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So you've been publicly humiliated after a sex scandal, and your life is in shambles. Not to worry -- others have stood in your stilettos, er, shoes, before. Here are some disgraced celebs of the past, and the career-survival techniques they employed.
-- Shawna Malcom
Star PAUL REUBENS (a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman)
Transgression Arrested in July 1991 for masturbating in a Sarasota, Fla., adult-movie theater
Damage-Control Strategy Self-mockery. Two months after the arrest, Reubens appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards, where he asked the cheering crowd, ''Heard any good jokes lately?''
Career Fallout A wash. After pleading no contest, Reubens reemerged, minus Pee-wee, and began a critically lauded role on Murphy Brown. That led to a development deal with Carsey-Werner last October.
Grade B
[Star]HUGH GRANT
[Trangression]Arrested in June 1995 with prostitute Divine Brown for engaging in ''lewd conduct''
[Damage-Control Strategy]Public repentance. Two weeks later, Grant appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, where he owned up to the incident, saying ''I did a bad thing, and there you have it.''
[Career Fallout]Minor. One day after he pleaded no contest and got two years' probation, Grant's Nine Months had a healthy delivery, with a $12.5 million opening weekend.
[Grade]B+
[Star]CHARLIE SHEEN
[Trangression]Exposed in July 1995 as one of Heidi Fleiss' clients, spending more than $50,000 for prostitutes
[Damage-Control Strategy]Maturity spin. After an obligatory apology to friends and family, Sheen wed model Donna Peele in September 1995 and publicly embraced Christianity nine months later.
[Career Fallout]Massive, once his new image crumbled. He divorced Peele in February '96 and pleaded no contest to battery involving a girlfriend this June. Meanwhile, his films have been mostly flops.
[Grade]D-
[Star]EDDIE MURPHY
[Transgression]Was stopped after picking up transsexual prostitute Atisone Seiuli on May 2 in West Hollywood
[Damage-Control Strategy]Denial. The actor issued a statement saying he was simply being a ''Good Samaritan'' and was giving the weary hooker a ride home.
[Career Fallout]Unknown. Murphy's next film, a remake of Doctor Dolittle, doesn't hit screens until May '98.
[Grade]Incomplete
