Gone Fishin'

The year's plummeting economy didn't faze anyone in Hollywood: Plenty of stars -- often citing the stress of celebrity -- scoffed at the idea of job security and up and gave notice.

ROB LOWE
GIG Waxing political as speechwriter Sam Seaborn on ''The West Wing.''
REASON FOR QUITTING Wanted stronger story lines and, insiders say, more money.
EXIT STRATEGY Democrat Seaborn might win a congressional seat in ultraconservative Orange County, Calif. Sure, that could happen.
FALLOUT A drop in the show's pretty quotient. (Can't blame him for sliding ratings.) And now who will banter with Josh?

STEPHEN KING
GIG Writing best-selling spine-tinglers at breakneck pace.
REASON FOR QUITTING Burnout -- for the second time in his storied career.
EXIT STRATEGY First came his top-selling ''From a Buick 8.'' Then there'll be three more volumes of his ''Dark Tower'' series. Then, he swears, he's retiring.
FALLOUT A drawer stuffed with unpublished manuscripts, since he plans to keep writing.

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR
GIG Kicking undead butt on ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer.''
REASON FOR QUITTING Her contract is up, and movie stardom beckons. But, if the price is right, she may be lured back for guest appearances.
EXIT STRATEGY A season of preemptive slayer training for Buffy's little sister, Dawn, because...
FALLOUT ...without its marquee character, UPN could be scrambling for an equally monstrous spin-off.

ROSIE O'DONNELL
GIG Playing ''Queen of Nice'' with her talk show and magazine.
REASON FOR QUITTING To spend more time with family. That, and her feud with mag publishers Gruner + Jahr over editorial control.
EXIT STRATEGY Hiring new host Caroline Rhea, followed by a brash stand-up act and a rash of legal battles with G+J.
FALLOUT Her eponymous show now takes Rhea's name. Her eponymous mag is no more.

OPRAH WINFREY
GIG Making overnight sensations of literary weepers.
REASON FOR QUITTING It was ''harder and harder'' to find worthy books, though some speculated sluggish ratings were to blame.
EXIT STRATEGY An announcement on her April 5 show that she'll recommend only books she feels ''absolutely compelled to share.''
FALLOUT A flurry of imitators -- like ''Live With Regis and Kelly'' -- duking it out for dominance.

RUSSELL CROWE
GIG Touring with his band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.
REASON FOR QUITTING Stress and a desire to spend time with family and friends.
EXIT STRATEGY A statement on the band's website revealed his concern about his father's surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and his love for Danielle Spencer.
FALLOUT None, though his publicist says that the break won't affect his day job -- getting Oscar nominations.

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