Va Va Va Vikki Lizzi & Jeff Conaway Mania! Video & Behind Scenes Photos!
But, first, on a more interesting note, I'd like to share my Vikki Lizzi interview with all of you. I got to go to her home and talk with her in-depth about her and Jeff's road to recovery from drug use and the abuse that went on in their relationship while they were using.
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Before and after the camera was on, she really got into the nitty gritty of things and exposed a lot about their relationship. From my point of view, seeing Jeff & Vikki together now that he is walking upright, there is definitely a new life in their eyes when they talk about their relationship.
I've been around both Jeff & Vikki for a little over a year now. I first met them at a charity event in Orange County, when Jeff was still walking with a cane and not standing fully straight. So, to see Jeff standing up right and walking without a cane is really a miraculous thing.
In fact, when I first saw him walk downstairs from their bedroom, I (embarrassingly) exclaimed, "Oh, my god! Wow! Congratulations! They told me the surgery was successful, but, wow, I had no idea...congratulations!"
I was embarrassed after my awkward outburst, but Jeff took it very gracefully and just thanked me. A week later, at Corey Feldman's concert, he told me more about the surgery and physical therapy--he still has a long road of recovery ahead of him; but for now, it seems as if his spirit has been mended. He told me it takes a lot out of you when you literally just cannot walk or stand normally--as in it sucks the life and happiness out of you.
A truly touching moment at Corey Feldman's afterparty, was when Corey thanked Vikki for standing by Jeff through all of this. Really when you think about Jeff's life, his back injuries probably did cost him a lot--I'm sure he lost a lot of friends when he succumbed to depression and began using drugs. And Vikki told me she too succumbed to the depression as well--she had never used drugs before their lives got so hard due to his injuries and despair. It meant a lot to her when Corey thanked her for sticking by Jeff's side through it all.
Corey has known Jeff since he was a little kid and Corey has also been one of the few to stand by Jeff throughout the years of tumult.
Before the concert started, I found it endearing when Jeff was talking to me about how he met Corey over 20 years ago and Jeff still referred to Corey as "a kid" and then corrected himself and said, "Look I'm calling him a kid and he's got his own kid now. He's not a kid."
Watching Jeff and Corey talk was truly a special moment and hopefully some of my behind the scenes pictures capture a bit of that joy.
Corey is a really good guy for standing by Jeff. And, Vikki, even though she has been hailed as One of the Meanest of Girlfriends of All Time, did not seem that mean to me & should be credited with sticking by Jeff in the rough times as well.
Now, here's some more of those pics I promised you:
There were other celebs at Corey's concert supporting the green cause too (like Johnny V., Cher Rue, Jennifer Braff from Age of Love, Jeff Pickle from America's Most Smartest Model, cast members from Vh1's Tough Love, Daniel DiCriscio from Vh1 and an upcoming Sasha Baron Cohen film, Jay Luna from Stardust Comics, Ed Begley, Jr. etc. etc.)
Oh, ya, forgot to mention: Greg Cipes from Fast & Furious was their performing too (Band: Cipes and the People). Random, huh? But, before he performed, he had to meditate...
Endnote: Sorry took me so long to get all these posted, but we've been swamped over here planning our event that goes on this Friday, plus we had to fly up to San Francisco to meet with our advertisers at AdTec, & if you hadn't noticed--we've been working feverishly on changing all of Hollywire's categories--we've been busy busy busy! But hopefully the site is easier to navigate for you all!
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