Hollywood and Mental Illness

This summer has been rough, hasn't it? We lost lots of young talent and TV personalities lately. Amanda Bynes will hopefully be saved, but I'm not sure the media will be saved. Yep, I am one of the people who has to cover celebrities with drug addictions, mental illness and trips to rehab. So, I am guilty as charged. However, I do feel like we have a responsibility to some of these celeb having public breakdowns.

I got to a point midway through the Bynes saga where I just felt sorry for her. I didn't want to write about her latest cry for attention on Twitter. I didn't want to hear who she targeted for her latest "you're ugly" comment. I just wanted her to get help.

The problem is that it ain't easy.  Every comment I read on articles about the former Nickelodeon star insinuated that her parents were horrible for not helping their daughter. Hey guys, guess what? Their daughter is over 18 years old, she can do whatever she wants. It wasn't until she had an epic event like burning someone's driveway that the law could finally do something with her. She's on an involuntary psychiatric hold where she is reportedly being treated for schizophrenia. It's a lot less funny now, right?

In the last week, the entertainment community has lost a reality TV star with Gia Allemand and Rizzoli & Isles star Lee Thompson Young to suicide. Depression runs deep and for some, suicide seems to be the only answer. Sadly, Allemand and Young felt like they had no other place to turn. 

In this 24/7 news cycle that I actively participate in, I want Hollywood to step up and be more sensitive to those that are suffering. I hope we don't see another saga like Amanda Bynes or even Paris Jackson. I hope their story has a better ending like Britney Spears who has moved forward with her life under controlled circumstances. 

Let's try to understand a bit more about mental illness and depression. Perhaps one more life will be saved.

If you need help, reach out to someone: National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Media Mondays

Flying over the Grand Canyon last week while traveling back to LA.

How was your Cinco de Mayo?  Mine was spent rehearsing in Houston and eating a taco at Taco Cabana. Nothing too fancy for me this year, but I need to be on my A-game this week for work.

If you missed my media appearances last week, they are all here in one tidy pile:

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: As always, it warrants its own page. You can find it here.

My article for Starpulse was the top trending item on Google for the Tony Awards...woo hoo!

The Tony Awards Nominations:  Sutton Foster and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in one room?  Oh yes!  View it here.

Eat.Taste.Live:  Joel Bryant and I wrap up our yummy experiences after the show. I mad the strawberry quinoa salad a few days later. It's so darn good!



Tom Barnard Podcast:  Ahh, we talked about Maria Shriver needing a bacon cheeseburger, Stephen Baldwin's tax bill, and General Hospital. How's that for eclectic? I come in at 4:45.

The Radio Dish:  Mary and I chatted about the Daytime Emmys, a Two and a Half Men star gets a raise, and IronMan 3! I come in at the 21:30 mark.

On set last week with some super white legs....whoa!

Cocktails and Conversation:  What is happening down in Atlanta?  Reese gets arrested, Chris Kelly passes away.....it's a crazy town.  I jump in at the 0:15 minute mark.

SheKnows:
More Reese Witherspoon arrest footage: Hubby blames her!--I'd like to say I'm surprised by this, but I'm not. 
Amanda Bynes to Jenny McCarthy on Twitter--"You're ugly!"--The story is bizarre, hilarious, and sad.
Pink dishes on her date with Joey Fatone--2 Cute 2 B 4gotten.

Media Mondays

Hanging under the Levitated Mass at LACMA

How was your weekend?  I had a busy, but relaxing weekend hitting one of my favorite restaurants in LA, Susan Feniger's Street, seeing The Croods, and adventuring over to LACMA for the Stanley Kubrick exhibit. I will share photos of the exhibit later in the week.

In the meantime, here are all of my media spots from last week:

AfterBuzz TV: If you are looking for last week's episode and the announcement of this week's guests, click here for photos, info, and more.



It's A Wrap:  Clevver Movies host Erin Darling invited me to chat about the latest movie hot topics, so I joined the discussion on Evil Dead with Ryan Turek and Joshua Ovenshire...and read the comments. I guess a few people liked my blue shoes...ah, YouTube comments.

Cocktails and Conversation:  I was back with my ladies for a full hour this time and we discussed everything from Halle Berry's pregnancy to Kim Kardashian's fashion choices to Amanda Bynes' breakdown. (I think there are some undiagnosed mental issues happening here, so I don't want to make light of her situation.) Listen to the episode here.

Shooting my latest Kia commercials last week.

The Radio Dish:  Dishing with my Kansas City gals, I give the inside scoop on what is happening with The Tonight Show host swap and who is taking Jimmy Fallon's old spot. Listen in at the 21:00 mark here.

SheKnows: Some of my favorite stories from last week!
Finding Nemo gets a long-awaited sequel--Who doesn't love Dory?
Ryan Lochte models his career after Kim Kardashian's--Help us all!
Former Who's the Boss star Danny Pintauro engaged--I love a happy ending after Star magazine outed him in 1997.

It's Monday, so you have two opportunities to catch me on the air today:
1:30pm PT Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekley
7:35pm PT Driving with Gass on KWSS.org

KB News Network

After all of my hard work this week, I promise I did have fun.....The Book of Mormon at the Pantages was just the kind of dirty laughs I needed!

What a week it has been!  I've been all over the place working and talking about the Emmys plus wrapping up a long season of SYTYCD.  In order to keep everything straight for me and for you, here is where you can find all of my entertainment scoop from the week. You can pick and choose your adventures along the way.  You guys are awesome and I appreciate all of the support.  It's been a crazy ride to get here, but I feel like it is all coming together.  If you comment somewhere, let me know......I always respond back!

Spreecast:  Emmy Predictions in the Comedy and Drama Categories with me, AJ Gibson, and Stuart Brazell:

AfterBuzz TV: So You Think You Can Dance Finale with Emmy-Nominated choreographer, Spencer Liff.  This was my favorite broadcast all week because Spencer has done four Broadway shows.....I'm such a musical theatre nerd.



AfterBuzz TV:  The New Normal with me, AJ Gibson, Lauren Leonelli, and Anna Koppel.  We break down two episodes on a series I am not completely sold on yet.  There are an awful lot of stereotypes being thrown around here.  Do you agree? Watch here.

Spreecast: Behind the Red Carpet Live with Cheeks, creator of the online series, Husbands.  We did a lot of comparison between his show and The New Normal.  His show was created first and originally dubbed "the new normal" by This American Life back in October 2011.  Interesting, no?  Watch here.

SheKnows. com:  I began my first week on the job!  Here are a few of the articles I wrote:  Amanda Bynes is a mess, Demi Moore is a mess, and oh yeah, Chad Johnson is too.

Tom Barnard Podcast:  Tom is a legendary broadcaster in the Minnesota area and I was fortunate enough to make an appearance on his show this week talking all about Emmys Week.  You can listen here and I will hopefully be on another show soon.

I will be covering the Emmys official gifting suite this weekend plus I'm off to the NBC, HBO, and The Awards Lounge parties, so follow me on Instagram:  @KristynBurtt, Twitter, or Facebook for all of the updates.