LESLIE BIBB stars on the WB series "Popular" as the perfect blonde cheerleader type.  Interestingly, Leslie not only isn't a natural blonde, she never even really wanted to be a blonde.  So, how'd she end up cast as the prototypical one?  Ultimate TV recounts the story...

Bibb lived on a friend's couch until she snagged guest shots on "Just Shoot Me," "Home Improvement," "Fired Up" and "Early Edition." She also dyed her hair a "brassy, brassy blonde," to play a drug addict in the indie feature, "The Young Unknowns" opposite Devon Gummersall.

Before she had a chance to dye her hair back to its natural brown, the role of "perfect" blonde cheerleader Brook McQueen came along. Bibb had the flu and says she felt miserable before the reading. "I called...my managers and said, 'Look, I'm not going in for this thing. I'm too sick, I feel like crap, and I don't have a bra on.'"

With greasy hair and a wisp of a voice, Bibb arrived at the audition. "I guess from being sick, I gave one of the best reads I've ever done," Bibb marvels, "It was so good, 'cause I looked like crap, I didn't care." The "Popular" producers were "forgiving of my appearance," Bibb says gratefully. And the blonde stuck.

I'm sure you've already read or heard about this, but I feel it's my duty to officially give you your monthly update on the continuing saga of KERI RUSSELL's hair.  How bad has the negative reaction been?  Well, considering that the network brass have stepped in, it's getting pretty serious.  According to an article in The Washington Post, they've formally "requested" Keri start to undo the damage...

That's right, the "Felicity" star has promised to grow back her golden mane, giving young men and women a reason to watch that drama, which has slumped in the ratings this season despite being moved to Sunday night, which is America's television watching-est night of the week. 

"Nobody is cutting their hair again on our network," said WB programming chief Susanne Daniels. 

"The e-mail was so overwhelmingly negative on that haircut," she added. "Do I think it affected the show on some level? Yeah, I do." 

The Russell hair, WB CEO Jamie Kellner explained, "was distinctive. It was part of what created the uniqueness" of the show. 

"I think we cut off our distinctiveness a little bit," he said. 

Well, since the Keri Russell hair disaster, you may be wondering what other potential hair crisis could be looming on the horizon.  My friends, I give you DANIELLE FISHEL...

Sit down before you read this.  Danielle Fishel wants to cut her hair off.  Well, not totally off-she'd like to chop it to her chin and dye it blonde.  But that's a problem 'cause Topanga, the character she plays on the ABC sitcom "Boy Meets World", is known for her long, flowing locks.  Her fans love them.  Some even worship them.  And the show's producers want her to keep her hair long.  But when it comes down to it, Danielle won't waste any time and energy worrying about her 'do.  "I don't count on my hair always looking wonderful," she says. "I don't stress about it.  It's just hair!"

By the way, this quote is from an interview with Twist magazine (which I believe confirms that every random four or five letter word has now been used as a magazine title) last year.  Since this time, Danielle has let her hair grow out a bit more from the terrific style she had when she first cut it from waist-length.  It's now pretty much one length again, with some angling in the bottom 6 inches.  Doesn't look nearly as good, but as she said, I don't think she particularly cares.

Leslie Bibb picture courtesy The WB, Keri Russell pictures courtesy Reuters and Entertainment Tonight Online, Danielle Fishel pictures courtesy ABC
 

Well, as I said in the introduction, what I had planned for this month's Fleature wasn't completed in time, so I don't have one this month.  Hey, stop whining.  If you remember, I originally said this and Scoop wouldn't even be regular sections, but would only show up when I had something that qualified.  I just happened to hit a good streak and now you've just gotten spoiled.  Look at it this way: you'll really appreciate it when I have one next month.

And, to make sure I have one next month (or the month after, since the Oscars are coming up and will be Fleature by themselves), I'll toss out a few ideas.  Let me know which one you'd prefer by sending me an email on the one like best from the following:

• Museum of Madonna:  This would be a fairly comprehensive retrospective of the myriad of hairstyles that Madonna has gone through since popping up back in the 80s.  You'd also get to vote on your favorite with the results appearing in an upcoming column.  Like this idea?  Then click here to send me an email.  Feel free to add any comments.

• Bad Movie Hair Moments: What's the worst hair you've seen on the big screen, that wasn't intended to be?  For example, the Bride of Frankenstein's hair was supposed to be bad, but Linda Hamilton's feathered 'do in "The Terminator" was even awful for the 80s.  This would also include continuity errors, such as an actresses hair getting longer and shorter throughout the movie, though the action takes place over a day.  Have some ideas for this one?  Click here and let me know.

• Big Hair on the Big Screen: Similar to the above, but with a twist.  What huge hair have you seen, that wasn't supposed to be a joke?  Sure, there were ridiculous hairstyles in "Hairspray", but when Sissy Spacek wore a giant brunette wig in "Coal Miner's Daughter", it was supposed to look like that.  If you like this one and have some ideas, click here.

Bai Ling pictures courtesy InStyle

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