Celebritology Live: Miley Cyrus -- Art or Artful?

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

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 (as if!), Liz ran washingtonpost.com's Discussions section, where she enjoyed talking to really interesting people -- sometimes even Post reporters -- on the phone. She still produces Pulitzer-prize winner Gene Weingarten's weekly Chatological Humor discussion.

Celebritology Live Archive

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Liz Kelly: Hold on to your hats.

Big time news is breaking as we speak. Although not quite Celebritology territory, police suspect a suicide victim found in Florida is none other than D.C. madame Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

That ain't all, though. Us Weekly is reporting that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon married yesterday on an unnamed island. My favorite line from the short report: "Rapper Da Brat attended." You know it's for real if Da Brat is on hand.

Today's soundtrack, in honor of this weekend's big movie opening, is Black Sabbath's Paranoid. Here's a little taste.

Let's get started.

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Raleigh, N.C.: Anybody who thinks the Miley Cyrus pictures are okay is a Pedophile.

Why do we pretend to be decent people when we are so willing to exploit our own children?

Liz Kelly: I think that's going a bit too far, but -- hey -- these chats are all about entertaining a diversity of opinions.

Tell me this, Raleigh -- A week ago, would you have been prepared to make the same statement about Miley Cyrus? Are those pictures really much further along the continuum than what she already had been asked to do as an underage girl? Shouldn't we have already been taking ourselves to task for exploiting a minor (even on the Disney channel) and encouraging even younger girls to idolize her?

I think the pix in question are provocative and are now having their desired effect. However, if you come right down to it they are in no way graphic, explicit or any more revealing than the outfits, make-up and grown-up persona Cyrus dons in the course of entertaining us as the cash-cow that is the Hannah Montana brand.

So if we're going to go in for societal self-examination, well, we have way more to worry about than a few Annie Leibovitz pictures.

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Cyrus, MT: If you blogged about it, my apologies, I am not a normal Celbritology follower. I am, however, an avid reader of your Lost analysis and chat.bit

What was your take on the Miley controversy?

IMO, it was much ado about a little bit of something.

Were the pictures inappropriate? No. Did they push the envelope a wee bit? Yes. Would we be talking about this if she were, let's say, already 16, but still a model to youngins? Probably not. Which is interesting...

Another interesting note. An anchor on CNBC (amazingly enough they did about TWO stories on the whole thing, and they rarely cover pop culture) said under her breath, almost no one caught it it seems, that the most talked about photo was designed to make it look like she had just had sex!

Now, I do not think it was 'designed' like that at all. But when I looked again, the messy hair, the bed sheet. There is something much more sexual there than I even saw at first.

Liz Kelly: Agreed, the whole situation was blown way out of proportion. Which is exactly why I think Miley (and her parents) knew exactly what they were doing. There is just no question that these pix would cause an uproar. Even pix of Miley fully clothed, yet tousled and made up as she was would've unleashed a fury of hand-wringing.

But I think we need a reality check. When "Zoey 101" is pregnant and the once-safe Cheetah Girls are pretty much interchangeable with the Pussycat Dolls, I think it's safe to say the line has been blurred for some time. Why are we tacitly approving this behavior up to a point, then chastising Miley and her parents when she follows her path to its natural conclusion? You can't have it both ways. In a way, we're all to blame -- if blame is being passed around -- for the oversexualization of young girls.

But this issue is so complex -- and I'm just riffing here, so don't expect a well-thought out argument. As unbelievable as it may be, I was once a 15-year-old girl. And I survived to tell the tale. And at 15, I was absolutely aware of my sexuality and already flirting with playing it up. That's what 15-year-old girls do. And adults -- yes, even adult men -- notice. If you think a 45-year-old man doesn't notice teens frolicking on the beach in bikinis, well, you're just burying your head in the sand.

What makes Miley's Leibovitz shoot unacceptable? The fact that they were in Vanity Fair and not on a beach? The fact that Miley and Leibovitz and Vanity Fair are publicly acknowledging that an underage girl can be attractive?

Thoughts, please.

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John Mayer: Why are women attracted to him? Trying to fathom the string of ladies who have reportedly been involved with him?

Liz Kelly: Sorry that previous answer took such a long time. It's a sensitive subject and not one I have the absolute right answer on.

This question, however, I've got under control. He's obviously managed to get a hold of some kind of love potion concoction.

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Travolta's hair: Newly shaved head? Oh please, we've all known he's been going bald for years. That weird velour-looking "hair" he had at the Oscars was just more proof of that.

Also, LiLo and Snoop Dogg is one of the more bizarre combos I've heard of lately.

washingtonpost.com: Picture: John Travolta (ABC News)

Liz Kelly: I applaud his decision to finally let his bald head breathe. It looks way better than the velveteen scalp he sported at the Oscars.

But that handlebar mustache. Oh, la la. How Village People, circa 1978.

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NO MORE MILEY!: I move to make today's chat a Miley-free zone. I mean, there was an entire discussion devoted to the topic, what, yesterday?

Now, let's talk about Lost....

Liz Kelly: From one hot topic to another, eh? Good thing you're not the chat producer.

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Washington, D.C.: So, Liz: Do you think Booby Kennedy Day is hilarious as the blog regulars think it is, or do you think we're a bunch of freaks with too much time on our hands? (And may I add, for the 5 or 10 people who will get this joke: Yo fatty, carm down!)

Liz Kelly: Personally, I think it's hilarious. Phenoms like "Booby Kennedy Day" are one of my favorite things about the blog -- it really is a medium that allows for organic spontaneity and surprising turns of phrasse. I even marked it on my calendar so I could remember it next year. Of course, any jokes I make about it 12 months from now will be funny to a handful of regular Celebritology commenters.

BKD!

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Mens Wear Dept, Tysons Corner: Do these pleated pants make me look insouciant?

Liz Kelly: I'm glad you asked. Just yesterday, I was in the Tysons Corner men's wear department of a major retailer and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of flat front options available for purchase.

Now, tell me -- were you the one with the faux-hawk or the runny nose?

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Seattle: Wha'appened to Weingarten this week?

Liz Kelly: He's ridiculously buried in work getting ready for The Post Hunt. (www.washingtonpost.com/posthunt)

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Psst, Raleigh! A pedophile is someone sexually attracted to prepubescent children. So...a pedophile wouldn't care about Miley's pictures. She's too old.

Liz Kelly: And there's that. But I think we know what Raleigh meant.

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NYC: I am surprised it hasn't been brought up much but isn't the picture with her father really suggestive? It's hardly a father-daughter picture. Why aren't people talking about THAT! That is the more inappropriate picture in my book.

Liz Kelly: That was the first thing my mother keyed in on and I honestly couldn't imagine posing like that with my dad. I'd rather drink cod liver oil or wash my eyes out with battery acid. But, hey, every family is different. Anyone remember the pix of Larry Hagman and his family -- complete with teen kids -- all enjoying a nude hot tub dip? This was back in the '80s, of course.

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Arlington, Va.: The problem I have with the Cyrus pics is that they don't reveal much about her. (And I am speaking metaphorically.) Annie doesn't seem to have given us any insights about this lass. Instead, Annie seems to have pushed Ms. Cyrus into a predefined vision of "glamour."

Liz Kelly: Well, pictures of Miley posing in a bank vault full of her millions would hardly be as scintillating.

But as for insights -- who truly knows what lurks in the heart of a 15-year-old girl? Annie may not have given us insights about what makes the real Miley Cyrus tick, but she sure captured what Miley represents to our culture.

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Thank you, Miley!: The blog entry on the tragic predicament Miley Cyrus and Co.'s PR people have found themselves in led to the funniest comment thread I've seen in a while. Texting tweeners who can't write in the native tongue, snarky adults who can and do express themselves well -- so much to enjoy.

Seriously, the real tragedy is how frighteningly dumb these kids appear to be. We've bred a generation of Thumb People, whose intellectual capacity is limited by their brain size, which must fit neatly inside their texting thumbs. It's a scary, scary future to behold.

Liz Kelly: I'm always one to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, but I have to agree with you here. I'm still wondering where that post got linked to draw such a massive tweener reaction. Probably on someone's Facebook page.

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Fairfax, Va.: I have a 13-year-old daughter who loves Hannah Montana. To the best of my knowledge my daughter does not read Vanity Fair, so I really do not see how these pictures would have entered her life without the kerfuffle.

Liz Kelly: Right. Good point. Especially since, as we know, Bobby Kennedy graces the cover of the issue -- meaning Miley and her shoulders would not have been staring down your daughter in the grocery check out aisle.

But things do have a way of getting around and I often find myself surprised at the extent of current pop cultural knowledge gleaned by my two market researchers -- my 15-year-old and seven-year-old nieces. Trust me, not much gets by them.

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Union Stationm, Washington, D.C.: Liz, Where can I get a cheap pedicure round town? (pedicure=time to catch up on gossip mags!)

Liz Kelly: Dude, pick any mall-based nail salon. I'm betting there's even one in Union Station. If not, metro out to Arlington and hit Ballston Commons.

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Anonymous: I bet Roger Clemens loved those Miley pics. She seems the perfect age for him.

Liz Kelly: Okay, you get a gold star for connecting the dots.

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D.C. all the way: Not to be Rumer Willis' #1 hater but how did she manage to get into People's most beautiful. What's the criteria?

Yet another place to use #1 hater.

Liz Kelly: Well, she's kind of an unconventional beauty, no?

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washingtonpost.com: 2008 Post Hunt

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Not a Gwenyth fan...: but, I do have a comment, which I suppose can be taken to be in her favor. I kind of like the new, vampier (not vampire) style she's been sporting as of late. Many of my friends, after having a second child, noted that they felt more in tune with their bodies and were more impressed at all that the body can do. As a result, they felt more proud of their curvese, less concerned over what they used to deem imperfections and were more willing to dress in a way that highlighted their new feelings. Not saying that's what GP is doing, but if it is, then good for her! Now if she would shut her mouth more often, I may be able to tolerate her for more than 2 seconds.

Liz Kelly: Wait you have to reserve judgment until you see the pix of her in today's Daily Mail, wearing a one piece pants-suit thing?: Here it is in the middle pic.

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Aging gracefully: How come Patrick Dempsey got way hotter but others of that cohort (Tate Donovan, Anthony Michael Hall) didn't?

Liz Kelly: That's like asking why Demi Moore went on to play a stripper while Mare Winningham and Ally Sheedy were relegated to the movie-of-the-week heap. Is there really an answer?

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Austin, Tex.: Liz, as per last week's discussion of cats who don't use the litter box, my cat came toilet-trained but he won't flush, any advise?

Liz Kelly: Check the toilet often?

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm really saddened about Deborah Jeane Palfrey. I guess she really didn't expect that outcome to her trial, but I'm still surprised she felt compelled to take the steps that she did. Even Heidi Fleiss came back from her conviction (although she didn't subsequently make the most of her opportunities).

Liz Kelly: Of course, it's sad news when anyone opts for that ending.

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D.C. all the way: In case you didn't know already the insouciant is spreading. I saw it in the Style piece on Iron Man used to describe Robert Downey Jr. Gwen seems to have rubbed off on him.

Liz Kelly: See, it was probably an unconscious Gwyneth effect on the writer. He's writing about "Iron Man," Gwyneth is in "Iron Man," Gwyneth is "inscouciant." And so it spreads.

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McLean, Va.: The Deborah Jeane Palfrey news is really leaving me cold. I know she lurks on the edges of celebritology-land but she didn't seem like the suicidal type.

Liz Kelly: "Leaving you cold?" Eeks.

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Arlington, Va.: I've never been much of a fan of Billy Ray Cyrus, but his handling of daughter Miley is sheer genius. I heard on the radio she'll be a billionaire by age 18.

Hannah Montana won't last forever but Miley Cyrus is a very talented girl. It might be a tad early to start moving Miley away from Hannah but as a marketing move, it was clearly calculated and quite well done.

I'm a 43-year-old gay man, so I'm not the target market, but I don't see that pic as particularly racy. I'd be more shocked if Annie Leibovitz had taken shots with rainbows and puppies. Annie's rep is rather well known...

Sex sells. Get over it, people.

Liz Kelly: Right. The shelf life for any tweener star is limited. The Vanity Fair article is a trial balloon designed to let us know Miley's not going to go gently into the oblivion of post-Disney success.

From a purely dollars and cents perspective, would the post-Disney career path of Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears really look so bad? Not for the bottom line, it wouldn't.

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Psychic comment: Just wanted to point out that poster h3 is psychic. Comment #10 on your Miley comment box yesterday:

"This is going to be one of those days, isn't it? When the post is linked from the front page and everybody and their brother drops in. I bet at 3 we get a big influx of posts that are half abbreviations."

Awesome prediction!

Liz Kelly: Right -- I saw that, too. But I have to applaud the regular commenting community for making the best of what could've been a difficult day in the blog. Life gave us lemons and we made lemonade.

I wish I had some lemonade.

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The Ham, MA: Liz Kelly: Well, she's kind of an unconventional beauty, no?

No, Liz. Just no. It's not just the potato head (though that's part of it), it's that she does nothing AT ALL to warrant us even talking about her. She's sub-Paris.

Liz Kelly: Okay, here's one vote.

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Handleb, AR: Travolta's sporting a Fu Manchu, not a Handlebar.

See: Handlebar Musstache (Wikipedia)

Liz Kelly: No, a fu manchu is a long trailing kind of thing that brushes ones chest. Maybe John's is more of a biker 'stache?

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Rumer Willis: She's an unconventional beauty if you find a potato beautiful.

Liz Kelly: Ooh, snap.

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Rumer=Beautiful?: Not on this planet. Not in this universe.

Liz Kelly: Okay, apparently I'm wrong.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Although I am appalled by the grammer of the texting tweeners, I'm not really surprised by their ridiculous and varying hard-line, narrow-minded opinions. Don't you remember how strongly you felt about stuff at age 12? (Or was that just me?) Everything was totally black and white and you were RIGHT and well, at least most of the texting tweeners are concise. Anyway, that self-righteous indignation kind of makes tweens endearing. In person.

Liz Kelly: I have to admit I was surprised at the number of tweens and teens who were prepared to wash their hands of Miley. I thought to myself: "Are these the same kids who are buying short shorts at Abercrombie and Fitch?"

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Whatevs, MD: Hi Liz,

So I just figured out this morning that the original poster of "Yo fatty carm down" was referring to Rosie O'Donnell. Usually I am much sharper, but attribute this lapse to the shockingly poor communication skills of the Texting Tweener Tw-ts on Booby Kennedy Day. I suspect they bring down the ambient level of intelligence whenever they appear. In fact, I am now the #1 TTT hater.

-urkelism

Liz Kelly: I think we should conduct the remainder of today's discussion in tweener texting vernacular.

It's for realz the way to roll.

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Rockville, Md.: I often hear talk about a "Lost" chat or blog. When is this?

Liz Kelly: Tomorrow, 2 p.m. ET.

Though tomorrow one of the two hosts will be absent. Apparently the slacker would rather spend a long weekend at the beach than talk "Lost." For shame.

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Alexandria, Va.: We're sure the Mariah Carey story is for real? Not one of those fake Ashton Kusher plants? Or is he done with those?

Liz Kelly: Well, nothing's fer sure when Ashton is out there gumming up the works.

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Hey Raleigh: Take your sanctimony and shove it. I refuse to be colored by your judgmental broad brush because I looked at a picture and thought, "enh." And I'm a 36-year-old woman with zero prurient interest in this.

Don't like the photos? Don't look at them, don't show them to your kids, and make sure that your kids have minds enough of their own not to be overly manipulated by images they see in the media so they feel an irresistible need to parrot everything they see. Give me a break.

Oh, and if you think you're not being manipulated to by Disney's fake "outrage" over this, think again.

Liz Kelly: Well said.

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Liz Kelly: Anyone have a good recipe for homemade lemonade?

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Well, she's kind of an unconventional beauty, no?: Um...no. Parker Posey has unconventional beauty. Rumer Willis -- not so much.

Liz Kelly: Parker Posey? Puh-leeze. Tres annoying.

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Kiddies: Seems like just yesterday, this chat had parents typing in wondering how they would explain to their kids that 16-year-old Zoey 101 was pregnant. Now it's some 15-year-old girl from Montana looking like Baby just got out of the corner. If anything comes out of this, I hope it's that more parents find the time to sit down with the their kids, even if it's watching the favorite show on Nick or Disney. I don't mean to lecture, but this just seems to call out the bigger picture that we can't plop our kids in front of the TV or comp and cry foul when they see something questionable.

And no, I don't have kids of my own, but would have any raise my credibility? My sis works very hard at her job and her family and trusts people like me to be there for her kids when she cannot. That means Aunts like me must watch the tube w/her kids and allow them on the comp under supervision only. Yes, watching the mouse is lame, but I'll take any moment with my nieces and nephews when I can! When the weather clears, we're usually outside anyway or playing "imagination" in the attic...

Liz Kelly: Another well-thought out response. Where were you rational people on BKD?

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Baltimore, Md.: How are the Miley Cyrus pictures any different than the Brooke Shield's Calvin Klein ads in the early 80s? I think Shields was 15 at the time and those were much more suggestive.

Liz Kelly: Right, this comparison was made, I believe, in Tuesday's Post story. Along with a comparison to Jodie Foster's underage prostitute in "Taxi Driver."

And we haven't even brought up "13." One minute, that cute Evan Rachel Wood is playing a good girl gone bad and now she's dating Marilyn Manson. Look out, Miley!

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Washington, D.C.: Re: Deborah Jeane Palfrey

I guess it's all good and fun to laugh at someone's whose life is in shambles ... that is until they take their own life. Before, the mention of her name was accompanied by a wry smirk. Now comes the sad face from the newscasters.

Are people really sad at tragedy of suicide, or are they sad they can't make fun of her anymore?

She was our momentary punchline, and that probably was why she killed herself.

Liz Kelly: Oh, trust me, people are still making fun of her. I'm just not posting those comments.

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Re: Today's post: Do you really think that David Beckham is the hanger-on in that relationship? Posh is clearly the no-talent wannabe. (Although they're both ridiculous preeners, of course.)

Liz Kelly: I think they're nothing without each other. But, if I had to choose which is the bigger star -- yes, it's Posh. She's MAY-jor!

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Reston, Va.: Anthony Michael Hall did get better looking as he got older. But it's all relative, you know.

Liz Kelly: Didn't he get all juiced up, though? Remember him in "Edward Scissorhands?" He was huge. He was the anti-Farmer Ted. I hated him.

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McLean, Va.: Uh oh. Now we've gotten Liz started. First Parker Posey, next Rosanna Arquette, Diane Keaton, Sigourney Weaver. . .

Liz Kelly: Right. Now you've done it. I'm frantically stabbing pins into my voodoo dolls.

I am the No. 1 hater!

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Lemona, DE: 1: Get lemons.

2: Squeeze the bejeezus out of 'em.

3: Wash hands.

4: Send Mr. Liz to store for sixpack of Mike's Hard Lemonade.

5: Repeat #4 until #s 1-3 are but hazy half-remembered blurs.

Liz Kelly: Ah. That's easy enough.

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Lemonade: I don't have a good recipe but add some mango rum into some lemonade and you'll really be having a good time. It's fantastic!

Liz Kelly: Wait a minute -- what is this, happy hour? All your recipes include alcohol. I may as well pass the lemonade and go straight to the Mojito.

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Arlington, Va.: Beyonce pregnant? Fact or fiction?

Liz Kelly: I haven't seen anything backing this up, so it's anyone's guess. But the last month has taught us that B and Jay-Z are pretty good at sneaking up on us.

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Ocean State: Did you read the Vogue interview with Gwyneth (by the equally insufferable Plum Sykes) that was supposed to help us improve our own lives by understanding how the precious Ms. Paltrow "does it", with two kids, a career, and a husband. The only thing I learned is that it's easier to shop for shoes at Jeffery if you leave the kids with the nanny. Silly me -- I've been dragging my own little terrors to DSW with me.

Liz Kelly: Was that the same article in which Gwynnie said she loves fried food? I think that was a statement calculated to help us freedom fry crazy Americans forget her "I prefer England" statements from a couple of years back. After all, the woman has a blockbuster action flick to promote.

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New York City:

"I honestly couldn't imagine posing like that with my dad."

Everyone has different relationships with their family members. My girlfriend is very close with her family and she's always has her arm around her brother's shoulder. My sister would never do that in a million years. We compliment each other through sarcasm.

Different strokes for different folks. Please don't innuendo that.

Liz Kelly: Oh boy. Well, I just have nothing to add.

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Arlington, Va.: Any comments about old romance of Cher and Tom Cruise? It's cute I think. Btw, this is the second time I posting this, hopefully you will kindly respond this time. Tks.

Liz Kelly: We've known about this for a long time, though, right? I was surprised to see that headline trotted out again this week. By the way, everyone ready for the two-day Oprah/Tom Cruise lovefest (tomorrow and Monday)?

I'll definitely be DVR'ing and am considering live-blogging Monday's Oprah show. Would anyone be interested in that?

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Female role models for tweeners: When I was 12, the female role models I saw in the media were:

1. Madonna

2. Pat Bentar (OK, so she came a little bit earlier)

3. Stevie Nicks

4. Princess Leia

5. The Facts of Life girls

Never once have I done hard drugs, worn leather pants, writhed around a floor singing "Like a Virgin," or worn a gold bikini while being held in slavery to an overgrown slug (though there have been a couple of icky boyfriends). Nor did I go off to enjoy hijinks at boarding school. There weren't a heck of a lot to pick from when I was a kid, and I never, ever felt the need to emulate any of them. They were entertainment, that's all. What about teaching your kids the difference?

While the Miley pics with her dad were actually the ones I locked onto first, by no means is this the kind of exploitation you see in the Lohan family. I just don't see the big deal.

Liz Kelly: Right. I guess another possibility to consider is that our society has actually grown more sensitive (or oversensitive) to these issues in the past couple of decades.

I do remember, by the way, my mother expressing concern to me about Madonna when I was in eighth grade. She was worried that Madge would corrupt me. I just brandished my jelly-bracelet clad wrist at her and told her not to preach.

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Gwyneth: also said she loves Branston pickle--tasty stuff, but not exactly the all-American condiment.

Liz Kelly: Oh the jokes I could make based on the punchline "Branston Pickle." The mind reels.

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Zzzzzzzzzz....: These chats are usually the highlight of my Thursday afternoon....

But today I am finding the over analysis of Miley so, well, boring. I have reached my Miley scandal saturation level.

I miss Real Housesives of NYC. Rock of Love. Britney being totally crazy (but apparently she did have an incident where she walked out of a Bally's locker room with just a towel).

I hope this lull isn't a preview of the summer Celebritology future.

Liz Kelly: Ooh, speaking of "Rock of Love" -- did you see the Rumor Mill item this morning about Richie Sambora's possible take over of the Bret Michaels role? Will Richie be able to carry it off? I would argue that one of the best parts of "Rock of Love" is Bret and his ability to keep us interested in an obvious farce.

Wanna stop talking about Miley? This is the best way -- bring up other stuff. But spending some time on the pix the week they came out is hardly overkill.

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Nanny gate: Why do Mr. and Mrs. Rob Lowe have such bad luck with nannies?

Liz Kelly: You say bad luck, nanny says bad habits.

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byool, IN: Please use your stature as "#1 Hater" to comment on People's selection of Kate Hudson as "Most Beautiful." The rest of us kind of got stuck at "WTF?"

Liz Kelly: Oh, come on, Kate's a definite looker. She's not quite a supermodel, but she's totally got that girl next door thing going for her.

What I find even funnier are the print ads for Dolce and Gabbana cologne featuring Matthew McConaughey. I keep looking at them and wondering why they chose a guy who barely showers and has copped to not using deodorant to market a fragrance.

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The Hills: Liz,

Did you get a chance to see Speidi Montag on Letterman last night? I was actually impressed that she had more of a vocabulary than Lauren/LO/Audrina combined.

Any juicy details from the WHCD for us?

Liz Kelly: I missed last night's Letterman and didn't catch up with any of the "Hill" dwellers at the WHCD. I did, however, corner Pete Wentz on his way to the bathroom. He was about as vapid as expected.

The most interesting (and gracious) person I talked to was Aaron Eckhart. I heart him now. For anyone who missed Monday's post (and video) from the dinner, Mr. Rocci will append a link.

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North Mclean, Va.: For the record, just what the heck is a pencil skirt?

Liz Kelly: usually a little below knee-length and body hugging. Here's an example.

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Sigourney Weaver?: Liz, I didn't know you had anything against Ripley. What gives?

Liz Kelly: Wait -- I don't have anything against Sigourney. Not sure how she got in the list.

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Dolce and Gabbana : We had to beat Tim McGraw to market.

Liz Kelly: Thank you.

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Great White North: Liz, I wish you'd tell Weingarten that almost all of us are required to do more than one thing at a time; our regular job, plus special projects from time to time, plus family life, plus plus plus. I don't understand why he gets a free pass from his regular job just because he's got a story or a special event (and anyway, isn't feature writing part of his job?).

If it is because he is physically and intellectually incapable of doing more than one thing at a time, well, then, he's obviously not as smart as he thinks and constantly tells us he is.

Liz Kelly: He's a genius. Who among us can understand the additional drain on one's mental and physical stores that must entail?

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Mare Winningham: I forgot about her until just now, reading her name in your chat. My favorite role was the TV drama in which she was dying so they transplanted her brain into someone else's body, a brain-dead woman. Confusion resulted when neighbors saw her husband kissing an unfamiliar woman who he claimed was her. Then creepy things started happening: somehow she was having memories that didn't belong to her! They belonged to the body she was occupying!

Liz Kelly: I missed that one. I just always remember Rob Lowe discovering her girdle in "St. Elmo's Fire." I wonder if his nanny has seen that movie.

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Washington, D.C.: Liz Kelly you are so incredibly wrong about Beckham. Posh is the lamp ray here. And it's her greatest achievement. He can do so much better.

I used to live in England and you have to understand that this man is a God everywhere but in the U.S. He is the singular most popular athlete on the planet. No, it's not Tiger Woods. Cab drivers in Bangladesh wear his jersey. Girls in South Korea plaster his posters on their walls. Someone in Iceland is thinking about him now.

It'd be like Joey Fatone marrying Oprah and saying that she's riding his coat tails.

Liz Kelly: Okay, says you.

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Tom Cruise: Liz sez: I'll definitely be DVR'ing and am considering live-blogging Monday's Oprah show. Would anyone be interested in that?

Yes! I don't have a TV at the moment so will be unable to watch. I also don't have a gym membership (I'd usually watch Oprah while on the treadmill.) Would love to read a live blog.

Liz Kelly: Cool -- many of you have said you'd be up for a little real-time Tom watching. I'm floating the idea to my boss.

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Posh/Becks: Why is Posh major? I know Beckham plays soccer well(ish) but I thought Posh was a one-hit wonder and Paris-Hiltony paparazzi freak.

Liz Kelly: Answer me this. Who is the bigger star? Paris Hilton or David Beckham?

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Liz Kelly: Okay, Andy the cat has just insinuated himself between me and the keyboard, so I'm thinking this is a good time to call it quits.

See you in the blog tomorrow and here next week.

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washingtonpost.com: Video: White House Press Photographers Dinner

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