New Yorker contributor and media entrepreneur Steven Brill now says 1,000 newspapers have signed "letters of intent" to explore charging for their content, twice as many as a month ago. These aren't meaningful numbers. But Brill needs them to be.

Prince Harry turns 25 today. He shares his birthday with reality "star" Heidi Pratt, who is turning 23. (Make of that coincidence what you will.) Filmmaker Oliver Stone is turning 63. Music honcho Charlie Walk turns 43. Brit model Sophie Dahl is 32. Former NFL quarterback Dan Marino is turning 48. Opera singer Jessye Norman is 64. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is turning 63. And America's No. 1 mom, hands down—Dina Lohan—celebrates her 47th birthday today.

• Even President Obama has acknowledged (unofficially) that Kanye West's microphone-snatching episode at the VMAs made Kanye a "jackass." Lucky for Jay Leno—and his ratings—Kanye apologized (again) on the comedian's primetime debut last night. "It was rude, period... I'm just ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt," West said. [NYDN, People, Us]
• Topper Mortimer is hooking up with Vogue editor Valerie Boster. (It's about time the dude moved on.) Meanwhile, his ex, Tinsley, is having issues with her new reality show. Producers are trying to drum up other socialites to make appearances since she's not "dynamic enough on her own." [P6]
• Jeremy Piven won't be hugging it out with the Public Theater any time soon. His lawyers have served the venue with a cease and desist over its play, "The Piven Monologues," which details his fishy bailout from "Speed the Plow." [P6]
• Patrick Swayze has died after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Stars have been paying tribute to the Dirty Dancing star via Twitter, and the old-fashioned way, in released statements. [NYDN, People, Us, Star]

Today is primary day in New York City! Were you aware of that? Probably not, since only one in six registered Democrats is expected to turn out at the polls today. But if you feel like doing your civic duty or you have strong feelings about who should be the next public advocate, comptroller, district attorney—or you're naive enough to think that someone can actually unseat Mike Bloomberg come November—the polls are open until 9PM. [NYT]

A judge rejected a $33m settlement that would have ended the SEC's lawsuit against Bank of America, which is accused of not using enough judgment in giving executive bonuses. The settlement, said the judge, was unfair and inadequate. Shocker. [NYT]

Sen. Tom Harkin has vowed to look into the link between mobiles and cancer. 'Bout time!

Stephanie Pratt's wallet could use a little help. Elton John's too old for kids. And Colin Farrell knocked up his girl. That and much, much more in your Tuesday morning gossip roundup!

Poor Barack Obama. The press once fawned over his ever move, word and action, but those days are over, for coverage of his presidency has grown increasingly negative. But, don't worry, because he's still on top.

We now know the secret of Roger Federer's success: Anna Wintour! The Vogue editrix has been entirely devoted during the entire U.S. Open, but left during his final set against Juan Martin del Potro yesterday. And then he lost. She-devil!

Comedy Central is taking advantage of Kanye's idiocy to rebroadcast the "Fishsticks" South Park episode.

The community group ACORN has come under heavy fire after two employees were filmed giving a fake hooker advice on how to commit tax fraud. Now they're thinking of suing Fox News for airing the footage. But does it matter?

Alright. This has got to stop. After banning smoking in bars, New York City officials are now thinking of extending their totalitarian grip to public spaces. Will the madness never end?

Oh, Glenn Beck. Why are you not content to be just a run of the mill asshole? Why must you bring celebrity interpretations into the mix, as you did this evening with a Kermit the Frog impression? It's sad.

We tuned into Leno's first hour hoping that the comedian might be able to pull out a stellar performance. Instead, what we got was a slap-dash version of The Tonight Show, but with even less funny jokes.

Basically the entire nation has rallied around the idea that Kanye West is an entire asshole for ruining Taylor Swift's big moment last night. So, too, has Barack Obama, our president. But he won't do it on the record.

Everyone is paying attention to NBC's bold prime time experiment, which kicks off tonight. Many are waiting for Leno to fail so let's throw some digital spitballs at him.

We've all known this was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to announce. Patrick Swayze, American actor and icon, has died and, at the tender age of 57, succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

Below: A recap of what you've missed at Fashion Week the past couple of days.

[A glimpse of a whirling propeller and lower Manhattan from the DIRECTV blimp last night. Image via Getty]

Stephanie Pratt called Perez Hilton worthless; Marlee Matlin dreaded reading Kanye West's lips and Rachel Sklar exposed her intimate side. The Twitterati ran hot and cold.