloween costume options significantly (i.e. - I can't pull off Amy Winehouse). So I was digging around in a closet and found my dad's old VMI uniform, which looks a lot like a Civil War Confederate officer uniform. So... throw a little gray in my hair and beard, put on a little make-up and BAM!

ZOMBIE ROBERT E. LEE!

Here's my question... I'll be partying down in Richmond, former capitol of the Confederacy. I don't find this costume idea offensive myself (c'mon.. he's a historical figure!) but I am also not looking for controversy.. I don't really want the south to rise again or anything.

What do you think? Am I worrying a bit too much?

Liz Kelly: Hmm. Prince Harry's Nazi costume was universally condemned a couple of years back. But Robert E. Lee isn't quite Hitler.

You could always just be a zombie VMI cadet. It would be just as effective.

Mr. Liz went through a phase where he was dressing up every year as someone with jaundice. So he'd be Jaundiced Elvis or Jaundiced Wonder Woman. I'm glad he's over that. It was kind of weird.

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Springfield, Va.: Liz, What is Gene up to this week?

Liz Kelly: No good, I'm sure.

Liz Kelly: I asked himself and he said "they couldn't handle the truth."

So there you have it.

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Washington, D.C.: I just wanted to let you know there's no need to bother with a presidential election next year. Chuck Norris has spoken. He is voting for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

Liz Kelly: So I saw. I just talked with our tech folk today about providing a way for us to easily check on which stars are endorsing which presidential candidates. Not that anyone else's endorsement matters in light of Chuck Norris's pronouncement.

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Eeeew...: The Horrible Tattoos Compilation is not for those with a weak stomach. I had to turn it off since I just wolfed down my lunch.

There was a TV news special on tattoos a few months ago. Some guy had turned himself into a lizard with tattoos, and even went so far as to have some fake bumps implanted on top of forehead for "horns." He said he no longer considered himself human. I just can't imagine walking around like that.

Liz Kelly: Oh, I've seen that guy. He's pretty gnarly. I saw a special once on National Geographic channel or somesuch that included him and other people into extreme body modification. There was also a guy who had plastic surgery and tattoos and god knows what else to basically transform himself into a lion. He even had long cat-like whiskers implanted. Eeww.

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Tattoo, IN: Okay, I'm not a tattoo guy. But the person who numbered his/her digits -- sheer genius!

Liz Kelly: Ya, I'm always forgetting how many fingers I have.

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Centreville, Va.: "Liz Kelly: An aside: I ran home from meetings and quickly changed my clothes before logging on. I put on a zip hoodie and, although I know I washed it yesterday, it smells like old socks.

Could this be some kind of Halloween haunting? The stench of gym socks past?"

Was the hoodie immediately dried after you washed it? If not, it might have "soured" while waiting in the washing machine. Throw it in again for another wash cycle; then toss it straight into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. That should take care of the smell.

Liz Kelly: Thanks for the advice. I think I will have to resort to re-washing. This is too big of a stench for Febreze.

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Your laundry: Did you neglect the fabric softener?

If this is a true 'sweatshirt' hoodie, sometimes forgetting the fabric softener sheet is a smelly boo boo.

Either that or you did what I sometimes do, didn't add detergent. doh!

Liz Kelly: I never use fabric softener, though I do think that Snuggle bear guy is adorable.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: How bad a mother do you have to be to have the courts deny a celebrity even visitation? Shouldn't this be some kind of wake up call to Britney, who still must be in a coma if the not driving with a seltbelt fiasco failed to wake her up.

Liz Kelly: One would think.

Speaking of wake up calls, did everyone see the item in this morning's Mix about the anti-narcolepsy pills spotted in Brit's purse? Why would she need those?

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Stinky Hoodie: Liz -- Did you leave the hoodie in the washer for an extended period of time before putting in the dryer? Whenever I do that, my clothes stink so horribly I have to re-wash them...

Liz Kelly: Nope. And in fact I wore it yesterday and all was well.

I hate to jump to conclusions, but I'm starting to wonder if Mr. Liz piled some dirty clothes on top of it for a few hours or something. Whatever the case, it is rank.

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Richmond, Va.: The article about Halle's goof mentions that she said one of her Jewish staff members made the joke backstage, and so it was already in her head and she just blurted it.

Liz Kelly: Nice Halle. Pass the buck.

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Charlottesville, Va.: So do you consider your ex-employee handsome or EXTREMELY handsome?

Liz Kelly: Hmmm, I believe this question may be coming from former Live Online producer and lifelong rock star Meredith Bragg, who is obviously at home sick and tied to his computer chair to be resorting to following my chat today.

Let's all peek at Meredith's Web site. Looks like he has another new album out that he didn't tell me about.

And, Meredith, I'd go with "boyish good looks." (Did I embarass you a little or EXTREMELY?)

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Cubeland, Va.: Don't hate my job or office, but with this icky weather I'm surrounded on 3 sides by gray blechiness that is making me loopy (I know, at least my cube has windows). Is it wrong to be sitting here, wishing Daniel Craig would storm in, sweep me away...and do whatever the heck scruffy, awesome Bonds do?

Liz Kelly: I'm actually really enjoying the icky greyness. It was just so dry for so long that I'm reveling in the soup-and-grilled-cheese-and-hot-tea chill of it all.

Speaking of Daniel Craig, I saw a report somewhere yesterday that indicated that early buzz about his next movie "The Golden Compass" is negative. Which is disheeartening. I loved the book and was really looking forward to the movie. So here's hoping the scuttle is wrong in this case.

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Halloween costumes: The worst one I've ever seen was dead Jon Benet Ramsey. Just awful.

The best was O.J. Simpson's white bronco being chased by police and helicopter. White turtle neck, white pants, a beanie with a toy helicopter glued on, a license plate and toy police cars attached to butt, and photos of O.J. and friend's heads on chest.

Liz Kelly: Oh my. There was a piece on BestWeekEver last week listing some of the top gruesome costumes for this year and I believe the no. 1 position was held by "Dead Anna Nicole Smith."

I'm going as my niece's Aunt Liz who spent all Friday making chili and cupcakes for her party.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Let's talk writers strike.

Do you think this may actually help shows like "Men in Trees"?

Liz Kelly: We should talk about this. I've put it off for too long. It's out there and could be affecting the TV we watch very soon. I suppose it could help "Men in Trees" and other shows that have been hanging on below the radar so far. I also read where some networks may buy some past seasons of cable-created shows to fill a possible void. So we may end up seeing "Battlestar Galactica" on NBC.

Also, I hate to say it, but another possibility is more reality TV.

Speaking of which, did anyone else catch that "Idol" spinoff last Saturday night -- "The Next American Band" (or something like that). Pretty pretty bad, as Larry David would say.

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Virginia: Stupid question, but when you ran home was it through the rain? Even a quick exposure to drizzle can make clean clothes smelly, fo shizzle.

Liz Kelly: Good bit of deduction, Holmes. But I changed my clothes. The sweatshirt was inside and dry the entire time.

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Gyllenspoon: Actual photos have surfaced of Reese and Jake (what's with the toothpick?). On the plus side, Reese seems to be far more sensible/centered than the flakey Kristin Dunst. On the minus side, he is still a 20-something guy, and I'd hate to see either one of them hurt.

Liz Kelly: Of course no one wants to see either of these two hurt. There was a blind item in this morning's NY Daily News asking which "faux couple was heating up their fake romance to boost their recently opened tanking movie."

Rendition, anyone?

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Richmond, Va.: Re: Robert E. Lee question

Don't do it. There are few figures as beloved here in Richmond as Lee. If you do, don't trick-or-treat on Monument Avenue...

Liz Kelly: Word from Richmond, the seat of the South. Maybe save RE LEE for your next Halloween fest north of the Mason-Dixon line so as to avoid any unwanted attention?

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New York, N.Y.: Just wondering...Do anti-narcolepsy pills = speed?

Liz Kelly: That would be my assumption, but I'm no expert on this stuff. Any docs or nurses out there in the audience care to enlighten us?

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Four walls, closing in: So I'm home with a new baby for a few months, and man-oh-man, you would not believe how much nothing is on TV during the day. 300 channels, and blah blah you've heard this complaint before.

Anyway, I watched 10 minutes of an episode of Ellen yesterday -- not the talk show, the sitcom. Pre-coming-out, nonetheless. Ellen was trying to break up with a nice guy, but was having trouble, so she tried to get him to dump her. She said "I hate kittens. Yeah, I just wanna smoosh 'em." Too bad she didn't say puppies... it would've been extra timely.

Liz Kelly: Maybe we can get her to do a reshoot.

I have to hand it to Ellen, though, she's managed to keep herself well clear of this pile of dog mess this week, only commenting on Monday that she hoped her Iggy experience doesn't discourage others from adopting pets.

But to get to your issue -- what to watch. Do you have a DVR or OnDemand? You can record stuff that's on too late and watch the next day or scroll through tons of stuff the channels make available for free to OnDemand. Lots of good Discovery Channel stuff and, for a small fee, even movies.

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D.C. all the way: Where did you get your tattoo? I'm looking for a good shop to have get my second and currently taking referral.

Liz Kelly: E-mail me at liz.kelly@washingtonpost.com and we can tawk.

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Bethesda, Md.: Do you think J.Lo's baby thing is a publicity stunt? Although she looks like she's definitely pregnant, she has yet to say anything about it. And because of that, she's all over the news.

However, despite all that and the tour, her album didn't even make the top 10, and has fallen all the way down to 38! This after tons of catchy tunes and #1s.

Is this all a stunt you think? Or is the baby coming at a very convenient time where she can just bow out gracefully.

Liz Kelly: Her ex did say something about it, though. I believe it was to the effect of her being a wonderful parent, blah blah blah.

I think she's preg. Just keeping it to herself. Same with Xtina who has similarly not addressed her condition publicly.

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Freaked oUT: DIE, SNUGGLE BEAR! DIE!

Liz Kelly: Hey!

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Atlanta, Ga.: I got a tattoo of my favorite sports hero. Now what I am going to do going through life with a Michael Vick tattoo?

Liz Kelly: Have cell bars tatted on top it?

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D.C. all the way: When is "Big Love" coming back? I got into it during a marathon and now I must know what is happening with the gaming company and the arrested prophet.

Liz Kelly: I was just wondering the same thing last night. I would assume next spring sometime. I believe the last season kicked off in June, so I wouldn't expect it before June 2008.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm friends with Tom Hanks on MySpace -- is it wrong that I ranked him my number 1 friend and that being "friends" with him, even in this little way, makes me really excited? (FWIW I'm a 22-year-old female...)

washingtonpost.com: Tom Hanks MySpace

Liz Kelly: I think this is fine. I'd be worried if you started messaging him and inviting him to barbecues or something. Or sending him nudie pix. Though it'd make a great Celebritology story, so let me know if you do.

He still hasn't responded to my friend request. Maybe he read the piece.

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Washington, D.C.: The Coen Brothers are scheduled to film "Burn After Reading" in D.C. this week, starting today. This movie feaures, Pitt, Clooney, Malkovich, McDormand -- anyone know if the entire cast is here to film? Any sightings?

Liz Kelly: Anyone got any scoop on these folks?

I think I would actually be frightened if I happened upon John Malkovich in the stacks at Olsson's.

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byool, IN: Oh, and Mojo Nixon was right about Don Henley.

Liz Kelly: I seem to have missed Mojo's assessment of Don. Care to share?

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Kaneohe, HI: DUIs here in Hawaii are no joke. The scary stat I've seen is that Hawaii leads the nation in the percentage of traffic accidents caused by alcohol (something like 75 percent of all traffic accidents here have alcohol involved). That being said, I'm available on weekends to drive you around, Matthew Fox. Are you listening? Call me!

Liz Kelly: See, what I am most proud of with this community we call Celebritology is the spirit of giving and civic duty we all share. Here we have a selfless reader in Hawaii who sees a problem and is offering to be a part of the solution.

I applaud you, ma'am.

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Arlington, Va.: The Golden Compass:

Where is the info coming from, I really want the movie to be good but I was worried they were going to have to strip it down both for length and for density of material and all that would be left was a shell of a wonderful story. I hope what you heard turns out to be wrong.

Liz Kelly: I believe it was on the Cinematical blog (which originates in the U.K.) though I don't have time to check and I'm not 100 percent certain. I do recall, though, that the criticism centered on the amount of CGI animation involved in adding the daemons and other fantastical elements -- including the armored bear Iorek Byrnison. Me, I'm excited about those things, but the reviewer seemed to think the film was leaning too heavily on those elements and not concentrating enough on the humans and the story line.

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From their Web site...: What is PROVIGIL, and what does it do?

PROVIGIL is a medication to treat excessive sleepiness caused by certain sleep disorders. These sleep disorders are narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).

Perhaps if she didn't stay out all night she wouldn't have a problem. I don't believe it's "speed." But I haven't worked in a pharmacy in a while either.

Liz Kelly: Thank you thank you.

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J Lo Momma?: So in that J.Lo link you posted it said that her abuelita was a big supporter of J.Lo and Marc and was so excited about the baby. I must have missed the memo. Is the baby for sure? J.Lo is preggo?

Liz Kelly: Well, as I said earlier, J.Lo hasn't confirmed it, but here are the facts:

-- The girl looks preg.
-- Ex Chris Judd indicated earlier this week that he had definite knowledge of her condition.
-- And, perhaps most daming of all, husband Marc Anthony did a special cover of Journey's "Faithfully" at a recent concert. A song containing the line "They say that the road ain't no place to start a family."

Who can argue with logic involving Steve Perry?

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Smells like old socks. : I'm hoping your dog didn't pee on the hoodie. My cat peed on my shoes, and I noticed it after it was already dried, because of smell, Strangely like old socks.

Liz Kelly: Eeww. That's it. I'm taking it off.

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Arlington, Va.: I actually got mistook for Tom Hanks in a restaurant. Maybe I should start making appearances in local restaurants and see what rumors I may start. Liz, want to join me and start some Liz and Tom rumors?

Liz Kelly: E-mail me at liz.kelly@washingtonpost.com. If you really are a ringer for Tom there might be some interesting video opportunities for us to play with for Celebritology.

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Fairfax, Va.: Have you seen the new show "Last One Standing" on Discovery? So good! It follows six Western atheletes travel across the world and compete in tribal competitions with only days to prepare. I hate reality TV, but this is so interesting...and the guys are so fine.

Liz Kelly: Nope, but Mr. Liz is hooked.

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L.A. Fires: I read that Sean Penn lost his trailors, David Justice lost his house and Courteney Cox's house was treated to avoid the fire. Any other stars affected by the these horrible fires out there?

Liz Kelly: Many have been displaced. I don't have specifics (but can by tonorrow). Also the Reliable Source this morning ran a list of stars whose homes may be in the line of fire. Maybe Rocci the producer can find a link for us...

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Washington, D.C.: From Mediabistro -- Clooney is in town.

The name of one of the extras in today's George Clooney filming around town? Jim Brady.

Liz Kelly: Dismissed as coincidence.

Jim Brady is the executive editor of this fine site, washingtonpost.com.

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Inquests: If the Brits can have an inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed ten years after the accident, why can't we have an inquest into the mysterious death of Marilyn Monroe?

Liz Kelly: Is you fer real?

On that note, though, I spoke with a British artist earlier this week whose work is celeb-centric and she is convinced that we haven't heard all there is to hear about Diana's death. She was mysterious, but said we would someday know the complete truth. And this woman is no dingbat. She's a BAFTA-Award Winner who has done work for the BBC and Lorne Michaels.

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Anti-narcolepsy pills aren't speed: I've been on Provigil, and it ain't speed. It's not an ampehetamine, it's modafinil. It dries your mouth out, and made me chatty, but there was no rush. I went off of it as soon as I got on a normal sleep schedule (I was sleeping 18 plus hours a day after a concussion). I've heard some people try it to stay up all night studying for finals, etc., but never for fun.

Liz Kelly: How, I wonder, does it keep one from falling asleep?

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Hidely ho: So, James Lipton... great pimp or greatest pimp? I also wonder if he asked the customers what their favorite swear word is... probably would have gotten the same answer from each of them.

Liz Kelly: Well, I caught a little of Lipton's on "The View" yesterday (trust me, no one would've mistaken him as a pimp surrounded by his employees) and he said he actually was not a pimp, but what ze French call a "mec" -- someone who serves prostitutes rather than exploiting them.

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washingtonpost.com: Reliable Source (Post, Oct. 24)

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Male Celebs and Waitrons: Wow! I can't believe someone asked the question I've long wondered. It's not the service jobs (and the people that do them) don't require skills and smarts -- but no, they are not careers (needing special educational training). I think these three specific guys married/date loserish women because they can't handle a woman with real acheivements.

Liz Kelly: I think you're wrong there. So they met women who were waiting tables. It isn't as if they were working at Hooters. What's wrong with waiting tables while waiting for something else -- like school or a novel or an acting career -- to work out?

And, again, I need to disagree about waiting tables not being a career. No, I wouldn't call taking orders at Applebee's a career, but there are some very highly skilled and specialized servers who make a career out of working in fine dining establishments. And it can require nuance, balance, diplomacy, encyclopedic knowledge of food and wine and an incredible tolerance for putting up with customers who look down on you.

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D.C. all the way: This might be a double post. IE had some issues just now.

Why didn't you tell us that Melanie (not so scary looking now) Griffith is on a TV show, sorry musical on TV about Las Vegas? Viva something or the other and Hugh Jackman either has a role or did a guest appearance. I have got to catch at least one episode. Best Week Ever has it as the craptastic of crap.

Liz Kelly: Ah yes. You refer to the just canceled "Viva Laughlin," formerly of CBS. Hugh Jackman and his wife executive produced this "musical drama" after only two episodes. I never had a chance to watch so I can't say whether it was really so awful or if it just didn't have a chance.

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Pretty Pretty Bad: Speaking of Larry David, did you catch the latest episode where Cheryl leaves Larry? A real downer of an episode overall....

Liz Kelly: Ya, it was a total downer. I'm hoping that now that they got the initial break-up overwith the show can return to being funny.

Tho the ER scene was hilarious.

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W and L grad: (That is, I'm a Washington and Lee University grad.) Don't claim to be Robert E. Lee and wear a VMI uniform. You can be a generic Confederate officer like that, or maybe even Jackson (although that still probably won't go over well), but don't claim to be Lee. You'll be in Richmond. You're bound to run into someone who went to VMI or W and L, or who dated someone who went to one of them. Depending on the type of party and how much drinking there is, you probably won't be beat up for it, but you'll also likely get a lot of at most polite little smiles and people edging away from you because you'll be the party idiot. And if your accent's not true Southern and you're not from the south, really don't do it. It's just mean. Someone will think you're rubbing it in.

Liz Kelly: Another opinion for you, zombie dude.

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Anonymous: Does Rocci rhyme with bocce (=botchy) or like the flying squirrel? Not that it really matters, just askin'. And I'm assuming he does wear pants.

Liz Kelly: Like Rocky Raccoon or Rocky Balboa.

He's wearing pants, usually flat front. Though he sometimes slips.

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I found more on Prov...: From www.provigilweb.org

A Different Kind of Stimulant

Unlike caffeine and older prescription stimulants that affect the entire central nervous system which in turn leads to jitteriness, insomnia and prolonged bouts of sleep to make up for lost sleep, Provigil only seems to effect the part of the brain that keeps you awake. A person's sleep patterns will usually revert back to normal after the effects of Provigil wear off. U.S. clinical trials have also demonstrated that Provigil is less likely to cause nervousness or withdrawal-like symptoms.

This is the scary part:

Provigil is a drug that keeps you awake. It has legitimate medical uses and is used for performance enhancement by the military for pilots and soldiers in combat situations. Provigil enhances short-term memory and lets users stay awake for extended periods.

Liz Kelly: So it's a new fangled white cross, basically?

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Alexandria, Va.: Liz,

Please tell me you've watched an episode of Gossip Girl. I so see you doing voiceovers while you chat.

Liz Kelly: Not yet Alexandria, but I'll try to get in at least one episode by next Thursday and report back.

That's it for today, but if you're not in the mood to return to work yet I recommend this list of Terrifyingly Inspirational '80s Songs. Good times.

See you here next week and tomorrow in the blog.

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