Chatter: The Year In Review 2001
Celebrity Truths Sometimes Stranger Than Fiction
POSTED: 10:37 a.m. EST December 31, 2001
UPDATED: 12:50 p.m. EST December 31, 2001
With all that's happened in 2001, it seems paltry to look back on the antics of celebrities this past year.
Yet, like flash-bulb, picture-taking paparazzi, we always want a glimpse behind the scenes no matter how dark or dim our reality is. Perhaps it's because Hollywood stars take us away, and like the roles they play and the masks they wear, sometimes celebrity's truths are stranger than fiction.
Most of the memorable moments in 2001 dealt with celebrity breakups, meltdowns, marriage, Britney, blockbusters, tributes, tribulations, deaths (even murder) and, of course, oddities.
And now, curtain up (or should we say, curtain down?) on the top 10 of 2001:
1. Breakups: Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise; Benjamin Bratt and Julia Roberts; Tom Green and Drew Barrymore, (Do they count? See Marriages No. 10); Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin; Garth Brooks and now ex-wife, Sandy; Holly Hunter and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski; Kate Winslet and director Jim Threapleton; Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison; Gary Oldman and Donya Fiorentino.
2. Murder: OK. Actor Robert Blake said that he left his gun in a Studio City, Calif., restaurant. He told his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, to wait in the car, while he went back into Vitello's Restaurant to retrieve it. When he returned, Bakely, 44, is dead in the car. Police continue to investigate and have few clues. Something tells me that this story will probably make our top 10 next year with Blake revising his "In Cold Blood" role.
3. Meltdowns: Mariah Carey, Ben Affleck, Paula Poundstone, Robert Downey, Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean, Matthew "Friends" Perry.
4. Tributes: "America: A Tribute To Heroes" featured a who's who of stars on television both performing and taking pledges for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The New York Miracle ads featured Barbara Walters, Woody Allen, Henry Kissinger, Kevin Bacon, Ben Affleck and others in an effort to get tourism back to the Big Apple.
5. Britney: At 19, she's got it all. She's a multimillionaire and has the most famous navel of the new century. Her just-released third album debuted at No. 1. In February, she moves to the big screen in a star vehicle feature film, "Crossroads." Her main squeeze is high-profile hottie, *NSync's Justin Timberlake. The world's biggest pop diva, Madonna, wore a T-shirt with Britney's name splashed across it, starting a fashion trend. The big question, however, is: Will Britney make our top 10 next year? Or will another belly-button-baring babe be signing megabuck soda pop deals with Pepsi? Can anyone say Shakira?
6. Tribulations: The on-again, off-again Emmy Awards top this category. First postponed in September after the terrorist attacks, they were then rescheduled for October, but were canceled just a few hours before the show was to go on when the United States starting airstrikes in Afghanistan. They finally aired in November. Winona, what were you thinking? Ryder's now got a rap sheet for stealing from the Beverly Hills Saks, but the latest is she said she was practicing for a new movie role. What's the movie's title: "Shoplifter, Interrupted?" Yasmine Bleeth got busted for driving while under the influence after crashing a rental car. If that wasn't bad enough, Michigan cops found syringes in her purse, with traces of cocaine in them. Elizabeth Hurley and Stephen Bing continue to fight over her baby due in April. She says he's the father, he says he's not sure. Now he's suing a British tabloid for publishing his telephone number for fans to ring him up in defense of Hurley and baby.
7. In Memoriam: George Harrison, Jack Lemmon, Jason Robards, Anthony Quinn, Carroll O'Conner, Imogene Coca, Morton Downey Jr., Perry Como, Jason Miller (a personal loss, he was a friend from my hometown), Ray Walston, William Hanna, Ken Kesey, Katharine Graham, John Lee Hooker, Joey Ramone, Aaliyah, John Phillips, Chet Atkins, Christopher Hewitt, Susannah McCorkle, Maureen Reagan, Barbara Olson.
8. Oddities: Anne Heche got weird and capitalized on her weirdness by admitting she was weird in a book aptly titled "Call Me Crazy." Whitney Houston got skeletal. Michael Jackson got darker skin on TV after it was digitally colorized; Sharon Stone's husband was bitten by a Komodo dragon, then a few months later, she got a brain aneurisym. Movie critic David Manning got found out for being a figment of someone at Sony's imagination. Russell Crowe got FBI help after it was discovered someone wanted to kidnap him. "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin got arrested for carrying psychedelic mushrooms, marijuana and cocaine in his carry on bag. And that was before they checked your shoes.
9. Blockbusters: Pottermania made "Harry Potter" the hottest ticket and its author, J.K. Rowling, the darling of the writer's set. Madonna's "Drowned World Tour" sold out everywhere despite its Material Girl ticket price.
10. Marriages: Who tied the knot? Andie McDowell and Rhett Du Camp Hartzog; Ashley Judd and race car driver Dario Franchitti; Tom Green and Drew Barrymore (see Breakups, No. 1); J. Lo and Chris Judd; Carol Burnett and Brian Miller; Christina Applegate and Jonathon Schaech; Anne Heche and cameraman Coley Lafoon; Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.
That's a wrap!
Michelle Solomon's gossip column, Celebrity Chatter, appears each Monday. Got a question about a celebrity? E-mail us (please include your first name, city and state) and we'll find you the answer. Michelle Solomon@Celebrity Chatter.
Yet, like flash-bulb, picture-taking paparazzi, we always want a glimpse behind the scenes no matter how dark or dim our reality is. Perhaps it's because Hollywood stars take us away, and like the roles they play and the masks they wear, sometimes celebrity's truths are stranger than fiction.
Most of the memorable moments in 2001 dealt with celebrity breakups, meltdowns, marriage, Britney, blockbusters, tributes, tribulations, deaths (even murder) and, of course, oddities.
And now, curtain up (or should we say, curtain down?) on the top 10 of 2001:
1. Breakups: Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise; Benjamin Bratt and Julia Roberts; Tom Green and Drew Barrymore, (Do they count? See Marriages No. 10); Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin; Garth Brooks and now ex-wife, Sandy; Holly Hunter and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski; Kate Winslet and director Jim Threapleton; Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison; Gary Oldman and Donya Fiorentino.
2. Murder: OK. Actor Robert Blake said that he left his gun in a Studio City, Calif., restaurant. He told his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, to wait in the car, while he went back into Vitello's Restaurant to retrieve it. When he returned, Bakely, 44, is dead in the car. Police continue to investigate and have few clues. Something tells me that this story will probably make our top 10 next year with Blake revising his "In Cold Blood" role.
3. Meltdowns: Mariah Carey, Ben Affleck, Paula Poundstone, Robert Downey, Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean, Matthew "Friends" Perry.
4. Tributes: "America: A Tribute To Heroes" featured a who's who of stars on television both performing and taking pledges for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The New York Miracle ads featured Barbara Walters, Woody Allen, Henry Kissinger, Kevin Bacon, Ben Affleck and others in an effort to get tourism back to the Big Apple.
5. Britney: At 19, she's got it all. She's a multimillionaire and has the most famous navel of the new century. Her just-released third album debuted at No. 1. In February, she moves to the big screen in a star vehicle feature film, "Crossroads." Her main squeeze is high-profile hottie, *NSync's Justin Timberlake. The world's biggest pop diva, Madonna, wore a T-shirt with Britney's name splashed across it, starting a fashion trend. The big question, however, is: Will Britney make our top 10 next year? Or will another belly-button-baring babe be signing megabuck soda pop deals with Pepsi? Can anyone say Shakira?
6. Tribulations: The on-again, off-again Emmy Awards top this category. First postponed in September after the terrorist attacks, they were then rescheduled for October, but were canceled just a few hours before the show was to go on when the United States starting airstrikes in Afghanistan. They finally aired in November. Winona, what were you thinking? Ryder's now got a rap sheet for stealing from the Beverly Hills Saks, but the latest is she said she was practicing for a new movie role. What's the movie's title: "Shoplifter, Interrupted?" Yasmine Bleeth got busted for driving while under the influence after crashing a rental car. If that wasn't bad enough, Michigan cops found syringes in her purse, with traces of cocaine in them. Elizabeth Hurley and Stephen Bing continue to fight over her baby due in April. She says he's the father, he says he's not sure. Now he's suing a British tabloid for publishing his telephone number for fans to ring him up in defense of Hurley and baby.
7. In Memoriam: George Harrison, Jack Lemmon, Jason Robards, Anthony Quinn, Carroll O'Conner, Imogene Coca, Morton Downey Jr., Perry Como, Jason Miller (a personal loss, he was a friend from my hometown), Ray Walston, William Hanna, Ken Kesey, Katharine Graham, John Lee Hooker, Joey Ramone, Aaliyah, John Phillips, Chet Atkins, Christopher Hewitt, Susannah McCorkle, Maureen Reagan, Barbara Olson.
8. Oddities: Anne Heche got weird and capitalized on her weirdness by admitting she was weird in a book aptly titled "Call Me Crazy." Whitney Houston got skeletal. Michael Jackson got darker skin on TV after it was digitally colorized; Sharon Stone's husband was bitten by a Komodo dragon, then a few months later, she got a brain aneurisym. Movie critic David Manning got found out for being a figment of someone at Sony's imagination. Russell Crowe got FBI help after it was discovered someone wanted to kidnap him. "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin got arrested for carrying psychedelic mushrooms, marijuana and cocaine in his carry on bag. And that was before they checked your shoes.
9. Blockbusters: Pottermania made "Harry Potter" the hottest ticket and its author, J.K. Rowling, the darling of the writer's set. Madonna's "Drowned World Tour" sold out everywhere despite its Material Girl ticket price.
10. Marriages: Who tied the knot? Andie McDowell and Rhett Du Camp Hartzog; Ashley Judd and race car driver Dario Franchitti; Tom Green and Drew Barrymore (see Breakups, No. 1); J. Lo and Chris Judd; Carol Burnett and Brian Miller; Christina Applegate and Jonathon Schaech; Anne Heche and cameraman Coley Lafoon; Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.
That's a wrap!
Michelle Solomon's gossip column, Celebrity Chatter, appears each Monday. Got a question about a celebrity? E-mail us (please include your first name, city and state) and we'll find you the answer. Michelle Solomon@Celebrity Chatter.
Copyright 2001 by Lifewhile.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
