Editor: Joy Press
Updated: Today
Topic:

Harry Potter

Friday, Jul 14, 2000 09:00 PDT

Tommy Lee's deep thoughts

Pam's ex met man he recognized in jail, almost killed him; bizarre news about George of "Big Brother"; guess who's been officially cast in "Star Wars: Episode II"? Plus: Former bodyguard trying to sell book on Eminem's sex life!
By Amy Reiter

Tommy Lee: Victim?

The former Mötley Cr|e drummer tells Us Weekly that he's "so hurt" that his sometime wife Pamela Anderson turned him in to the authorities for violating his parole by drinking, he doesn't know how to cope.

"I'm not sure how I'm ever going to deal with her again," he says. "Obviously, I've got some trust issues."

What's more, Lee maintains that while he did "kick [Anderson] in the butt, and that was wrong," he never hit her and was only acting in self-defense. "I didn't know what to do after getting punched in the face," he says.

He also didn't know what to do while serving out his jail stint, and at one point even considered taking his own life. "One day I actually said to myself, 'I'm going to take these pants off and tie one leg around my neck and the other around the light and do it.' Then I thought, 'That is so chicken, Tommy. You've got two little boys; you have a life.'"

And even though being the kind of guy with, in his words, drama "stuck on my shoe like duct tape" isn't easy, he found hope in the darkest times. "The best thing that happened [in prison] was I met Tommy in there. I learned acceptance. In the end all you can do is change yourself."

Or you could, you know, rip off the duct tape.

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Listen up, Tommy Lee

"Good judgment comes from experience. Sometimes, experience comes from bad judgment."

-- Christian Slater on lessons life has taught him.

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Oh, brother ...

Even the first "Big Brother" scandal is kind of a yawner.

The wife of contestant George (the wacky Midwestern roofer) has told Entertainment Tonight that her husband has a shocking skeleton in his closet: He killed a man.

But hey, it was an accident, and afterwards, he felt really, really bad about it.

It happened about 12 years ago, when George was out hunting with a buddy. He climbed up on an icy log while his friend tried to scare up some game, slipped and mistakenly fired his rifle, fatally wounding his friend.

George wandered off and was found, dazed and confused, a few hours later.

And now he and his fellow dull-as-dirt contestants are boring the rest of us to death. Stop him, before he kills again.

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Naughty Newhart?

"Frightfully boring ... Luckily, the bestiality thing never came out."

-- Bob Newhart on his upcoming A&E Biography.

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Juicy bits

The Force is apparently with Jimmy Smits and Christopher Lee. They've both officially been cast in "Star Wars: Episode II." The former "NYPD Blue" star will portray Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, and British horror film veteran Lee will play a "charismatic separatist," whatever that means. Appearing in the film "will be more than another part," says Lee. "It will be another 'arrow in my quiver.'" Or rather, a little extra oomph in his light saber ...

What a Yank! A source closely connected to casting "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has told Inside.com that rumors of the production's Americanization were grossly exaggerated. "This will be a British Harry. Not a single person in this film will be anything other than British," says the source. "People will actually be shocked when they see how faithful to the material we've been."

The latest member of Eminem's entourage to try to cash in on the rap star's notoriety? Byron Williams, a former bodyguard who's peddling a book on Mr. Slim Shady's sex life. Williams tells the New York Daily News he was often called upon to hide Eminem's dalliances from his wife, Kimberly, and says he blames the rap star's roving eye for her recent suicide attempt. Because clearly, other than that, he was an ideal husband in every way ...

Poor Mrs. Brady. NBC has announced it will pull the plug on the ratings-challenged "Later Today," featuring lovely lady Florence Henderson, on Aug. 11. According to USA Today, Henderson may get an ongoing gig on "Today," to which she'd assuredly bring a certain Wessonality.

 

Harry Potter in the news

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Recommended Reads

Salon reviews of Harry Potter films:

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
The long-awaited movie is faithful to J.K. Rowling's book, but the fantasy isn't very fantastic and the evil just isn't dark enough.
By Andrew O'Hehir, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"
Despite terrific special effects and funnier gags, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" finds a way to make J.K. Rowling's marvelous series into a deadly bore.
By Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
Hippogriffs, Dementors and Harry, oh my! Director Alfonso Cuaron finally decants the essence of J.K. Rowling's work and brings us one of the greatest fantasy films of all time.
By Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
Harry and his friends are growing up, but this latest Potter film may leave you struggling with your own childhood demons.
By Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
Patches of magical beauty rescue this sprawling adaptation of the fifth book in J.K. Rowling's beloved series.
By Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
The sixth film in J.K. Rowling's series has beautiful special effects, and something even more rare: Magic.
By Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

Other Salon articles related to the films:

Harry Potter doesn't get "Blue Velvet"
The boy has no profound psychosexual life, which keeps the film from being dangerous -- and important.
By David Thomson, Salon

Harry Potter and the art of screenwriting
Michael Goldenberg talks about the pleasures and pitfalls of adapting "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" for the big screen.
By Rebecca Traister, Salon

The sexual awakening of Hermione
How "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson is navigating the tricky transition from adorable child actor to mature adult.
By Joy Press, Salon

Salon reviews of Harry Potter books:

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," like all great escapist reading, takes you happily back to where you already were.
By Charles Taylor, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
With her fourth Harry Potter book, J.K. Rowling takes her young hero to his darkest adventure yet.
By Charles Taylor, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
No, Hogwarts isn't a hotbed of drugs, smoking and sex (at least not yet). But J.K. Rowling's rich and huge new installment unmistakably brings our bespectacled hero into adolescence.
By Laura Miller, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Harry learns more about his mysterious nemesis -- and the brutal reality of being 16 -- in J.K. Rowling's tricky, but ultimately satisfying, penultimate volume in the "Harry Potter" series.
By Laura Miller, Salon

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
Does J.K. Rowling's final installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," provide the magical ending to the beloved series her readers so desperately long for?
By Laura Miller, Salon

Other articles related to the books:

Dumbledore? Gay. J.K. Rowling? Chatty.
What happens when authors like J.K. Rowling can't stop telling their own stories?
By Rebecca Traister, Salon

A.S. Byatt and the goblet of bile
The author's recent New York Times Op-Ed shows that she doesn't understand why so many of us love Harry Potter. Maybe it's just too much fun.
By Charles Taylor, Salon

A list of their own
Has Harry Potter changed the course of the New York Times Book Review -- and the children's book market -- for good or for evil? It depends on whom you ask.
By Kera Bolonik, Salon

Of magic and single motherhood
Bestselling author J.K. Rowling is still trying to fathom the instant fame that came with her first children's novel.
By Margaret Weir, Salon

Harry Potter's girl troubles
The world of everyone's favorite kid wizard is a place where boys come first.
By Christine Schoefer, Salon

Can 35 million book buyers be wrong? Yes.
The cultural critics will, soon enough, introduce Harry Potter into their college curriculum, and The New York Times will go on celebrating another confirmation of the dumbing-down it leads and exemplifies.
By Harold Bloom, The Wall Street Journal

On the Potter lifestyle:

Potterpalooza
For the Quidditch players, wizard rockers and would-be witches who gathered at a New Orleans Harry Potter convention, this is the dawning of their summer of love -- and loss.
By Rebecca Traister, Salon

For Harry Potter fans about to rock, we salute you
A global network of Potter-influenced bands inspired kids like 8-year-old Darius to make their own wizard rock. Will fans keep the music alive?
By Elisabeth Donnelly, Salon

The end of the affair
For almost a decade, Harry Potter and Tony Soprano have been my intimate companions. Now it's time to disentangle myself from their lives and say goodbye.
By Rebecca Traister, Salon

Wizard people, dear reader
The first chapter in the famed unauthorized "re-telling" of the Harry Potter films.

Currently in Salon