As if the Daily News features of Jared Paul Stern, and Lloyd Grove throwing in his two sense in weren't enough, the gossip on gossip action was taken to the next level this weekend as Campbell Robertson thoroughly recounted the "scandal."

Though Stern's official statement reads

"Mr. Stern said it was a set-up and questioned both Burkle's motives and the Daily News' role in the proceedings. He looks forward to getting to the bottom of the matter.

'Mr. Stern has been the victim of a smear campaign, and expects to be fully exonerated and re-instated in his position,' said his lawyer Joseph Tacopina,"

dust has not yet settled on the rumors, allegations, and of course, gossip, that continued to swirl like Tenesee tornadoes all weekend.

On Saturday, in a New York Times cover story, Roberts revealed that Ron Burkle is not the only one involved in "finessing" his coverage in the column. Harvey Weinstein, Ron Perlman, and Joe Francis are all "friends of Page Six."

And because no eight-part story is complete without thorough background info on the players, the Times introduces us to the Page Sixers, and sheds light the dark, gritty details of a gossip columnist's life.

Of course, the most shocked of all is Alec Baldwin, who just can't believe (he's shocked!) Stern sunk so low — good thing we have Cheryl Tiegs to sum it all up in one word: "creepy." A full calendar of the stories runs along today's Times installment — New York's roses, the News and the Post, are dished about in the same fashion as the subjects' most poured over pages.

But you know what's really creepy? With so much drama in the NYT this weekend, we didn't even need to pick up Page Six for our weekend gossip fix.

Behind Gossip, There's Often a Relationship [Campbell Robertson, New York Times]
Post to Daily News: Drop Dead (& Back Atcha) [Richard Siklos, New York Times]
Earlier: Page Six's Jared Paul Stern stung by Daily News

• Looks like it's Home Alone for Britney Spears. Following in Shar Jackson's footsteps, the pop tart is bringing up baby while rapper wanna-be K-Fed is out partying on Brit's dime. [Page Six]

• Martha Stewart is unloading a turkey, and (unfortunately) it's not her Apprentice spin-off. The domestic diva is selling her Turkey Hill estate, because she "hardly ever goes there." [Page Six]

• Joining the ranks of the Grilled Cheese Virgin Mary and the Fish Stick Jesus on eBay: Vincent Gallo's sperm. For a mere $1 million bucks, and if you're a nice blonde Jewish girl, you can bear Gallo's spawn, according to the "sperm owner." Which almost explains how Katie Holmes got pregnant. [R&M]

• Celebrity porn peddler Marty Singer can play both sides of the fence, so long as there's a fat check on his end. Back in '03, you could find him batting for Rick Salomon in his attempts to sell One Night In Paris, fighting off the Hilton's legal team. But now he's fending for Colin Farrell, battling Playboy Playmate Nicole Narrain over the duo's X-rated footage. [Page Six]

• Cheryl Tiegs finally managed to "give birth" to twins five years ago, but now, thanks to a bitter custody battle, she's not even allowed to talk about them, let alone to them. [Page Six]

• If the paparazzi are stalking Foxy Brown, the rapper doesn't want anything to do with them. If they're not stalking her, you bet your ass she'll run in heels to get in front of the camera. [Lowdown]

• $10 million for the sequel to Napoleon Dynamite? That wasn't sweet enough for the film's creator Jared Hess, who would obviously rather go rent some DVDs. [Page Six]

• Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake will reportedly touch down in Hawaii for their private wedding, giving new meaning to the "Ring of Fire." [Star]