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A different perspective on ‘Diff’rent Strokes’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The infamous “child star” curse often goes back to the trio of cute kids on the 1980s sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.”
After the show ended, Dana Plato, Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges all suffered problems ranging from drugs and alcohol to violence to medical maladies. Plato died in 1999 of a drug overdose.
Though the media and a past TV movie has already mined this material, Coleman and Bridges provide their take on their lives via a film NBC is airing tonight, “The Unauthorized Story of Diff’rent Strokes.”
“It’s about time to hear the story through our eyes and not through ‘E! True Hollywood Story,’ ” Bridges told Buzz.
Bridges and Coleman were script consultants and appear in interviews peppered through the film. (Two actors played Bridges, and three handled Coleman.)
Bridges, victim of an abusive, alcoholic dad, later battled the law and cocaine. Coleman, whose parents overworked him, has been on kidney dialysis for years. Plato ended up holding up a video store and performing in soft-core porn before her sad death.
“It wasn’t show business that drove us crazy; we had crazy lives at home,” said Bridges, now married with two kids and a steady flow of modest acting gigs. Today, “It’s not a big deal to me anymore. It was a phase I went through, and it helped me grow to where I am today.”
Sci-fi redefined
DragonCon has been known for years as a sci-fi/fantasy/horror gathering. But the organizers have tried to broaden those horizons. In the media room, a sign calls the downtown fest a “multi-genre pop culture convention and trade show.”
This vaguer description allowed them to invite the likes of Mickey Rooney, who was the grand marshal of the Saturday morning parade, and several members of the cast of “Happy Days.” The ’70s sitcom was listed under the category of “American Sci-Fi/Fantasy Classics.” (If that qualifies, why not the cast members of “Charlie’s Angels” next year?)
The parade featured the usual array of goblins, ghouls and “Star Wars” storm troopers, along with two impeccable imitators of Capt. Jack Sparrow. But the scariest participant? A man dressed as Mr. Six, the old dude from the Six Flags commercials.
Later, Buzz peeked inside the session with actress Traci Lords, another stretch in the sci-fi category. For many men, the former porn star fits the “fantasy” category fine, and she does have a horror flick set for release later this year called “Crazy Eights.”
Lords gabbed about her writing, acting and singing. She has long buried her porn past and gone mainstream.
In fact, the interviewer, Brad Linaweaver, treated her as if he were face to face with Nicole Kidman. “One of the best autobiographies I’ve ever read!” he burbled at one point. “It’s overwhelming, everything you’re doing!”
Lords said conventioneers tend to be very respectful of her. “The geekier, the nerdier the convention, the safer you are,” Linaweaver told her.
“It’s band camp!” Lords cracked.
Legal eagle
Atlanta pugilist Evander Holyfield is a model citizen, too. Just three days after knocking out Jeremy Bates in the second round of his comeback bid in Dallas, he arrived at the Fulton County courthouse for jury duty Aug. 28. He even made the jury. In the one-day DUI case, the jury unanimously deemed the defendant “not guilty.” Our Buzz eyewitness, who was on the jury with him, said Holyfield was low-key and politely signed autographs after the case was over.
Random bits
Brooke Shields told Jay Leno that Tom Cruise apologized last week for publicly criticizing her use of antidepressants after the birth of her first daughter. The two had a public beef last year after Cruise said in an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show that depression can be treated with exercise and vitamins rather than drugs. Cruise’s spokesman confirmed the news …
The new My Atlanta network, formerly the WB in Atlanta, is launching a 10 p.m. news program Tuesday that may look familiar. WXIA-TV anchors Brenda Wood and Ted Hall will host the one-hour news program before doing their regular 11 p.m. gig on WXIA. (Both stations are owned by the same company.) This will be the second effort in two years to make a dent on the popular WAGA-TV Fox 10 p.m. news telecast.
UPN (now the CW) tried a similar show with WXIA personnel in 2004-05, but it failed to deliver viewers.
Celebrity birthdays
Actress Mitzi Gaynor is 75. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans is 46. Singer Richard Wingo of Jagged Edge is 31. Singer/actress Beyoncé Knowles is 25.
Contributing: News services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-5688 or e-mail: rho@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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