And we thought we were harsh.
When we picked seven celebrities who need some intervention, we considered the possibility (for about 10 seconds) that maybe we just needed to cut them some slack.
As you'll see below, what we thought about Katie (and by extension, Tom, since they are now a fused pair) paled in comparison to the bold-faced, capital-letter advice some of you had for them.
You also had plenty of suggestions about other celebs who could use a helping hand.
Some of your responses:
Run, Katie!
"Katie's a doll but is being led a stray by the new, weird, Tom. Apparently, from all I've read so far, even her parents don't even recognize her. ... Even Katie's vocabulary is stunted. Get her away from that woman who's following her around and declaring herself "Katie's best friend" and weird Tom and she'll have some hope to get back to normal." -Polly, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
"Katie Holmes needs to be slapped, shaken, or have cold water thrown in her face. She has obviously been placed under some kind of spell or hypnosis." -Jessica
"She needs to stop living out her childhood fantasies with Tom Cruise. He loves her because he can mold her into what he didn't get out of Nicole Kidman. Let's be real, shall we?" -Monica, Grand Rapids, Mich.
As for you, Tom ...
"Haven't finished the whole article yet but how could you miss THE biggest train wreck of all?? Tom Cruise! I will never see another one of his movies. As Lucy says to Pig Pen in The Charlie Brown Christmas Special, he is '...an absolute mess.'" -Fern, New York, N.Y.
"Tom Cruise is totally out of control. When he becomes a biochemist, physician, psychiatrist and all around learned person then maybe he can speak intelligently about medication. Seems to me he needs some serious Prozac to calm him down." -J.A., Baldwin, N.Y.
"The real celeb without a clue is Tom. Pretty soon, we will look on him as a cradle robber. Katie is the same age as my daughter and I am only three years older than slimy Tom. I used to like him, but he has worn out his welcome!" -Bags, Lancaster, Calif.
"Tom Cruise needs Ritalin, pronto. Also, perhaps along with the history of psychiatry, he should learn the history of cults." -Victoria, San Francisco, Calif.
Lindsay, Lindsay, Lindsay
"I think you did a fine job with your choices; however, I believe Lindsay Lohan should be at the top of the list. That female is just pathetic. She proved herself to be stupid. Her weight loss is disgusting. What was she thinking??? She looks like hell. And there is no way I believe she did that in a healthy way ... " -Caitlin, Indiana
"Lindsay Lohan needs a lot of help. I mean, look at her!! She bleached her hair, even though she had an amazing hair color, she lost all the weight that actually made her look like a real person not a stick figure, and her movie career is a little kiddish, beside 'Mean Girls.' But she really does need help." -Rebekah, Alaska
"Ashlee Simpson and Lindsey Lohan are in need of serious immediate help. Thing is, after they got help, the girl selling pretzels in the mall has more talent than these two combined. Why are these girls famous?? Why does the public refer to them as 'stars'? They're terrible both on screen and in music." -Ryan, Tampa, Fla.
Our other nominees
"Ben Affleck. He needs to take a break period!! From one fiancee to another. It may be a true love from his point of view but that is doubtful when you consider the recent history. He needs to spend some months of soul searching on his meaning of love, his career, and his life Before he takes on the wellbeing of another human." -Carol, Elkhart, Texas
"Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, first of all they have the $ to get a proper designer for both of them. It's really freaky how they dress, it's like they just take the bed sheets and wrap it around themselves." -Michelle, Brooklyn, N.Y.
And of course, Britney"Britney Spears. She's disgusting. I think it's so sad that she has let herself go straight down the tubes. Every single picture you see of her, she looks like she just fell right out of the trailer park. Even before getting pregnant, ever since meeting Kevin, she has totally let herself go." -Ashley, Atlanta, Ga.
"Britney Spears. Give up the 'Suzy Homemaker' shtick and ditch the loser. We are all happy for you, but give us what we want. Mediocre songs, and vulgar videos, and Madonna inspired collaborations. Oh, but at least wait until you're back from maternity leave." -Kristen, Salisbury, Md.
Plus, we'll always have Paris
"Paris Hilton. Wow, a celebrity by virtue of being born into money, now there's talent, NOT. I think the best cure for her and the others like her is for the removal of funds. Live the real life, then get up on the screen. Substance anyone?" -Cathy, Oakdale, Ct.
Then we have ...
"Kim Catrall. I don't watch Sex and the City but I do exist and therefore know of its popularity. She hasn't had a stellar career movie-wise (can anyone remember her in anything but B-movies?) but she hit the mother load when SATC gave this non-existent 'actress' one last career boosting chance. And what does she do when they ask her to co-star in the movie version? Asks for more money than even Sarah Jessica Parker is worth." -Dallas, Charlotte, N.C.
"Charlie Sheen ... he needs to understand that even though his character in Two and a Half Men is wonderful, he is way too old to still be acting like that ... it is time to grow up and be a responsible parent." -Susan, Sacramento, Calif.
"Bobby Brown AND Whitney Houston — Not sure how to help the Ghetto King and Queen of reality TV, but watching 'Being Bobby Brown' is much more like watching a train wreck about to happen. They both would do well to get their health and family in order before airing their laundry, clean, dirty or otherwise." -Niki, Kansas City, Mo.
"Oprah Winfrey!!! She must stop thinking she is God!" -Vicky, Sonora, Calif.
"You forgot two major lost causes: Michael Jackson and Courtney Love. Oh yeah, and whatever happened to Jennifer Love Hewitt (one earned "Sexiest Woman" from Maxim magazine)??? I think she earned a spot on your list before Tobey Maguire." -Rachael, Sacramento, Calif. [Trust us, we could never forget Michael Jackson. -Ed.]
"Anna Nicole Smith has been on a steady decline from birth!!! You can take the girl outta the trailer park and strip clubs, but you can't take the trailer park and strip clubs outta the girl!!! Nuff said!" -Cindy, Spokane, Wash.
"Tom Sizemore needs to go to prison to get scared straight ... just like Robert Downey Jr. had to." -Melanie, Rio Rancho, N.M.
"Vivica A. Fox. Love Vivica to death, but she has to throw away the booty shorts and start aging gracefully. When 50 Cent says you're ghetto, you're ghetto." -Denise, Toronto, Ont.
"You definitely should have included Jessica Simpson What an idiot. She is homely without all that make up and if anyone ever needed a nose job, it's that hawk nose of hers. She and sister should quietly go home and leave poor Nick alone." -Cathy, Blairstown, N.J.
"I think Brad Pitt could use some help. Being photographed with Angelina Jolie (while not promoting 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' mind you) and still not quite divorced from Jennifer Aniston not look good. I think he should cool down whatever is going on, till his marriage is officially over." -Stephanie, Bridgeport, Ct.
"Sandra Bullock! Have you seen photos of her new husband, Jesse James? He's tattooed over most of his body. His web site show[s] him holding a shotgun so we're staring down the barrel. This guy makes Billy Bob Thornton look like Harrison Ford!" -Gloria, Nashville, Tenn.
"Two words . . . WINONA RYDER." -Chip, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
"I can't believe you didn't mention J-Lo. She has been spiraling for the last few years. Besides the numerous marriages and "Bennifer," , her movies aren't exactly winning awards and people are still talking about her duet w/Marc Anthony. Then there's the whole PETA thing ... " -Dawn, Temperance, Mich.
"Madonna. I love her but quit writing and start dancing again. Give us something to talk about." -Dave, Minneapolis, Minn. [No such luck, Dave. -Ed.]
"Tara Reid ... stop the partying madness!!! Someone needs to let Tara know that it's okay to not go out on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Sunday night ... Try some TV or curl up with a book and fuzzy slippers. The blue eyes aren't so pretty against a bloodshot back-drop ... we say this only because we care!" -A.W.
"Chris Tucker ... he may or may not do a new rush hour movie who cares? can he do something besides rush hour movies ... why is Hollywood giving him all this money to do the same damn character ... he is more talented than that ... but he thinks he's a star because he got a lot of money ... his career is a joke and is foolish to keep giving him money." -Patty, Philadelphia, Pa.
"Ben Stiller — If you watch the DVD set of his old FOX TV show, he is recycling every bit of shtick he used there in every movie he is making and it needs to stop. I would like to think he has more talent than merely going back to his old show and plucking out bits he thinks nobody remembers. ... He is plagiarizing himself." -Dean, Dana Point, Calif.
On the other hand ..."Why do people really even care. Are these celebrities ever going to do anything for their fans? I don't think so. Why are they raised up like GODS? The people who need help are the fans." -Bradley, Clarksville, Tenn.
Comments edited for length and clarity.