'Stupid and Contagious' Is Stupid Fun

(CBS)  The ShowBuzz's Jessica Derschowitz wrote this story.

When Caprice Crane was young, she thought that when people grew up, they'd automatically be on TV. That was understandable, considering that her parents were actress Tina Louise — Ginger from "Gilligan's Island" — and talk-show host Les Crane.

Caprice is all grown up now, and she knows that's not the way things work. But her child-of-Hollywood upbringing is evident in the lifestyle she made for herself: NYU film school, a job writing at MTV, and now her latest endeavor, a novel called "Stupid and Contagious."

"Stupid and Contagious" — which Crane calls a "he said/she said" novel — is clearly the brainchild of a pop culture-ridden mind. Though it has a typical "chick lit" storyline, the book also has quirky one-liners, constant music references and fun characters that separate it from this summer's other offerings.

The "he said" and "she said" are Brady Gilbert and Heaven Albright. Brady, a record label owner/germophobe/aspiring inventor, and Heaven, a fired PR exec turned soon-to-be-fired waitress, take turns narrating through their overly intertwined, opposites-attract story.

The dual-storytellers concept provides some added interest as the two become next-door neighbors (they meet when Heaven kindly returns his mail to him — already opened and read) and then road-trip partners as she accompanies Brady while he scouts a band for his record label and tries and market his latest invention. Seeing the journey through both sets of eyes brings out the best in each character. It's through Brady that we see not only Heaven's childishness, but her sexiness. Through Heaven, Brady isn't just whiny, he's passionate.

Crane's leading man and lady both have their faults — and neither develops much before the very-predictable ending — but they're unique and endearing enough to generate some laughs when they get into their respective (if occasionally unbelievable) troubles and vehemently deny their evident attraction for one another.

"Stupid and Contagious" lives up to its name: It's fluff — but it's infectious fluff that, thanks to Crane's witty style, keeps you turning the pages and leaves you chuckling and groaning along with Heaven, Brady and their cadre of equally quirky friends.

The novel might be more Britney Spears than Madonna, more Kathy Griffin than Jon Stewart, but Crane makes it worth the ride — even if you can see the destination far before the road ends.


By Jessica Derschowitz