Oprah's Still Mum

Honestly, what is there to say? It's possible that she was sucked into believing a fantasy novel billed as a memior. Heck, perhaps the dude was such a druggie that he thinks what he wrote is true. Perhaps he has "a beautiful mind" or something. But, she's still leaving it alone right now or perhaps she has her staff doing their their own investigation.

Oprah Winfrey appeared yesterday to write off the author whose addiction memoir - which she helped turn into a mega-seller - now looks like a tall tale.

Winfrey's Web site, Oprah.com, dropped a notice seeking viewers willing to go on her TV show to discuss how James Frey's 'A Million Little Pieces' changed their lives.

'Did you ... get inspired to overcome your own battle with drug or alcohol addiction?' the Web site asked as late as Monday night.

For a second day, Winfrey's office in Chicago had no direct comment on the serious doubts about the book raised by The Smoking Gun Web site.

It reported Monday that Frey 'wholly fabricated' or 'wildly embellished' his account of drugs, crime, rehab and redemption, which moved Winfrey to tears last fall and earned a spot in Oprah's Book Club.

In a new statement, Frey's publishers, Doubleday/Anchor, said yesterday, 'By definition, [a memoir] is highly personal.

'In publishing Mr. Frey, we decided 'A Million Little Pieces' was his story, told in his own way, and he represented to us that his version of events was true to his recollections.'

The book, which is No. 1 on The New York Times paperback best-seller list, also was No. 1 yesterday on Amazon.com.