Marissa Jaret Winokur: "I'm a total spaz"

At a launch party for the Verizon Palm Centro smart-phone last night, actress Marissa Jaret Winokur told Entertainment Tonight that life is "a little less crazy," as she’s been busy getting ready for her baby, due to arrive sometime over the next four weeks.  "I’m a total spaz…but [things] are good," Marissa said.  She and husband Judah Miller joke that the baby — a boy the couple have decided to name Zev — is "going to pull the rip cord" when he’s ready to make his grand entrance, via surrogate.

He’s coming!  He’s coming!  … we don’t know when but he’s coming.  Only he knows!

Marissa, 35, also revealed that when she got down to the task of preparing for baby Zev’s arrival, she realized that she "needed more space."  The DWtS alum has since moved some of the couple’s own belongings into storage in furtherance of that goal, leading she and Judah to conclude that "the baby has all the good furniture.  We don’t have anything good [for ourselves] anymore."  Nonetheless, her enthusiasm for impending motherhood is palpable.  Said Marissa,

I’m very excited. I’m very nervous, but I’m very excited.

Source:  Entertainment Tonight; Photo by Barry King/Wireimage.

Comments

I don’t know anything about these two other than what I’ve read on CBB. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen any of her work but I just adore her! I smile everytime I see a posting about this couple b/c wow… what a story!! I wish them all the best and can’t wait for them to hold their sweet baby boy in their arms.

- heather on June 27th, 2008

Wow, I find the American use of the word ‘spaz’ really strange. It’s extremely offensive here in the UK, and it’s short for spastic, which is the antiquated and now highly offensive term for someone with cerebral palsy.

- Rachel-Jane on June 27th, 2008

I’m with you Rachel-Jane, I find the use of the word ‘spaz’ extremely offensive too (I’m here in the UK too BTW). I’ve never heard it said for a long, long time, for good reason. Even the full term ‘spastic’ is not used anymore, it’s defo not the done thing to say either of these words.

- Nat on June 27th, 2008

I’m an American woman who 1. happens to have CP and 2. also happens to be married to an Englishman. I used to use spaz all the time. It doesn’t have the same negative connotation here. The meaning here is more “someone who is hyper and scatterbrained because they are excited or being silly/goofy about something”

It’s a teasing insult if anything and I have never been offended by it. I’ve tried and tried to explain this to my Hubby but he doesn’t care to listen or even understand so I’ve stopped using it.

But honestly, it’s just not the same meaning here in the US

- Kris T on June 27th, 2008

Kris T, I understand what you’re saying, I just find it really weird! I know Marissa didn’t mean to be insulting at all.

- Rachel-Jane on June 27th, 2008

ET screens all over the world tho.im in Australia and it’s on every day.she can expect people might be offended,maybe not in the U.S., but elsewhere(here as in UK it’s also a taboo word).

- ang on June 27th, 2008

I have been pregnant twice and I am sure there are other words to describe how she is feeling at the moment. It’s a horrible term with many negative connotations and even if it isn’t considered offensive by some, why take the risk of offending those who do find it offensive?

- louise on June 28th, 2008

Louise, I think she probably didn’t know it could be offending anyone.

I didn’t know some people are offended by the word spaz untill I read the comments here.

- Sarita on June 28th, 2008