Oh those New York Observer kids are always joshin'. They are so funny! Like, rotfl funny. So, get this.

Peter Kaplan was introducing the esteemed George Gurley to staffers, and brought him by to meet the new 25-year-old owner, Jared Kushner. (Well, not just to meet, but to renegotiate his contract. Minor detail which is not actually the point of the story. But it's interesting.) Anyways, so when Kaplan brought Gurley over, he didn't introduce him to Kushner … he introduced him to the intern! (Cue awkward grandpa-style knee slapping.)

Gurley admits he was nervous about how to handle his youthful new squire.

Except Kaplan was actually introducing him to the intern.

"It was a beautiful prank," Gurley admits. "But I'd still like to meet the real Jared."

Translation: Gurley's not fuckin' around. He wants his damn cash.

Publishing pranksters [Ben Widdicombe, Gatecrasher]

If you want to own one of the most old school gossipy newspapers in New York, you better be ready to be gossiped about yourself. Yes, we're talking about Jared Kushner, the young buck who just took over as the new owner of the New York Observer. Rush & Molloy did their best to dig up some dirt on the kid (we're sure after last night's Tabloid Wars the imagery is all coming quite easily) and here's what they found: Kushner's a Harvard hero.

"Some distressed upperclassman bursts out screaming that a pre-frosh just passed out (from alcohol) in her room," recounts our spy. "Jared rushes to the rescue, disappears in the elevator and moments later returns holding the girl cradled in his arms and then carries her off to the health-services building, five blocks away."

"Yes I did carry a girl to the hospital," explained a surprised Kushner when we recounted the tale. "She seemed like she was in a bad place."

Wow. That's pretty intense. The only thing we can do with this random, arbitrary gossip is give it a headline that would make Peter Kaplan proud. Well, that, and keep his name handy for future "where was Kushner when she needed him" jokes relating to underage girls barfing all over NYU.

A dash of vanilla for peach-hued paper [Rush & Molloy, Daily News]

Last week we told you Jared Kushner, a 25-year-old guy whose name was bit soured by his real estate mogul father spent two years in jail for tax evasion, may be the next owner of the New York Observer. And today we're telling you it's official. So official, in fact, Kushner even gave this provocative statement in regards to his new pet project:

“I own The New York Observer,” he said yesterday.

His goal is to take the paper out of the hole by increasing advertising, web traffic, and news coverage. Kushner was even kind enough to convince the silly grown-ups over at the paper he won;t be fucking with their editorial content or anything like that. So, what is the staff's reaction? Well, Peter Kaplan more or less calls him stupid … in a good way.

“In that sense … his 25-ness is a huge asset. He is not weighed down by the debris of conventional wisdom.”

We hope Kushner is bright enough to keep up with the inner-office insults that sound like compliments, but are really just fancy ways of saying "I can't believe a kid 8 years younger than me owns my ass."

Developer’s Son Acquires The New York Observer [Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times]
Earlier: Observer Staff Gears Up to Work for 25 Year Old Law Student

Have no fear; all hope for the the New York Observer is not lost. Even though Robert De Niro & co. didn't work out for buyers of the paper, doesn't mean the "snarky, gossipy, salmon paper" won't be sold eventually. The latest rumor in the series of NYO buzz surrounds Jared Kushner. Ever heard of him?

He's 25, the son of imprisoned real estate mogul Charles Kushner, and attends NYU law school. We guess this consideration debunks any theories of that "buyer's remorse" Arthur Carter was rumored to have. Apparently, he wants to rid himself of this money guzzling publication so badly, he'll let his entire staff (well, minus Rebecca Dana) work for a guy who's younger than they are. This, however, is not the "awkward" part of the story — his dad being in prison seems to be the big catch.

Of the potential awkwardness of the son of such a news figure owning a majority interest in the paper, Peter Kaplan, editor of The Observer, said: “It’s premature to go there, but we will always follow our best editorial instincts at this paper.’’

To be fair, Carter is also talking to other potential candidates. We're thinking along the lines of Ken Lay's kids … or maybe Haley Joel Osmont?

Developer’s Son Negotiating to Buy New York Observer [Katherine Q. Seelye, New York Times]

Today's LA Times features some ass licking coverage of the New York Observer today. The paper is undoubtedly this reporters favorite thing in the world and his only reason for living … any more flattering attention to the "cheeky salmon colored paper" and Peter Kaplan might have a stalker on his hands.

Anyways, amidst the sea of compliments and praise, the Times manages to break a nugget of news: Tribeca was surprised that the sale of the Observer to De Niro's hip little company didn't work out.

There had been talk that Carter might play a continuing role at the paper, most likely on the editorial page. Neither side would disclose the price tag being discussed for the paper. But one source familiar with the negotiations said the Tribeca people were surprised that the deal fell through. The source suggested that Carter perhaps had "seller's remorse.

That's one option. The other is that De Niro threatened to make a Reality TV documentary based on the staff and and their office cocktail hour and Carter found the concept a bit too incriminating.

Must-read, but not a must-have? [Josh Getlin, Los Angeles Times]

• Well, Angelina Jolie having her baby in water is one way to baptize the newborn Christ. [Velvet Hot Tub]

• Sienna Miller, unlike Nicole Richie, actually wants to wear a bra again [Hot Online]

• Have no fear reality television lovers (that's you Molly) Top Chef will return for another fun filled season of angry chubby people. [Mediaweek]

&bulll; Jessica Joffe is a bad socialite. Also, we would like to ask Zac Posen, wha? [Gawker]

• Peter Kaplan gives the New York Observer a svelte new make-over. Yeah, we're a little turned on. [NYO]

• Uh, is it ok for Sean Connery to beat up chicks just because he's James Bond? We're going to say … maybe. [MSNBC]

• We shudder to think of celebrities confessing their first kiss stories to Lloyd Grove. [Lowdown]

• While Katie Holmes is locked in the basement, Tom Cruise is running around Kanye West's Grammy party, shouting "we want prenup." What a gem. [Page Six]

• The thing about male EICs is that they eat. Graydon Carter, Peter Kaplan, and their media elite circles dined at different booths at Elaine's over the weekend. [Page Six]

• You know things are really, really, rock bottom bad when you're asking Courtney Love for help. [Gatecrasher]

• Britney Spears shows that her intelligence isn't the only thing easily likened to Ana Nicole Smith. [Star]

The sad truth is coming closer upon us, and while we would like to think it could never be so, talks of the New York Observer being shopped around are increasing. Today, The New York Times gives its analysis (two weeks late is better than never) on the fate of New York's finest pink paper. And it doesn't look good, folks.

But who is really to blame for this travesty? While throwing around shout-outs to past NYO reporters, (including the most famous of the literati, Candace Bushnell) the Times admits to snagging more than a few journos away from the former 64th street office.

The New York Times - an institution that The Observer covered with all the fervor of a dedicated Kremlinologist - has hired 10 former staff members, including Charles Bagli, Robin Pogrebin, Alex Kuczynski, Warren St. John, Lorne Manly, Jim Rutenberg and Landon Thomas Jr.

Other reasons for the paper's struggle are listed, as well: Arthur Carter's sculpture obsession, September 11 (always a good day to blame shit on), and the quality of the paper going from fabulous to very, very good. Oh, and of course, you can't get through an NYT without blaming a blog for something.

What is non-relative, non-friend, former EIC Graydon Carter's solution to this problem? He doesn't start blaming people. He simply says, "give the paper to Peter Kaplan."

Yeah, we bet Pete can't wait to get his hands on an investment that will lose him $2 million a year.

For Sale: Fabulous Pink Money Pit [David Carr, NYT]
Related: New York would be a crappy place without the Observer

New York without the New York Observer is like imagining Paris Hilton without her cubic zirconia. Something's just missing from the picture. In all skeevy glory, the Observer has always prided itself on having a bright, if extremely underpaid staff. With Arthur Carter funneling money into his little hobby of his, the NYO keep the city's gossip mill running.

But, we had to slip a little nip David Lee Roth style in our mochas this morning — rumors are flying that our dear paper may be ready to sell. Carter seems to have picked up a new hobby of making sculptures, (huh?) and supposedly doesn't even visit his staff at their new-ish digs. Finding a buyer for NYO, which was once led by Graydon Carter, falls on current editor, Peter Kaplan's shoulders. Which is strange, because he's the editor, and editors shouldn't have to try to sell their own paper, right?

Kaplan, has been to England to seek a buyer and sources said this week he made an approach to "Bid 'em up" Bruce Wasserstein, the ex-Lazard boss whose media holdings include New York magazine and American Lawyer Media.

No reaction yet from the staff, but we're sure they are almost as pissed as they were when Jessica Joffe ran off, leaving them hot girl-less and to write all their own New Yorker's Diary pieces.

Swimming Upstream [Keith J. Kelly, NYP]