In case it wasn't clear before, here's Radar magazine's editorial strategy: Find a pop culture trend that was hot and fully dissected by the press at least a full 12 months ago, then hire a clever illustrator to give it a fresh spin. Need the evidence of Maer Roshan's M.O.? It's below.

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How appropriate that only one day after Newsweek editor Jonathan Alter lets fly just how shoddy Radar's reporting practices are, the new issue of Ron Burkle's favorite magazine arrives for us to find something to be appalled about heading into the weekend.

We've already shown you what to expect in this, the second issue of the mag's third life: Inside amateur Internet porn! Spider-Man 3 was expensive! Rufus Wainwright gives good interview! And, of course, Lindsay Lohan agreed to pose for us even though we barely devote any of the article to her!

So what actually went on this time around? A lot of "entry points" and "lists" and "sidebars," to speak in mag parlance: Where Bush administration officials go when their careers explode; analyzing Oprah's signature; pricing tell-all books from celebrity editors' assistants; celebrities giving the finger; worst places to die; hot guy in his underwear. Oh, wait, that was an ad.

What, then, was worth talking about?

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Radar magazine reveals the secret behind their innovative success:

Other revelations from the illustrious editorial meeting? "Porn people are 'ugly.'" Yep, the third incarnation would definitely seem to be a "charm" for Radar EIC Maer Roshan…

Oh, so you thought we were serious about not plugging away with the easy punchlines at Radar? Silly rabbit, truth is for kids. How are we expected to leave alone the career failure of a magazine when they leave themselves so wide open? Speaking to WWD about how they're going to ring in Round Three, the Wishful Thinker in Chief demonstrated how proficient he's become in producing his own spin.

[Maer Roshan] said a smaller New York party will probably follow the next week, though no date has been set. "You can have big parties and people will always pay attention to the party and not the product," said Roshan, adding, "A big, high-powered party like that — we'll wait until we have a few years under our belt."

Yes, it was always that we got so excited about Radar's LAUNCH PARTIES that we stopped giving a crap about the magazine. Yes, that was it. Or that the mag's own website would scoop itself. All of which was scooped by blogs written by 13-year-old Proactiv recipients.

Radar is back, even if, you know, it's not really back, but only exists as a domain name and varying levels of truthiness. But it's coming back, in the "increasingly relevant" form of a print magazine. Which means editor Maer Roshan and his shady consortium of financial backers are hoping you'll fill out an antinquated business reply mail card, toss it in the post, and wait 4-6 weeks for a new stream of junk mail from a a magazine that – let's be honest here – was lucky enough to have two incarnations. Forthwith, the note going out to past subscribers of Radar, attached to said mailer asking for your demographic details and email address, with promises to send "special gifts and prizes." Like "v1@grA" and "w31ght l0$$ p1LL$."

Radar is already dropping staffers from its masthead. After having a site up and running for a tad over a month, the "magazine's" publisher, Katherine Rizzuto, has broken ties with Maer Roshan's third stab at creating a function space for Radar's existence. She will be leaving the greasy walls of the newly-occupied Hearst left-overs behind to return to the fluffy white and pink halls of Conde Nast's Bridal Media Group.

Rizzuto was publisher at Marie Claire from 2000 to 2004, and the associate publisher of Brides from 1997 to 2000.

As recently as August, Rizzuto was touting Roshan's magnetism:

I was amazed by the loyalty to Maer.

It appears her amazement didn't translate into such loyalty.

Obviously if she found the loyalty to Maer so amazing, it was because either she had never been so loyal to something herself, or could not imagine anyone having such faith in him. Or she didn't want to work in a tree house with a "no girls allowed" sign on it. Either way, when the publisher jumps, it's never a good sign. They're the ones who know how much these little pet projects are actually pulling in.

Radar Publisher Jumps To Condé Nast [Dylan Stableford, Fishbowl NY]

Since today is the day Radar brings up old news, we thought we would return the favor with a mention of the always-up-for-a-party-guy Maer Roshan. Abbe Diaz blogs on her PX This tablet about a very chicy party last night at DaSilvano for Marisa Acocella Marchetto's new book Cancer Vixen. Lots of media A-Listers were there, Paula Froelich hosted the event, and, Diaz spotted the dapper (and possibly wasted) Radar EIC.

and then right when this is happening i see maer-roshan stumbling across the street toward me (drunk already maybe?) so i call out "hi maer roshan!"

so maer-roshan pauses to shake my hand and i introduce myself but it didn't seem he recognized my name. which was pretty disappointing, considering all the hullabaloo over that time i saw him crying on UniversityPl wow my site stats sure went crazy that day! oh but i
digress.

yah so maer-roshan was really sweet and friendly though and he even said he likes my bike. oh and a friend of his came over to say hi too, but i didn't catch his name because he said it so quickly and i was just cordially introducing maer-roshan to marc-bagutta at that very
same moment. whoever he was, he was cute and sweet too he said "i really like your bike."

Oh, and we hear that nameless friend was none other than former staffer and current freelancer Drew Lee.

Anyways, we know this isn't super breaking news. But any chance to bring up the day Maer Roshan cried on his cell phone is a chance we'll take. Actually, we wish we could more often reiterate this day — especially opposed to the day David Zinczenko gave head to some LA chick.

Fri 9.22 [PX This]

Well, we've been awake for an entire two hours now, and there is no sign of an interview with Jared Kushner anywhere! It's really disgraceful. So, we've decided to settle with the Min article chatting up new Radar Publisher Katherine Rizzuto.

Rizzuto points out that many of the former Radar editors (a chunk of which have been unemployed since Radar's second collapse) are returning. And media stars like Jeff Bercovici and Anne Perton are leaving great jobs to take a chance with Maer Roshan.

"…We would not have ta­ken these jobs if we did not believe in Radar's potential." Radar shutdown #1 (2004) came from lack of financing. Shutdown #2 (December 2005) came from chief financier Mort Zuckerman ( U.S. News & World Report/New York Daily News chairman) pulling out. This time, says Katherine Rizzuto, "there's more love and nurturing. We have very modest goals that will keep us in business for a long time."

We said it before and we'll say it again. Roshan must make these folks do some kind of Iranian pinkie swear where they promise to devote their entire beings to him in exchange for unparalleled media elitism and guaranteed gossip.

RIZZUTO JOINS THE RE-RE-RESUSCITATED "RADAR"… [Min Online]

It was not too long ago that we were discussing the super boys club feel of the first 20 Radar magazine launches. The constant flow of Maer Roshans, Chris Tenants, Jeff Bercovici, and other well-known media big boys made it difficult to imagine a vagina anywhere near that office. (Though we did learn last month they hired Leigh Ann Boutwell, a chick, as the managing editor.)

And now the girl uppage continues, with Radar adding Katherine Rizzuto, currently the executive beauty director at Vogue and former Marie Claire publisher as their new publisher

But it doesn't end there: Roshan also gave the green light on hiring Anne Perton of House & Garden as the new ad director. We gotta say, we're pretty shocked. It's not exactly giving the Fresh Intelligence column to a femme, but maybe Radar is considering marketing the mag towards a more gender neutral audience? (Er, well, at least we assume they're considering successfully marketing the mag … to, well, anybody who'll buy.)

RADAR PICKS UP NEW BOSS [Keith Kelly, New York Post]

As we learned from the official report in the New York Times this morning, Radar is not only relaunching their magazine, but they also have plans to bring back their (previously much more successful) online version in August. But until that day comes, Radaronline.com is back offline.

The site has gone on and off so many times, it's been like watching Courtney Love try to stay sober.

Earlier: Maer Roshan Talks: 'I'm Not Insane'
Earlier: RadarOnline.com is, well, online
Earlier: RadarOffline.com

Since Maer Roshan is now talking to the New York Times, and confirming all types of Radar related shit, maybe this means everyone else who's planning to jump to the mag will start talking, too? Ok, it's doubtful.

But you've got to give it Roshan. His refusal to let this magazine die, his ability to wrangle in the likes of Jeff Bercovici, his knack for getting his staffers to pinky swear their undying loyalty. And with the help of Jesse Jackson's son and Ron Burkle business partner Yusef Jackson, Maer's going to make it happen. And what does he have to say about it?

"I'm not insane, and I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have a real reason to think it would be successful," Mr. Roshan said yesterday.

Though, many a mag heads — Graydon Carter, Jann Wenner, Anna Wintour — have pulled the insane card. And it more or less worked out for them.

Radar Magazine Rises From the Ashes Again [Jeremy W. Peters, New York Times]

After last week's not-so-fervent denials about leaving Women's Wear Daily for the greener (but only for a couple issues at a time) pastures of Radar, Jeff Bercovici is indeed making the jump, we hear from very well placed sources this morning. What's also news? Jeff's cohort Sara James is also ditching Fairchild's trade for Maer's third spin on the magazine merry-go-round. But let's not let Radar's staffing up distract us from our newfound interest: Who's gonna fill in at WWD? Some Mediabistro intern?

Update: Sara informs us that she is "NOT under any circumstances" leaving to fluff Maer's balls. Which is either code for "They haven't made me a formal offer yet" or "I'm the queen of WWD now, bitch, and I will cut you!"

Earlier: Radar Rumor Patrol: New Staffers Sworn to Secrecy?
Related: Jossiping with Jeff Bercovici

Has Maer Roshan set up an office for staffers of his new Radar relaunch? Is WWD's Jeff Bercovici on the list of those who will soon be filling that office? Nobody exactly knows just yet. In our attempt to cover this story, despite the fact that we have less gossip and rumor dropped in our inboxes than some other sites, we had some interesting responses from the parties in question.

Upon each polite request for information, we were declined comment … which, in itself, is not shocking. Gossips hate gossips even more than they hate themselves. What was intriguing, however, were the very unvaried responses we did receive.

When questioned, Memo Pad reporter and Aaron Hicklin homie Jeff Bercovici stated simply,

I’d love to respond but only Maer can speak for Radar right now.

A similar rendition of the canned "no comment" reply was spewed back to us around every corner we turned: if Maer's not talkin' than neither are they. Which can only mean one thing.

It can only mean that Maer has sworn all who know anything about this launch to utter secrecy, threatening to take away their favorite notepads and computer porn (not to mention their new, fancy jobs) if they speak. Ha! Well, two can play this game!

We can threaten to withhold information, expose the secrets of …. eh, fine, we've got nothin'. But we're onto you Maer Roshan … and your trembling, tight-lipped, pinkie swearing, possible new staffers too!

The Re-Re-Radaring: Maer Keeps His Friends Close and His Enemies Closer [Gawker]

Speculation that Radar is getting ready to get back in motion has been around for months. But now that Jeff Bercovici reports there will be a reunion of employees this Saturday night, and even new offices (on 33rd St. and 10th Ave.) the rumors are gaining legitimacy.

But don't get too excited. While an online version is far into the works, the print edition may be further away.

According to two sources, Roshan has rented an office in Manhattan and hired at least three staffers. One source said Radaronline.com will be up and running again in a month or so. A revival of the print version is further off; despite talk about the next edition appearing in September or October, the source said it will almost certainly be later than that.

So many more questions follow: will Ron Burkle still be involved (especially after he trashed the gossip industry), will Maer Roshan and Mort Zuckerman get into a brawl one night while sipping after work martinis at Pink Elephant? What happened to Jesse Jackson?

We're sure everything will be answered in due time — though until we have the names of these three mystery employees and a magazine in our hand, we are not getting too excited about anything.

Radar Lives! [Jeff Bercovici, WWD]
Earlier: Roshan gives Radar the old 'third time's a charm' try

Welcome to April — we hope you are all fully rested after losing a most precious full hour of sleep. But, in case you hit the snooze button a few too many times this weekend, we thought we'd fill you in on the immense craziness you may have missed.

As if a baby Wenner weren't enough to make our heads spin, lunch at Michael's on a Saturday really rocked our world. Bonnie Fuller and Janice Min lunched together while Atoosa Rubenstein stole the last Cobb salad, and Maer Roshan dined alone at the bar with his laptop. [Fishbowl, NY]

Pink Is The New Blog's Trent Vanegas decides that Scientology is his true calling in life, and has invited his readers to "join him on his new path." [Pink Is The New Blog]

And finally, in an effort to make itself even more retro, MSNBC has decided to adopt The Drudge Report. Matt Drudge's camp insists that hell has frozen over, and he has practically given his site away. For a price. [Drudge Report]

The weirdest part of the whole thing is that we would have totally expected Anna Wintour to order the last Cobb salad and Atoosa to be in the one in the bathroom with her stylist. So bizarre.