And here we thought today was going be slow and mostly boring. That was until the Enron trial reached a verdict, and we got anonymous tip informing us that recently, Ian Spiegelman sent a somewhat controversial e-mail to Col Allen .
A Page Sixer being controversial? How odd. From a little birdie:
Ian Spiegelman's book party is this eve, and it looks like his die hard friends from p6 aren't going to turn out to support him b/c of a rant-y email IS sent to Col Allan (IS is presumed to have been drunk). Some have been told they can attend on the down low, but cannot be photographed.
Apparently, this is because of the Ad Age interview Spiegelman gave Simon Dumenco, in which he reverberated that Page Six is like a mafia. Maybe that's why everyone is scared to work there? Well, Spiegelman happened to respond to our emails, saying that he was not drunk when he wrote it, nor were his words intended to be off-putting.
You can decide for yourself … the controversial e-mail, originally sent to Col Allan (and supposedly cc'd to Richard Johnson), and then sent to us by Spiegelman himself, is after the jump. In it we find that former Page Six staffer loves the Post but thinks Rupert Murdoch is an evil, evil man. Wow, we didn't know anyone else felt that way.
And while we have no actual confirmation as to whether the staffers were told not to attend the party — or whether they will in fact go or not — we hear that some Page Six and ex Page Six staffers will attend, including Jared Paul Stern … if he makes it out of hiding without being gunned down by Ron Burkle. Ok, now onto the good stuff …
CONTINUED »
Is working for Page Six losing its appeal? In today's Off the Record column in the Observer (which we knew was coming but had to do a little searching for it) we learn that a sleu of bloggers, freelancers, and even Observer staffers themselves have turned down an offer to work at the Page.
According to sources familiar with all or part of the search, people the Post has approached include Jacob Bernstein and Elisa Lipsky-Karasz of WWD, W’s Marshall Heyman, Gawker co-editor Jessica Coen, Us Weekly blogger Noelle Hancock, Christopher Tennant of Radar and 24-year-old freelance writer Derek Blasberg, who was among the young men profiled in an April 23 New York Times Sunday Styles story about New York’s new tribe of “Boldface Men.†Mr. Johnson has also contacted at least three New York Observer staffers.
The article suggests this collaborative "no" may be the result of the Ron Burkle/ Jared Paul Stern "shake-down" or because of the fact that this new full-time staffer will have to take on the partying of both Fernando Gil and Jared Paul Stern combined (a nearly impossible feat).
Whatever, we don't really care why people don't want to work there, we're just wondering if this means the Chris Wilson/Jessica Coen spat has come to an end? Oh, and what exactly is Derek Blasberg writing?
Times’ Siegal Imprinted Invisibly on Newspaper [Tom Scocca and Gabriel Sherman, New York Observer (2nd Item)
Anyone who has been following the Daily News' coverage of Jared Paul Stern and the Paid $ix scandal knows that William Sherman has taken the story more or less under his wing.
The coverage of Stern has been less than friendly, but what do we expect from the rival newspaper? Well, we like to act as a platform for discussion (aka bitch fights) as often as possible … so when JPS sent us this email, well, we felt it was our gossipy duty to share it with our readers. Oh, and there's some sleuthy news in there, too.
Apparently this William Sherman guy has some personal issues with this story …. A former Post editor just reminded me that Sherman used to work with us at the Post like 8 years ago … used to sit near Dunleavy, just around the corner from Page Six … he asked me: "Do you remember how he used to emulate your attire? He'd say stuff like. 'the guy's got good taste in shoes' …. And how he tried to act like he was a bit of a dandy himself at the Post, always grousing about having won the pulitzer but getting no respect? Always whining about how he was 'underappreciated' and 'underpaid' for his 'genius'?"
I don't really remember him, but apparently he has a "red face and buggy blue eyes, like a drunken Elmer Fudd sans the hat" and used to brag about going to the Hamptons and stuff.
Used to work at the Post? Looks like Elmer Fudd? Brags about going to the Hamptons? Sounds like a News staffer to us.
But emulating Stern's attire? We almost believe it. If only because by not including that information, Stern would have had a much better plug for his clothing line.
Jared Paul Stern is facing his day in court. US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is reveiwing the case, and will soon decide whether the Page Six writer will be prosecuted on extortion for allegedly trying to suck $220,000 from Ron Burkle in exchange for favorable coverage.
You all know the story … if you don't you must have been living in a cave or in Minneapolis or something. But, the Daily News has been hot on the case — obviously trying to show the Post giving as least favorable coverage as possible.
Ironically, Stern - who has since been fired from the Post - could also be indicted for theft of services from the newspaper because he was being paid by them at the same time he was asking Burkle for money for managing Page Six coverage.
Ok, we didn't go to law school or anything, but we've been threatened by celebrity lawyers enough times to know you are supposed to put some kind of disclaimer such as "**allegedly** he was asking Burkcle for money" or "supposedly he was being paid by them."
We don't really have a strong opinion on Stern's innocence or guilt — we haven't seen a tape or heard a recorded conversation — but we do believe in innocent until proven guilty. Unless it comes to the case of Britney Spears being the crappiest mom alive … and then we think someone should just take that baby now.
Page Fix scandal on to AG [William Sherman, Daily News]
If any of you have been paying attention, you know by now that Jossip has unofficially adopted ex Page Six freelancer Fernando Gil. Mostly because he is a displaced foreigner, doesn't know "who the fuck Jessica Joffe is" and spends time explaining blogs to his friends.
So when he agreed to sit down with us for a Q+A, we just had to get the goods on what it's like being a gossip who hesitates to call himself a gossip.
He does not hesistate, however, to bash President Bush or the New York Times. An artist and non-scenester party hopper at heart, Gil went from NYU to Page Six and barely noticed the difference. After the jump, he reveals his affection for Midget Kiss Bands, Chris Wilson, and hypothetical gossip relating to Bush Twins and coke.
(**Please note that the opinions in this interview solely reflect those of Fernando Gil are are by no means supported or unsupported by his foster parents.)
CONTINUED »
• Michelle Rodriguez's version of heaven involves rubbing her face in a bunch of strangers' boobs. [Socialite's Life]
• You know United 93 sucks when Robin Williams' most overly promoted family fun movie beats its ticket sales. [AP]
• Meryl Streep, Cher, did you two know you were Lloyd Grove's heroes? [Lowdown]
• You knew it was coming, you knew it would have a skull … and you know you're going to read it in the privacy of your own upstate castle. [FBNY]
• Shaquille O'Neal's wife, luckily, delivers a very normal sized baby. [People]
What do members of the media care about most? Ourselves, naturally. In the name of Lexis searches, Muckraked decided to hold a little popularity test.
Oh, that damn George Clooney and his Darfur campaign. That guy is just always distracting us from the actual important things in life.
More Fun With Lexis-Nexis: Getting Our Priorities Straight [Muckraked]
Maybe it's because we're not private investigators, investigatory journalists, had to take Newswriting 201 twice, and don't qualify as any Nancy Drew Hardy Boy team, but we're having a little trouble connecting this whole Anthony Pellicano/New York Times/FBI+DOJ investigation wiretap leak. So won't you walk through it with us?
• First, there is the Ron Burkle-Alison Hope Weiner connection. It was just a couple of weeks ago she helped spearhead (along with Campbell Robertson, et al.) the Times' investigation into Jared Paul Stern's Paid $ix scandal. Did Burkle leak her that info? [NYT]
• And Weiner, along with David Halbfinger, did a majority of the reporting on the "secret" e-mails between Jared Paul Stern and Burkle. (Another Burkle leak?) [NYT]
• Meanwhile, Michael Sitrick represents both Ron Burkle and ex-Disney chief Mike Ovitz (who are both involved in the same Anthony Pellicano wiretapping case). [LA Observerd, LA Weekly]
• Adding to the mix, Pellicano was hired by Hollywood hot shot divorce attorney Dennis Wasser (whose clients include Tom Cruise), who is now repping Burkle in the supermarket magnate's dirvorce. [Gawker]
• The NYT last week reported Pellicano tried to shake down Burkle in 2002 for $100k-$250k. If Burkle didn't pay up, Pellicano threatened to carry out Ovitz's investigation into Burkle — which, conflict of interest to the core, Pellicano was behind.
• Meanwhile, Burkle hired Pellicano to investigate Ovitz, at least according to Ovitz. That side plot was reported, of course, by none other than the NYT's David Halbfinger and Allison Hope Weiner. [NYT]
Don't know about you, but we could really use a drink .. not to mention some sunglasses and a trenchcoat. We're not claiming anything just yet, but it sounds a little convenient that the Times' Weiner had access to Burkle's stealth dealings … nearly all of which somehow land Burkle out on top.
We think some of our readers might be fedora wearing spies themselves. Today, one engaged gossip writes in to ask about some possible connections between media scandal mongers.
Did [Peter Davis] go to college at Bennington with Jared Paul Stern? Someone by that name did. And he graduated the same year Jared did (1994) and he studied literature and writing, just as Jared did.
Just asking…
While we get underway on our research, does anyone care to help out your gossip community? If you know where Christian Leone's boyfriend went to college, let us know. Maybe there needs to be a journalistic red flag on Bennington's lit department?
Earlier: The Sunday Styles Writer and His Boldface Boyfriend
Earlier: Page Six's Jared Paul Stern stung by Daily News
Update: Yes the New York Times' Peter Davis went to Bennington with Jared Paul Stern. However, according to JPS, Davis graduated in 1991, not 1994 and left the year after Stern arrived. Stern "knew him slightly" but it's doubtful they studied Chaucer (not to mention ethics) together.
While the rest of the media is head over heels about Denise Richards and Richie Sambora, not to mention the accusations that Charlie Sheen killed a prostitute and Maury Povich's porn obsession, we are even more floored by this little bit of morning gossip.
Lowdown gossip Lloyd Grove may be going to the New York Post?
It's no big secret that Grove is not a Daily News darling. His editor called him a fucking idiot and thinks his column is stupid — sort of a sign that he should start looking for a new gig come September when his contract is up. But the Post? We can barely wrap our minds around it.
More intriguing is the speculation that Grove might take a job with the News' archenemy, the New York Post. Although he spars in print with the paper's Page Six writers, Grove is quite friendly with Post editor in chief Col Allan. In private and in public, he has been notably less disparaging of the Post of late; during a recent appearance on CNN to discuss the Jared Paul Stern-Ron Burkle scandal, he called the tabloid "very entertaining and well-packaged."
Ha, ha. First we think it's funny that Jeff Bercovici calls the Post a tabloid. Secondly, yes, the paper and its gossip pages are entertaining and even funny … two things which Grove is not. Then again, seeing his name on Page Six every day could easily entertain us more than anything he does now.
Countdown For Lowdown [Jeff Bercovici, WWD]
In case you received the e-mail from Jared Paul Stern (who is currently acting as a one-man PR machine with the purpose of tearing down Ron Burkle) which contained Saturday's Slate story, have no fear.
Just because this story (on how the New York Times didn't really check their Burkle info too well) was e-mailed to you, does not mean it is not true.
Repeat: JPS does not have a magic truth-sucking e-mail account. Phew, glad we cleared that one up.
P.P.P.S.: Potentially excellent journalism often turns to shit when ***crack*** is involved.
Burn, Burkle, Burn! [Mickey Kaus, Slate]
• Katie Couric may be the perkiest of them all, but that still doesn't get her a Pulitzer.
• Aaron Hicklin is in at Out, where the top requirement is being hot. This could be why Scott McClellan is just plain out.
• The Village Voice went through more changes than MSNBC and Hearst combined.
• Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes shock the world by having a real baby — no aliens, beach balls, Greirs, or boys — just a real baby girl named Suri, which stands for something or other … our favorite being "Party".
• And while Jared Paul Stern lost the bloggers, the New York Times lost its website, Julia Roberts lost the critics, Pete Doherty temporarily lost his buzz, and Page Six"lost" its freelancers.
• Bonnie Fuller manages not to ask us for coffee or punch us in the face at her book party. And she wants Angelina Jolie's baby real bad.
• The New York Times is expected to launch a political blog for every major election in the next few months. You know nothing attracts younger readers like election races. [The Politicker]
• How long does it really take to think up a table of contents format? [WSJ]
• The Los Angeles Times suspended Michael Hiltzik's blog after they found out he was blogging. [WaPo]
• Atoosa "Toosa" Rubenstein is just like us. She reads Pink Is The New Blog and hates carnations. [Gawker]
• If you think Jared Paul Stern's scandal was bad, you should've been around back in the day when everyone wore a fedora. [NYT]
Well, if the freelancers at the Post have been let go, at least one now notorious gossip is unawares. Though today's Daily News story claims that Page Six contribs Fernando Gil, Lisa Marsh, Christopher Tennant and Jared Paul Stern are being "sacked," staffers may not have actually received their memos yet.
"I haven't heard anything from the Post," Stern told us.
Even though Chris Wilson put a price on our head, we're still nosing around looking for more details. Have you got some? Are you a (just announced) former Sixer? Tattle our way, baby: tattle@jossip.com.
Update: Fernando Gil tells us of his formal "firing" via the always classy out-of-office reply.
As you may have read in the Daily News, the Post has decided to hire a full time person from outside the column to be the 4th full timer along with Chris, Paula and Richard, which leaves myself and several other part-timers out of the picture. I'll still be working on the Page Six magazine, due out in September, and other parts of the paper (hey - I hear "Tempo" digs itself some Latin American writers). If you do have anything that is Page Six worthy, and would like me to pass it along to one of my peoples at Page Six, by all means send it along. Now that my Fridays are free, I'm happy to report I can take up that 53-year-old rich nerd on his long standing lunch offer (Mahmoun's falafel in ten, guy?) In any event, I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Update 2: Chris Tennant writes in to tell us he formally quit the Post two weeks ago, and the Newsies will be apologizing.
I stopped freelancing at The Post two weeks ago on my own volition to focus on other projects full-time. I've spoken to The Daily News and they've agreed to run a correction.
Earlier: Four Freelancers Axed from Page Six
You know that old scenario where one guy ruins it for everyone? Well, this just in, courtesy (like you had to guess) of the Daily News: Jared Paul Stern ruined it for everyone.
Along with JPS, all of Page Six's freelancers have been let go. The News is calling it a "housecleaning" and despite lack of comment from the competition, it's needless to say this all goes back to the "scandal."
Hints of a cleanup came last week when Post Editor in Chief Col Allan said in a published report: "We are going to tighten ship."
Freelance reporters Fernando Gil, Lisa Marsh, Christopher Tennant and Jared Paul Stern are the byline staffers who are being sacked.
While these four contribs shared the "fourth chair" spot over at P6, behind Richard Johnson, Paula Froelich, and Chris Wilson, they also worked with Page Six The Magazine … which is still moving forth full speed ahead without its editor.
The fate of the crew is yet to be determined, but as for for Stern, we're sure he can fall back on his fab clothing line, commission from Zink magazine, and contributors check from Nick Denton. Not to mention any other extraneous cash that may have exchanged hands.
Post cans four gossip scribes [William Sherman, New York Daily News]
Doug Dechert went to Richard Johnson's wedding. We went to Dechert's party last night.
Please, please don't ask us why. Maybe it's because we hadn't seen Doug since he spent an entire dinner hitting on our editor at Veronda last summer. Or, maybe because we were so high off our Ariel Foxman sighting we thought we were invincible to the horrors of Lloyd Grove and Jared Paul Stern's overage stringers.
Still, in the name of gossiping, we are publicly shaming ourselves and admitting our attendance at this pathetic showing — mainly so that we can publicly shame Baird Jones, who happens to be a huge Dechert groupie.
It actually pained us to see the poor guy, sporting his usual Yankee cap and 1980's Sherlock Holmes business suit, dancing awkwardly to Sugar Ray. If you don't get the picture, this still rendition of the clash might help. Jump at your own risk.
CONTINUED »
Richard Johnson's wedding may have been totally ruined by Jared Paul Stern and Ron Burkle … and Campbell Robertson … but thank Jesus, Moses, and Suri, not all is lost.
Page Six The Magazine will return to fill the void of glossy celebrity gossip that is obviously missing from all our lives. And, from the sound of things, a lack of JPS is not going to change much in the way of the Post's/Page Six's reporting policy.
Page Six reporters routinely cultivate relationships with publicists who feed them and other reporters items about celebrities spotted in the restaurants, hotels and nightclubs they represent.
Placing an ad in the Page Six magazine may be another way for advertisers, and the publicists they hire, to stay on friendly terms with The Post, said Robert S. Boynton, the director of the magazine program at New York University and the author of "The New New Journalism."
"Put it this way: it's a small price to pay for the possibility of getting favorable coverage," Mr. Boynton said.
What was that delectable little Stern quote again? Something like "It's a little like the Mafia. A friend of mine is a friend of yours."
Oh, mafia schmafia.
Page Six, the Magazine, Is Returning (With an Edge, of Sorts [Julie Bosman, New York Times]
These days, Jared Paul Stern only has a few friends. You might've thought Nick Denton was one of 'em, but Mr. Gawker knows a publicity pawn when he sees one. Then there's "Snoodles," (aka Ruth Gutman), who remains friendly with JPS only because she's under marital contract to do so. But, at the very least, we thought he might have a friend in the blogosphere, with freejaredpaulstern.blogspot.com dedicating an entire free blog account to his cause. And then, that too, came crumbling down like a business plan based on polos emblazened with a skull and crossbones.
Free (um, we mean, FRY) Jared Paul Stern [Free JPS]
Earlier: Paid $ix: The Jared Paul Stern Movement Reaches Conde Nast, NYT & More!
Earlier: Paid $ix: The T-shirt and blog have arrived
Related: All Paid $ix coverage
• Media Guy Simon Dumenco goes down the dark path we traversed last week: Jared Paul Stern's Skull & Bones clothing line. [AdAge]
• ABC is getting pretty damn good at screwing over its affiliates. [B&C]
• With EIC Gregg Lagambina on the way out, Filter second-in-command Chris Martins has this to say to his staff: "Filter Magazine is hurting right now." It nearly rivals the way Celebrity Living motivated its own troops. [FBNY]
• Reason No. 5421 we heart Details' Dan Peres: He doesn't follow his own magazine's fashion tips. [WWD]
• Learning from the mistakes of Cargo, Giant's editor-in-chief Smokey Fontaine is going on a mad dash to redesign the mag. [WWD]
• When the Boston Globe's Eileen McNamara found out she won the Pulitzer Prize, she was trying to finish cooking her kids spaghetti. [E&P]
• Celeb weeklies aren't the only mags seeing circs disintegrate. Teen titles, as evidenced by Elle Girl's shuttering, are suffering too. Yep, even Seventeen is on that list. [Mediaweek]
The Paid $ix scandal, we've surmised, is much more fun when played out in pictures and graph paper.
Editorial Director
