I have to admit I hadn't paid much attention to the work of comedian Richard Jeni over the last few years, but when I was in middle school and his specials aired on Showtime, I thought he was one of the most hysterical comedians I had ever seen. This equation of his is one I still quote from time to time:

'God is love. Love is blind. Therefore, Ray Charles is God.'

That makes perfect sense to me, but what's always a little more difficult to figure out is why a person would take their own life. According to Jeni's family, who released a statement saying Jeni's career was going fine and that they believe his death was probably a suicide, spurred by Jeni's having been "diagnosed with severe clinical depression coupled with bouts of psychotic paranoia." No official announcement from the autopsy has been made yet.

You can read the full statement on Jeni's official site.

The feud continues.

After Rosie O'Donnell announced on The View that she has been treated for depression (and that she hangs upside down every day), Donald Trump had to go and make a statement to one of the gossip shows about it (seriously, does The Insider have a crew stationed outside his office 24/7 in case he does something?). The video is after the jump, but here's the text of what he said:

"I have no compassion for Rosie...I can fully understand that when she looks in the mirror she suffers from depression."

O'Donnell wrote one of her poems about it on her blog, and if she comes up with more gems like "it has been my goal/for so long/to give a balding billionaire a boner," I might have to bookmark her site.

[via Best Week Ever]

Rosie O'Donnell recently revealed that she has suffered from depression since 1997. She did so on a "special episode" of The View yesterday that was dedicated to women and depression. To combat it, Rosie hangs upside down on a yoga swing for 15-30 minutes every day. She also takes antidepressants and practices regular (not upside down) yoga.

While it's noble of her to talk about depression-- a disease which still has a negative stigma-- the swinging upside down is just plain funny to watch.

Rosie swings upside down - video after the jump:

Brooke Shields announced on Jay Leno's show that Tom Cruise has personally apologized to her for saying things on The Today Show (and elsewhere) that she was wrong to take anti-depression medication.

Wow, celebrities can just go over to another celeb's house? How does that work? Do they call first and say, "you home? I was thinking about coming over." Or do they just get into their car and drive over and ring the bell?

"Yes, who is it?"
"It's Tom Cruise."
"Who?"
"Tom Cruise."
"Please leave or I'll call the police."
"No, I'm not joking, it's really me Brooke."
"Tom Cruise the actor?"
"Yes, yes, Brooke, it's me!"
"Prove it."
"Prove it?"
"Yes."
(Tom explodes into maniacal laughter)
"Oh, it is you. What do you want?"
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the stuff I said about depression and medication and your career."
"Oh, I understand Tom...hold on, I'll buzz you in...is Suri with you?"

In an article in today's New York Daily News, Lorraine Bracco talks about some of the circumstances that sent her into a deep depression a few years ago. Among the issues: a nasty custody battle with ex-lover Harvey Keitel over the daughter they had together, a divorce from her husband Edward James Olmos, and a large amount of debt that compelled her to file for bankrupcy. Jeez, that's enough to get anyone depressed, much less someone who's played intense roles like Dr. Melfi on The Sopranos and Karen Hill in the movie classic Goodfellas.

Anyway, with the help of therapy and Zoloft, which she is now paid to endorse, she is healthy and in control of her life. She discusses her depression in her new book On the Couch, which is why she is making the publicity rounds. The most interesting tidbit? That Bracco, 51, is currently involved with a 32-year-old driver for The Sopranos. Not a bad trade-up; we've all seen Edward James Olmos, right?

As we began to learn more about Earl Hickey and his quest for karma, we find that he has become a much more compassionate man and is one who can't just walk away from a situation where he can lend a hand.

Number 62 on Earl's list of past transgressions was his siphoning gas out of a neighbor's Yugo (with the help of brother Randy). Earl decides to right his wrong, and finds that the owner by the name of Philo is a very depressed guy with no job, no friends, no nothing, who is determined to commit suicide. It turns out that Earl was actually saving Philo's life by stealing the gas since Philo was trying to end it all by sitting in his car with a line running the exhaust into the driver's area. The car always ran out of gas before anything happened. It's karma, I tell you!

Philo tries to get run over by a car or truck on the highway, but Earl and Randy prevent it from happening. They decide to help Philo find a reason to live by lifting his spirits. He can't find any joy in small talk, motel hockey, or Earl offering up Catalina (she refuses to be with him because of the smell), the boys learn that Philo has a crush on a girl. Of course, things get a bit stick when the girl turns out to be Joy, Earl's ex-wife and Darnell (Crab Man's) current wife.