Britney Spears made a bizarre request at an exclusive boutique, asking that they recreate a dress from a different designer and have it ready by that evening. She got turned down, of course, but ended up with the consolation prize of a yellow wig that one of the mannequins was wearing:

She flummoxed staff at the Betsey Johnson on Melrose Ave. this month by turning up with a Dolce & Gabbana dress she wanted the store to copy - in all white - to be ready by that evening.

According to a witness, “the staff explained that they didn’t have a dressmaker on call who could do it in time.” Never mind that the frock she wanted copied wasn’t even their label.

“The only thing she wanted to buy in the store was the yellow wig on a mannequin in the window,” laughs the source. “The manager eventually agreed to offer it to her for $100.”

[From The NY Daily News]

This isn’t the first time that Britney has baffled employees at a designer boutique. This week’s National Enquirer reports that she went into top bridal designer Monique Lhuillier’s shop and said she was looking for a wedding gown.

Allowed to go on the Feb 16 shopping spree by her dad, the singer scouted Monique Lhuillier boutique for bridal attire. Britney told a clerk she dreams of getting married again in a big wedding - and wants a dress with a long train. Her assistant humored her, acting as if she was taking down info. The singer settled for a nice, brown dress, but instructed the sale staff to contact her when they receive the latest gowns.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, March 3, 2008]

I can see Britney just buying a wedding dress and wearing it out for attention. It would be a smarter ploy than trying to flash the paps for the tenth time.

In related Britney news, the LAPD has said they’re considering investigating whether she was drugged against her knowledge:

Police Capt. Kyle Jackon said in a statement Wednesday that the allegations “are being considered” by the Robbery-Homicide unit to determine if laws have been violated.

[From AP]

This is similar to a story reported by TMZ a little over a week ago saying that the investigation into Sam Lutfi’s drugging of Britney was “well underway” and that it has “been assigned to Robbery Homicide.” A police spokesperson denied that there was an investigation at that time.

Britney is shown out shopping on 2/26/08.

Actress Delta Burke, who has long been an advocate for talking about mental health issues, spoke with Entertainment Tonight about her recent hospitalization in a psych ward. It was widely reported that Delta was hospitalized for her hoarding, and while that played a large part in her struggle, it appears that her biggest worry was that her depression had gotten out of control. Delta says that before she was hospitalized, she couldn’t get out of bed for over two weeks.

Burke, 51, says she had been on five medications to treat her lifelong battle with depression when all of them stopped working. So she went to a clinic “to get my meds straightened out and to get properly diagnosed,” she says, adding that her meds have since been cut back to two and she has been put on a diabetic diet.

Burke says she has come a long way since her Designing Women days when her depression severely escalated. One night, she recalls, she was parked in a car on top of a hill with a gun beside her and a bottle of Xanax. She was upset over what a tabloid had written about her. “I just kept taking Xanax and hoping the pain would stop,” she tells ET. “I got really sleepy and decided to go for a ride. I needed a Diet Coke really bad. I called up [husband Gerald McRaney]. I didn’t know where I was but he found me.”

Burke says she continues to speak out about her depression — “something that I deal with and millions of Americans deal with” — “to remove the stigma. “I will always fight and everyone out there who battles this should always fight,” she adds.

[From Us Weekly]

Delta also reported that her hoarding had gotten out out of hand. She was addicted to QVC and eBay. I think eBay is becoming a much more common addiction than people realize. Delta’s addiction had led to her having to rent out 27 storage units in New Orleans, which she filled with her belongings. As part of her recovery, Delta’s sister is helping her sort through the items. She’s doing her best to sell and donate as much as she can. Hoarding is an interesting, and not often talked about disease. We discussed it in detail in relation to Delta’s hospitalization here. I can imagine that when you’re depressed, thinking of the extreme clutter and mess really could push you over the edge and make it impossible to even get out of bed and deal with it all. Congratulations to Delta not just for dealing with her issues, but for being unashamed and unafraid to talk about them.

Many of us thought that Britney’s ever-present “friend”/self-proclaimed manager, Sam Lutfi, was bad news, especially when the news got out last week that he’s had up to three restraining orders against him and that he harassed, controlled, and threatened a friend with blackmail and violence against his family. Now that Britney’s mother’s statement about how she witnessed Lutfi drugging, emotionally abusing, and bragging about how he controlled her daughter has been released, people realize how much of a choke hold he had over her. People are also re-evaluating Britney’s behavior over the past few months.

It came out in Lynn’s statement that Lutfi had disabled Britney’s many cars and phones, and that he had the security guard, paparazzi, and Britney’s business manager answering to him. He also apparently even won over her divorce attorneys, which would explain why she hired someone else to represent her at the hearing for guardianship of her estate.

Commentor CeeJay on our earlier post about Lynn’s statement mentioned that all this would explain why Britney always stayed in hotels, was seen wandering around outside her house, and drove around aimlessly for hours. Lutfi had moved into Britney’s mansion and she was afraid to return home to that awful situation.

Lynn’s statement also makes it clear why Britney might be compelled to buy so many new cars and even a new home. When Lutfi disabled one of her vehicles, she simply bought a new one. It was also likely that she was trying to get a house where he couldn’t control her.

Britney didn’t seem coherent when her mother saw her the night before she was hospitalized, but she was aware of one thing. She specifically asked her mom to switch glasses with her when Lutfi poured the wine, which suggests that she knew that he was drugging her by slipping pills in her food and drink. He even bragged to Britney’s mom that he would mash up pills and mix them into her food.

While Britney may have been too drugged out to make sound decisions, she was letting us know in her own way that things were unbearable at home and that she could not return there. This woman wasn’t making the most sound or mature decisions on her own, and was thought to be showing signs of bipolar disorder when she shaved her head early last year. She seemed incapable of caring for her children, and lost custody of her two toddlers in October of last year, presumably right before she met Lutfi, and was only allowed supervised visits. She was thought to be at risk for suicide at that time. Lutfi stepped in and took over for an already-troubled Britney, and she was poisoned, manipulated and made a prisoner in her own home, ultimately losing visitation rights with her children.

Update: Thanks to reader Exyank for noting that Lutfi has been in Britney’s life much longer than the restraining order states, and that he has known her since late 2006/early 2007. A controlling, abusive relationship with Lutfi could potentially explain how Britney really lost it after breaking up with K-Fed and her brief friendship with Paris Hilton afterwards.

Britney and one of her boys are shown in the header in October, 2007. She is shown below with Sam in December.

There was more news in the ongoing Britney saga this weekend. She remains in the psych ward at UCLA Medical Center, where the new psychiatrist who has been treating her supposed bipolar disorder practices. Britney’s stay has been extended for 14 days, and it is thought that it is on the recommendation of her doctor and is against her will. People reports that she is in a padded room and that she is allowed to keep her own clothing and toiletries and can take cigarette breaks outside. She may make phone calls, but only from a pay phone. LA Rag Mag has some supposed details from inside the psych ward, presumably from a patient or hospital worker, who claims that she is calling herself “Jack Triple X 59,” after having asked people to call her “Amanda.” It could be true, or it could be an anonymous tipster pulling everyone’s leg.

On Friday some valuables were noticed missing from Britney’s mansion. The theft apparently occurred after her hospitalization Thursday morning, and everyone is pointing fingers at Sam Lutfi, the megalomaniac self-appointed manager who has now been shut out of the singer’s life by a restraining order. Britney’s parents called the cops and filed a report of the missing items, which are described as “valuable possessions” by US Weekly. Lutfi has never hesitated to discuss his relationship with Britney to the press, and fellow blog Bitten and Bound has some inside information from a “friend” of Lutfi’s, who claims that he bragged about his power over her and tried to demonstrate that she was helpless without him.

Lutfi might still weasel his way back into Britney’s life despite the restraining order. Britney’s divorce lawyers, who are said to be aligned with Lutfi, are expected to fight her father’s legal control of her estate and medical affairs. TMZ reports that her lawyers will request “that a different conservator be appointed” when they go to court today, but that the person has not yet been decided on. Fingers crossed that it’s not Lutfi - or maybe that would be a good thing. A judge isn’t likely to give Lutfi control over Britney’s affairs. Part of me hopes that Britney with stay in the hospital with her father making the decisions and learning to live with the situation while gaining control of her health. Since she fights everything tooth and nail and seems to hate her dad, maybe an impartial legal team should be running things for her. That way she might have less animosity towards the treatment and day to day help she so badly needs.

Britney is shown in better times at the Scandinavia Style Mansion on 12/2/07, just two months ago. Thanks to PRPhotos.

We have an interview with Terri Cheney, author of Manic: A Memoir, which tells the harrowing story of her struggle with bipolar disorder. Ms. Cheny is a former Hollywood entertainment and intellectual property lawyer who represented high-profile clients such as Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. She suffered bipolar disorder for years, and can understand Britney’s behavior and see the parallels to her own battle with mental illness. She provides us with her unique insight in this exclusive interview.

Ms. Cheney speaks candidly of her feelings of invulnerability at the height of her illness and the way she coped with the occasional pang of guilt. We should feel compassion for Britney, but hold her to the same standards as the rest of society, she maintains. As for Britney’s chances at recovery, Ms. Cheney is an example of how bipolar sufferers can turn their lives around with the help of professionals, but she says it has to happen from within first.

As for what Britney is feeling right now, I know a lot from my own experience. Even though I was a well-educated attorney, when I was at the height of mania, I didn’t have a clue what was going on with me. I refused to listen to what anyone around me was saying, because I felt completely invulnerable - very similar to how Britney has shut out her family and friends. Only now and then, I’d be forced to confront the consequences of my erratic behavior. Then I’d feel a twinge of terror, realizing that I was at the mercy of forces I couldn’t control. But that moment of awareness would quickly pass, and in a heartbeat I’d feel invulnerable again.

2) Is it fair for us to impose our standards of “normal behavior” on someone suffering from severe bipolar disorder, if that is indeed what is going on with Britney?

I don’t think Britney is entitled to any special exemptions from social convention, just because she is a celebrity who may be suffering from a mental disorder. What she does deserve, however, is our enlightened compassion. Her conduct may not merit our sympathy, but her illness does.

3) What is the difference between histrionic personality disorder and bipolar disorder and how do we know Britney has one and not the other or both?

Personality disorders involve pervasive patterns of behavior and symptoms, which psychiatrists have grouped into various classifications. “Histrionic personality disorder” is characterized by overly dramatic behavior and exhibitionism, excessive attention-seeking, hypersexuality, etc.

Bipolar disorder, however, is a chemical imbalance in the neurotransmitters required for healthy functioning of the brain. It is first and foremost a physical disease.

It is certainly possible for a person to have a personality disorder along with bipolar disorder. Only a thorough psychiatric evaluation can determine whether Britney has one, or both - and, to my knowledge, she has yet to undergo such an evaluation.

4) Is there any chance for Britney to get better and what does she need to do to start making that change?

I think once Britney gets the help she needs, she has every chance in the world of finding her way back to sanity. As I described in my book “Manic,” I suffered severely from bipolar disorder for many years — terrible episodes of dangerous mania, followed by crushing bouts of depression. For me, medication made all the difference. It was the foundation on which my recovery was built. Individual and group therapy have also been very helpful.

The critical step for anyone who may be suffering from bipolar disorder, especially someone as out of control as Britney, is to find a good doctor. With Britney’s resources, she obviously has access to the best medical care in the world. I only hope she finds a moment of clarity to say, “I need help.” Change can’t happen without her cooperation.

Ms. Cheney’s book, Manic: A Memoir, is available on Amazon.com. You can learn more about her and the book on her website, TerriCheney.com.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, my favorite of all television/radio doctors, is going on the attack, and his target is Dr. Phil McGraw. Dr. Phil famously tried to use Britney Spears’ emotional breakdown last week as a vehicle to boost his own show’s ratings. The Spears family requested that he meet privately with Britney. And while Dr. Phil did technically do that, he then issued multiple press releases about it, blabbed to Entertainment Tonight about Brit’s condition, and then said he was going to have the Spears parents on his show. He eventually had to retract that, and the Spears had to issue a statement explaining that they wanted Dr. Phil’s private – not public – help. By most accounts, Dr. Phil just yammered at Britney for fifteen minutes (not the hour long conversation he originally reported) while she packed her belongs to leave the hospital.

Dr. Drew (who is a board-certified MD, an addiction-medicine specialist in full time practice, teaches at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, has been the host of radio’s Loveline since he was a med student in 1983, and is currently the host of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab) has called Dr. Phil out for his unprofessional behavior.

Celebrity doctors Drew Pinsky and Phil McGraw are sparring over the treatment of troubled superstar Britney Spears. Pinsky, who recently treated American Idol singer Jessica Sierra, has attacked the advice McGraw gave Spears when he visited her in hospital following her recent stand-off with police - and challenged the TV talk show host’s right to call himself a doctor.

The addiction specialist claims by getting involved, McGraw has made the situation worse. He says, “It’s never good for an addict when there are multiple sources getting involved. You have to have a unified front. Addicts love a split. It helps them maintain the chaos.

“He’s not a physician. I’m an MD. I went to medical school. He’s a psychologist and I don’t think he has a license in California.”

[From PR-Insider]

Britney clearly needs a specialist, not a general TV-grade psychologist who’s out for their own benefit. And it seems pretty likely that she needs someone with a medical degree, as it seems possible that she has some sort of physical problem going on, whether it’s chemical or biological. Hopefully the biggest disservice Dr. Phil did was to his own career and not to Britney or her family. There’s been a lot of speculation that his actions may have caused an irreparable rift between the Spears.

Dr. Drew made some additional points about Dr. Phil’s lack of professional responsibility.

“My concern was, I don’t know that Dr. Phil has a license in California,” Drew told Access Hollywood. “He’s not on staff at Cedars. Is he interfering with the care of another doctor’s patient? I don’t know.”

As for rumors that Britney’s family plans on having her involuntarily committed, Dr. Drew said that is unlikely to happen. “When a patient doesn’t want help, there’s sort of a fallacy that we can somehow intervene and make them get better,” he said. “It doesn’t work like that, it has to come from within them.”

Dr. Drew said in order to help a person out, sometimes a family has to cut the person off. “So what we try to do is get the family actually to actively disengage with the patient. It is their dance with the patient that allows their disease to go on,” he explained.

[From Access Hollywood]

I really feel like Dr. Phil needs some sort of professional sanctioning. Apparently it is a rule amongst those in the mental health field that one professional doesn’t treat another’s patient without consulting with them first. Otherwise the patient could get a lot of conflicting information, advice, and treatment. I used to find Dr. Phil’s show somewhat entertaining, but frankly his brand of superficial advice just isn’t appropriate in anything other than an hour-long TV format.

Paula Abdul has a long history of acting like a complete whack job. And then blaming it all on her pain meds. That excuse only goes so far. It can technically explain you acting loopy and drunk on a Seattle morning news show, even if no one buys it. It can’t explain you sounding like you swallowed a poltergeist. Paula Abdul was waiting at LAX (the airport, not the super-hip nightclub) when she went on some sort of psychotic bender according to passengers.

Paula Abdul, the braying, oft-drunk judge of landmark cultural institution American Idol, caused quite the scene at LAX over the holidays, according to a source. Says a tipster who saw her in the Continental Airlines terminal: “She had an insane nervous breakdown that lasted 10 minutes. One minute she was hyperventilating and on the verge of passing out; the next she was yelling into her cell phone in this deep, rage-filled Poltergeist voice. She kept screaming three names over and over—Michael, Sidney, and Leslie. Everyone was staring at her, but she didn’t care.”

There were no cameras around, so she wasn’t filming a scene for her train wreck reality show on Bravo. Still, hysterical outbursts aren’t exactly new territory for Abdul. Anyone have an idea what prompted this one? Or who Michael, Sidney, and Leslie might be? Let us know!

[From Radaronline]

I haven’t actually seen her reality show “Hey Paula” but I know there was some debate regarding whether she was really crazy or just playing it up for the cameras. Until this most recent incident, Paula did always seem way too cheerful when she was acting all straightjacket-worthy. If this were almost anyone other than Paula Abdul, I’d be skeptical as to the veracity of the story. But it is Paula Abdul, and she’s eight kinds of crazy. You could tell me she scampered up a palm tree in the middle of Sunset Boulevard and I would absolutely believe it. In fact I’m kind of surprised she hasn’t done that yet. But give it until the end of the month, I’m sure Paula will start speaking in tongues and scamper up some kind of tree to gnaw on the foliage by then.

I can never decide if I love or hate Eva Longoria. I’ll come to a clear-cut decision, and then she’ll do something remarkably wonderful or remarkably annoying, and I’m back where I started. After reading an article about her in Parade, I’m again left stumped. In it, Eva talks about her respect and love for her sister Liza, who is mentally challenged. And I’m left in a bit of a pickle: do I like Eva more for talking about it, or is she using her sister’s mental illness to drum up publicity for herself? Because it’s Eva Longoria, I really could go either way.

Eva Longoria says she’s a naturally cheerful person, but her sense of optimism comes directly from her family. “I’ve learned there’s no better medicine than laughing,” says the Desperate Housewives star, who opens up about her family to Parade magazine. “(My sister) Liza is mentally challenged. She was my hero growing up,” she says. “It was a blessing to watch her overcome every obstacle – tying her shoes, putting on a shirt, getting out the front door. And yet she still had a job and would come home on the bus by herself and help with dinner. You could only imagine the hurdles she encountered every minute of the day.”

In fact she says her sister helped her career in some ways. “Liza was a role model to get me ready for life in Hollywood,” says Longoria. “You don’t take health for granted. You don’t take life for granted. It seems so insignificant to go, ‘Darn it, I didn’t get that movie role,’ or, ‘Darn it, so-and-so is wearing the same dress as me to the Emmys.’ ”

And having a supportive mother also helped Longoria learn to follow her heart. “My mother is the most non-judgmental person in the world. When I said, ‘I’m going to L.A. to be an actress,’ she told me, ‘All right. I hope that makes you happy.’ ” Longoria say’s she’s as happy as she’s ever been. “I love my husband with all my heart,” she says of Tony Parker. “I love my family. And I love my girlfriends. And I live my job. And I love my dogs. I love life, in general.”

[From People]

Yes? No? Do we like Eva Longoria more or less now? If nothing else I’m sure that I hate Parade magazine more. Is there anything else in the Sunday paper that serves less of a purpose? The auto auction announcements on page M12 have more relevance. And the cartoons just make me mad. A big dog holding a garden hose! Hysterical! F*#& off Parade.

Eva also touches on other deep topics, such as skincare.

“For me, as far as skin, I’m a big advocate of facials. And I moisturize. And I read my magazines. I listen to good advice from people who really know, and I try to watch what I eat. But it’s diet. It’s exercise. It’s maintenance. It’s checkups. It’s attitude. It’s a lot of things. And I think you just need to be aware of what’s going to work for you.”

[From Parade]

I’m not sure, but I don’t think reading magazines actually improves your skin. Probably doesn’t hurt it any, and maybe if you read something funny you might get a glow or something. There’s something so self-indulgent about Eva Longoria that even when she’s talking about something that carries some weight, like her sister, it still comes off as self-serving. But we shouldn’t complain: we’ve only got about 3 more new episodes of Desperate Housewives left, and then we’ll be begging for any Eva we can get.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Eva Longoria is shown at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show on 11/15/07 thanks to PRPhotos. Also, Eva may love her sister and all, but it’s not like she’s brought her out with her - anywhere. Have we ever seen a picture of Eva’s sister out with her to lunch, out shopping, or at an event? I’m not saying that she should be exposing her to the spotlight, just that it seems like we might have heard of her before if Eva spent any time with her. She might have, say, brought her to a Spurs game with her or something, but no, all we’ve seen is Eva.