When stars shave their heads, couch-jump, spend countless minutes in jail, commit a fashion faux pas and/or other random acts of ego-inspired inanity, washingtonpost.com Celebritology blogger Liz Kelly is on the job. Every weekday, Liz 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 LIVE every 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.

In her pre-celeb obsessed days, Liz ran washingtonpost.com's Discussions section, where she enjoyed talking to really interesting people -- including some Post reporters, Busta Rhymes and Elmo (as in "Tickle Me") -- 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: Okay, sorry about last week. I punked out in the face of a little snow. What can I say? I'm a true Washingtonian. We freak at the sight of the first flake.

A depressing week for celeb watchers with the death of Heath Ledger. We'll talk about that and much more in the next hour. So grab some tea, pull up a chair and send in your questions.

Let's get started...

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Liz Kelly: And I am shocked, shocked I tell you, about the apathy most of you are displaying for Sean Combs's naming dilemma.

For those of you who did vote, it would seem "Sir Puffs-a-Lot" is currently leading the poll.

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Bethesda, Md.: What's your take on the use of tabloid celebrity "journalists" like Perez Hilton and TMZ as SOURCES of celebrity news (pardon the oxymoron)? Why are they never challenged on the rumors, innuendoes, or outright falsehoods they publish on their Web sites? And why do so many celebrities seem to like them or even court them? I personally find that revolting.

My own theory is that Hilton, TMZ, etc., are blackmailing celebrities into submission. The ones that get hit hardest on their sites are the ones who don't suck up to them. But of course I couldn't publish that in a blog or anything, since I have no evidence.

Liz Kelly: Actually, I challenge you on your assertion that no one challenges Perez Hilton or TMZ. In fact, one challenger just lost her defamation case (and approx. $85K) to Perez Hilton. So, it does happen.

And while not 100 percent accurate 100 percent of the time, TMZ.com is often the go to place for breaking celebrity news. And when they're wrong or mistaken, they often admit to that. Is the damage already done? Sure, but here's the thing:

For many afficionados of celebrity news, it's not necessarily the cold hard facts that are so interesting, but the art of innuendo and salaciousness that has been perfected in the gossip realm. So, f'rinstance, while we can usually immediately discount a headline that reads "Jennifer Aniston Had Torrid Affair with Angelina," we can simultaneously appreciate the effort -- the daring, the unashamed outrageousness and the image conjured.

And I don't know that I'd go so far as to say that these sites are "blackmailing celebs into submission." Yes, some do court them -- but no more so than they courted (and continue to court) print tabloids for a little attention.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Liz,

There seems to be so much information floating around regarding Heath Ledger's death. One thing that I am confused about is just the timing. If the housekeeper and masseuse found Heath at 2:45 p.m., shouldn't they have called 911 immediately for help? From what I have read, it sounds like they didn't call until after 3 p.m. Frankly, if this is correct I am stunned. If this is all true, I wonder why more hasn't been made about this strange timing. And supposedly the masseuse called Mary Kate Olsen and her bodyguard?

Maybe you have better information than all of us? Thanks.

Liz Kelly: I don't think we know enough to start finding fault. At the very least, if they were sure he was beyond help they were probably scared and not sure how to react. Hence the delay and the misguided call to an Olsen twin.

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Greenbelt, Md.: Hey Liz,

I have to say -- I think your blog post about Heath Ledger was way off. We don't know what happened. You're right that we don't know the secret lives of celebrities and we often can't see things like this coming. But you're interpreting this as if we was a drug addict -- something we don't know. What special insight into his life do you have to jump to that conclusion? Sorry Liz, I think the post might be in bad taste.

Liz Kelly: I appreciate your opinion, but let me try to explicate that post a bit further.

That post was written within an hour of hearing of Ledger's death and reflects my immediate reaction. Heath seemed like a nice guy and it was almost inconceivable for him to go so quickly and in the way that he did.

You're right. We don't have all the facts yet and I tried to make that clear in the post. Maybe I did a bad job of it, but I said something about us not knowing if his death was accidental or intentional. But what is undeniably true is that his death instantly invoked the drug-related deaths of other young actors. And unless the medical examiner finds evidence of an aneurysm or some other as-yet undetected fatal health flaw, it looks as if drugs caused his death in one way or another.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast: Tuned in to Nancy Grace the night Heath Ledger died and she was beside herself that no one on her distinguished panel had considered that he had been MURDERED. What about strangulation, she asked, or poisoned, has anyone checked the pills. I honestly thought her head would explode. It was disturbingly funny.

Liz Kelly: I wish her head would explode. She makes me ill.

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Paul Newman: Any information on reports about Paul Newman being seriously ill following major surgery for cancer? He and Joanne Woodward have been the gold standard for Hollywood coupledom for so many years.

Liz Kelly: According to a very small handful of tabloids -- including the Enquirer -- Newman is actually on the mend following "secret surgery" for an unknown form of cancer.

Get the full scoop, such as it is, here.

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Paris, Hi: In case we all missed it, Paris Hilton once again endorsed Britney's mothering instincts. But most important, I have a new theme song for Britney's court appearances on E! "Should I Stay or Should I Go"

Liz Kelly: Ya know, I saw that headline yesterday ("Paris Says Britney's a Good Mom") and I just couldn't bear to include it in the Morning Mix.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Hey Liz Kelly,

I'm shocked, shocked, shocked that you bailed because of snow. But I'll get over it since that's what Atlantans do, too.

So, what's your feeling about the Heath Ledger story and how many of the commentors on your blog have responded to what you've posted? Should you have mentioned the possible suicide? Should you have mentioned the rolled up $20 bill? Should readers lighten up and realize you're a reporter underneath the Celebritology cloak and are expected to "report" such facts as there are?

Liz Kelly: Hey, if it makes someone feel better to vent a little steam in my direction, so be it. I've got thick skin. I'd almost term it "hide" like.

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Sir Puffs-a-Lot: Hasn't Mr. Combs found himself yet? Maybe he should he just go the Prince route and change his name to a symbol.

Liz Kelly: I can think of a couple.

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RE: That post was written within an hour of hearing of Ledger's death and reflects my immediate reaction. : And the news we were given at the time was that he was surrounded by pills. We have since found out that wasn't the case, but easy enough in the first moments to assume drug overdose. In fact, almost impossible not to.

Liz Kelly: Actually, we don't know at all what the case is. The autopsy was inconclusive. We won't know for about 10 days -- if ever -- what really happened there. There are many rumors swirling. His family says he'd never commit suicide, that he didn't have a drug problem. Friends say he'd been depressed since his split with Michelle Williams. That he had substance abuse problems in the past. Again, though, it's all hearsay at this point.

I mean, when it comes right down to it, we still don't have the entire story on Anna Nicole Smith's death. Suicide? Accidental overdose?

So I'd say the piece holds up.

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Britney smitney: What about Jamie Lynne handing over her child to her mother so she can resume her "normal life"

Seriously. Let's talk about actions and consequences.

Liz Kelly: Well, here are the choices for this as-yet unborn kid: A high school aged mom or a stage mom. There is basically no sure fire good option in this case. Unless Angelina Jolie puts herself in the running.

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Indianapolis: Unrelated to celebrities, what's your anticipation about the season premier of LOST next Thursday? Is this season gonna be better than the last?

Liz Kelly: I hope so. Last season was a transition season for "Lost" and one which ended up much better than it started. A lot has changed since the dark days of Nikki and Paulo. Producers have responded to criticisms of the show and already changed in response, the show is moving to an earlier time slot and -- most importantly -- "Lost" has a definite endpoint. So producers and writers now know exactly where they're going with this thing. All cause for optimism, I think.

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Lost: Was watching my Lost Season 3 DVDs these past few weeks getting in the mood for the new episodes. Just watched the scene where Locke blew up the sub and went through frame by frame and it doesn't look like he actually blew it up. Just the dock.

Liz Kelly: This is probably the right moment to remind everyone that "Lost" is returning next week -- Thursday night at 9 ET. Actually, it may be 8 next week because there will be a one-hour pre-show thingy.

To prep, review last season's analyses and join in next Wednesday's last "Lost" Book Club chat about "Through the Looking Glass."

And, of course, Jen Chaney and I will be back with our weekly post-show analysis, which should be posted each Friday by Noon.

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Annandale Dude: Missing a day cuz of snow? What are you, some sort of snot-nosed brat?

Liz Kelly: Apparently. Yes.

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Bailed because of snow?: Gee, Liz, and we were all worried about you all week. I'm glad you're okay. Well, that, and I'm glad you're back because every Thursday when I think how boring my week has been at work, I brighten up when I realize I will be spending my lunch hour chatting about celebs.

Liz Kelly: Awww, thanks. I'm sorry. It won't happen again because I've now got the Internets up and running at Celebritology central. So snow is no longer an issue.

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Puffy babe: Harry Combs

Rooster Combs

Jeri Combs

Liz Kelly: Creative.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi Liz,

Is it kerfuffle or kerfluffle -- either way is has to be one of the top ten words ever.

Liz Kelly: I've always used the "Kerfuffle" variation. "Fuff" is much funnier and more satisfying to say than boring old "fluff."

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Chicago, Ill.: I'd just like to note that it's -4 degrees F here in Chicago, about --20 with the wind chill, and I dragged my butt out of bed to stand on a street corner, wait for a bus and go to work. A little bit of snow? Sheesh.

Liz Kelly: As I said, I'm a wimp and I deserve every bit of pointing and laughing you guys are doing right now.

Also, this is why you will not see me living in Chicago.

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Methinks: I watched the (WaPo) Sally Quinn "On Faith" interview with Richard Gere and was struck by the difference between that video and the Tom Cruise Scientology rant/screed. I don't subscribe to Gere's religious beliefs but I don't think he's a cream-faced loon either. One would think Cruise would be a little more concerned about perception since it tends to become people's reality.

washingtonpost.com: Divine Impulses: Being a Buddhist (Richard Gere)

Liz Kelly: That Richard Gere sure gets around. He was on "The Simpsons" not long ago, either.

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Washington, D.C.: So, Liz... if you died unexpectedly, what would your surroundings tell the paparazzi about YOU? (The key to the game is to think like a gossip rag headline writer.)

Liz Kelly: Blogger ODs on Chocolate. Dog Biscuits Found Near Body.

Liz Kelly: Meaning, point taken.

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Best Actress Oscar noms: None of the actresses nominated appeared in movies seen by more than a tiny fraction of the population, except Ellen Page in Juno which was a "small" film by Hollywood standards. Seems like every year we lament the lack of real opportunities for women to shine in mainstream Hollywood films.

Liz Kelly: Another way to look at this is that maybe more people need to get out to the movie theater to see this year's other nominees -- I haven't seen them all yet, but I can happily report that Laura Linney ("The Savages") and Marion Cotillard ("La Vie En Rose") shine plenty. In addition, of course, to Ellen Page who you already mentioned.

As for mainstream opportunities -- right you are, there aren't enough -- but the Oscars don't typically highlight box office-friendly fare. Something about art and profitability not always walking parallel paths.

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Pneumonia survivor: Re Heath Ledger: Even if he took no drugs, pneumonia alone can be enough to kill, especially if he was run-down and sleep-deprived to start with. It darn near got me, and I'm a clean, sober vegetarian who walked daily! See Post article last month "Virus Starts Like a Cold But Can Turn Into a Killer" at Virus Starts Like a Cold But Can Turn Into a Killer

Liz Kelly: Thanks... at this point anything is possible.

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Brit and paps: What do you make of Britney's recent friendships with paparazzi? First there was Adnan, and now she invites another into her car? Do you think these are just the only people she can relate to? Or she sees them so much that they are now all pals?

Liz Kelly: I think these may be the only people who will willingly step into close quarters with Brit.

I saw a report this morning -- I didn't use it in the blog because I couldn't find it in more than one place -- about folks close to Brit saying she may actually have multiple personality disorder. That she'll walk into a room as one person and emerge as another. Which would explain the on-again/off-again British accent and wildly varying looks/wigs.

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What about his ex?: Has Michelle Williams said anything about her ex's death? I would think the reporters would be after her for comment since they so recently broke up. Poor lady. Poor Matilda, too.

Liz Kelly: Not yet, no. And at this point I wouldn't expect anything beyond a statment from a rep saying she's deeply saddened.

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Unless Angelina Jolie puts herself in the running. : Cuz the woman who admits to not paying much attention to one of her children because she, unlike the other two, was lucky enough to be born into good circumstances is a good mom? Yeah, there's Mom of the Year material.

Liz Kelly: Oh please, she made an offhand comment about one of her kids. I find it hard to believe she's not giving Shiloh the same love and attention she seems to lavish on her other children.

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LOST in Chantilly, Va.: So, inquiring minds want to know: Will there be a recap episode to tease us with before the season premiere on 1/31?

I can go to abc.com and get caught up in 8m15s (note reference to flight number), but I'd rather sit on my couch and fast-forward through TiVo.

Also, what's this season supposed to be about? Flash-forwards? Off island? The monster wreaking havoc on NYC?

Liz Kelly: Yes, there will be a one-hour pre-show to get us all geared up.

Also, expect a lot of background in the next-day analyses from Jen and me. She's actually gone back and rewatched last season while I, slacker that I am, have not. (It snowed and I couldn't get to my DVD player). So I'm sure I'll have lots of questions which Jen will answer in our analysis.

We don't know yet what this season will be about. All I know is that the final episode of last season took us to an entirely different place in the "Lost" continuum -- into the future and with the imminent arrival of newcomers to the island. I expect we'll pick up where we left off.

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Fairfax, Va.: I was very sad to see that Suzanne Pleshette died. Because of your great youth you might not remember watching her on the Bob Newhart show. At the time she was inspiring to many young women by showing that you could be both independent and married to a nice doctor.

Liz Kelly: I do remember Suzanne and "The Bob Newhart Show" very well. It's filed in the same place in my brain as "Love American Style."

Agreed -- she was a classy woman and a great actress. She'll be missed.

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Jake Gyllenhaal: Obviously no comment from Jake about the loss of his friend at such a difficult time. One hopes as Matilda's godfather he will step up to help Michelle Williams sometimes.

Liz Kelly: I'm sure Michelle's friends are gathering around her now to offer love and support. Mathilda's godmother, interestingly, is actress busy Philipps, who you might remember as Kim Kelly from "Freaks and Geeks" and Audrey Liddell from "Dawson's Creek."

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It has to be said: Cocoa Puff

Liz Kelly: Thank you. Your work is done.

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Washington, D.C.: Did you hear that John Travola said, "I would give back all of my awards and my nominations just to have him back again¿" Did this sicken anyone as much as it did me? It shocked me how out of touch someone had to be to say that.

Liz Kelly: Well, he was approached soon after hearing about Heath's death. It's a gut reaction. I'm glad, though, that he is willing to give up something so vital to his happiness and welfare as his "awards and nominations."

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Silver Spring, Md.: Is it possible for a public figure to be anything but "deeply saddened" in the shadow of bad news or "thrilled" when something good happens. It's scary to hear or read everyday people (non-public figures or non-media types) starting to talk like this. Also interesting to hear people who probably didn't know Heath Ledger had a kid or couldn't tell you the name of said child now asking how Baby Matilda is. Can't we just go back to the good old days of posting voice mails from local school administrator wives!

Liz Kelly: Oh, so it doesn't bug you that people in Kalamazoo, Mich., now know there's a Lake Braddock High School?

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Reston, Va.: I have to say I have come a full circle with celebrity gossip blogs and all other media outlets. Your blog after Heath's death and yesterday's chat with Reliable Sources columnists put me off so much. Amy started off with "I will happily take any questions on Heath's death" and after a while she said, "I will happily post opinion in a minute about his whole thing but first ..." I am not quoting word to word here, but "happily"? Somehow we expect more careful usage from you and them -- even if you are only celebrity blog wannabes -- may be b'coz you work for a respectable newspaper.

Liz Kelly: Okay, thanks for weighing in.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Do you think fear of the press played into calling/not calling 911 when Heath was found? I doubt it would have helped, but when I first heard that the masseuse called Mary-Kate, I thought that the first choice would be to avoid calling a public emergency service for fear of the papparazi.

Liz Kelly: I certainly wouldn't be surprised. Paps routinely monitor police and rescue emergency lines. Perhaps the masseuse thought there was some quieter way in which the whole thing could be handled. Unfortunately, a celebrity death' is news and at some point everyone's going to find out.

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Capitol Hill, D.C.: The only Heath Ledger film I've ever seen was Brokeback Mountain. It was beautifully done, and Ledger's portrayal of Ennis Del Mar was nothing short of brilliant. As a gay man I'm feeling like I should be feeling something about his untimely death but I'm just not feeling it. I'm feeling sad for not feeling sad. What's up with that?

Liz Kelly: Of all the introspective navel-gazing you could possibly do to find your shortcomings, this is not the one to zero in on. In fact, your reaction sounds like a pretty sane reaction to me.

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Washington, D.C.: While I was trying to wrap my head around the sadly comic Keystone Kops routine that celebrities deem appropriate for emergency medical situations ("Quick, he's unconscious, call an actress!" "Good lord, he may be dead, call a private security team!")I read that Sarah Larsen is moving in with George Clooney. Should we be looking forward to a baby bump soon?

Liz Kelly: I'm not sure how to answer without first consulting Miley Cyrus. I'll get back to you later in the show.

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Re: Brit: "That she'll walk into a room as one person and emerge as another"... British accent, wigs. Actually, this is what someone who is PLAYING at multiple personality disorder would do. The real thing, and whether or not there even is such a thing remains a controvery, is far more complicated. Don't get me wrong, I think the fact that she may be playing MPD Dress Up is a pretty good indication that she's messed up, but I would not be surprised to find that SHE thinks this is her problem.

Liz Kelly: Agreed. And "playing" or "feigning" this disorder would go hand in hand with her apparent desire to be pregnant and wishful pregnancy test shopping spree.

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Sean John/P. Diddy/Puff Daddy/Puffy/Diddy/whatever: Puffy Shirt?

Liz Kelly: Ooh, you. sir or madam. deserve a cigar.

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N.Y. Giants: Liz Kelly, who are you picking in the Super Bowl?

Liz Kelly: Tom Petty.

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McLean, Va.: So I take it you never played the "Bob Newhart" drinking game? You take a sip whenever someone says "Bob." How we loved the gentle rants of Marcia Wallace:

"Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob..."

Liz Kelly: I think I'd still be drunk.

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Hicksville: RE; Heath Ledger. Just read on some Web page that he was dating Mary- Kate Olsen. Why? What is it about that skinny waif? She always has the deer in the headlights look in her photos. Is she supposed to be hot?

Liz Kelly: Yet he was also linked to an Australian model over the holidays -- Gemma Ward -- and to Helena Christiansen, who was apparently on her way to his apartment when he was discovered.

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Origins of Fuff: Dorothy Parker said that "fuff" is the mysterious fuzzy flotsam that appears in the bottom of one's purse.

Liz Kelly: Which is very different from "fluff," -- which is the mysterious, fuzzy entity that is my blog.

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Southern Maryland: Regardless of the cause of Ledger's death, do you think movie studios and other entertainment companies should offer guidance to young stars to help them deal with their sudden fame? It seems like the problem is not necessarily the temptations that come with fame, but that these can exacerbate any psychological or emotional issues that predated the fame.

Liz Kelly: Yes, sure, but that's no guarantee that more young stars will avoid the pitfalls of fame and ego-inflation.

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Chicago, Ill.: Liz,

Why do you think Heath Ledger's death has gotten such a huge amount of attention? Yes, he was a good actor, and yes, his death was tragic, but you'd think he was Elvis Presley the way people are carrying on. Obit on the front page of many newspapers. The NY Times Web site shut down its discussion forum about his death after they got more than 1,100 comments. It seems a little crazy. And surprising. If you had asked me a week ago to name, in terms of popularity, the top ten actors under age 30 (or even the top twenty) I don't think his name would have come to mind. Am I missing something?

Liz Kelly: Because it was a surprise. Because he was an actor still riding the momentum of a budding career. He'd wowed us in "Brokeback Mountain" and looked to be set to deliver a genre-busting performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Because the circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear. Because the thirst for celebrity news continues to grow exponentially.

Take your pick.

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Fluff question because I'm getting upset by all of the Heath news: I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to ask Carolyn so maybe you can help. A friend and I are having a disagreement.

While lounging around watching TV is it weird/inappropriate for a grown man to drape his legs accross his mother's lap? What if he did it to his sister? Can a daughter put her legs across her mother's lap?

Liz Kelly: Umm, okay, I don't think we need Carolyn for this one. I believe I speak for all of us who maintain a healthy relationship with our parental units when I say: No in-family draping, s'il vous plait.

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Lexington, Ky.: What about those a--hats that are planning on protesting at Ledger's memorial service? This is the same bunch that has anti-gay demonstrations at soldiers' funerals. Grrr.

Liz Kelly: Yeesh. I heard that this morning on the news. I won't even name the group here because I don't want them to have publicity, but their leader made some kind of inane statement about this being divine just desserts for Heath's portrayal of a gay cowboy.

Honestly, I'd rather be dead than ever espouse that kind of twisted logic.

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Arlington, Va.: How 'bout Fuff Daddy

Liz Kelly: Oooh! Fuff prevails!

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Not in Burke, Va., but...: ...I did graduate from Lake Braddock.

Please note it's officially Lake Braddock Secondary School and not Lake Braddock High School.

And now, back to the important stuff.

Liz Kelly: Thanks.

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No in-family draping, s'il vous plait.: Not even if they match the carpet?

Liz Kelly: Bite your tongue.

Liz Kelly: Your OWN tongue.

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"deeply saddened" or "thrilled": I don't understand why that's scary. It's publicists talking. They have to say something. Would you rather they gave out every minute detail of how the celeb is really feeling? Don't they deserve some time to collect themselves in the face of bad or good news?

Liz Kelly: Exactly. There really are only a few basic human emotions when confronted with abrupt tragedy or elation. Why waste the time getting creative?

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Oscars: Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton was out of this world and a lot of people saw that. More should have, as it was a totally fabulous movie.

Liz Kelly: I haven't seen that yet. It's on my to-do list.

Producer Rocci says she needs a suntan.

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Men's Wear Dept, Tysons Corner: On Tuesday, Hank Stuever weighs into Weingarten's discussion about needing the incentive of having the subject be deceased to kick-start the Appreciation Muse.

Later on Tuesday, Heath Ledger dies.

On Wednesday, an appreciation of Heath Ledger, written by Hank Steuver, appears on the front page of the Style section.

Coincidence? I think not.

Liz Kelly: I had the same thought, Men's Wear.

But we can't possibly believe that Hank would go that far to prove his point. Can we?

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Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.: Liz, I had sinus surgery last week (deviated septum, just like all the stars!) and when I heard the news of Heath Ledger's death, I was still in a somewhat drugged-up post-op phase. That night, I had a dream that you were my surgeon, Gene was my male nurse (murse?) and Heath was my roommate in the hospital. It was kind of a happy/sad dream. RIP, Heath!

PS: you were an excellent surgeon.

Liz Kelly: Oh boy. I just don't even know where to go with this one.

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Arlington, Va.: That's funny how you mention that Busy Phillips being Matila's godmother. I rememeber noticing Kim Kelly at the Oscars in 2006 with the Brokeback Mountain crowd and I wondered whether she was there with Linda Cardellini from Freaks and Geeks or Michelle Williams. I suppose Katie Holmes is too magical these days to pal around with fellow Capesiders.

Liz Kelly: WWTCD?

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Anonymous: Brit has Multiple personality disorder? Now we know who showed up dancing at that awards show, her inner-Accountant.

Liz Kelly: HA!

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Arlington, Va.: Unlike the Capitol Hill poster, I am a gay man who is sad about Ledger's death. Other well known actors passed on Brokeback, but Heath and Jake will always have my great respect for taking the roles. I don't feel like I lost family or a friend, but I had a deep respect for Ledger and am sad at the loss of such a talent.

Liz Kelly: Thank you for writing in, Arlington.

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No no no: Amy Winehouse is in rehab? Thank goodness! Although, can she still sing her brilliant song now?

Liz Kelly: Yes yes yes. Here's the story. Let's hope it lasts more than 24 hours this time.

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Dorothy Parker: Yay! Someone mentioned Dorothy Parker. For all you young whippersnappers in the audience, Dorothy is hugely witty. When asked to use horticulture in a sentence, she replied, "You can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think." Love that.

Liz Kelly: I normally wouldn't the sanction of that word here, but this is really education, right?

She's also credited with: "Men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses," I think.

There was a movie some years back in which the sometimes loathsome Jennifer Jason Leigh played Parker. It was pretty good in an Algonquin Round Table geek-fest kind of way.

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Cutesy:: Diddy Fluffikins: a name-changing, producing cuddly kitten.

Liz Kelly: And he could tap into a younger audience by marketing a brand of Diddy Fluffikins onesies.

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Washington, D.C.: Not to make light of death or anything, but my friend and I have a pact that if either of us unexpectedly dies, that we would go to each other's apts, and clear out any incriminating material. This is pretty important since he's still in the closet to his parents. We are Heath's age, so I got a frantic call to make sure our pact was still in place yesterday. EVERYONE NEEDS THIS PACT. Maybe Mary-Kate was his emergency person...

Liz Kelly: Somehow, I find that hard to believe. Though a solid plan, for sure.

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Washington, D.C.: The protesters are just so upset that Heath made being a gay cowboy look so fun. Now all their vulnerable little boys will want to be gay cowboys.

Liz Kelly: I'm having a lot of fun in my head right now with that "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack song "Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys." Wasn't there a line about "smoking big cigars?"

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Draping: I think daughter draping legs over mother's lap is okay, especially if room on the couch is limited. Son/mother or brother/sister -- NO.

Liz Kelly: I dunno. I think when said child reaches adulthood -- regardless of gender -- there are just acts of intimacy that become off limits. Hugs are okay, holding hands, pecks on the cheek. But leg draping? Nay.

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Heath Ledger coverage: Was anyone else seriously disturbed by the paparazzi shots of Michelle Williams on her way to NYC? Please leave her and others grieving alone! While we (the public) are free to comment and speculate all we want, Michelle Williams, Heath's family, and others are people who have never wanted the spotlight on their personal lives and are being forced to live out their heartbreak in front of the cameras. Please, paps, give them space to deal with this privately and decide whether or how to address the public.

Liz Kelly: I linked to a story about her with one shot of her leaving Europe but steered clear of posting any myself. To shove a camera in her face (and the face of her two-year-old) at such a moment is cheap and low.

I felt the same way last week when we were shown pix of a forlorn looking Gwyneth Paltrow leaving a New York hospital. My god -- she could've just had a huge health scare, lost a pregnancy, whatever -- she was clearly not in a position to deal with cameras.

These are extreme examples of the double-edged sword that is celebrity. Unfortunately, the wall-to-wall pap coverage seems to come with the territory.

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Hugh Laurie homeless?: Okay, not really. But tell me this guy doesn't look exactly like Hugh Laurie ("Dr. House") plus 20 years and some hard knocks. Air Force Veteran (Washington Post Photo)

Liz Kelly: Okay, this is too funny. This picture is from last week, yes? In fact, I believe someone made the same observation in the comments section of the blog. Was it you, I wonder, or are there others who have noticed the eerie resemblance?

Personally, I think this poor guy looks like the aged lovechild of Hugh Laurie and Peter Fonda. With a smidgen of consumption thrown in. Poor guy. I wish there was something we could do to put them in touch. He'd make a great go-to guy for future flashes on "House."

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Busy Phillips: She was TERRIFIC in F and G!!! I graduated from HS in 1981, the same year the show was set, and she was spot on some of the girls I knew!!!

In Dawson's Creek, eh.

Liz Kelly: She did indeed rock on "Freaks and Geeks." Although I didn't graduate high school until 1989, we had our share of Kim Kellys, too.

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Displaced Washingtonian: Will the writers' strike ever end???

Liz Kelly: Yes. And I predict it will be before the Oscars.

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Baltimore, Md.: I enjoyed Hank S.'s chat about Heath Ledger yesterday. What's he like (Hank, I mean). He seems like a good guy, might even be worthy of a man-crush but I have to know more about him before a full on bro-mance can ensue.

washingtonpost.com: Heath Ledger: His Life, Career and Death (Live Online, Hank Stuever, Jan. 23)

Liz Kelly: I don't know Hank well, but I would say he's totally crush-worthy in every way.

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Re: Dorothy Parker Movie: Ms. Parker and the Vicious Circle. Add it to your NetFlix cue. Now.

Liz Kelly: Yes, that's it.

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Kerfuffle : has always sounded like the most amazing, creamy-Bavarian dessert to me.

Liz Kelly: Kind of reminds me of my childhood assumption that lip stick and soaps of cake would taste firmly creamy and somehow sweet. I found out pretty quickly that wasn't the case, but I still salivate sometimes when looking at a brand new luscious tube of lipstick.

I need to just stop this right now.

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Draping: How 'bout feet-in-lap? That seems innocent enough. A couch is only so big, y'know.

Liz Kelly: Feet? Sure.

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Quipper snapper: Do you think anyone actually asked Dorothy Parker to use horticulture in a sentence? Great quote, but suspect scenario.

Liz, use agribusiness in a sentence please.

Liz Kelly: You can lead a whore to agribusiness, but you can't make her Monsanto.

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Why Celebs call security people or publicists: When faced with a real emergency, most celebs say "what's that number you're supposed to call in an emergency? Quick, get me my publicist!"

Liz Kelly: Right. So not totally unusual that people who spend much of their time working for celebrities would think twice about how best to react to a potentially explosive situation.

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L. Ron:

Tom Cruise should have been nominated for an award for his performance in the Scientology video. He covered the whole gamut...disturbingly intense, exceedingly creepy, unintentionally hilarious, bat-guano crazeee.

Oh wait, that wasn't acting...Never mind.

Liz Kelly: Yes, it's his best work since Jerry Maguire.

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Round Table, NYC: I was having coffee in the lobby of the Algonquin last summer and none other than David Carradine came strolling in. There's a big grand piano in the lobby and he started playing it. It could have been obnoxious but it was actually kind of cool. He was very friendly in a zen sort of way.

Liz Kelly: I love David Carradine. He's so full of himself.

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Chicago, IL: "Not to make light of death or anything, but my friend and I have a pact that if either of us unexpectedly dies, that we would go to each other's apts, and clear out any incriminating material."

That was used in the very first episode of "Coupling," where Jeff talks about how he and Stephen are "porn pals"; they each had keys to the other's place and were charged with clearing out the porn in the event of a sudden death.

Liz Kelly: I believe Larry David and his fictional agent Jeff on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" also have a similar arrangement. Maybe this is more widespread than we realize.

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Soaps of cake?: I think you need a nap...

Liz Kelly: Righto. Or It've been reading too much trippy "Through the Looking Glass."

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RE: my friend and I have a pact that if either of us unexpectedly dies, that we would go to each other's apts, and clear out any incriminating material. : Well, just be careful you don't get charged with murder if you do this.

Liz Kelly: Right. That's an important part of the job to understand before accepting.

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Baltimore, Md.: And the Jerry O'Connell spoof is also his best (and only) work since Jerry McGuire!

Liz Kelly: Zing!

And on that note, we'll close this mutha down.

Join me here next week and tomorrow in the blog for an interview with "The Brady Bunch's" Barry Williams. Yes, really.

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