(E! Online)
   by Joal Ryan

                       Calista Flockhart and anorexia. What's been
                       whispered in the gossip pages and zapped around
                       the Internet for weeks, finally worked its way
                       into a legitimate news report late last week.

                       One problem: It wasn't accurate.

                       Last Friday, CBS' New York affiliate reported on
                       its 5 p.m. newscast that production on Flockhart's
                       hit Fox series, Ally McBeal, had been halted
                       "indefinitely" while the waifish actress underwent
                       treatment for the eating disorder anorexia
                       nervosa.

                       An hour later, the station issued an on-air retort
                       from Flockhart's publicist: The show was not shut
                       down; its star was not hospitalized. Its star was,
                       in fact, in "good health." (This, according to a
                       transcript of the broadcast read by a station
                       worker.)

                       WCBS-TV did not refer to the second report as a
                       retraction, although that's what Flockhart's
                       publicists called it. Station news officials could
                       not be reached for comment.

                       "Bogus story" was the two-word comment from Fox on
                       the WCBS broadcast. On Monday, the network and the
                       office of Flockhart's publicist reiterated: Ally
                       McBeal is in production.

                       A rep for the TV star also confirmed that
                       Flockhart made public appearances this past
                       weekend, including face-time at an event honoring
                       Ally creator David E. Kelley.

                       "She is healthy," the staffer said. "She is fine."

                       That's been the mantra from the Flockhart and Fox
                       camps in the wake of what appears to have been a
                       disastrous fashion choice on Emmy night.

                       A backless gown worn by the TV lawyer at the
                       September 13 awards apparently revealed too much
                       or too little--at least to the liking of the
                       British tabs, which appear to be the first to
                       pounce on headline-mongering eating-disorder
                       stories.

                       New York Daily News gossip columnist Mitchell Fink
                       kicked it up a notch two weeks ago, reporting that
                       the skinny thespian had been asked to hide her
                       barely there frame in a bulky sweater for a recent
                       Entertainment Weekly cover shoot.

                       Days later, Flockhart insiders got Fink to publish
                       their response: The actress is working out and
                       never felt better.

                       It's not just professional gossips, though, who
                       are working this story/nonstory. On the Ally
                       McBeal Internet news group, Flockhart's weight is
                       the dominant topic, with fans expressing concern
                       that their reed-thin TV heroine dropped more
                       (read: too much) poundage in the off-season.

                       Flockhart, who rocketed from New York stage
                       notoriety to People magazine celebrity in the past
                       year, is not the first actress to be dogged by
                       anorexia rumors. Ex-Lois & Clark star Teri Hatcher
                       was the subject of almost identical stories in
                       late-1996, early-'97.

                       Last November, she gave birth to a healthy baby
                       girl.