Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) 
Contact:  
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ 
Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jun 1998
Authors: Marilyn Beck, Stacy Jenel Smith and Stephanie DuBois in Hollywood

COMEBACK HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

PAUL WILLIAMS, who built a brilliant career as the composer of such
classics as ``We've Only Just Begun,'' ``You and Me Against the World'' and
``Rainy Days and Mondays,'' debuts July 7 in the ongoing role of a
recovering alcoholic on the CBS soap ``The Bold and the Beautiful.''

Cocaine and alcohol so controlled his life in the '80s that ``I wasn't sure
I ever wanted to work again,'' he says. He feels he has been reborn since
he went on the wagon. Nothing pleases him more than conveying the anti-drug
message to the public.

Williams, who in his eight years of sobriety has become active in substance
abuse counseling, notes, ``The way Hollywood glamorizes drug usage makes me
crazy. It has to stop!''

He knew he had to stop substance abuse, he says, ``When I was offered the
lead in `Tru' on Broadway -- I got drunk and turned the role down. And when
I woke up, I realized what I had done.''

Much Improvement

Tim Allen has returned from a retreat in scenic Ojai with his adult ``Home
Improvement'' co-stars and the writing staff of the sitcom -- to lay plans
for the final season of the series.

Allen, who completed treatment for substance abuse in the spring, is
``doing wonderfully,'' according to ``Home Improvement''
co-creator/executive producer Carmen Finestra. ``He's in high gear. He came
out of rehab really focused and motivated to make the last season great.
He's in good spirits, looks great, healthy.'' 
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Checked-by: Richard Lake