On Scandal and Celebs

Howard Rosenberg’s column on Monica Lewinsky’s emergence as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig is (as usual for him) mainly on target (“Lewinsky: Return of a Dubious Celebrity,” Dec. 31).

However, he mixes apples and oranges when he includes sportscaster Marv Albert and political consultant Dick Morris on a list of celebrities who’ve capitalized on their notoriety to launch media careers. The fact is, unlike Watergate burglar turned radio talk-show host G. Gordon Liddy and basketball star turned who-knows-what Dennis Rodman (both of whom Rosenberg also cites), Albert and Morris were already established as major media figures when they crashed and burned; they got their current TV jobs despite--not because of--the scandals that quite properly tarnished both their reputations.

ALLAN MAYER

Malibu

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It is nuts to reward a person like Monica Lewinsky for having an affair with the president of the United States by giving her a commercial contract that sets her up in front of kids and adults alike as someone to be admired. I don’t care if she lost a hundred pounds, I am opposed to the idea.

I wouldn’t go to Jenny Craig now if it were the only diet control company on Earth.

CAROL GARRIS

Westlake Village

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When Rosenberg wrote the words, “Anyone--however prominent a jerk--can earn a big paycheck in the U.S. if he or she can financially benefit someone else,” one has to wonder if he was writing about Monica Lewinsky or himself. He further goes on to describe himself with the words, “being an epic drip can still pay.”

Happy New Year, Howard. May 2000 be filled with the same bitterness you have shown throughout 1999.

LAWRENCE GOODFRIED

North Hollywood