Maybe it all isn't manipulation. Maybe you're just paranoid. Two people fell in love and had a baby. It wasn't a publcity stunt. They have every right to show or not show their baby. We - as the collective public - do not have a right to see that baby. This is crazy and insane. You - the media - put these ideas in people's heads. Don't you see that the world uses celebrities as punching bags because we're all bitter, dissatisfied, angry, and unhappy. What could be an easier and seemingly harmless way to vent some frustration than to beat up on a celebrity. When we're done with one - we move onto the other. We build people up only to beat then down. So, to repeat myself - get over it!

Psychologists don't dole out antidepressants. Sure, they may want to, but they are not allowed to prescribe medication.

Is a product of the Angelina Asian CloneBaby factory. Tom Is gay, Katie was not pregnant and is probably clinically insane to boot. That is all

I don't want to get over it. I work in the real world, have a mundane life, etc. and this trainwreck known as TomKat is just too good (or maybe bad?) not to watch. It's like seeing a Fellini film in real time without having to pay admission.

"...there's a reason the saga of Suri has compelled us all so intensely..." (emphasis added)

Speak for yourself. My son compels me; my wife compels me; my work compels me; my faith compels me. In short, Suri who? I live a life that fulfills me - I don't need to live vicariously through dim-bulb pop stars and the media types who dote on them.

Peter Lyden

Rumson, NJ

Some liposuction, administered gently, should clear that up. There should be just enough cheek to pinch and say goochie goo, but not so much that the cheeks droop.

This article basically summed up how I've felt about celebrities and the media for the past 2 years. I no longer believe in coincidence, or sigh at the sight of stars in love. Instead I now hear the grooves of each lie as I listen to carefully spun gossip, and see the quick darts of her eyes as some starlet pretends that she's not making her very own porn for the masses. I figure that if I know about this or that gossip, then some PR rep farmed it out. Honestly, why is African-American Janet Jackson sunbathing naked? She doesn't need a tan. If she can be married in secret for years, possibly have an 18 year old daughter, then why do I know what she had for breakfast two days ago?

Its all too much and not enough at the same time. I know too much about TomKat, and too little about the true state of America and Americans. I can expect to be hosed by Hollywood, but must news journalists be such whores too?!

maybe she does it because it feels good?

Not to ruin the article's punchline about Brooke Shields but psychologists actually do NOT dole out pills. Psychologists are not licensed to prescribe medication; psychistrists are.

When I was single, I cared a lot more about all the celebrities and their foibles--now that I am responsible for my family, I do not have as much time to care. That said, it is an amusing spectator sport, watching people guess about timelines, fake pregnancies, and whether Tom is *fabulous* or not.

I am glad that Wendy caught the fact that a previously recorded interview with the president was bumped to the second night of the broadcast. That is the biggest "tell" of all. When the chance for glitz and gossip arose, the substantive portion got the boot. I felt a little sad for Katie Couric showing the clips at the end: including Ted Baxter was cute. Including Ron Burgundy was embarrassing. Begging for web hits for a tagline that is as cute as Katie is the lowest blow of all.

Is there a vast left coast conspiracy? Probably. I am sure that everyone's publicist works with everyone else's. When one star wins, others usually benefit. As far as the baby goes--she is beautiful. I was born with that much hair, and was 24 inches long--and my mother is about as tall as Katie--I mean, Kate Holmes. To try to guess the baby's age based on her size is foolish--none of us knows how small Tom really is. :)

I'm very discouraged when even Salon jumps on the celebrity news bandwagon. Please go back to real news and real issues.

Wanting to to acknowledge a point made by several readers regarding the difference between "psychologists" and "psychiatrists" in terms of both training and the legal capacity to prescribe medication. Psychiatrists can prescribe meds; psychologists cannot.

I also realize that's there's a pejorative context associated with the term "doling" that makes it sound negative. Ironic, esp. when considering the whole Tom/Brooke fiasco in the first place.

Please know it was an error I made in terms of time - writing and publishing in a rush. I didn't mean to imply any value judgments (good or bad) in terms of the work of psychologists, psychiatrists, or their patients.

ws

Shouldn't this Suri nonsense be in the A&E section?

I did not bother reading this garbage and agree with the other posters that Salon should not waste their money reporting on such celebrity "news". Those who for some reason are interested in such mundane trivia have plentiful sources already. Can baby say "National Enquirer"?

Poking fun of an article concerned about growing obesity in children.

Just like a celeb to think you can never be too thin.