• It took a camera crew in a brothel, but Rita Cosby did it: she's number one on MSNBC, at least for a day. [TVNewser]

• Lest new CBS News prez Sean McManus actually make a decision about who's going to succeed Dan Rather, he's instead asked Bob Schieffer to "hang in there for a while longer." [NYT]

• Alleged firefighting rapist Peter Braunstein not only kept a list of women that he wanted to punish (his victim among them), he penned an "brilliant" unpublished novel Paparazzi where a celeb's stalker ends up falling for him. David Carr still isn't laughing. [Page Six]

• The New York Times' new sports magazine Play isn't exactly a publication for the smarties — just those who would rather spend their Sundays outside throwing around the football than inside, uh, reading the Times. [NYP]

• No more Index magazine? Ever since Organic Style shut down, we just haven't been the same — and we never will be if Vice suddenly becomes more relevant just like that. [WWD]

• Because JT Leroy may or may not exist, the New York Times has scrapped a freelance gig they farmed out to him (or her?) about Deadwood. Something about not wanting to fuel anymore credibility problems. [Page Six]

• Learning Annex chairman Bill Zanker was desperate to meet Rupert Murdoch, and lucky him, his $57,100 bid (for charity) earned him a lunch with the News Corp. head. But did he have to do it under the username "Wabanhood"? [NYP]

• Arthur Sulzberg Jr. expects politicians to open up on the record but, not surprisingly, he's not willing to do the same. [Slate]