Bury The Anger, As Well As The Body

Website Strikes Perfect Note On Anna Nicole

In the saturation coverage of the decision to finally bury Anna Nicole Smith in the Bahamas, one piece of reporting stood out. The wonderful headline ``Hatchet to Be Buried With Anna?’’ was posted on TMZ.com at 4.50pm.
The news report, which appeared, without a byline, but credited to ``TMZ staff’’, struck just the right note after a harrowing fortnight. This is what it said .....
``After shredding each other for the past four days, Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead simultaneously announced, without any seeming anger toward each other, that Anna Nicole Smith will be buried in the Bahamas.``The announcement came just a few minutes after Judge Larry Seidlin decided that Dannielynn's court-appointed guardian should mediate the dispute.``The two men, who had sneered and clawed at one another, both directly and through their lawyers during the days of the legal hearing, appeared with Anna's mom Virgie Arthur to make the announcement. They would not address the question of funeral arrangements nor would they discuss the paternity battle. ``Even Birkhead's flame-throwing lawyer, Debra Opri, appealed for calm -- and appeared with her combatant, Stern's lawyer, Krista Barth.''

FOOTNOTE: Well done, TMZ.com for a great job and a refreshing perspective.

Charlize Angels

Oscar Winner To Play Anna Nicole On Screen

Even as the first reliable internet reports emerge that Charlize Theron is the hot favourite to play the role of Anna Nicole Smith, there is yet another a poignant note to the whole saga. Despite the acquired attributes of power, money and influence in a short, controversial and often bizarre life, Anna Nicole still hasn't won the right to be buried.
More than a week after her death, I reckon the best perspective on the legal wrangling was presented by RensselaRepublican.com, which cut straight to the chase. It reported: ``A judge tried to broker an agreement among the three people fighting over Anna Nicole Smith's remains on how and when to embalm the former Playboy Playmate's body. Even if they settle that, as expected, lengthy legal fights loomed over where she will be buried and who will get custody of her infant daughter.''
Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin brought a note of refreshing humanity to the acrimonious legal circus. ``I want every loose end tied up," he said. ``I want peace and tranquility, not only for the dead, but also for the living who want to visit her grave," he said. But that peace seemed so elusive. The proceedings even had to shift out of Seidlin's chambers and into a courtroom to accommodate the horde of media and attorneys.
On Thursday, Seidlin ordered that additional DNA be taken from Smith's body, saying he wanted to make sure her body wouldn't have to be exhumed. ``When we bury her, I want it to be forever,'' Seidlin said.
It was a gentle reminder that there is a tug-of-war over where Anna Nicole is to be buried. Her longtime companion, Howard K. Stern, claims he is executor of her will and wants her buried next to her son in the Bahamas. But her estranged mother, Vergie Arthur, wants her buried in Smith's home state of Texas. And photographer Larry Birkhead hopes DNA taken from Anna Nicole's body will help prove he fathered the former centerfold's five-month-old daughter, Dannielynn, who could inherit millions.
According to CNN a decision about releasing the body for burial isn't likely until next week. Meanwhile, a court-appointed administrator, Shane Kelley, was to interview the parties and recommend to the judge who should receive Anna Nicole's remains. Seidlin also appointed a guardian, Miami attorney Richard Milstein, to protect Dannielynn's interests.
And YahooNews reported that the body of the former Playmate was embalmed on Saturday at the Broward County Medical Examiner's office, Florida.
The most credible report about Theron (pictured, right) bringing the life of Anna Nicole Smith to the screen came from TimesOnline, where James Bone wrote: ``Actress Charlize Theron has emerged as the most likely to portray the late Anna Nicole Smith when Hollywood decides to make a movie about her chaotic life.''
His story continued: ``You couldn't make up a life story like Anna's and studios are already falling over themselves to tell it,'' a source in Hollywood told the Daily Star of London. ``Several actresses fancy playing Anna in what'll be a huge hit, but Charlize is favorite to get the role.''
The South African actress won an Oscar in 2004 for her portrayal of a serial killer in `Monster'. And, as everyone expected, the race to make a film of Anna Nicole's life began concurrently as Judge Seidlin gave the go-ahead for Smith’s famous body to be embalmed for a possible open-casket funeral. There was one last weird touch, as the unseemly legal battle continued. Anna Nicole's lawyer revealed that she had already ordered her funeral dress.
I just wonder if that will set off another legal challenge, over what label and what style she will be buried in.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Isn't it ironic that Anna Nicole Smith, whose life was marked by legal battles, should still be the subject of a prolonged court tussle, even in death? Leave a comment here.

The Life And Death Of Anna Nicole Smith

How The Websites Reported Her Passing

It was interesting to watch the four-way race on the websites of BBC, CNN, Fox and MSNBC as the news broke about Anna Nicole Smith’s death. All four websites raced from prominent news flashes to full coverage in minutes, and this is how the contest unfolded …
BBC posted a full report at 21.14 GMT, which is 4.14pm Eastern Time. MSNBC was next, at 4.19pm. CNN was a heartbeat behind, at 4.20pm. And FOX News simply ran with a dateline that said `` Thursday, February 08, 2007’’ with no time mentioned.
This was how they reported the news.

BBC – Headline: ``Former Playmate Smith dies at 39’’.
The report began: `` The flamboyant former model Anna Nicole Smith has died near Miami, Florida at the age of 39, her lawyer has said.
Smith, a former Playboy bunny, married Texas oil billionaire J Howard Marshall II in 1995 when she was 26 and he was 89. He died a year later.’’

CNN – Headline: ``Anna Nicole Smith dies’’
The report began : ``Reality TV star and former model Anna Nicole Smith was pronounced dead Thursday after being taken to a Florida hospital, a law enforcement source told CNN. Smith, 39, collapsed at a south Florida hotel, according to news reports.’’

MSNBC - Headline: ``Former Playmate Smith dies at 39’’
The report began: ``The flamboyant former model Anna Nicole Smith has died near Miami, Florida at the age of 39, her lawyer has said.
Smith, a former Playboy bunny, married Texas oil billionaire J Howard Marshall II in 1995 when she was 26 and he was 89. He died a year later. ''

FOX NEWS – Headline: ``Anna Nicole Smith dies’’
The report began: Reality star Anna Nicole Smith died Thursday after collapsing at a South Florida hotel, one of her lawyers said.Smith, 39, did not respond to CPR, and her boyfriend, Howard K. Stern, was with her when she passed, her attorney, Ron Rale, told FOX News.