"The Real Housewives," Nigel Lythgoe, Adam Carolla, and "Sex & The City." Has Hollywood Lost Its Mind?

Recovering from a hospital stay can be daunting, especially if it's impossible to decide if the entertainment article you're reading is legit ... or a fever dream caused by the medication.

Four stories from the Hollywood ether materialized this week, and deserve a closer look:

Closet? What Closet?

Nigel Lythgoe

He's baaack!

We've commented many times about So You Think You Can Dance and American idol producer Nigel Lythgoe and his appalling views, from his Brokeback ballroom remarks to his problem with effeminate dancers. Frankly, he's given us a more asshat material than we know what to do with.

Now he's responded to Adam Levine's comments about Idol not allowing gay contestants to be out with this humdinger:

"To be frank, I didn’t understand why we’re talking about contestants being gay or not gay. I don’t go into my dentist and say, “Are you gay?” I don’t say to contestants on So You Think You Can Dance, “Are you gay?” What does it got to do with me? What does it got to do with anybody? When does privacy stop in this country? If somebody wants to say they’re gay, it’s up to them. You don’t expect us to turn around and say, “Are you gay?” Why would we do that? — “By the way, he’s a Catholic and he supports Obama and here’s his sexuality” — what does that have anything to do with singing talent? Maybe it does for Adam Levine, but not for me."

What a crock. What did Danny Gokey's dead wife have to do with his singing ability? What does every sob story, from growing up homeless to recovering from cancer have to do with singing ability? And yet those personal stories are featured prominently every season and as often as not, they end up revealing the contestant's sexuality.

Add another comment to the Nigel laundry list of asshattery.

Speaking of Asshats ...

After another anti-gay rant, has-been never-was shock jock Adam Carolla has issued this hilariously inept apology:

"I'm sorry my comments were hurtful. I'm a comedian, not a politician."

I knew he was a shock jock, and former sidekick to Dr. Drew, but when did he become a comedian?

Where's a Bucket of Pig's Blood When You Need It?

In news that has "debacle" written all over it, Gossip Girl producers are preparing to bring a CW-fied version of Candace Bushnell's The Carrie Diaries to TV.

This prequel to Sex & The City follows the awkward high school life of Carrie Bradshaw before she moved to New York City.

I liked it better the first time I saw it ... when it was called Square Pegs.

Spin This, Andy Cohen

In truly tragic news, Russell Armstrong, the husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor, has committed suicide after allegedly telling a friend that the reality show ruined his life.

With the new season of the show premiering in a few weeks, It'll be interesting to see how TPTB scramble ... either to shorten the storyline with Taylor and Russell, or (this is the cynic in me) to highlight it. Stories like this drive home the point that these are real people and being on shows like this can have real consequences.