Sideshow: Slater, Sheen to LiLo: We'll help!

Charlie Sheen says his spree was halted when a pal ("I don't want to say who") intervened. He advises LiLo: "Work on your impulse control."

By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: February 18, 2011

Young Lindsay Lohan could learn a thing or two from Christian Slater now that he's half a decade sober. "I was dealing with alcoholism and addiction, and there was a lot to take on without much life experience," the Heathers star tells Details. "Addiction is not pretty, and you don't fully understand it unless you're dealing with it. . . . That's why when I see other kids struggling, I will sometimes reach out to them."

Including LiLo, who is dealing with a similar illness. Like LiLo, Christian also did a stint in jail. He contacted her, he says, because "I appreciated the people who reached out to me."

Charlie Sheen's advice to LiLo

Seems the whole world wants to help out Ms. Lohan. The latest LiLo helper is a man some people think still needs plenty of help himself: Charlie Sheen. Ol' Charlie on Wednesday called in to The Dan Patrick Show, and explained that his downward spiral was arrested when a pal o' his ("I don't want to say who") intervened.

So like Christian, Charlie wants to pay it forward by helping LiLo: "I've got some things I'd recommend she consider," he said. "Work on your impulse control." I feel warm all over.

David Cassidy: Guilty of DUI

Speaking of alcohol-related foolishness, Partridge Family alum David Cassidy, 60, has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence on Florida's Turnpike. Cassidy was arrested Nov. 3 after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper saw his car weaving near Fort Pierce. Cassidy will serve a year of probation and have his driving privileges suspended for six months.

David Letterman's apology to LiLo

Does it seem as if every celeb across the country has Lohan on the brain? This time it's late-night gabber David Letterman, who issued a (mildly sarcastic) on-air apology to LiLo for announcing, falsely it seems, that she was set to appear on The Late Show this week. Seems D-Lett was duped into that belief by some evildoer who pretended he was on LiLo's PR team. TMZ claims the evildoer was LiLo's embattled pop, Michael Lohan.

Diet guru: My unhealthy obsession

Natural foods chef Bethenny Frankel, 40, vaunted author of Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself From a Lifetime of Dieting, says she was once obsessed - unhealthily obsessed - with dieting. "I spent my entire life . . . bingeing and then fasting or starving. Forbidding everything," she tells Us Weekly. "My metabolism was totally wrecked."

The Real Housewives of New York City star says it all began when her mom sent her to an obesity clinic. And, check it, poor Beth was only 8 years old. Her obsession lasted well into her 30s, and she tried Atkins, the Scarsdale diet, the Beverly Hills diet, and so many others.

But the new mum - she and hub Jason Hoppy, 39, have a 10-month-old daughter, Bryn - saved herself with her own diet. Which we suppose serves as an endorsement of a sort.

'Glee' sells more than the King . . .

. . . but does that mean its singers are better than Elvis Presley? Let's back up: Fox's song 'n' song show Glee, spitting out hit songs for 18 months straight, has set the record for the most songs on Billboard charts in those charts' 52-year history. This week, the show has six songs on Billboard's singles chart, bringing its total to 113 (yes, that's one-hundred-thirteen) songs. That's five more than the previous top dog, Elvis, had. So does that mean they're cooler, better, awesomer than the King?

The clothes make the film . . .

Care more about the costumes in Alice in Wonderland, The Tempest, True Grit, and The King's Speech than the thesps who wore them?

You're in luck: L.A.'s Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising has mounted its 19th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibit. Items on view include Helen Mirren's Elizabethan dress from The Tempest, Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter hat in Alice in Wonderland, and the vintage 1930s duds the royals wore in The King's Speech. Info: www.fidmmuseum.org/.

Tidbits 'n' pieces

The New York Post claims Asbury Park, N.J., native Wendy Williams, 46, is set to compete on Dancing With the Stars this spring . . . Friday Night Lights actress Adrianne Palicki is the new Wonder Woman in David E. Kelley's revamp of the Lynda Carter series, USA Today says. . . . Prince William, 28, and Kate Middleton, 29, will make a royal visit to Canada after their honeymoon. . . . Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is a fan of medical dramedy Grey's Anatomy. "I am fascinated by the incidents they manufacture," she tells Harper's Bazaar.

On Wednesday an L.A. court gave Halle Berry, 44, permission to take daughter Nahla, 2, with her to New York to shoot a new pic. Two weeks ago, Berry quit the lead in New Year's Eve because Nahla's pop, Gabriel Aubry, 34, wouldn't allow her to travel with Mom. (Katherine Heigl has replaced Berry, who took a smaller role.) When a new film came her way, Berry dug in her heels. But what's this? A thaw in relations? Aubry has dropped his suit for custody and spousal support! RadarOnline says Unnamed Source says the two "have committed to try and make things work, without the courts - Gabe's decision to drop his case is his way of showing Halle he's prepared to take a leap of faith and trust her once again." Awwwww!

This article includes information from websites and Inquirer wire services. Contact "SideShow" at sideshow@phillynews.com.