Jordan Lloyd Wins Big Brother 11

After being sequestered all summer in the sometimes volatile Big Brother house, sweet Southern belle Jordan Lloyd shocked everyone by taking home the $500,000 jackpot on the season finale of Big Brother 11 on Tuesday night.

Lloyd, a 22 year old waitress from Matthews, North Carolina was deemed an underdog - especially after her  Big Brother boyfriend Jeff was evicted two weeks ago. But she outsmarted the competition  by making one of the smartest moves of the game. After a surprise final HOH win, Jordan went with her gut Tuesday night and sent the backstabbing Kevin packing. That decision may have meant the difference between a $50,000 prize and a $500,000 prize.

Part 3 of the Final Head of Household CompetitionThe Final HOH competition pitted Lloyd against 29-year-old Kevin Campbell. Campbell, who was by far the strongest competitor remaining in the house, botched a crucial tiebreaker question on a multiple choice quiz. Shockingly, Jordan was off by one number on the tiebreaker question, which was “How many total votes were cast to evict in the Big Brother house, including tiebreaker votes?” Matthews guessed 80 and Lloyd guessed 50. The correct answer was 51.

The Final TwoWith Jordan Lloyd’s Final HOH win, it was up to her to single-handedly pick who she would bring with her to the Final 2. In what could be viewed as the smartest move in the game, she chose the very-hated Natalie. Of course, Jordan had no way of knowing just how hated Natalie actually was in the jury house, but it was a great move on her part.

The Jury’s Questions
With the Final 2 locked in place, the jury, which consisted of Jessie, Lydia, Russell, Jeff, Michelle and Kevin, had the opportunity to ask the the women a few questions. The questions were pre-selected and agreed upon by the jury (very lame, in my opinion). This was probably the weakest Q & A session ever on Big Brother. In past years, each jury member was given the opportunity to ask one of their own questions to each of the final two contestants. Jordan stumbled over a few of her answers (and smartly emphasized that she laid low all season), while Natalie was a bit cocky and definitely more sure of herself.

The VotesWhen it was finally for the live vote, some of the votes came as a surprise. Here is how the voting went:

America’s Vote went to Jordan
Jessie voted for (gasp) Jordan
Lydia voted for Jordan
Russell voted for Natalie
Jeff (of course) voted for Jordan
Michelle voted for Jordan
Kevin voted for Natalie

The Winner – Jordan LloydJordan seemed stunned when it began to register that she was indeed going to be the winner of the $500,000. With three votes in her favor and Jeff’s vote not yet revealed, you could see the look of shock on her face. Natalie’s face sunk when she realized that her BFF in the house, Jessie, did not vote for her.

What Jordan will do with the money
After reuniting with her family and friends, Jordan took a minute to tell host Julie Chen that she plans to put a down payment on a house for her mom, give her aunt some money for her childrens' college,  and maybe buy herself a new car. Chen did not ask second place winner, Natalie, what she plans to do with her smaller prize of $50,000.

America’s Favorite Houseguest
One thing that came as no surprise at all was America’s pick for their favorite houseguest. Jeff walked away with that prize, which was $25,000. Oh, and he walked away with a girlfriend, too.

Sources: CBS/Big Brother11

The Most Cringe-Worthy One Hit Wonders From the 1980s

The 1980s was a decade known for many things: shoulder pads, big hair, and er, bad music. Don’t get me wrong, the '80s was the decade of Bon Jovi, Guns 'N Roses, and many other powerful rock bands, but there were also a lot of bands who were one and done.

Remember, this was the dawn of the MTV era, and everyone tried to put out a record. Check out some of the worst one hit wonders of the 1980s and '90s:

“Funky Town”- Lipps Inc. (1980). Near the end of the disco era, this surprise hit was dubbed “the song that saved disco." Really? This song made me cringe because, well, I didn’t want disco to be saved.

“Mickey”- Toni Basil (1982). If I wanted to hear a cheer, I’d go to a football game. This was a terrible song all around, and Toni Basil looked ridiculous dressed as a high school cheerleader in the video, because, seriously, wasn't she like 40 years old at the time?

“Puttin' on the Ritz”- Taco (1983). I never understood how this song got so big. Taco covered the famous Irving Berlin composition for this hit, but it was a bad reboot from start to finish. Bad music, bad singing, bad video.  In fact, his Taco gives me indigestion.

“99 Luftballons” –Nena (1984). This song got a ton of airplay on MTV for one simple reason: they didn’t have a lot of videos back then. T MTV was still a 24-hour music video station, back then, so they had a lot of air time to fill. That’s the only explanation I can come up with for this song’s success.

“Party all the Time"-Eddie Murphy (1985). Why do actors try to make it as singers? Ask Eddie Murphy, who bombed with the 1985 song "Party All the Time," truly one of the worst songs of all time. John Travolta did it before him in the '70s with ‘Let Her In,” and Don Johnson did it after him with “Heartbeat."  Stick to acting, fellas!

“Rock Me Amadeus”- Falco (1985). This song is pure '80s --  if you like that sort of thing. I just never understood the appeal of this song, especially when I see the video and Falco’s ridiculous get-ups. Watch it once and you’ll see why it was a one hit wonder.

“I Wanna Be a Cowboy”- Boys Don’t Cry (1986). I cringe to admit that I once owned this song. But after re-listening to it more than two decades later, I wondered if it's too late to get a refund.

“Ice Ice Baby”-Vanilla Ice (1990). Rob Van Winkle  stormed the scene in the early '90s (Yo, Vanilla!), and he was mocked for his wacky haircut and shaved eyebrow. His surprise hit song, “Ice Ice Baby," had one credible moment: the sample from the David Bowie’s “Under Pressure." Sorry to be cold as ice.

“Groove is in the Heart”- Deelite (1990). The '90s  ushered in  all kinds of new music, and  I think people were just confused. This was a popular dance song, but I used to share an office with a Deelite fan who did more dancing than working, so this song just brings back bad memories for me. How do you say dee-terrible?

“Rico Suave”- Gerardo (1991). The only good thing about this song was a shirtless Gerardo in the video. The boy was smokin’ hot. But the song? Oh my, it was so bad. So very, very bad.

“Baby Got Back”- Sir Mix a Lot (1992). If you were looking for comedic value, this song had it. But the video was ridiculous. The opening montage with the two gossiping girls is funny, but do we really need an entire song about a girl’s butt?

“Barbie Girl”- Aqua (1997). With lyrics like: "You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere,” this song is definitely not for little girls. And Ken’s voice is totally sleazy.

The 10 Most Depressing Songs From the 1970s

The 1970s may be best remembered for classic rock and disco, but the decade definitely gave us a slew of sad and depressing songs, too. From teen suicide to heroin addiction, there weren’t a whole lot of light and fluffy songs, especially in the middle part of the decade. Here are the Top 10 Sad Songs from the '70s:

Needle and the Damage Done- Neil Young (1972). Neil Young’s Harvest LP had plenty of great songs on it, but this one was just plain depressing. While I like the melody, the lyrics about the descent into heroin addiction is something I’d rather not sing along to. Young’s “Every junkie’s like a setting sun…” gets me every time.

Time in a Bottle- Jim Croce (1973). Jim Croce’s tragic death in 1973 further punctuated the already sad tone of this song, which incidentally turned out to be a posthumous hit for him. This song remains one of the ultimate tearjerker songs of all time, basically reminding us that there’s never enough time.

Billy Don’t Be a Hero- Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (1974). 1974 was the year for the depressingly sad death songs of the decade. “Billy Don’t be a Hero” was an antiwar song with a tragic ending, when the song’s hero is killed in action.

Run Joey Run -David Geddes (1974). This song was so bad it was tragic!  It started with a teenage pregnancy and ended with the teen girl’s father shooting and killing her. (His target was her baby daddy.) Full of drama and angst, this song was like an Afterschool Special gone terribly wrong.

Seasons in the Sun- Terry Jacks (1974). OK, so I take that back. This one beats “Run Joey Run” as far as depressing goes. This song is about a young man saying goodbye to his dying friend. It doesn’t get any sadder than : “goodbye my friend, it's hard to die, when all the birds are singing in the sky." Pass the tissues, please.

Cats in the Cradle- Harry Chapin (1974). Life goes fast and before you know it your kids are grown and out the door. Chapin reminds us all too well of this fact in this classic tearjerker. When an old man finally has time for his son, he discovers that his boy, now grown, no longer has no time for him. This song is a real wake up call, but how many of us listen?

All By Myself- Eric Carmen (1975). Before Celine Dion took on this power ballad, former Raspberries front man Eric Carmen belted it out in the '70s. The tune is about a lonely person reflecting on his life. By the way, whatever happened to Carmen?

At Seventeen- Janis Ian (1975). Not even out of high school and already and old maid? Imagine this empowering message when you’re a 10- year-old girl: “I learned the truth at seventeen, that love was meant for beauty queens." Man, after hearing Ian’s song for the umpteenth time, I was sure I’d never find a boyfriend!

I’m Not in Love- 10cc (1975). This song had gloomy music and more ominous lyrics that put a bad spin on love: “I like to see you, but then again, that doesn't mean you mean that much to me. " The singer also warns his girl: "If I call you, don't make a fuss, don't tell your friends about the two of us." Because being in love means never having to say 'I love you." P.S. Big boys don't cry, either.

Ode to Billy Joe- Bobby Gentry (1967). This song was actually released in 1967, but it was immortalized in the 1976 Robby Benson movie, “Ode to Billy Joe." The totally sad tale of a confused young man who ends up committing suicide by jumping off the Tallahatchie Bridge, leaving behind his true love and a lot of unanswered questions, is punctuated by Bobby Gentry's hautning lyrics.

Phoenixville, PA‘s New Restaurant Row

This suburban Philadelphia town serves up some excellent fare with the addition of several restaurants right on Bridge Street.

In Chester County, PA, the small town of Phoenixville,  known mainly for its annually “Blobfest” (yes, in reference to the campy Steve McQueen classic, which was filmed here back in 1958) has experienced quite a resurgence in recent years. Long gone are the steel mills that made Phoenixville home to so many workers years ago. These days, the town is home to a hot new downtown that features several trendy restaurants. Here’s a sampling of the best Phoenixville restaurants, all located right on the town’s main drag, Bridge Street.

Hacienda Michoacana. (101 Bridge Street/61--415-1972) The old Phoenix Steel superintendents building has been gorgeously restored and put to good use with this  addition to the Phoenixville restaurant scene. Hacienda Michoacana serves authentic Mexican food and drink, all fresh and cooked to order. To try:  The "loaded" nacho platter (you have to see it to believe it) and a mojito.

Molly Maguire’s. (197 Bridge Street/ 610-933-9550). Molly’s is an Irish pub that serves authentic Irish food and drink in a big way. With menu items like Dublin-style bangers and mash, braised steak and Guinness pie, and of course, corned beef and cabbage, Molly’s has it all. It’s near impossible to get a table on St. Patty’s Day unless you call ahead or get there very early, but Molly’s is a fun place year round.

The Fenix (193 Bridge Street/610-933-9550). Molly Maguire’s owners Declan Mannion and Conor Cummins dreamed up this high end martini bar and it’s a great, upscale addition to the Bridge Street scene featuring a small tapas menu with items like Beef and Bleu Crostini and Shrimp Lejon, The Fenix is unlike any other bar in the area. With sleek, modern décor it has the feel of a downtown Philly club. The martinis don’t come cheap, but they’re the best in the area. The Flirtini and the Must Love Chocolate martini are two favorites. The Fenix also features a full bar as well.

Iron Hill Brewery (130 E. Bridge Street/610-983-9333). Iron Hill features their own brand of microbrew, featuring Vienna Red Lager, Raspberry Wheat and seasonal Belgian ale. Not sure which beer to try? Get the sampler. The food menu features brew house favorites like pizza, chicken, salad entrees and angus beef burgers, as well as steak and seafood entrees. Kids are welcome and Iron Hill offers a great kids menu with side item choices like steamed broccoli and cucumbers and carrot with dip (yes, they offer fries too, but why tell the kids?). For dessert, the revamped Chocolate Hill is to die for.

Majolica (258 Bridge Street/610-917-0962). Majolica closed down for a few months earlier this year and local foodies got scared. Turns out, Majolica’s owners just wanted to do a quick remodel and revamp their menu for these tough economic times. Majolica is a small place and doesn’t cater to large groups. Chef Andrew Deery has received critical acclaim for his creations, which feature locally grown ingredients. The menu is small and succinct, with offerings like Grilled Lamb Sirloin, House Smoked Chicken and Roasted Skatewing as well as scrumptious desserts like Chocolate Pots de Crème and Pineapple Sorbet.

Great American Hotel (148 Bridge Street/610-917-3333). Housed in a grand old building (formerly the Columbia Hotel), this incarnation of the  local pub chain serves up authentic barbecue ribs, hand cut fries,  crab cakes, and really awesome sliders.

Marly’s (108 Bridge Street/610-933-7471). Everyone can use a good BYOB in their life and Marly’s fits the bill. Its trendy décor and American Continental cuisine makes it one of the most happening spots on Bridge Street. Marly’s daily bento boxes are a menu favorite. For entrees, try their signature “cheese steak”, which isn’t a South Philly sub but a filet mignon topped with a Roquefort crust.

Black Lab Bistro (248 Bridge Street/610-935-5988). With the tagline “Urban Chic, Suburban Comfort” The Black Lab has been a Bridge Street staple for the past few years and was one of the first restaurants to open in the “new” downtown Phoenixville. It’s a BYOB, which, if you forget to bring a bottle of wine, used to be easier when the liquor store was just across the street (there’s still a Wine and Spirts store close by, in the Acme on Starr Street). The Black Lab offers upscale fare in a contemporary setting. With entrees like Lobster Mac and Cheese, Scottish Salmon, Chicken and Artichokes and a variety of Pastas, The Black Lab has something for everyone. Their desserts are phenomenal, with treats like Chocolate Ravioli, Key Lime Tart and Blueberry Crème Brulee, so be sure to save room.

Steel City Coffeehouse (203 Bridge Street/910-933-4043)- Known for their great coffee and cool music shows, Steel City is more than just a place to grab a cup of joe. Light fare is served, including pastries, salads and sandwiches. Stop by on the first Tuesday of every month for their Mad Poet’s Society Open Mic night. Steel City also hosts an ongoing concert series which features local bands.

PJ Ryans Pub (231-233 Bridge Street/610-933-5600). Serving traditional Irish-American pub fare in a completely renovated building, PJ’s has a cool bar scene and great, casual food. Guests may be familiar with PJ’s other two locations in West Chester (Ryan’s Pub) and Philly (Smokey Joe’s), Sandwiches, burgers and salads make up most of the lunch menu. Pub entrees are served from 4:40-10:00 PM and include Sesame Pork Medallions, Chicken Portabella and Tortellini Romano.

Sage (150 Bridge Street/ 484-927-4168) The new kid on the block, this Mediterranean eatery offers a Middle Eastern appetizer platter, hummus, falafel, as well as entrees like chicken Marsala and pasta alfredo. Another perk: It's BYOB, and there's a wine store just down the street.

'The Bachelorette' Season 5 Scandal: Is Ed Swiderski Cheating on Jillian?

It’s only been a week since the big Bachelorette finale, and already Ed Swiderski’s ex-girlfriends are coming out of the woodwork.

Swiderksi was the lucky guy picked by Bachelorette Jillian Harris in last week’s season finale- even though she received marriage proposals from two other men, Kiptyn Locke and Reid Rosenthal.

Swiderski, who works for Microsoft, left the show three weeks into the taping after saying that he had work obligations. He came back a few weeks later and asked Jillian to please give him another chance.

And another chance she gave him, indeed. After some whirlwind romantic dates, an embarrassing bedroom scene and some strange wardrobe choices, Ed was Jillian’s final pick. The couple became engaged on the show and claimed on the After the Final Rose special, that they would marry within the next 12 months. And Harris, who currently lives in Canada, plans to move to Chicago in the near future to live with Ed.

While country music singer Wes Hayden was the one who was portrayed on the show as having a girlfriend back home, Internet rumors swirled that it was actually Swiderski who had the girlfriend.

And now, two of Ed Swiderski’s former flames are claiming that he continued to woo them throughout the Bachelorette taping—and after.

According to a segment on today’s Good Morning America, US Magazine has obtained interviews and photos of two of Ed’s exes who claim he's a player who was anything but single during the Bachelorette process.

Lindsey Johnsen, who claims to have been dating Swiderski since February of this year, and Bethany Steffan, who says she has been dating him since last December, both claim to have been in contact with him throughout his Bachelorette stint. Both women say he led them on, and that he was just appearing on The Bachelorette as a joke and to be on TV.

To take it a step further, Johnson has provided photos of herself and Ed at a wedding together in April, which was during the brief time that he left the show. And to add more fuel to the fire, she claims to have slept with Swiderski after he proposed to Jillian. Both women claim Swiderksi lied to them when he said he was going to Texas for business and instead flew back to L.A. to rejoin The Bachelorette cast.

As for the happy couple? They appeared on Good Morning America this morning, albeit from different locations. Both call the tabloid rumors “inaccurate” and “ridiculous."  Harris, who was clearly flustered, says she won’t be talking about this topic again.

As for their marriage plans. Swiderski says the wedding is still on—within 12 to 18 months.



Sources: Good Morning America/ABC TV

Photo Credit: Angela George/Wikimedia Commons

'The Bachelorette' Season 5 Finale: Reid Rosenthal Dumped by Jillian For a Second Time!

This week on the Season 5 finale of ABC’s "The Bachelorette," Jillian Harris held her final rose ceremony. But of course, it wouldn’t be "The Bachelorette" without a surprise twist.

Ousted bachelor Reid Rosenthal, who was sent home by Jillian a couple weeks ago, returned to Hawaii. After some soul searching, Reid realized he forgot to tell Jillian something before he left: He loves her. Ahhhh, Not a good thing to forget, Reid!

This twist was actually heavily promoted by ABC, so everyone knew Reid was coming back. I suppose the “twist” really was, which of the three guys would she choose in the end: Reid, Kiptyn or Ed.

Most internet speculation concluded that Jillian was neither in love nor engaged, as she wasn’t making the press rounds claiming that she found the man of her dreams. In fact, Jillian Harris was mysteriously quiet so one could only assume that this season would end like so many other seasons: no proposal, no engagement.

After an hour and 20 minutes of recap and final romantic dates with remaining bachelors Kiptyn Locke and Ed Swiderski, Jillian, who looked stunning in a white gown, first sent Kiptyn packing. Kiptyn took the news hard and went off in his limo.

Still, with 40 minutes left in the show, I knew there had to be more. Sure enough, here comes Reid, with his change of heart and a diamond for Jillian.

Reid’s return messed with Jillian’s head -- for about five seconds. She actually let him get down on one knee and propose. This was reminiscent of Deanna Papas and Jason Mesnick a few seasons back. I mean, don’t let the guy get down on his knee and propose on national television if you know you’re gonna say no, ladies!

After a brief meeting with host Chris Harrison (who is he now, Dr. Ruth?), Jillian decided that she wasn’t going to let Reid’s return change her plans. She woke up that morning in love with someone else and she was going to stick to her guns! She sent Reid home—again. How much does it stink to be Reid? He’s the first bachelor to be dumped twice on this show!

Next, Ed arrived. Thank goodness he left his green “Welcome Back Kotter” shorts at home. He proclaimed his love for Jillian and she giddily accepted his proposal. So there you have it… a proposal on "The Bachelorette." But will this equate to a marriage? Stay tuned.

UPDATE: It didn't.

Tori and Candy Spelling Battle for the Bestseller List

The Spellings are spelling it like it is.

Candy Spelling, the widow of the late TV producer Aaron Spelling (Dynasty, Love Boast, Beverly Hills 90210) recently penned a book, dishing on her glammy Hollywood life. This comes after her famous daughter, Tori, had a #1 bestselling book last year called “sTori Telling," in which she portrayed her mom a somewhat of a Mommie Dearest. The book did nothing to help the mother-daughter’s already strained relationship, which has been especially distant since Aaron’s death in 2006.

In fact, during her appearance on 20/20 last week, Candy Spelling revealed that she hasn’t even met Tori’s nine-month old daughter Stella yet, and revealed she doesn’t even know where Tori lives. Sad, sad story, especially since Candy is the only living grandparent for grandchildren Liam and Stella.

So what will Candy’s book be about? “Stories from Candyland," which will be in stores on March 31, will give readers a glimpse of the glamorous life of Mrs. Spelling, from her “trophy wife” life in their 56,000 square foot mansion, “The Manor,"  (which is currently on the market with an asking price of 150 million) to Candy’s own personal insecurities and problems (hint: she’s a hoarder). While Candy is carefully to say that “Stories from Candyland” is not a tell-all book, there’s sure to be mention of her troubled relationship with her daughter. After all, she wants to sell books, doesn’t she?

Meanwhile, Tori Spelling’s latest book, titled “Mommywood” is due out on April 14, just two weeks after her mother’s literary debut. After the success of her first book (which was a tell-all), Spelling is back with hilarious tales of being a famous mom in the spotlight. With a baby and a toddler in her house, Spelling is the harried working mom. “Mommywood” promises to be another bestseller for Tori Spelling.

So with an estranged mother and daughter set to release books within weeks of each other, the burning question is: Who will make it to #1 in the New York Times bestseller list first?

Classic Movie Review: You've Got Mail

Not just another sappy love story, You’ve Got Mail is a sweet movie that’s no chick flick.

The 1998 movie You’ve Got Mail is the third pairing of leading man Tom Hanks with an adorable Meg Ryan. Before You’ve Got Mail, Hanks and Ryan appeared together in the mega hit Sleepless in Seattle and then again in the forgettable Joe Verus the Volcano. In You’ve Got Mail, Hanks and Ryan show us once again why they’re a match made in heaven.

With a supporting cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey, Dabney Coleman, Jean Stapleton, and Dave Chappelle, You’ve Got Mail is a remake of the 1940 movie, The Shop Around the Corner. (That version starred Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan).

The updated version of the story is about two New Yorkers, Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) and Joe Fox (Hanks). Arch rivals when it comes to business, he’s a superstore millionaire who threatens to shut down her tiny children’s bookstore. What these enemies don’t realize is that they’ve been communicating with each other anonymously online for months in an internet chat room.

Their messages to each other are playful and fun, and since both of them are already in relationships with other people it's just harmless flirting. Greg Kinnear is a hoot as Kathleen Kelly’s narcissistic writer boyfriend, while Parker Posey plays the whiny, grating, younger girlfriend of Joe Fox.

But as fate (or Hollywood) will have it, both couples' relationships end and Joe proposes that he and his online pal meet. When he peeks in the window of the cafe that they have planned to meet at, he is stunned to see that his anonymous online love interest is Kathleen Kelly.

At that point he begins his plan to sweep Kathleen off of her feet, even though she hates him. In time she forgives him for forcing her book store to close down and the rest is…..well, I don’t want to completely give the ending away.

You’ve Got Mail is directed by Nora Ephron. It’s a sweet romantic comedy that I recommend for a lazy Sunday afternoon. With just you, and maybe a box of Kleenex for the ending!

'House of Hilton' Review: Everything You Didn't Want to Know About the Hiltons

The Hilton name has been associated with both wealth and scandal for generations. So it’s no wonder that a tell-all book about the famous family was in order.

Author Jerry Oppenheimer is known for his scandalous tell-all books. From his unauthorized Martha Stewart biography called “Just Desserts” to his take on a presidential marriage in “State of the Union: Inside the Complex Marriage of Bill and Hillary Clinton," Oppenheimer is a master at researching and finding enough disgruntled people to give up the dirt. So when it was time to release a tabloidy tell-all  about the Hilton clan, Oppenheimer gave it his all.

The most famous Hilton, by far, is Paris Hilton. But Oppenheimer’s “House of Hilton"  talks surprisingly little about the celebutante and her sister Nicky. Instead, the book focuses on the maternal and paternal family heritage, supposedly to explain why Paris and Nicky ended up being famous for no apparent reason. The book, which is divided into two parts, focuses mostly on Paris Hilton’s grandparents on each side of her family tree.

The maternal side of the book has its share of scandalous family tidbits, although the key players aren’t all that well known. Kathy Hilton (the former Kathy Avanzino Richards) is the mother of Paris. According to the story, she was conceived in the back of a Chevy, resulting in a short-lived shotgun wedding between her mother and dad, Larry Avanzino. Little Kathy married well, tying the knot with rich boy Rick Hilton in 1979. But it was no CInderella story, at least not according to this book.

As a young girl, Kathy Hilton dabbled in modeling and acting. Her mother, dubbed Big Kathy, insisted on it. Big Kathy had two more daughters, Kim and Kyle, with her second husband, Ken Richards. Both Kim and Kyle Richards were hugely successful child actors, appearing in 1970’s Disney movies and TV series like “Nanny and the Professor” (Kim) and “Little House on the Prairie” (Kyle). Poor Kathy never measured up to her kid sisters'success, so she fell back on her mama’s supposed advice: Marry rich.

Indeed, Big Kathy married four times, seeking out rich men who could provide her with the lifestyle she craved. She was also a relentless stage mother, according to Oppenheimer’s sources. Some of the scoops revealed (like how Big Kathy hired a young man to give her daughter Kathy "lessons” in a van) are pretty outrageous. The bulk of the first section of the book is about Big Kathy, her antics, and the fallout for her daughters. Since Big Kathy was the grandmother of Paris and Nicky Hilton, the information is relevant, but it’s also overkill, since most of the first half of the book focuses on her and she wasn’t even a Hilton.

Part 2 of the book isn’t much better, focusing on the paternal Hilton side, most notably Paris’ great uncle, bad boy Conrad “Nicky “Hilton Jr. Linked with such beauties as Natalie Wood and Elizabeth Taylor, Nicky Hilton lived hard and died young. His hard partying antics are detailed, as well as his struggles with alcohol abuse. The most interesting part of his story is his ill-fated marriage to Elizabeth Taylor. There are also some tidbits about hotel founder Conrad Hilton and his marriage to Zsa Zsa Gabor, the former ‘Green Acres” star.

The book includes a very short section of photographs, including a promo for Paris Hilton’s infamous bedroom tape from a few years back.

Basically, “House of Hilton” is a mindless read, maybe a good beach read when you’re not really trying to retain too much information. The writing style is fine, as Oppenheimer has it down to a formula, it’s just the material that's a little weak.

And when all is said and done, most of the Hiltons are no different from Paris. With the exception of hotel founder Conrad and the Richards child stars, the rest of the bunch are all really famous for….nothing.