Kato Brings Different Style to the Celebrity World of Gofers

Re “In Service to the Stars” (April 3): The hapless Kato Kaelin has my sympathy.

Still, if O.J. Simpson demeaned him during his tenure as housesitter, dog watcher and sometime companion, it was no worse, as your article points out, than the treatment routinely accorded the people who serve those affluent public faces who lack the character and decency to understand how to treat those who work for them.

I’ve observed their disgusting antics throughout my career. They no longer amaze but only appall me.

Your article, though, fails to separate clearly the Katos, gofers, dogsbodies and buddies from the men and women who function professionally and effectively as personal assistants.

By the grace of God, the best of them has worked for me for more than 20 years.

Aside from the exemplary efforts of my agent, attorney, accountant, investment adviser, travel agent and publicity man (with all of whom she touches base almost daily), Carol Lanning arranges my public life with awesome efficiency and unvarying good humor.

I’ve yet to hear a single soul speak ill of her, though she denies people daily.

Her opinion, when sought, is cool and considered, shaped not only by what is right for me, but what is right. She’d be a superb chief of staff to a senator or cabinet secretary, but she says she won’t.

Please make a distinction between the able people doing a very tough job and the desperate wanna-bes in servitude to clods.

CHARLTON HESTON

Los Angeles

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It’s not every day you get to learn brand-new words in a daily paper.

So I was gratified to see how the O.J. juggernaut has launched several neologisms, evidently already in use among Hollywood folk.

We not only have a new noun (executive Kato) , but a swell new verb (Katoed for). I especially like how the new terms echo the word cater --as in “He Katos to my every whim.”

But anyone who actually uses Katoism in a sentence should be Clarked on the knuckles with a ruler.

SUZY BEAL

Silver Lake

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I don’t think the term Kato is new as far as a personal assistant goes--after all, wasn’t that the name of Inspector Clouseau’s cook, chauffeur, etc., in the “Pink Panther” movies (circa 1964)?

I have been a personal assistant to an actress from the golden age of movies for more than 17 years. I have never been treated like a “frat brother,” but rather with the respect another human being deserves.

I don’t think of myself as a Kato and certainly would not like to be referred to as one.

ROBERTA OLDEN

Rancho Mirage