Outgrowing Winnie Cooper, Danica McKellar is a digital Dear Abby
Sure, Ann Landers has common sense. But can she tell you how to calculate the angles in a regular polygon? Danica McKellar can. The 1988-93 star of The Wonder Years tackles two of life's most impenetrable mysteries—dating and math—in her Web column, Discuss & Discover with Danica (www.celebritysightings.com; click on "celeb sites"). "Questions of love are definitely tougher," says McKellar, 25, a math whiz who graduated with highest honors from UCLA in 1998. McKellar, who is single and acts in L.A. theater, fields e-mail from grade schoolers and postgrads alike. Her background seems ideal for guessing if X will go to the prom with Y: Her best fields are analysis and probability, says L. Chayes, her UCLA prof. "Sometimes," he says, "the most efficient way for me to help [other students] was to say, 'Go talk to Danica.' "
Going Dotty
Sick of dot-com publicity stunts yet? Mitch Maddox has turned himself into one. The 26-year-old, who legally changed his name to DotComGuy, vows to spend this year confined to a Dallas condo, buying all he needs—from furniture to hair gel—over the Net and Webcasting his daily life, Truman Show-style, at www.dotcomguy.com. An early setback: Texas law makes home beer delivery difficult. Still, "It's going to be a fun year," says the ex-computer systems manager.
Ask him again when he has lived with the handle as long as one Dot (Dorothy) Comm, 70, a semiretired literature professor at California's La Sierra University whose name once landed her on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. ("What's the big deal?" she wonders. "I'm just an old fossil egghead.") Her message for DotComGuy: "Dot is a woman's name." Conceding that she feels "territorial" about her moniker, Comm adds, "What he's doing is a bit flaky, isn't it?"
Clicks and Pans
They Got Game Can TV quiz shows win on the Net?
Jeopardy! (www.station.sony.com)
[3½ stars]
This jazzy Web game offers real prizes. Sports and sci-fi versions, too.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (abc.go.com)
[3 stars]
This high-tech game (dig that cheesy music) can be poky without Regis.
Greed: The Series (www.fox.com)
[1 star]
The Who Wants to Be wannabe's site is skimpy.
Modem Manners
Can I break up with my long-distance honey via e-mail?
Dear John letters have an illustrious history, but don't use the Net to reach out and dump somebody. For one thing, your message might not end with your ex. Through the magic of forwarding, heartless e-kissoffs can morph into cyberchain letters. Next thing you know, half the planet could be abuzz about what a skunk you are.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
