On your television, a double decade back, there was this wacky segment of Saturday Night Live. Gilda Radner would appear as this semiliterate editorial type. The character was called Emily Littella. Emily was someone who was usually horribly misinformed and aside from that, knew next to nothing. Week after week she would ask an inane question followed by an even sillier comment, such as, "What's all this about Pamela Anderson? Lots of women have small breasts."

She would soon find out, she was dead wrong (no pun intended). Her segment would close with Emily's comment, "Never mind!"

So who is Pamela Anderson Lee, and why is her name on everyone's lips every five minutes? Didn't we first meet her on Tim Allen's outrageous comedy show, Home Improvement? I seem to remember this somewhat busty, very cute blond, who scampered around in the background of the show. Didn't she look cute in those bib-overalls?

Well, she then caught the eye of David Hasselhof, who cast Pamela on his syndicated hit Baywatch. Talk about can't-miss opportunities. A bunch of beach babes in bathing suits broadcast during prime-time every week. Assorted hunky guys who also portrayed lifeguards on this popular California beach brought in the ladies and gave the ratings a major boost. Hasselhof soon had a major hit on his hands. Within just a season or two, Baywatch was syndicated all over the world.

Pamela Anderson became America's cover-girl. She appeared on Playboy's cover at least four or five times. She was on talk shows, she was in gossip columns, she was the busty blonde bimbo that everyone wanted. Pamela's breasts had been augmented, so when Hasselhof did everything he could -- given the limitations of American television -- to display her charms as often as possible, he got excellent value for his efforts, along with the reward of his show's global popularity.

But Pamela Anderson soon evolved into Pamela Anderson Lee after marrying rock musician Tommy Lee. This marriage was a typical Hollywood production, with helicopters buzzing the skies over a Malibu estate where the wedding was held. Paparazzi were beyond the barricades, denied admission. Television trucks with their up-link equipment blocked the streets. Emily might have asked why she hadn't gotten an invitation if she had been with us.

But now the Pamela Lee story takes a downturn. Planned or not, contrived or not, cameras were on hand to video the numerous and varied consummations of the marriage aboard a yacht somewhere off the coast of Ensenada. Pamela, star of television, and print media, had now established a presence in the porno industry. Bootlegged or hijacked copies of the tapes were either sold, or copied onto thousands of porno sites on the Web.

I won't get into the legal entanglements and issues of whether Pamela was the victim of exploitation, or herself the exploiter who reaped a veritable fortune from a video representation of her honeymoon activities.

Pamela and Tommy had a rock-and-roll lifestyle; of course, this led to a rocky marriage which ultimately foundered. Tommy was quick with his hands and fast with his fists and Pamela was seen in various supermarket publications as a cover girl of a different type. She now was the queen of the gossip rag trade, and a household name.

But her sizzle was still bankable. She made a few forgettable movies, including one called Barb Wire. Pam was still earning huge amounts of money based upon her cleavage. She was sought after by photographers, and still made public appearances dressed to display her attributes. Television came calling again. This time it was a syndicated show called V.I.P. Pamela and a few other women have this Hollywood private detective agency, with the main function basically being to serve as body guards to the rich and famous. And to scamper about in the tightest tops imaginable. Pamela's clothing looks like it is sprayed on.

So this week, as the Wall Street Journal was describing Ms Lee as the world's biggest Internet moneymaker, our gal decides to undergo breast reduction surgery. After years of being a name on Page 6 of every newspaper, after nearly a decade in the public eye both clothed and unclothed, she suddenly decides that she doesn't want to be known just as the girl with huge boobies. So she has the implants removed.

So what's all the fuss? Even with the enhanced bosom, she wasn't more than a minor player here at the BEA. Pamela Anderson Lee - a name for our collective memory banks: a name of a young woman who rode the rocket to fame and glory. A woman whose bosom flamed the libidos of many a young man. On my little corner of the web, on this small page, I cannot muster much angst or feeling that Pamela has become rather normal sized. Tears are not falling.

Emily might have said, never mind. I say, forget it. Mai Pehn Rai.