I am gonna get in so much trouble for this ........

[Tangerine LaBamba]

But, I just have to air what's been on my mind all day (since BattyDem fixed my computer, I have no other worries):

I’ve seen a number of interviews, in print and on TV, with Ryan O’Neal. He’s getting all this air time because of the impending death of his former lover, Farrah Fawcett.

We’ve all heard about this, and we all agree that it’s very sad.

But, keep this in mind - Farrah Fawcett exhausted all the treatment options here in the US, so she went to Germany, where they are alleged to have superior treatment for her specific kind of cancer, which, I understand, is very rare.

Imagine if she had had to rely on Medicaid. Or if she was too poor to have any health insurance at all.

She was lucky enough to be able to afford to do that, and, sadly, they didn't work. She's dying, and nothing else can be done.

What I find appalling, though, is watching Ryan O'Neal smiling and grimacing and acting his way through all the interviews and the opening night, when, in fact, their history involved his beating her, their kid growing up to be a drug addict who will be in the slammer when he gets word of his mother's death and, if he's lucky, will be able to attend her funeral in an orange jumpsuit with arm and leg shackles, and Farrah's recent years - before she got sick - were defined by pathetic bids for attention (making a video of her bodypainting while naked), appearing on a talk show while either stoned or just terribly troubled, and a string of bad relationships with boyfriends, one of which got her arrested when she trashed his house.

Her acting career was over, and she was just another Hollywood has-been. Her youthful career - which probably still generates a great income for her - was outstanding.

She was an icon.

And, for that, I can understand the kind of interest that people have in her.

Does anyone remember that Farrah Fawcett was the subject of one of the first reality TV shows? I watched it, fascinated, and she struck me as a sweet woman, rather helpless, but a very dear human being. That show didn’t last, though.

The reality is that she was finished in the business, her personal life was a mess, her only child a druggie felon, and her former partner - O'Neal - also a druggie who got busted doing crack with his own son.

The tragedies of the lives of O'Neal's other kids have been well-enough documented to pretty much establish him as not a very good father.

But, watching him show up at the premiere the other night, grinning and smiling, like a really happy host, while his former lover lies dying a few miles away, while he's capitalizing on her hideous end, just makes me queasy. I saw an interview with him on the "Today" show, and someplace else, and he was milking it for all that it's worth, painting himself - probably quite rightly - as her devoted guardian in her final days.

Really, though, does the world need to know that she's lost her hair? That you "can't believe that tiny head held all that hair"? That she's heavily sedated and sleeps all the time - because, otherwise, the pain of her disease would be unbearable? That she's bedridden? That he plans to "ease up" on her medication so that she can watch the show when it's broadcast later tonight?

Would you do that, Ryan? "Ease up" on her pain medication so that she can watch TV? As one of the producers, you didn't get a DVD of the show? Gee, and I thought that was routine. Hell, when I was a writer for an HBO movie, even I got a DVD before it was broadcast, and everyone knows that writers are the lowest form of life in Hollywood.

I feel sorry for anyone having to endure this kind of disease and death, but Ms. Fawcett is very fortunate that she can afford the kind of care she is getting. It's good she has friends who care about her, and even Mr. O'Neal is probably a great help.

But her only child is in jail. And her old lover is exploiting it for his own personal aggrandizement.

That just puts me off.

And, yes, because I’m as fascinated by all of this as anyone else, I’ll probably watch the show tonight. Although, I was surprised by the reaction of some friends when we were talking about this – several of them said they wouldn’t watch, having already lived through the dying of relatives and friends. I have, too, but, because I am as hypocritical and enthralled by the American publicity machine, I’ll watch it.

I am just now wondering, though, how much camera time will involve Ryan O’Neal?

[JuniperLea]

1. The poor woman...

I won't watch, but then I don't even watch American Idol;)

I wondered about O'Neal too... all I could think of was him beating her up.

[polichick]

2. Thanks for the update - I saw O'Neal today and couldn't recall exactly...

...what happened in the past but knew it was something ugly ~ maybe they are codependent.

[Taverner]

3. O'Neal has always been a fuckwad

Not only did he beat up Farrah, fucking her up in the process, he beat up his own son and daughter...

Fuck HIM

[malaise]

4. It's amazing how easily people buy into the M$M generated narratives

and avoid harsh truth. Bravo Sister!!!
She has my deepest sympathy - Were I in her condition, I'd have said by goodbyes and departed already.

[Lars39]

5. You don't ease up on someone's meds if they're that close to the end.

He sounds like a real dumb ass.

[juno jones]

6. In the early '80's,

I remember having a heated discussion with a friend about 'cute guys' in movies in the '70's.

I fancied Malcolm McDowell, She thought Ryan O'Neal was dishy.

She said she couldn't see Mc Dowell as being cute because he seemed so mean on screen.

On the other hand, O'Neal played those all-american 'Love Story' roles.

In the end, I hear Malcolm's a pretty nice guy and it's become obvious that Ryan's a trainwreck.

Guess the movie roles don't always reflect reality.

I feel sorry for Farrah.

[Stephanie]

7. I hate to ask, but - what show?

There's a show about Farrah tonight?

[LostinVA]

8. You forgot what he did to Tatum and Griffin

Basically made her into a drug addict (you don't take a a preteen kid to clubs and get them fucked up), mentally tortured her for winning an Oscar, sleeping with her friends, etc. Beating the shit out of Griffin and helping make HIM into an addict, too. Then, throwing away the kids he destroyed. Oh, and sleeping with his BFF's wife.

He's a fucking asshole. And, he probably gave her the cancer.

[Shell Beau]

22. I was reading up on it. I had no clue that cancer could develop

from HPV.

[chatnoir]

31. OT but love your avie!

What a beautiful baby!

[rucky]

9. Germany's superior healthcare is the product of a public system.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Is it? I hadn't heard this.

It's not that way in Germany. Very little tax money goes into the system. The lion's share comes, as in America, from premiums paid by workers and employers to insurance companies.

German health benefits are very generous. And there's usually little or no wait to get elective surgery or diagnostic tests, such as MRIs. It's one of the world's best health care systems, visible in little ways that most Germans take for granted.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91971406



Health insurance is obligatory for everyone residing in Germany who is employed full-time by a company. The company pays half of the insurance contributions, the other half comes out of the employee's salary. The employee's half usually totals around 10% of their gross salary. When starting work with a company usually the employee won't have to worry too much about how the system works. The company will automatically sign them up with an insurance company and the contributions automatically deducted from the salary. Sometimes the employee may be asked if they have a preferred insurance company. It is recommended to simply go with one of the big names, like "AOK" or "TKK". They are all pretty similar.

Health insurance has been obligatory for everybody in Germany, including the self-employed, since 2007. Medical treatment can be hugely expensive.

There are two types of health insurance in Germany. These are the "public" and "private" systems. This system often causes considerable confusion. Full details are given below.

if you are employed by a German company or any other foreign company in Germany and you earn less than EUR 4,050 gross salary per month, you are f...ed, I mean, you are a mandatory member of the public German health insurance system. You pay half plus 0.9% and your employer pays roughly half of the insurance premium too. As of 2009, the premium has been standardised for all public health insurance companies at 15.5% of gross salary up to the threshold (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) of EUR 44,100. This will drop to 14.9% from July 2009. Although they more or less offer the same services, it's still worth comparing.

Public health insurance is great, however, if you earn only a small amount (because you get a lot of insurance for a low sum of money) or if you are married and have a spouse and children with you - because they are covered by the public health insurance too (this may change in the near future, though, according to the latest political plans). But beware: since a lot of services from the public health insurance system have been downgraded or cancelled in recent years, you might want to consider getting additional private insurance to cover some services like 1- or 2-bed rooms in hospital, Chefarzt-Betreuung (operation and treatment by the head doctor of the hospital) or full dental services/replacement etc. Even then you might still have to pay some extra if you have a very complicated illness and you try to get the most-respected expert in Germany to treat you, because in these cases treatment is only covered up to a certain limit. If you want to be sure about having enough funds in the event of severe illness to get the best possible treatment, other insurance types

Now if you are earning more than the threshold of EUR 4,050 gross salary per month, you can elect to leave the public health insurance and get a private health insurance while employed in Germany. Here the comparison between different offers is a bit more complicated and you may want to get the advice of a professional advisor or broker. I have seen some attempts to compare different quotations from different private health insurances, but you cannot just take one quote with the price XYZ and another one with ABC to be paid per month and say that the cheaper one is the better choice - it may vary strongly regarding the insured coverage. The best way to start a comparison is to ask private insurers to send you a quotation "Analog GKV", meaning with the same coverage as the public health insurance. Then you can compare the insurance quotations on an even footing. You can also lower your premium by using "excess options (Selbstbeteiligung)". This means that you are willing to pay for instance the first 300.- EUR every year out of your own pocket and you will receive reimbursement only for the costs in excess of that 300.- EUR. Since most of the private insurances offer to repay you 1 or 2 monthly premiums after one year of not having using the insurance at all, you should add this repayment amount to the excess-option-amount agreed in your contract and then you know at what medical cost per year it makes economical sense to hand in all invoices to the insurer during any given year. The highest excess option I know of is 2.400.- EUR per year; standard is between 300 and 750 EUR per year. If you take a very high excess option, you will achieve a similar coverage like with most expat health insurances: you are covered for all serious medical problems, but you will pay for all prescriptions and ordinary consultations of a doctor out of pocket. So, a Private Health insurance can be much lower in monthly premium than a Public health insurance while providing you with more and better coverage. Still: if you are married with children and your spouse does not earn any income here in Germany, public insurance covering all family members with your own premium can be the better deal. And if you want to have a better coverage than Public Insurance offers, you can always get an add-on insurance from private insurance companies, where you cover certain medical issues that you deem to be important for you.
http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Health_insurance

[Flying Dream Blues]

19. Frenchie, this would be a great standalone post...thanks! nt

[Vadem]

11. TLaB, I'm with you! I saw O'Neal on David Shuster's show at ...

4:00 pm or so; the question that David asked O'Neal has been bothering me all day! David was interviewing Ryan O'Neal and Farrah's best friend and also the producer or filmer of the movie--David asked Ryan "Do you have any regrets?"

WTF!!! Any regrets about taking care of your long time lover and mother of your child?? What TF was in David's head with that question???

O'Neal said "Regrets? No, but I really love David Shuster!" WTF!!!

It is all so damn superficial--Hollywood and all that shite!

Give me a friggin break!

I pray that Farrah has no pain in her journey ahead.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. O'Neal was on Shuster's show?

Oh, for god's sake.

Is there a venue he missed?

Thanks for the update. I really thought people would jump on me for my OP, but it's wonderfully reassuring to see that others had come to the same conclusion.

People at DU are SO damn smart, aren't they?

All I can wish for her is a fast and painless passing. She's endured enough .............................

[Vadem]

16. Yes, he was and he was so smug and smirking that I couldn't ...

stand him or David Shuster and I love David Shuster! I can't understand David's questions to him--and his answers to David Shuster!

They all seemed so superficial--and they were!

F**k them all!

A beautiful woman is dying and they are still mouthing platitudes or stupid comments or worse!

[Shell Beau]

23. I don't consider Ryan to be well.

Of course, I don't know him personally, but one can look at almost any of his past actions and make that determination. He needs his own help. I think Farrah's death (if/when it happens) could push him over the edge.

[blogslut]

12. Actors

I used to be one. Having lived that life, I would never date an actor.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. Wanna know how dumb a Hollywood writer can be?

I married one..................

[blogslut]

15. LOL!

Well, writers are thieves. Actors are trained liars. We all have our faults. :hi:

[blonndee]

17. Writers are thieves? How so?

I know you're a writer, so I'm really interested in your response. :)

On edit: I do agree with you, and I really do understand what you mean when you say "thieves," but I still want to hear more from you on this because...well, I want to read your writing! If you don't want to indulge me, I understand, though. :)

[blogslut]

18. They steal people's life stories

I have a playwright friend that used to take portions of my life and incorporate them into his plays. Mind you, he's a genius and I was flattered. Just the same, I learned to be very careful when telling tales of my life while in the presence of writers. If anyone is going to make money off my history, I would rather it be me.

:hi:

[blonndee]

24. Totally. They/we really do.

But what else can one do, really?

Your experience is much more direct, obviously. Still, I envy you. I wish I had such an interesting life that someone would want to "steal" it/write about it, though. No such luck. ;)

[blogslut]

25. This is him

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/20/DD3R16IH30.DTL

I saw him again last year - after tens years. Now, I may be imagining things but I've read an overview of the play mentioned in the article. I swear he borrowed details of my life again! The bastid.

My true consolation is that when scholars of the future study his plays, my name will appear in the original cast lists of ten productions. :)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

27. The really good writers,

such as I ::: ahem :::: do not steal.

That would be wrong.

I prefer the term my agent uses.

We cannibalize.......................

[blogslut]

29. Good term

But then again, it takes an agent to come up with something like that. :rofl:

[blonndee]

28. After reading that, I kind of understand your frustration, as all credit is given to

"an active subconscious life." Whereas that is true for any decent writer, if indeed you have been ripped off, I would see this as especially infurating. Or as my juniors might say, "infuriation."

edit spelling

[blogslut]

30. Well, he's the one with initiative

as well as the ability to take those snippets and produce brilliance.

I've tried a hundreds of times to write the story of my life. I can only get so far and then feel like I'm blathering. I'm not driven like he is.

[Shell Beau]

20. Look at Tatum O'Neal. But, I am hoping that good will

come from her doing this "show". Maybe people will be helped. Maybe people will go to the doctor that would not have. Ryan O'Neal seems to have some major demons. I don't know if it about is publicity or just him being way out there. But he seems to need some major help, and I think when Farrah passes, he will need help like he hasn't before.


It is a tragic situation all around. Yes, she can afford help. But she is terminal. The help may have bought her some more time, but that is it.

[roguevalley]

35. his biggest abuse of tatum came after she won her oscar and he was

so jealous of his daughter he abused her, the fucker.

[mykpart]

21. I can't swear to this, because I was still half asleep and not paying too much

attention, but I thought I heard someone this morning on CBS say that they hoped O'Neal was sincere and not just looking for a meal ticket. I think the speaker was a blonde woman who is Farrah's best friend.

[femrap]

26. Ryan O'Neal makes me sick. n/t

[havocmom]

32. We are all gonna die. Some are lucky enough to go without a lot of pain.

Some are lucky enough to be able to get the best care for the pain.

Ms Fawcett has too much pain, but at least medical care for it. What she does not need at her end is the pain in the ass that is Ryan O'Neal.

And neither do the rest of us.

I won't watch the show tonight. Life is too short.

The woman has been exploited long enough by a system that lacks humanity. I wish her an end to the pain and freedom in what ever hereafter she wants.

Mr. O'Neal can fuck off. ;)

[DU GrovelBot]

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[dionysus]

34. thoughtful post. i have no idea why you think you'd get flamed for it.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

37. I honestly thought

I'd get hammered by people who believed Ryan O'Neal was being a devoted, loving companion to Ms. Fawcett.

To my joy, I apparently underestimated the intelligent, deliberate, thoughtful, well-informed folks who dwell in DULand. The responses here are just so right on, I am humbled.

Really, you guys are the best people on earth.

[dionysus]

38. thx. your post reminded me that he was a loser. hopefully, he is not putting on an act, but sadly,

he very well may be.
:(

[Stinky The Clown]

36. For my own health and well being, I will not be watching it.

I generally see it as you do, Tange.

Disgusting and exploitative.

I am also put off by O'Neill and their son and that whole tragic side of the story.

[bertman]

39. It's TeeVee in America. He's a celebrity. She's a celebrity. What do you expect?

:shrug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

40. I watched it ..........

It was, no surprise, very well done. Lots of money went into the editing.

O'Neal mostly spoke about how upset he was, how hard it was for him, how he doesn't know what he's going to do when she dies. Yes, Ryan, it's all about you. (I read an interview with him today in which he said they still might get married - she's comatose - who is he kidding?)

Alana Hamilton, her best friend, came across as a really good person and devoted pal.

Her son, though - jesus, what a mess. They showed the scene where he was brought from the jail to his mother's deathbed. In the jumpsuit, shackles on his legs. Thankfully, they kept her face hidden, but the young man lay on the bed with her. It didn't appear that she knew who he was.

All in all, it was an indulgent exercise in what it means when someone incredibly wealthy is suffering from cancer. Private jets, private hospital rooms, the best of everything.

Do you know what it costs to fly a small private jet from LA to Germany? Unbelievable.

I'm not sorry I watched it - got the laundry done, too - but it was an unsettling display of exhibitionism. The scenes of paparazzi at the airport, for instance, were troubling, since those guys get tipped off by publicists and know exactly where to be and when. The complaints about them rang hollow.

Ultimately, it was a lovely goodbye to a woman who led a blessed, confused life. That was all............

[barbtries]

41. you just make me so glad

that i don't watch tv.