"Proof of life"? It's time to produce a photo of Patrick McDermott to prove he's alive

We've been investigating the case of missing Hollywood outcast Patrick McDermott for five years, since the day it was announced he'd vanished from a fishing boat off San Pedro and that his supposed lover of nine years, Olivia Newton-John hadn't bothered to report him missing or make a public plea to help find him in seven long weeks. The story, and subsequent revelations that he may have faked his death over finances (why would he need money if he was Newton-John's partner?), was either too challenging or not interesting enough to most journos, especially the Hollywood types who weren't about to topple the longstanding industry "beard" facade (see Jesse James), but we beat the drum loud and long enough for other tabloid outlets, including NBC's Dateline, to investigate.

And now Dateline's hired P.I. says he's tracked down McDermott in Baja Mexico, that he has "proof of life," "voice recordings," and a deal with McDermott's lawyer to back off, leave the guy alone and go write a book.

And people are taking his word for it...


Sorry, but we don't trust the folks at Dateline. It's time to back it up.

Here's the latest:

* McDermott is living in the Mexican village of Sayulita and working as a ship's mate on a tourist yacht;

* Residents of the Pacific coast town say they know the 'tranquil man' as Pat Kim;

* Shown a photograph of Mr McDermott, they confirmed he had been living in the town for several years;

* Local hotelier Mark Rubio said most folks knew his true identity but "nobody was bothered. This is a pretty relaxed place";

* The captain of Sayula 1, the ship Mr McDermott has worked on, said he had not seen him in some time;

* P.I. Klein received 'proof of life' by a representative of McDermott, including a voice recording and an instructions that McDermott "did not want to be hounded";

* Klein agreed;

* Mainstream news outlets are reporting his announcements without investigating for themselves. WTF??!

We believe Patrick McDermott is alive. We've spoken to witnesses and dug up important information. But if Philip Klein has the goods, we'd figure he'd come back with a video statement from McDermott or, at the very least, a photo.


Sayulita, Mexico: a fishing village about 25 miles north of downtown Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit, Mexico, with a population of approximately 4,000. Hailed as a popular off-the-beaten-path travel destination, Sayulita offers a variety of activities such as horseback riding, hiking, jungle canopy tours, snorkeling and fishing. Still a mecca for beginner surfers of all ages, the quaint town attracts upscale tourists with its numerous art galleries and restaurants as well. The most well-established restaurant, Don Pedro's (since 1994), has attracted an international clientele for years, many of whom have vacation villas in the picturesque village. Sayulita has a curious eclectic quality, frequented by native Cora and Huichol peoples, travelling craftsmen as well as international tourists. Sayulita is the crown jewel in the newly designated "Riviera Nayarit," the coastal corridor from Litibu to San Blas. Its stunning natural beauty and easy access to Puerto Vallarta have made Sayulita real estate some of the most sought after in all of Mexico. With a growing ecological awareness and stricter zoning enforcement, development is being regulated to help safeguard the environment and quality of life of the community.

Set off, journos. Bring back some real "proof of life."

Has Alana Stewart become Farrah Fawcett?

"American Women in Radio & Television
Southern California announced
two new recipients of the 2010 Genii Awards.
In honor of her work with Farrah Fawcett,
Producer Alana Stewart will be presented
with the Excellence in Documentary Award
for the feature-length documentary 'Farrah’s Story'..."

When Ryan O'Neal could not make the trips to Germany with Farrah Fawcett when she sought out state-of-the-art treatment for her cancer, Farrah's friend, the Hollywood ex-wife Alana Stewart went in his place. Alana held the home video camera as Farrah set out to document her ordeal for a video diary she wanted to call A Wing and A Prayer. With those tapes and more, Farrah and her production partner Craig Nevius began to create the documentary. After Farrah sold the project for airing on NBC, her health took a turn for the worse,and O'Neal took control of her estate, and removed Nevius from the documentary project. With the help of would-be tabloid producers on loan from NBC Dateline, new, even more intrusive was added, sad music was sprinkled in, the title changed to Farrah's Story in a nod to O'Neal's 40-year-old star vehicle, Love Story, and after a strong battle, Alana Stewart was granted a "producer" credit.

Less than a week after Farrah's funeral, Alana Stewart announced she'd secured a deal for a book about her friendship and travels with Farrah.

On Farrah's birhtday, she announced the formation of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation for cancer research. Alana Stewart's photo was the only one other than Farrah's to appear on the site.


Today, an organization called "American Women in Radio and Television Southern California" awarded a 2010 Genii Award for "Excellence in Documentary Award" to Alana Stewart.

According to the group's press release:

"'Farrah’s Story' is a compelling and transparent chronicle of actress Farrah Fawcett’s courageous fight against cancer. Early on when she was first diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, Fawcett’s close friend Alana Stewart - who produced “Farrah’s Story” and handled most of the camerawork – was by her side. Fawcett, a former Genii Award recipient and honoree, decided to film her experiences, and turned the camera duties over to Stewart, resulting in an honest and uncompromising look at Fawcett’s vibrant life and indomitable spirit as she confronted her disease. The two-hour documentary aired May 2009 just one month before the star’s tragic death. Alana Stewart is an accomplished producer, model, actress, and is also the author of the New York Times best selling book, 'My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship' released in 2009."

As of our posting, Alana Stewart has not declined the award or offered it up to Farrah Fawcett. The gesture would not be unfitting, for after all, Farrah was executive producer of the project, (which in television terms is the person who runs the show), and this documentary was Farrah's.


How about you? Do you think Alana Stewart deserves an "Excellence in Documentary Award"?

Farrah Fawcett's life and death become an E! True Hollywood Story

When NBC Dateline took Farrah Fawcett’s cancer documentary (as was its right since the network paid for it) and turned it into a morbid maudlin “mainstream news” version of a tabloid television special, critics groaned, millions watched in horror, the original producer sued and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gave it an Emmy nomination.

When The E! True Hollywood Story dedicates an hour to “the life and legacy of the iconic Hollywood beauty” on Wednesday night, there may not be awards cast in its direction, but viewers can expect they'll be able to sit down to a compelling hour of tabloid show business biography.

The E! True Hollywood Story is television’s premier entertainment biography show, turning each of its stories into a down-and-dirty Hollywood noir, laying its subjects bare while treating them with the respect and awe that their achievements and status command. Whether Natalie Wood or Ray Combs, Liberace or Jan-Michael Vincent, Rebecca Schaeffer or Joe Piscopo, all the THS subjects wind up together in the equivalent of a low-rent Sunset Boulevard motel-- not diminished but enshrined equally as True Hollywood Stars, for why else would we care so much about their personal travails?


It’s a pre-TMZ approach that comes closest to the Hollywood myth-handling of the early days of tabloid television when James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis were still fertile subject matter.

As for the series’ latest portrait of Farrah-- she was featured in 1999, in Season 3-- take it from the press release :

“In 1976, a famous hairstyle and a red swimsuit turned unknown actress Farrah Fawcett into a pop culture icon, but the Texas-born beauty never lost her girl-next-door humility and charm. Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Fawcett was also an inspiration to many people as she waged a courageous battle with the disease that ultimately took her life. THS chronicles the complicated journey of this blonde bombshell through intimate interviews with those who knew her best…”

The hour-long episode features a rare interview with Farrah’s college friend Sylvia Dorsey, “who sat with Fawcett in the hospital during her final days, along with Farrah’s longtime stylist Mela Murphy and “Charlie’s Angels” creator Leonard Goldberg.

There are also “never-before seen photos taken by her best friend, Alana Stewart.”

In light of the turmoil among those closest to Farrah in the weeks preceding and after her death, those alone should make for a very interesting hour, while adding to the bigger picture.

“Farrah Fawcett: The E! True Hollywood Story” premieres Wednesday, August 5th at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific, and ten show up throughout the E! schedule.

Farrah's ousted producer responds to Emmy nomination

Television and documentary producer Craig Nevius may have been shoved out of the Farrah Fawcett documentary project that was eventually turned into an NBC TV special, but he managed to retain his executive producer credit, and was therefore among the names announced this morning when Farrah's Story was nominated for an Emmy.

Nevius sent us this gracious statement, which gives all honor to Farrah, who was nominated posthumously:

"Unfortunately, Farrah is not here to appreciate the result of her bravery and creativity. But fortunately her 92 years young father is here to bask in the glow of his daughter's honor. When I shared the good news with him this morning, he demonstrated his usual dry wit and asked: 'Is there any way for me to take credit for this?' I told him he could take all the credit. Because he gave the world Farrah. He and Mrs. Fawcett were delighted.'"