Exclusive

So, about those American Media Inc. rumors we were just talking about? Leave it to our knowledgeable readers to fill in the gaps.

From multiple insiders, we've gleaned the following:

AMI chief David Pecker is going to keep editorial director Bonnie Fuller as far away from Star as he can. He's throwing much of the blame for the rag's slipping circ (down to ~500k, if not lower) on the now-former reigning queen of newsstand. When Star EIC Joe Dolce exits the company in March, expect to see the tabloid's operations in the final stages of the move to Boca Raton — where, we can tell you exclusively, National Enquirer editor David Perel will assume the top gig.

More than one insider tells us Perel has s already been selected for the job, and a public announcement will follow — though don't expect it too soon. AMI is working hard to keep all this out of the press, though, as you can see, it's not working too well.

Perel, meanwhile, is already handling Star's West Coast operation — and is the one to credit for the tabloid's exclusive coverstory on Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz splitting, among others.

An insider says Perel will "assemble a small yet powerful group of his best employees and new recruits to take on the job AWAY from Bonnie" — and boost circulation, a task he's proven to do well with the Enquirer. He is, after all, already in charge of Star's West Coast operations.

Bonnie, meanwhile, is under contract until April 2009. She's set to remain in New York to work on other AMI titles, but has been instructed, to a degree, to keep her hands off Star. Says one tattler: "I am sure she will be marginalized in some way as was Steve Coz."

And what about AMI's New York-based staffers? Many of them might actually be safe, our sources say, because the tabloids will always need reporters here. All they need to do now is bide their time. In January or February, claims a source, Perel will take a "secret trip to New York to see if he can cherry-pick any talent."

Until then, enjoy the Bonnie show while you can.