Famous for reporting scandals about Paris Hilton and Michael Richards, TMZ.com is facing some gossip of its own. And it can be summed up like this: TMZ is in turmoil.
Publicly, you may have read the site's general manager, Alan Citron, just jumped ship to Buzznet, the music-based social network site that also runs Celebuzz, its celebrity and pop culture spin-off. (Citron and Buzznet's founder, Tyler Goldman, are friendly from their days at Movielink.) And Gillian Sheldon, TMZ's supervising producer and unofficial No.2 to chief Harvey Levin, who has been with the site since launch, has also left, for another Telepictures unit.
Are these two high profile departures pure coincidence? Time Warner would like you to think so. But you're smarter than that.
What you aren't reading is this: Levin, as he is wont to do, is driving away his top talent by refusing to make compromises on the direction of the site or its content. We're told staffers are furious with the way he's been running things of late, allowing copy to go to the site riddled with spelling errors and, more drastically, vicious attacks on undeserving subjects. The only one laughing is Levin; his minions are generally disgusted. And given Levin's notorious managerial style, that's saying a lot.
If you're looking for a timeline as to when things started heading downhill, throw a dart on the day the TMZ television show launched last fall. In the months since, traffic to TMZ.com has fallen, as have revenues. But Levin, we're told, has been too strong-headed to accept that things need to change.
Which they should. If you've visited TMZ of late — which, as we just said, fewer of you are doing these days — you've probably noticed the slipping direction of the site. Cheap shots, third-grade jokes, and a general lack of interesting celebrity content. Sure, without Paris Hilton making the nightclub rounds and Britney Spears cleaning up her act, there's less news to move on. But even the tabloids are figuring out how to weather the storm; why not TMZ?
Pirates Come Back for Second Round of Whoop-Ass (21)
· weezy says: “Gays and blacks like Obama, that’s pretty much it. Military LOVES Rush, and... »
· Rhonda says: They don’t always respect command, ever heard of the F U salute, soldiers hated... »
· bam-a-lam says: @Rhonda: The military always respects the President, no matter who he/she is. The... »
Bald A-Hole Joe the “Plumber” Now Stealing from Ignorant Poor People (39)
· weezy says: “Obama said, well I’m going to tax your earnings and give it to losers who... »
· Rhonda says: Bam, No one picked “Joe the Plumber” he asked Obama a guestion, Obama blew... »
· bam-a-lam says: “Joe the Plumber” really is a pretty bad spokesman. He’s not a... »
Obama Puppy Now Fielding Your Questions (67)
· whitney says: I didn’t have enough patience to read all of the pages of comments. PETA is... »
The Bigoted, Illiterate Tea Party Goons Gallery (106)
· weezy says: i hope all of those people protesting make 250K and above and will not take any stimulus... »
Despite Glenn Beck’s Support, Texas Will Never Secede (38)
· weezy says: @bam-a-lam: #18 brilliant post!!! #26 getreal: i agree. i think we should all get... »
GretaWire Wire (14)
· Rhonda says: Obama continues on his America Sucks 09 apology tour. Chavez and Obama looked pretty... »
gots to agree — tmz is going downhill. cheap shots such as comparing olympic gymnast shawn johnson to a rat were just downright low & unnecessary. get a clue tmz! or harvey, for that matter!
I haven't been to TMZ.com in several months. Can't remember what low blow made me angry but it must have been a doozy because I love gossip from any source!!!
Several months ago on the TMZ site there was a comment stating that Serena Williams and Patrick Ewing are proof that humans evolved from apes. I added my comment that George Bush and Jerry and Ben Stiller have simian-like features. My comment was repeatedly deleted while the other comment was allowed to remain. No more TMZ for me.
I remember what put me off forever: it was a news item about three has-been actors who were in a car crash together. TMZ asked which one you'd care about the least if they'd all died.
mslewis: your comments were probably deleted by anti-spam tools because they were political try it without GW and it would have been fine.
these are interesting findings, but I don't really trust a competitor as the source "we're told staffers are blah blah blah" yeah who DOES like their job?
doesn't mean the business is going tits cuz of some grumbly low-level employees that are dumb enough to talk to a gossip blog…
There was something on TMZ a while ago - I guess they were talking to a Canadian actor/celebrity and they went off on Canada, something about the low medal count and our "love" of curling. Don't get me wrong - I find a lot of Canada jokes hilarious. But this was completely unfunny. I don't know, something about a completely random attack on a country felt really desperate. TMZ used to be funny and refreshing, and now they're just getting a bit pathetic.
It seems to me that they delay posting items on the website so that the t.v. show will seem more current. Several times I have seen items on other blogs that don't show up on TMZ website until after the show airs. This kind of manipulation turns me off so I don't watch the show anymore.
I agree that TMZ has gone down hill. Its one thing to reveal a DUI bust but to disparage innocent people is completely irresponsible. Its truly part of the moral decline in this country. The Religius Right should be going after TMZ and let us simply gays marry in peace.
And one more thing, if TMS stands for the "thirty mile zone" of Hollywood why are they posting about Shaun Johnson, a West Virginian competiting in China in the first place? Plus she's only 16, did an awesome job for USA and a flailing yet still popular website critizes her on her looks? That's their all-time low. Its troubling that some people feed off this lowball, morally deplete "journaling" everyday.
We are in big trouble people. BIG TROUBLE!
I agree with you Octopus. Sounds like the ridiculous rumblings of some disgruntled former flunkies who couldnt keep up with the pace of the youngsters at TMZ. Sometimes they push it beyond my comfort zone, but thats why I keep going back to TMZ — otherwise I'll just visit the Insider online
octopus says:
your comments were probably deleted by anti-spam tools because they were political try it without GW and it would have been fine.
To test your theory I posted a comment containing the name “George Bush†on TMZ approximately 12 hours ago. It has yet to be deleted. My previously referenced comments were each deleted within a couple of hours if memory serves.
TMZ made me angry so many times. I hate the way they make fun of aging celebrities, mocking their bodies when they catch them on the beach in bathing suits. They make fun of people with physical disabilities, ridiculed Kathleen Turner saying she looked like a "linebacker" when meanwhile she is swollen from Rheumatoid Arthritis. And their paps are the worst, the stupid questions they ask the celebs., often not even calling them by their right name.
Couldn't be happening to a more deserving asshole, Harvey Levin.
Much of the public like to watch others in pain, human nature to some extent! Makes them feel like they are not so bad off, movie magazines are basically the same and have been read for 60 years!! Not for everyone of course
Harvey Levin's segments on the Peoples Court used to compliment Judge Mullion's segments and being on her show gave him some credibility as a lawyer although his comic schtick voiceovers were often preadolescent. Now his contaminating sleazy TMZ mark is evident in the Peoples Court Raw Spinoff and unfortunately he could make her show and she herself loose credibility and integrity. What were "they" thinking?
P.S. Do you think Harvey will do himself and his cadre of stalkerazzis in without help?
Not so blind item
Which short, Napoleonish "leader" of a sleazy website and likeness on tv, and also lends his mug to legal shows on afternoon tv, has a nasty little addiction to methadone? Its not the marijiuana he claims to have smoked only once as he told Playboy magazine.
Today they used Colostomy as a jab put down.Having to have my two young children beg for me to get a colostomy or die of aggressive invasive cancer and thus doing it but depressed every day because of it..It is not funny. Harvey is a homosexual. I am sure he has been put down, had low self-esteem. He has become a monster. They say if you are abused you become the abuser.
I will never watch TMZ nor read the website again. I hope it goes down in flames.
Referring to the "humor" on TMZ as third-grade is an insult to third-graders everywhere.
TMZ has become the annoying geek that just doesn't get that THEY are the joke now.
TMZ not fun anymore…
Instead ofTMZ it should be HTD HARVEY THE DRUNK.
He never leaves his lil cup with the straw and vodka or whatever he has in it.Look at his eyes,bloodshot,wrinkly and not funny at all.Its sad when your workers are better speakers than the host!!!
TMZ has become juvenile, and Harvey Levin looks like the big jerk running the show. Levin always seen clutching his over-sized water bottle, with the little straw, and can't seem to go anywhere with out it.
Here's a guy, who's done a good job on The People's Court, but when he gets his own show, he continually laughs at people, inappropriately, and in the end, he looks like a pathetic old man who's desperately attempting to reclaim his youth.
Instead of doing something good (or creative) with the show, and has clearly dipped to the lowest common denominator and has become an Online National Enquirer, and seems to be proud of it too! One word describes Levin - "LOSER"
Think tmz has lost it? Check out the only site dedicated to ridiculing tmz's max hodges hodgesreport.com
Today, Nov. 11,2008 TMZ hit a new low in it's comments about Britney and her visit to the alligator farm!! I hope her little boo boo's
grow up to be big bad asses and someone shows them
what queer Harvey's minions have written about their mother!! Maybe they"ll visit him…..and
get an apology!! Heh Heh!
Levin is a cocksucking jew. Fuck you, if I ever see yoy live I will break your hassidic nose.
TMZ and Harvey (Mr Forgettable) Levin is reaping exactly what he sows - hate and vile words are now rebounding back onto him and his morally bankrupt "empire". Harvey one word of advice man…look at the world around you and CREATE SOMETHING instead of tearing everything to pieces with your cheap, undeserved and sensationalist rubbish "rumours". Rumours yeah man…rumours you start Harvey, rumours you start. Get a life man - instead of reporting on it….
I love Harvey Levin. TMZ is my favorite. And uh, he has Max, who is sex on legs.
^^^wow gus, trying to get people to check out your site?
it's pretty awesome.
i love max…so it's just..more max.
I love "TMZ"! It's dull when Harvey Levin is not there.
I get a kick out of the 'narrator' telling Suri to run away from Tom and Katie.
Harvey Levin is the worst example of corruption and greed. He is the lowest of the low. Typical that he is on Fox Network and the home of the fake Fox news. Levin has ruined American teenagers and young people with his degrading show. At a time when the country needs heroes, he should be ashamed of himself and his show.
I think some of the things that their reporters try to do to get a response from the celebrities is downright dis-tasteful!
Even though they so-called apologized for the Jennifer Love Hewitt pictures they still post them when they can get the chance.
I have watched tmz a couple of times, and just find it to be so annoying. if you are tuning in for celebrity gossip, you will see just as much camera time devoted to filming the staff tell their stories, and to watching Harvey react to the gossip and sip his sippy cup. why do i need to see this?? why does anyone need to see this? Do they think people are tuning in to see the staff sitting there, or harvey peeking over the ledge with his sippy cup? and what is with the jerky camera–even when they are in the studio. I'm nauseous just watching it…
Trashy no substance nonsense of TMZ should be destroyed. I am happy that Harvey Levin, a waste of life is destroying TMZ.
for a man who had some great looks and obviously a brain, hes looking a bit tired and haggard w gaps in between his teeth maybe he should spend some more time on himself and not worrying about the rest of the world