Meredith Baxter From Family Ties Reveals She's Gay

Actress Meredith Baxter, 62, best known as Michael J. Fox's mom, Elyse Keaton, on the long-running sitcom Family Ties, has announced that she is gay. A bit of a surprise. Baxter, who has been married 3 times and has 5 children (including Michael J. Fox - I'm kidding about that part), has been with her girlfriend for about 4 years now. Apparently she was aware of the fact that she was a lesbian for about the last seven years and now has decided to let the world know.

On NBC's Today, she stated "I got involved with someone I never expected to get involved with, and it was that kind of awakening. I never fought it because it was like, 'Oh, I understand why I had the issues I had early in life.' I had a great deal of difficulty connecting with men in relationships."

Baxter has been in several TV shows over the years, including Family Ties which ran from 1982 until 1989 where she played the mother of four with Michael Gross as her husband, Steven Keaton playing against Fox's right-wing character, their son Alex P. Keaton. She was also in Bridget Loves Bernie in 1972-1973, with future husband David Birney. Following that, she appeared on the hit Family from 1976-1980 as elder daughter Nancy Lawrence Maitland. Countless guest shots and TV movies up to the current day, she was even in Family Guy this past year (voicing her Elyse Keaton character from Family Ties).

Why Didn't Tiger Woods Use A Driver? Oh, Too Soon?

Apparently Tiger Woods has been injured in a car accident early Friday morning. Authorities have stated that the PGA pro was taken to Health Central Hospital in Florida after hitting a fire hydrant and a tree while pulling out of the driveway of his home at about 2:30am eastern time. He was first reported to have sustained facial lacerations and was in and out of consciousness when paramedics arrived, after being alerted to the crash by Woods' wife, Elin. Mrs Woods discovered the injured golfing legend and returned to their Florida home to get a golf club and then broke back window in order to free Woods.

Authorities say that charges are pending, but wanted to ensure that it is known that alcohol was not a factor in the accident. Woods, 34 years old next month, won the last golf tournament that he appeared in, the JBWere masters, in Melbourne, Australia, on November 15 and was scheduled to start his next tournament on Thursday, December 3rd, but it is unknown whether he will be able to keep that commitment.

Latest Fringe Episode Delivers Answers, But More Questions

The latest episode of Fringe delivered some of the sought after answers of fans, but also brought some new questions. Apparently, Peter, played by Joshua Jackson, is from an alternative reality, but his father, John Noble's character Walter, doesn't want to tell him. Got it? Also, these bald dudes (called "Observers") have a role in all this that hasn't been spelled out. What we now know is that there are more than one of them and that they seem to show up at seminal points in history, like the French and American Revolutions, or JFK's assassination.

In this latest episode, Agent Olivia Dunham (played by Anna Torv) and Peter visit Massive Dynamic, and discover the theory that the Observers are not traveling through time, but "observe" time, especially major historical events. Also, they are not immortal. It seems that there are more and more sightings of these Observers, which points to some momentous event may be in the offing.

Adam Lambert's Weird Performance At AMAs

Just see for yourself. Adam Lambert's music is not what I want to hear, and what's with him kissing the male keyboardist? I know he announced that he was gay and all, and maybe he was just representin' but all I can say is Meh. This clip is from the American Music Association Awards show from the other night. Couldn't take that screeching at the end.

Martha Stewart Slams Rachael Ray

A smug Martha Stewart said that Rachael Ray "can't cook" and that Ray is just a "bubbly personality" who "can't do what I do" during an interview the other day. Rachael Ray was very tactful in her reply, saying that Stewart was correct and that she along with most people would prefer Stewart's meals to her own. But still this seems sort of catty and condescending on Stewart's part.

Apparently, Martha Stewart appeared the day before the interview on the Rachael Ray Show, and then took the opportunity to try to shoot down a possible competitor. Methinks Stewart is worried about Ray more as competition for her show, which seems to flagging somewhat.

Robert Pattison Drops In On Ryan Seacrest

New Moon star Robert Pattison stopped by Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show the other day and Pattison's publicist immediately shut Seacrest down when he tried to ask him about his so-called "romance" with Twilight co-star Kristin Stewart. The publicist quickly whisked Pattison back out to the waiting throng of fans who were obviously delighted in the chance to meet the favorite movie vampire.



Pattison did get a plug in for New Moon which opened to boffo box office numbers the other day. The latest installment brought in $26.3 million in midnight ticket sales and is set to make more than $70 million in single-day sales. But sales are expected to drop off over the weekend. The previous high mark for one-day domestic ticket sales was $67.2 million in 2008, which was set by the most recent Batman flick "The Dark Knight".

Oprah Plans On Ending The Oprah Show In 2011

Apparently Oprah Winfrey is planning on ending The Oprah Winfrey Show sometime in 2011. Do not dispair Oprah fans, she will be back. The tremendously successful Oprah Winfrey will be off the air for about 2 years while she puts together her own Oprah cable television station. Yes, as David Letterman says "Oprah has ALL the money."

Also, you can bet that the omnipresent owner of Harpo Studios will be popping up on television during that 2 year period keeping the Oprah brand alive and in front of the eyes of the die-hard Winfrey fans winding down the countdown until she re-surfaces in her latest money-making venture. I'm wondering if she will be doing Barbara Walters-style celeb interviews during prime time.

Winfrey's ratings will likely decline sharply when she tosses off the hindrance of those pesky network execs as she will then own, her show, her production company, and the station airing her show. Being the on-air talent as well, Ms Winfrey will have all her bases covered. Expect Oprah to make an absolute KILLING with this venture. Not only will the Oprah channel have Oprah, but the station will likely air other Oprah-approved and inspired television shows.

One clear winner in Winfrey's decision to abandon the daytime airwaves will likely be Ellen DeGeneres, at least for a couple of years when Oprah comes storming back to re-claim her throne as the Queen of the Daytime talk shows.

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland Trailer Released

It's due out in March 2010, but once again, Tim Burton casts Johnny Depp in another oddball role: he's The Mad Hatter. Here's a link to the trailer for Alice In Wonderland. Mia Wasikowska plays Alice, Depp is The Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter is The Red Queen, Alan Rickman is The Caterpillar, Anne Hathaway is The White Queen, Stephen Fry is The Cheshire Cat and Crispin Glover is The Knave of Hearts. Oh yeah, and Christopher Lee is The Jabberwock.

This looks a little darker than most Disney fare, but with Burton at the helm you wouldn't expect any less. Australian newcomer Wasikowska looks the part of Alice Kingsley who tumbles down the rabbit hole into a bazaar and colorful world. She also has another film to be released in 2010 called The Kids Are Alright.

Biggest Little Big Brother Group On Facebook

I've put together a group on Facebook for Big Brother 11 with lots of video clips. A lot is stuff you might not have seen. It's called The Biggest Big Brother Fan Group and although it currently has just a small membership, I think it will get much bigger. Take a look at what Ronnie's up to and see behind the scenes conversations in the Big Brother house. Join up if you're on Facebook and put a comment on what is happening on the show.

Kirstie Alley Looking To Do 24-Hr Charity Tweetathon On Twitter

Actress Kirstie Alley is currently looking at trying to get a twenty-four hour "Tweetathon" organized sometime in July as a benefit to donate funds to build water wells in Africa. Details are of course currently sketchy, but she was on Twitter last night discussing the possibilities. Alley mentioned she would attempt to entice other celebs on Twitter to join in on this worthwhile event. You can imagine that other celebrities on Twitter, but I'd be surprised if Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher among other prominent tweeters weren't approached after the details get worked out.

The name "Aquathon" has been bandied about and although just in it's embryonic stages, this does sound like a worthwhile project that others will support. This is one of those grassroots projects that the social network could highlight as it gains further legitimacy with the public.

Susan Boyle Has Lost On Britain's Got Talent

Okay, now on to other things... Sorry, but although I applaud Susan Boyle for having an incredible run, I've almost gotten as tired of this story as the Octo-Mom. Did you know that Nadya Suleman has supposedly now getting that reality show she desperately craved? Another reason to turn off the tube. I am very happy about Boyle's success on the TV show, Britain's Got Talent, where she came in second to an unknown dance troop, whose claim to fame is that they are "exceedingly humble", but Ms Boyle does have a great voice and hopefully will have much continued success. Me, I'm just tired from all the various news sources clamoring to be the first to inform us that Boyle lost on BGT. Yes, we know. I was on Twitter and after the initial shock expressed by various "tweeters", just about everyone was inundated every hour on the hour that "Susan Boyle Has Lost!" and provided the same link. Okay, once, twice, three times is enough. I don't need hourly retweets. And I repeat, now on to other things...

Hot Newscaster Was On Little House On The Prairie?

I just found out that CNBC's Melissa Francis was on Little House On The Prairie. You remember that show right? Ma & Pa Ingalls, Mellisa "Half-Pint" Gilbert, and mean old Nelly Olsen. I just found out on Twitter, Sara Gilbert (The Big Bang Theory) and her sister Melissa (the afore-mentioned "half-pint") are on Twitter and I somehow staggered onto this little bit of info. Melissa Francis (yes, that's her in the pictures, now and then) is one of the resident "news-babes" appearing usually around 11am-noon on CNBC. Sometimes I think I must be living under a rock. Francis was the cute little Missy Francis who played Cassandra Cooper-Ingalls during the last part (1981-82) of Little House On The Prairie. I just started on Twitter a few days ago myself and I'm into a whole new world. There are lots of famous and infamous people using Twitter and posting humorous (and sometimes not so humorous) tidbits about the world around them.

Twitter has been growing by leaps and bounds. It is being helped along in it's growing period with such celebs as Ashton Kutcher (he's "aplusk" on Twitter and surprisingly funny, and posts frequently), Demi Moore is there too. But don't just try to link to the famous. There are thousands of others on the site with sometimes brilliant and witty things to say in their 140 character limit. Me, I'm simply, "Hey_Bradshaw" so link to me too if you want. My little band of followers cannot compete with Kutcher's army (1,600,000-plus and growing), but it is fun, informative and costs only some of your time. But it is addictive! And Melissa Francis is there too (she's "MelissaCNBC"), so maybe you can follow her Tweets as well.

The Big Bang Theory: Stuart And Penny Reprise

"I love the smell of comics in the morning" says Sheldon (Jim Parsons) as the boys visit the local nerd store. The store clerk, Stuart, who had previously gone out with lovely neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco), asks Leonard (Johnny Galecki) for advice as he prepares for date 2. Leonard, still candleholding for Penny, tries to lead Stuart awry. He tells Stuart to "take it slow. Avoid direct eye contact." Howard (Simon Helberg) suggests Leonard tell Stuart to do everything Leonard has done for the last 2 years as that has certainly kept Penny away from Leonard.

The Classified Materials Turbulence

Meanwhile, Howard is bragging about the "Wolowitz Disposal Unit" installed on the space station. Meanwhile Howard has just found out that his "space toilet" as Leonard calls it, is a trifle wonky. It'll break after 10 flushes sighs Howard. "It'll be like a Jack-In-The-Box," says Howard, except that instead of puppet, "something a whole lot nastier will pop out of that box."

When Leonard approaches Penny about her date with Stuart, he feels guilty when she insists he drop it and leaves. He later asks Stuart about what happened and Stuart says it went great. He did everything Leonard told him to do, he went slow, and then they were "making out later in his car." But then Penny said "Oh, Leonard" and things quickly went south. Back at the apartment Howard is on the phone with NASA being sworn to silence about the "space toilet" fiasco. Penny asks who Howard is on the phone with and Raj (Kunal Nayyer) says "Aw, it's just NASA about Howard's broken space toilet. Then something falls off the ceiling as they are all eating. "What was that?" asks Penny. "Oh, just my mother's meatloaf" says a sullen Howard. "What was it doing on the ceiling?" asks an incredulous Leonard. "That's classified" Howard answers sheepishly.

Cut to an outside look at the space shuttle. "Uh, Houston... we have a 'situation.' We all want to take a spacewalk - RIGHT NOW."

AnnaLynne McCord, Kara DioGuardi Pose For People Sans Makeup

Several young stars are "daring to go bare" for their photo shoots with People magazine. Both AnnaLynne McCord and Kara DioGuardi pose without makeup for People and still look great.