Thursday, January 31, 2008
Dr. Phil’ says he regrets
statement about Spears
NEW YORK — Television’s “Dr. Phil” McGraw says he regrets talking about Britney Spears’ mental health after visiting her in the hospital, but didn’t violate the family’s trust. “I regret making the statement. It didn’t help. It didn’t work,” the syndicated TV psychologist said Wednesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Spears, 26, was hospitalized in Los Angeles after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline resulted in an hours-long standoff with police Jan. 3. Federline has sole physical and legal custody of their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. McGraw said he visited the pop singer as a family friend, and rejected critics who accused him of practicing psychology without a license. “I did not go there to diagnose her. I did not go there to treat her,” said McGraw, who showed up at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Jan. 5 as Spears was about to be discharged. McGraw said he retired his Texas license after 25 years of private practice because of the demands of his “Dr. Phil” daytime talk show. The Spears family has accused McGraw of betraying their trust by making an “inappropriate” public statement about the singer’s hospitalization. In an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show Wednesday, McGraw said his public comments after visiting Spears were intended to prevent rumors and misinformation. “I wanted to stop speculation about what may have gone on in there,” he said.
Senator, 83, to marry
museum president
HONOLULU — Sen. Daniel Inouye, the 83-year-old who ranks No. 3 in seniority in the chamber, is getting married. The Hawaii Democrat said Tuesday that he is engaged to Irene Hirano, the president and chief executive officer of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. They plan to marry May 24 in Los Angeles, Inouye said in a news release. “Irene is an extraordinary woman of grace, intelligence and accomplishment,” Inouye said. “She is a rare gem in our society. Without question, I am a very fortunate and lucky man.” Hirano is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration. She serves on the board of trustees of the Ford Foundation. The release from Inouye’s office did not give Hirano’s age, and museum officials could not be reached by telephone after hours. Margaret Awamura Inouye, Inouye’s wife of nearly 60 years, died in March 2006 of complications from colon cancer at age 81. Inouye won his first race for Senate in 1962.
Today’s birthdays
Actress Carol Channing is 87. Actress Jean Simmons is 79. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks is 77. Composer Philip Glass is 71. Actor Stuart Margolin is 68. Former U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., is 67. Blues singer-musician Charlie Musselwhite is 64. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan is 61. Singer-musician KC (KC and the Sunshine Band) is 57. Rock singer Johnny Rotten is 52. Actress Kelly Lynch is 49. Actor Anthony LaPaglia is 49. Singer-musician Lloyd Cole is 47. Actor John Dye is 45. Rock musician Jeff Hanneman (Slayer) is 44. Rock musician Al Jaworski (Jesus Jones) is 42. Actress Minnie Driver is 38. Actress Portia de Rossi is 35. Actress Kerry Washington is 31. Singer Justin Timberlake is 27.