Friday TMZ.com reported:

TMZ has learned Erin Andrews is outraged at DirecTV for not telling her about the sick, twisted, threatening emails until yesterday — even though the predator had been sending them since last September.

Erin’s lawyer, Marshall Grossman, tells TMZ, “We are outraged that these emails did not come to our attention until now.”

TMZ has learned security for DirecTV — which broadcasts “The Dan Patrick Show” — notified Grossman Thursday, even though the first sexual email was sent September 16, 2009 and the emails turned violent on March 14.

Grossman says Erin is “having a tough time.”

A rep for DirecTV could not be reached for comment.

After TMZ’s report, I spoke to a L.A.-based DirecTV source who explained that not only were those September emails about Andrews not threatening, they weren’t even read by DirecTV staffers until earlier this week.

My source said that only recently have DirecTV staffers received what the company would consider “threatening” emails about Andrews. Those emails, according to my source, were received and read earlier this week and reported to the authorities “instantly.”

After those recent emails were read, a search of the DirecTV email system revealed emails also about Andrews from September. Though the same person who sent the recent emails about Andrews also sent the September emails, my source said the September emails “were non-threatening.”

Additionally, those non-threatening September emails about Andrews had never been opened or read by DirecTV staffers. My DirecTV source said that because of the large volume of email that the Dan Patrick television and radio show receives daily, sometimes staffers aren’t able to read everything that comes in.

I myself have worked on similar national shows and there were many days that we didn’t get to all the emails. By the next day, those emails were pushed so far down in the system that often they were never opened. Happened all the time.

What really happened here is DirecTV staffers alerted authorities immediately after the first threatening email was received earlier this week. Then more unread, non-threatening emails about Andrews were found, with DirecTV also alerting authorities to those.

Further, I was told by my source that even if those September emails had been read by staffers at the time, they would not have been reported to authorities.

Mike McCarthy of USA TODAY reports this week that Erin Andrews‘ contract with ESPN is up in July so she’s now in the process of negotiating a new deal with the network.

(Does She Look Afraid Of Media Spotlight To You?)

Considering the level of celebrity Andrews has achieved in the past year, and her previous, stated interest in entertainment media, her comments to McCarthy about wanting to stay at ESPN were surprising. But given ESPN’s apparent support of her through her stalker ordeal, I suppose her loyalty isn’t altogether unexpected.

Though from polling entertainment execs and ESPN sources this morning, I found that Andrews could easily double or even triple her current, low-to-mid six-figure salary with the sports network. Not to mention maintain and grow the mainstream celebrity that she now seemingly embraces.

With that increased public attention, who knows how far Andrews could go with her career. With her look, talent and current top-of-mind, she could easily be raking in millions as the hottest new name in the showbiz press.

There’s also precedent for a potential Andrews move, with former ESPN personality Kevin Frazier now an Entertainment Tonight weekend host and weekday correspondent. A CBS source told me today that Frazier is making considerably more money on ET than he was in Bristol.

One entertainment media source added to me this week that Andrews could “name her price and go wherever she wants.”

So where exactly might Andrews lands if she goes the entertainment route? There’s some possibilities that come to mind almost immediately.

Read more…

What do Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Woody Hayes have in common?

1) Acts like he’s been there before.
2) Knows the importance of ball security.
3) Plays without a helmet.

A friend breathlessly called last night to tell me that Erin Andrews was due up next on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars. I had less than no interest, and didn’t watch. From these well-timed screen captures and video, perhaps I should have.

Thing I’m most happy about is that Andrews is back to her old self. Actually, scratch that, she’s obviously past that point and is comfortable enough to show us a whole ‘nother side of her personality.

Happy for her.

Turns out my sources at Axe were right.

Erin Andrews was at the Axe party at LIV in the Fontainebleau Hotel last night.

Last Wednesday the MIAMI HERALD and other outlets were reporting that Erin Andrews would be attending a Super Bowl party hosted by Diddy at a Miami Beach hotel nightclub called LIV.

As Andrews wasn’t on the promo flyer for the party or on LIV’s website, I was a little suspicious that her name might be being used without her authorization.

Today I was contacted by two spokespersons for Axe, the company that is sponsoring the party.

Read more…

While we were all a little worried about Erin Andrews in the aftermath of her stalker, I’m happy to report that she’ll (apparently) be out Sunday night in Miami for a Super Bowl party with Diddy at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach.

(What’s the odds she didn’t authorize use of her name?)

The party starts at midnight after the game. (It’s Miami kiddos.) It is open to the public.

Read more…

Reporter Stacy Clardie of FORT WAYNE JOURNAL-GAZETTE has this comment from Purdue basketball player Kelsey Barlow after the Boilermakers beat Illinois 84-78 on Tuesday night:

(EA covering Purdue hoops game. Inset: Kelsey Barlow)

When asked whether he’d trade his night and the first start with redshirt freshman John Hart, who got the coveted post-game interview with ESPN’s Erin Andrews, Barlow balked.

“That’s a very good question,” Barlow said with a smile. “I don’t know, man. She’s engaged. So I’m going to have to say I’d rather start. Both are good options.”

So who’s the lucky guy? Barlow’s claim, as recorded by reporter Zach Langdon of the student PURDUE EXPONENT, might give us a clue.

Read more…

Erin Andrews was at Federal court hearing in Los Angeles today where Michael David Barrett pleaded guilty to stalking her across three state lines. Federal prosecutors recommended that Barrett be given 27 months in prison.

Andrews attorney Marshall Grossman said he will push for more jail time, which will be determined on Feb. 22. Grossman also said he thought the FBI investigation into Barrett was still ongoing and that Barrett had secretly videotaped “a dozen other women.”

Andrews talked to the media after the hearing. Here’s excerpts of some of her comments taken from a live TMZ.com feed:

“I wanted to go right in and get it over with. To see him (Barrett) face-to-face. The first couple minutes were very difficult. I lost it. My Dad was trying to help me keep it together. I looked at him a few times to see what his reaction was. Now that I’ve been thrust into this role, I want to the judge to see me and how emotional I was.

“I believe he should be classified as a sexual predator.  I want him to stay in jail as long as possible. He’s a threat to all women. I dont want somone else’s career to be ruined like this. It wont come off the internet.  Still to this day every time I check into a hotel room, I’m constantly looking around to see if he’s there. I wanted (today) to give the judge a sense of what he’s done.” Read more…

UPDATE (3:03pm PT): Michael Barrett pleased guilty today in L.A. to interstate stalking, he will be sentenced on Feb. 22. Federal prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 27 months per a plea agreement. Erin Andrews’ lawyer Marshall Grossman is expected to urge the judge to sentence Barrett to the maximium penalty of 60 months in Federal prison.

USA TODAY Travel writer Barbara De Lollis has what the outlet touts as an, “Exclusive photo of the modified peephole of Erin Andrews‘ room at the Marriott Nashville.”

This is a never-before-published photograph of the peephole of Room 1051 at the Marriott Nashville at Vanderbilt University through which seven of the eight nude videos of Erin Andrews were shot, according to (Andrews attorney Marshall) Grossman, who provided Hotel Check-In with the photo.

De Lollis reports the peephole from the hallway side of the door can be popped off “in seconds” and fitted with devices for videotaping. Read more…