Continuing with new moms, after going for a short bob after the birth of her baby and then wearing a long wig for an entire season on "Friends" to hide it, LISA KUDROW is in a transition phase.  On the show, her wig has gone from between mid-back and waist to between shoulder and mid-back.  In real life, her hair has grown back to about shoulder-length in a layer less, blunt cut (which is redundant, isn't it?).  I figure that somewhere around February, when her hair is a couple of inches longer, they will probably ditch the wig altogether.  Somebody write that down and then tell me how wrong I am around Valentine's Day or so.

Then	Growing...	Now

FLEA'S CALL:   The style isn't anything to get excited over, plus it's too light of a blonde for her fair complexion and washes her out.  I thought Lisa's hair looked best during this short phase when she first got it cut in the summer of '98 (see picture at right).  That had a stylishness (which probably isn't a word) to it that this one, though similar in length, doesn't.  However, that tends to be Lisa's modis operandi.  She'll get her hair cut into some fashionable way and then proceed to let it grow back into the simple, straight, center-parted style she prefers.  The problem with that is that you wouldn't realize how bland that looks if she didn't periodically try to break out of it.  Unfortunately, that seems to be a disease she has spread to the rest of the female cast of "Friends" as well...which I'll talk about a bit more in response to some Fleamail.

You probably know ANNE ARCHER best as the beautiful wife Michael Douglas inexplicably cheated on with the much scarier (take that anyway you want) Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" and as Harrison Ford's wife in the Jack Ryan movies ("Patriot Games" and "Clear & Present Danger").  Though her hair has ranged in length, your mental picture of her now most likely reflects the full bob she had in "Fatal Attraction" or the long, cable-like braid she wore in the Jack Ryan movies.  In recent times, she has worn her thick, dark, naturally wavy hair in a shaggish style that falls somewhere between the ubiquitous tucked cut and Rene Russo's new 'do.  This fall, however, Anne got, well, scalped.  She now sports a razor-cut, wispy crop with short jagged bangs.

Before	After

FLEA'S CALL:   Ugh.  And furthermore, argh.  I'm truly hoping that the impetus (yes, impetus.  Webster has a dictionary online, look it up) of this cut was a movie role, though I don't know what flick it could be.  The main reason I'm hoping that is I can't bring myself to believe that Anne would have chosen to be shorn this unattractively on her own.  It's not necessarily that Anne can't wear short hair, but given how thick her hair is, even with the razor cutting, this style just causes it to stick out in every direction.  What it reminds me of most is a crew cut that has been left untrimmed for about four to six months, which results in the same uneven, spiky look.  Some folks can pull this style off, but unfortunately, Ann isn't one of them.  I wonder if Bai Ling has any extra scarves...

And finally, we get to an actress who did go super short for a movie role.  HILARY SWANK, who you probably know as either "The Next Karate Kid" or as Carly from her brief stint on "Beverly Hills, 90210", has a new movie being released this fall called "Boys Don't Cry".  In the film, which is based on a true story, she portrays Teena Brandon, a girl who disguises herself as a boy, changes her name to Brandon Teena, and begins dating a girl who is unaware of her secret.  It gets even more complicated, but I won't give anything away, since I hate people who do that (a subject you DON'T want to get me started on).  Anyway, to portray Brandon, Hilary was clipped practically to her scalp, making her an exceptionally convincing, if not somewhat effeminate, guy.

Way Before	Just Before	As Brandon Teena

FLEA'S CALL:  In the past, I've questioned whether it was worth it when an actress has shaved her head for a role.  Based on ample evidence, the answer has always been a resounding "No".  So, you may think that, though Hilary retains some hair after her shearing, she would roughly fall into the same category.  And you would be wrong.  In this case it was a good idea.  Advance word has both "Boys Don't Cry" and Hilary as possible Oscar contenders.  So what have we learned today, kids?  That, if you are an actress who is asked to cut your hair for a role, the odds of it advancing your career increase significantly if you get to keep at least a little hair.  Bet they don't teach that in those bigshot Hollywood acting classes.

Snippets

WENDY MALICK of "Just Shoot Me" has continued to allow her locks to propagate to where they now fall a couple of inches below her shoulders.  I don't have any problem with the length, but (sit down, this is a shocker) do with her decision to sweep he bangs off to the side (stunned, aren't ya?).  See, Wendy has a rectangular shaped face.  That means, technically, she shouldn't wear her hair too long, since that tends to appear to make a rectangular face look even longer.  Fortunately, she's keeping enough fullness in the sides that it really isn't an issue (though she probably shouldn't go much longer).  Unfortunately, she also decided to get rid of the fringe of bangs she wore last season, a decision for which it is much more difficult to compensate.  Don't believe me?  Then compare the picture to the right (from last season) with the one to the one above (from this year).  See what I mean?  I just don't get why Hollywood seems to classify bangs as a stylistic faux pas akin to blue eye shadow.

Speaking of NBC sitcom stars, has anybody other than me noticed that JANE LEEVES and PERI GILPIN of "Frasier" have now let their hair grow out in practically the same style after previously cutting it short into virtually identical 'dos?  I mean, they are both attractive, falling to just below their shoulders with light layering (though Jane has bangs while Peri doesn't), but what's the deal?  Are they getting a twofer with the hair and make-up people? 

LISA RINNA has returned to a short cut since having her baby, but not the sexy, unkempt shag of varying lengths which made her style a popular choice at salons.  The new 'do is a short lip/hairline length bob with some choppy layers.  Sure it has some of the same flip action of the aforementioned shag, but it just isn't  as flattering.  Heck, in my humble opinion, it's not even as flattering as the longer locks she while carrying the spawn of Harry Hamlin.  And I do believe that is the first published use of the phrase "spawn of Harry Hamlin".

ANNABETH GISH arrived at the premiere of "Double Jeopardy" with this extremely cute short, layered bob.  To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if this is a new look for her or not, since it's been a while between Gish sittings, though I do have a vague recollection that it her hair used to be at least neck length.  Then again, if it isn't a change, just enjoy the picture of the lovely Annabeth with my compliments v  FELICITY HUFFMAN of "SportsNight" has let her Rachel-esque shag from last season grow quite a bit.  It's still the same style, but it now falls a 3 inches or so below her shoulders, with the top shag layer a bit below chin-length.  She must have really liked the extensions she wore this summer for a movie role and decide to let her locks grow.  Good call on Felicity's part since it looks great on her.  And I want you to note at no point did I make a reference to the other "Felicity" though it was a perfect opportunity.  Aren't you proud of me? v  Continuing on this TV stars and new growth theme, we have SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR, whose ever blonder tresses now brush mid-back, CONNIE BRITON (Nikki on "Spin City"), whose naturally curly tucked style from last season is in a truly unfortunate transition stage, and NEVE CAMPBELL, who is finally recovered from an ill-advised too short shag.  Neve is easily the winner in this trio, as her current shoulder skimming shag looks terrific on her (as evidenced by the photo).  Sarah's hair, while longer, is beginning to look damaged, an indicator that excessive blonding of Buffy is starting to do a little follicular slaying of it's own.  Finally, Connie's locks just appear to be in desperate need of a style or at least at trim, since her thick hair and natural curl are making it grow out instead of down.  And the blonde streaks aren't helping  v  Has anyone else caught TERI HATCHER in the new Radio Shack commercials with Howie Long?  She no longer has the smooth red, blonde-streaked bob she wore for "Cabaret", but in it's place has a layered, hairline-length, super curly bob that angles slightly to the back.  Though it's kinda cute on her, my first though was that she was a dead ringer for Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha from "Bewitched") circa 1985, if Elizabeth was a brunette.  Not just the hair, but even in the face.  It's really bizarre.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Just when you think that you're a voice in the wilderness, the seemingly impossible happens.  HELEN HUNT got bangs!  Yup, after constant harping on the fact that Helen's forehead made her the poster girl my "All I Am Saying Is, Give Bangs A Chance" campaign, she finally came through.  They're the long wispy kind that she can easily style back if she so desires, but after seeing her with them, I can confirm that the indeed that they make a tremendous positive difference.  Now I've just got to redo all the posters with a picture of Leelee Sobieski  v  SUSAN SULLIVAN, Greg's mom on "Dharma & Greg", jazzed up the very traditional bob she wore all last season by adding a few layers over the summer.  It's now more rounded with angled layering around the face, bringing it as close to a short shag as you could come, while still keeping it a bob.   Good decision by Susan, since it updates the style while still retaining the conservative appearance required of her character.  I'm glad one style decision on that show makes sense, since I'm still trying to figure out what the hell Jenna Elfman is doing with HER hair  v  Looks like KATE CAPSHAW has gone shorter and curlier if her 'do at the the recent GQ awards was any indication.  She was wearing it longer and straighter this summer when making the round promoting her blink-and-you-missed-it- in-theaters flick "The Love Letter". I think this is a good move for Kate if for no other reason than it breaks away from the ubiquitous stick straight look.  It also helps that Kate looks great with curls  v  Anyone else notice that CALISTA FLOCKHART has gotten a body wavy this season?  Yup, those waves she's been sporting the first few episodes aren't natural.  I think this was a great move by Calista, since her straight, shoulder-length hair has just hung flat for the last couple of seasons.  Not only do the waves look better, but the perm gives her additional volume when styling it straight.  And, at least, her hair has gained some weight. J
 
Oh, I almost forgot, here's a pic of the internationally famous model and wife of David Bowie, IMAN, from her recent appearance on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show".  Yup, there she is.  Iman.  Right there on "Rosie".  World renowned beauty.  Yessiree.  So, what do you think scared her?

Lisa Kudrow pictures courtesy Entertainment Tonight, NBC, Hollywood.Com, and CBS, Anne Archer pictures courtesy Hollywood.Com, Hilary Swank pictures courtesy HilarySwank.Com and Hollywood.Com, Wendy Malick pictures courtesy Hollywood.Com and NBC, Annabeth Gish and Lisa Rinna pictures courtesy Hollywood.Com, Neve Campbell picture courtesy Entertainment Tonight, Kate Capshaw picture courtesy Reuters, Iman picture courtesy "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"

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