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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Brooke to Tom: I don’t mind, but you don’t matter

The Spokesman-Review

BROOKE TO TOM: Drop dead. That’s essentially what Brooke Shields told Tom Cruise after the latter’s recent diatribe against anti-depressants on the “Today” show.

Shield says that she took the drugs in an attempt to cope with her feelings of hopelessness after the birth of her first child.

“I’m going to take a wild guess and say that Mr. Cruise has never suffered from postpartum depression,” she wrote in an op-ed piece published Friday in The New York Times.

Cruise railed against not only Shields but also the whole field of psychiatry, which Scientology – of which Cruise is a believer – teaches is a destructive pseudo-science.

“You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do,” Cruise told “Today” host Matt Lauer, adding there was no such thing as chemical imbalances that need to be corrected with drugs and that depression could be treated with exercise and vitamins.

Calling those remarks “a disservice to mothers everywhere,” Shields said she considered suicide at the lowest point of her depression following the birth of her daughter in 2003. A doctor later attributed her feelings to a plunge in estrogen and progesterone levels and prescribed the antidepressant Paxil.

“If any good can come of Mr. Cruise’s ridiculous rant, let’s hope that it gives much-needed attention to a serious disease,” Shields wrote.

It was an offer that Christie’s couldn’t refuse

Marlon Brando, who once got paid $1 million for a few minutes screen time in the film “Superman,” is worth a lot even in death. At a Christie’s New York auction of Brando memorabilia on Thursday, Brando’s annotated script from 1972’s “The Godfather” broke auction records by bringing in more than $300,000. The previous record for a film script was $244,500 for Clark Gable‘s copy of “Gone With the Wind” in 1996.

His reality show: Trying to be ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero

Never mess with a member of the Soprano family, especially in real life. That, at least, is a good assumption to make following Vincent Pastore‘s appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday to face assault charges brought by former girlfriend Lisa Regina, 44. Pastore, 58, played gangster Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s mob drama “The Sopranos.” Regina alleged that Pastore had punched her in the back of the head, grabbed her hair and rammed her head onto a car’s gear shift.

They found it over in Gasoline Alley

Rod Stewart had a personal message to the guy who stole his Viper in 2004: “I’m not amused.” That, at least was part of the statement that Stewart made to Palm Beach Police while reporting the theft. On Wednesday, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jack Cook sentenced Donald Michael Smith, 23, to 11 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to several charges, including stealing Stewart’s car and driving it into a canal. The car had more than $15,000 in damage.

If we cared any less, we wouldn’t care at all

“American Pie” star Shannon Elizabeth, 31, has filed for divorce from her husband of three years, actor Joseph D. Reitman, 37. The two have been separated since March.

The birthday bunch

Actor Robert Ito (“Quincy”) is 74. Actress Polly Holliday (“Alice”) is 68. Actor Ron Silver is 59. Writer-director Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Seinfeld”) is 58. Keyboardist Roy Bittan of the E Street Band is 56. Model-actress Jerry Hall is 49. Bassist Dave Parsons of Bush is 40. Actress Yancy Butler (“Witchblade”) is 35. Actress Lindsay Lohan is 19.