Maureen McCormick's sizzling new autobiography, Here's The Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, reveals that she was ill-equipped to play the role of the innocent Brady Bunch hottie, coming from an allegedly abusive household, and later trading sex for drugs after the show ended its four-year run in 1974. According to eonline.com, McCormick, 52, tells all and sundry in her "exhaustive" memoir that her post-Brady Bunch life included depression, unwanted pregnancy, cocaine, Quaaludes and other illegal substances, as well as affairs with Hollywood big shots like Michael Jackson, Steve Martin, and even her television sibling, Barry Williams.
Only 14 when she joined the cast of the famously cheesy cult favorite, McCormick went on to languish in the late '70s and '80s, spending her time engaged in "full-on binges" at the Playboy Mansion and the home of the late Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sounds like instead of telling the kids not to play ball in the house, Mrs. Brady should have told them to not shoot "eight balls" in the house.
The actress and sometime country-music chaunteuse also apparently mentions a blown interview with movie mogul Steven Spielberg, and attributes it to her inability to stay sober. But despite her checkered past, McCormick says she doesn't regret her stint as one of TV's most legendary sisters.
"I'll always be struck by how much a part of people's lives Marcia is and always will be," she writes. "But now I'm not bothered by the connection. It took most of my life, countless mistakes and decades of pain and suffering to reach this point of equanimity and acceptance."
Knowing that his recent 20/20 interview discussing his divorce would hurt their kids, Peter Cook and Christie Brinkley did the smart thing and got their kids out of town the night it aired. (Though one could argue that it isn't smart to air your dirty laundry in public in the first place). But before he could leave, his method of transportation caused an even bigger ruckus.
As Peter was planning to put his children on a single engine airplane, his daughter Sailor, 10, reportedly called mom Christie Brinkley in tears, because she was afraid to board the plane. Christie survived a 1994 helicopter crash and now always flies her family in bigger aircraft. Christie allegedly called the police, attempting to stop the plane from taking off with the kids on board, even offering to pay for a flight on a larger plane.
Because Peter wasn't doing anything technically illegal, the family was allowed to continue on with their trip. According to a source from the Cook camp, "They left and had a wonderful flight." Peter is trying to spin the incident as just another opportunity for Christie to interfere with his time with the kids. But sources close to Christie say that this has always been a family rule, and that as sole custodial parent, she has the right to make that decision.
Just another celebrity couple reminding us that divorce is never easy, but that a Hollywood divorce comes with it's own set of problems. What do you think?
Given the spate of media bs floating around the Internet these days part of me finds it hard to believe a rumor that anyone would want to botox their kid's feet. Then, part of me realizes the drama is surrounding Sharon Stone and thinks there could be a kernel of truth to the rumor. After all, the actress and one-time sexpot has basically gone off the wall in recent years, making crazy statements and acting crazy in general--and it no longer seems like a publicity stunt to draw attention and viewers to Basic Instinct 2.
Stone is mom to eight-year-old Roan, and her custody of him is currently under question. Allegedly she has lost custody of her son after overreacting to his foot odor by thinking he should get botox in his feet. According to reports (rumors!) the judge agreed that Stone was overreacting and causing pain to her child, and has granted primary custody to the actress' ex, Phil Bronstein. Sharon will get to see him one weekend a month.
That seems so terrible for a mother to lose custody of her child and to only be able to see him on a monthly basis. I would be crushed if that happened to me. Of course, as crazy and hormonal as I am in the last stages of pregnancy, I still wouldn't think it was a good idea to botox my son's feet. Poor Sharon--she really must be suffering from some sort of emotional disorder or complications from her brain surgery to make those sorts of decision (if they're true, and they appear to be).
When it comes to bitter Hollywood divorces, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger sit near the top of the list. In a battle of he-said-she-saids, they'd both like you to believe that it's the other one's fault. Alec accuses Kim of turning their tween daughter against him, while she accuses him of being a hothead. He did little to prove her wrong last year when he left his then 11-year-old daughter an irate voice mail, calling her a "rude, thoughtless little pig." He was upset because she had missed his phone call.
Alec is taking responsibility for the damage he did with that call... kind of. Though he says he's "horrified" by his behavior and has apologized to his daughter, he puts the blame on family court in his new book A Promise to Ourselves. "I'm disappointed, I'm ashamed to say this: You get angry. I wanted to see my daughter." Baldwin's book is chock full of "advice" for divorcing parents, though I'm not sure I'd choose him as a role model for parents facing divorce.
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What bothers me most is that he still doesn't seem to accept -- publicly, at least -- that what he did to his daughter was wrong, and instead hides behind their custody dispute and the fact that the tape should have never been released in the first place. I don't doubt that Kim Basinger made him so mad at times that he thought his head would explode, but that's no excuse for taking it out on an 11-year-old child. I think that Alec Baldwin still has a little growing up to do.
There's an old saying that says that angry words are like nails in a wooden fence. You can take them back, but the damage remains. Do you think that Alec has done enough publicly to apologize for the hurt he caused his daughter? What do you think about his new book?
You know what they say about the family that plays together... Well, maybe that turn of phrase was actually the family that PRAYS together, stays together. Either way it looks like Ryan O'Neal better say a few prayers for himself and his son, Redmond, who were both recently arrested on drug charges after the cops searched their home.
These two aren't the only O'Neals to recently make the papers, and not the only two to do so for drug-related incidents. Tatum O'Neal, Ryan's daughter, was recently arrested and then subsequently went to rehab for trying to buy drugs from an undercover agent. Ryan and Redmond were arrested for allegedly possessing methamphetamine after their home was swept in relation to a probation case involving the 23-year-old. Redmond was on a three-year probation plan given him instead of a jail sentence. Both were released on $10,000 bail.
All of this is terrible publicity for the family (and where is poor Farrah Fawcett in all this--she is Redmond's mom), but it points to what we all hear about but never tend to see: Drug addiction really is a family affair. It can run in families, and, even when it doesn't, it affects the entire family. I hope however it happens this family can work through their issues and get the help they need.
Supermodel Elle MacPherson is in trouble with the Royal Prevention of Accidents for letting her son ride on the handlebars of her bike. The model was spotted in London with son Aurelius Cy propped up on her handlebars. I'm sure there are worse things someone could allow her child to do, but it doesn't seem like a smart move at all.
The RPA is calling her actions "irresponsible" and dangerous. MacPherson was also clutching a handbag. I suppose that is to prove she had even less a handle on her son, but it's also probably because, you know, she's a model. A spokesman for the RPA said what she was doing was also illegal. I don't know about British law, so I can't verify that, but it does seem unsafe to use a bike built for one person to haul two people, especially when one of them isn't even in a seat. I can bet you neither of them was wearing a helmet either.
Plenty of people in New York City tote their kids around on bikes, but the kids get their own seats on the back of the bike. We see a lot of "co-pilot" stickers on the back of these bike seats which ads a little tinge of humor. Cheesy, sure, but a lot safer than letting your kid ride on your handlebars. If that happened in my neighborhood we wouldn't need an RPA to get involved--the neighbors would give a mouthful!
Well, that is not exactly true. Keira Knightley said that she should get pregnant, though, so people will stop talking about her weight. The actress is constantly battling rumors that she is anorexic.
These rumors persist probably because she is less than pencil thin and I don't think anyone has ever seen her eating anything. Regardless, people should lay off her shape. Knightley agrees and thinks perhaps she should get knocked up so she'll grow a baby belly and people's tongues will stop wagging.
I'm guessing there are a number of you out there who would disagree that's a good reason to have a baby. Of course, there are an equal number of you out there who feel Keira is being facetious. And rightly so. I also think Knightley would rather die than trade her thinness for anything, and that the lady perhaps doth protest a wee too much.
Dear heavens, save us all. Naomi Campbell is ready to be a mother. The supermodel with a well-established problem of violent behavior recently came clean about her close call in the emergency room, which she formerly said was to have a cyst removed. Now Campbell has fessed up that the reason for her visit was to actually correct an infertility problem.
Wow--who knew it was that easy? What the heck are they doing in Brazil, where Campbell was treated, that they're not doing here in the states? I'm sure we'll never know. Anyway, Campbell also admitted she is ready to take on the role of motherhood. My guess is she should probably invest in some anger management classes before she gets too far along.
She is, however, leaving it in God's hands, from this point on anyway, as to whether or not she'll have a child. I'd say there's always adoption, but given her track record I can't imagine an agency in the world that would consider giving the temper-tantrum throwing supermodel a child under pretty much ANY circumstances. That said, for most , parenthood makes them better people, so perhaps being a mamma would lighten Campbell up a bit. Nah--I didn't think so either.
When Beverly Hills 92010 hit television screens some fifteen-odd years ago, it may have been somewhat controversial, but ultimately it was about good kids finding themselves in tough situations--drinking, drug use, premarital sex. it was really just a modern version of Jackson Junior High or an after school special with better clothes and a warmer climate. Not content to let what was perhaps Aaron Spelling's greatest achievement rest comfortably in its grave, some folks decided to bring 90210 back. Same zip code, indeed, but racier subject matter.
And naturally, along with that reprisal came the interest groups opposed to it. For example, the Parents Television Council is none too pleased, and they are speaking out against the show. I guess they're either over or have made enough issue of Gossip Girl, which makes the old 90210 look like an episode of Sesame Street. In fact, in response to the PTC's protests over GG, the show has used their harsh criticism to basically secure a spot on the rotation forever. Why is it that reverse psychology always wins?
The group is asking sponsors to boycott the new 90210 due to the insinuation about ten minutes in that some guy is getting a BJ from his girlfriend. The show airs during what they refer to as the "family hour" meaning, I suppose, before 10:00 PM. The CW Network, who can proudly claim this little gem as their own right along with Gossip Girl, have responded that they screened the episode for said sponsors and no one batted an eyelash. Hey, if you can live with what occurs on GG, then by all means keep those eyelashes unbatted for wanna-be 90210.
Teen shows have always been edgy and envelope-pushing. Do you think what kids see today is any worse than what we watched when we were growing up? Oh, and BTW, that picture of the old 90210 folks is made out of what appears to be macaroni and dried beans. Seriously.
Some rag is claiming that the hot mess that is Lindsay Lohan is keen to be in the motherly way. The rag in question is the UK's News of the World who has exclusive information from one of those "sources" we're always hearing about who claims to be close to La Lohan and her girlfriend, Samantha Ronson.
According to this source, Lohan wants to do it the old-fashioned way and has petitioned Sam to let her get the donation from an ex-boyfriend. No word on whom that would be, nor whether or not he'd be willing to rise to the challenge. The magazine goes on to claim Lindsay wants a child to cure her of her drug and alcohol problems. Hah! If anything, being a mom has driven me FURTHER to drink.
I kid, I kid. I'm also sure there is little truth to this report, but it's fun to think about...I guess. Everyone else in Hollywood seems to be part of the baby boom, so why not Lindsay Lohan too? If it is a baby she wants, then good luck with that. Let's just hope she's more choosy about who would be providing the sperm than she is with her recent film roles.
Actually, that statement may not quite be true. The actor, known for his roles in the Bridget Jones movies as well as the new Mama Mia, has three kids of his own but finds small children "loathsome" at times. But, the hottie's words may have been slightly taken out of context (can you imagine???).
Firth has three sons ranging in age from five to eighteen, so he has plenty of experience with children and being a father. To clarify, Firth says kids are just people who haven't lived very long yet, and while he tends to be affectionate toward the younger set, if they're annoying upon meeting then generally they're annoying period, regardless of age--and hence the loathsome business.
I guess Colin is referring to first impressions, and perhaps there is something to that. I've always heard, however, that you're only as good as your last impression. It's interesting that someone with three kids of his own freely admits children can be loathsome, but I'm not so sure I can agree. All kids, just like all people, have bad days, right? That doesn't make them bad kids!
Jezebel has breaking news that Britney Spears will open MTV's VMAs this year, twelve months after her performance at the 2007 VMAs left us all feeling a little... confused. She will not be performing, however, so exactly what her role will be remains to be seen.
Britney has put in a lot of hard work over the last several months. She's slowly but steadily getting more time with her boys, she's back to work and back to working out, and she's not making headlines every day with erratic behavior that makes us shake our heads and mutter about "that poor girl."
Though fervent fans will be glad to see Britney back up on stage, I can't help but wonder if this is really in Britney's best interest. She seems to me to be in the middle of her recovery. Her dad still has control over her affairs and she doesn't yet have at least joint custody of the boys. Will a "comeback" boost her confidence and help her continue on this more positive path, or does it put her at risk for a relapse?
The mom in me wishes she'd just focus on making a nice, quiet, healthy life for herself and her boys for now, but maybe putting herself back out there is part of her recovery process. What do you think?
Here's a tip for you -- if you have to call your wife to come pick you up from the bar, your best bet is to let her drive home too, especially if the kids are in the car. Or even halfway in the car. Dustin Purscell learned that (hopefully) the hard way recently. He's in jail, charged with two counts of child endangerment as well as a few other offenses.
He wanted a lift home after an evening drinking with his buddies, but when his wife Ashley arrived, she decided he was too drunk and too angry -- he couldn't find his lighter -- to ride with her and her two children. He apparently disagreed, jumped in the driver's seat, and started the car. Ashley tried to get her kids out of the vehicle, but was only able to extract her five-year-old daughter before Dustin took off. Her seven-year-old son was still in the car with his legs hanging out of the door.
Folks, I've got nothing against alcohol or even getting wasted once in a while, so long as you do it responsibly, but the first time someone pulled something like this would be the last. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to be around my kids, you need to put their welfare ahead of your own -- if you can't do that, you won't be getting near them. I certainly hope Mrs. Purscell feels the same way and dumps this guy like last week's trash.
When a spouse cheats, it's the ultimate betrayal. For most, it's a highly personal, private matter dealt with behind closed doors. For John and Elizabeth Edwards, it's been a media circus. But that wasn't always the case. Both John and Elizabeth say that he confessed the affair to her in 2006, two years before the news was made public. On the liberal blog Daily Kos, Elizabeth explained, "This was a private matter, and I frankly wanted it to be private because as painful as it was, I did not want to have to play it out on a public stage as well."
But a handful of former followers aren't satisfied with that position. They're blaming Elizabeth alongside John in the cover-up of the affair, and say that she should have never agreed to stay silent when he began his run for Democratic nominee. "I think she's complicit," said Brad Crone, "Obviously, she knew. While she's the victim, she clearly didn't stand in the way of the cover-up."
It's hard to imagine being in Elizabeth Edward's shoes, and I'm think that Brad Crone is too busy pointing fingers to try and put himself there. In reality, none of us know what happened behind closed doors when John broke that particular piece of news to Elizabeth, a blow that had to be utterly devastating. Blaming Elizabeth for actions that were mostly out of her control takes the focus off John, who is the one that let his family and his supporters down, but more importantly off the important issues that these people, perfect or not, so fervently support. I, for one, would like to see Elizabeth return to working on those issues, but it's unlikely she'll be allowed to while her personal life is still making headlines.
"Brooke and I are thrilled," he said in a released statement. "She's the best step mom Sam, Lola, and Cassandra could every hope for. Seeing her love and affection for those three, I'll know she'll be an amazing mom." (Awwww. It's almost enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, but yet....) Sheen is referring to his three daughters: He had Cassandra with ex-girlfriend Paula Profit in 1985, and daughters Sam, 3, and Lola, 4, with Richards.
Maybe this is a sign that Sheen really is moving forward with his life and is ready to let the healing begin between him and Richards. No word on what she thinks of the couple's exciting news, but if she's not happy about it, there's no doubt we'll be hearing about it before too long.
Maureen McCormick's sizzling new autobiography, Here's The Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, reveals that she was ill-equipped to play the role of the innocent Brady Bunch hottie, coming from an allegedly abusive household, and later trading sex for drugs after the show ended its four-year run in 1974.
Knowing that his 
When it comes to bitter Hollywood divorces, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger sit near the top of the list. In a battle of he-said-she-saids, they'd both like you to believe that it's the other one's fault. Alec accuses Kim of turning their tween daughter against him, while she accuses him of being a hothead. He did little to prove her wrong last year when he left his then 11-year-old daughter an irate voice mail, calling her a "
You know what they say about the family that plays together... Well, maybe that turn of phrase was actually the family that PRAYS together, stays together. Either way it looks like Ryan O'Neal better say a few prayers for himself and his son, Redmond, who were 
Jezebel has breaking news that 
Here's a tip for you -- if you have to call your wife to come pick you up from the bar, your best bet is to let her drive home too, especially if the kids are in the car. Or even halfway in the car. Dustin Purscell learned that (hopefully) the hard way recently. He's in jail, 
When a spouse cheats, it's the ultimate betrayal. For most, it's a highly personal, private matter dealt with behind closed doors. For John and Elizabeth Edwards, it's been a media circus. But that wasn't always the case. Both John and Elizabeth say that he confessed the affair to her in 2006, two years before the news was made public. On the liberal blog Daily Kos, Elizabeth explained, "This was a private matter, and I frankly wanted it to be private because as painful as it was, I did not want to have to play it out on a public stage as well."
He may be embroiled in one of Hollywood's 
