[White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gets dunked during a luau (an Indonesian luau perhaps???) held on the South Lawn yesterday for members of Congress and their families; image via Getty]

An interview series premised on a simple idea: it's much better to talk to people after the hype cycle has buzzed on.

[Join Jim Behrle's Kreepie Kats—hey, Stickie's here!—as they say goodbye to Michael Jackson, who died tragically this week when his heart exploded from all that Pepsi.]

Hey, look! Being a Gawker Intern pays off. One of our most famous non-paid workers, James Frey, is shopping a young adult series that just got preemptively optioned by DreamWorks. Estimates say the deal was in the high six figures.

MySpace's CEO purportedly keeps his body pretty tight. But he should lay off the weight obsession at work. Owen Van Natta said MySpace was "bloated" when he laid off 400 workers; now they're reportedly called "fat" to their faces.

Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Michael Jackson: All indisputable geniuses in the 80s. Hit-or-miss in the 90s. And, at least before the outpouring of adulation for Jackson today, you probably wouldn't want to trade reputations with any of them.

• An early, unofficial list of places taking part in NYC Restaurant Week. [W&D]
• Interested in a Michael Jackson-themed wine pairing this evening? Too soon? That's what City Winery has planned anyway. [City Winery, GS]
• A few closings in restaurant-land. [Eater]
• Pret A Manger is in expansion mode. Four new locations have opened in Manhattan in the past two months and more are on the way. [Crain's]
• Free cups of Pinkberry's "summer fresh flavors" available this eve. [GS]
• Some bartenders are now asking that people call them "bar chefs." [Eater]
• The Gay Pride parade takes place on Sunday. A few recommendations on where to drink and party when it ends. [Metromix, AMNY, Newsday]

Wait, this can't be right.

A real thing someone wrote: "Strength Training: Could It Have Saved MJ?" From a Demerol overdose? Not likely, crazy fitness blogger. Not even Lou Ferrigno could get Michael Jackson to lift weights! Not even Super Squats could have saved him.

Of course you would! It's been two hours since TMZ got ahold of the call to 911 reporting Michael Jackson's heart attack and we haven't posted it. Dereliction of duty! Anyway, the link is here.

Today was Dan Froomkin's last day with the Washington Post, who canned him despite his being generally one of the better things about that paper. And why did they can him? There are theories!

Today is Game 4 in the Summerbration NY Baseball Series. Regardless of what team you're for, meet your buddies out for some trash talking and ice cold Coronas.

We know we've been laying it on a bit thick with the Fox & Friends gang of late, but, eh, what the fuck. OMG, today pseudo-Christy band Creed was on the show! And Kilmeade couldn't stop freaking out about it!

Are you a 28-year-old woman? Enjoy it. You're the happiest you're ever going to be, according to a survey of 4,000 women. "The age of 28 has been pinpointed as the time in a woman's life their hair looks the best, body shape is at its peak and confidence is at an all-time high. The security of your job, having a steady income, being in a relationship and having strong friendships all help create the perfect point in our lives when everything comes together." Then it all goes downhill, naturally. "By the time they have turned 30 they start worrying about growing old and developing grey hair and wrinkles." That line about grey hair? It probably isn't accidental. The study was commissioned by Clairol. [Telegraph]

Subway-riding Ruth Madoff will not be attending her husband's sentencing on Monday, reports ABC News. (Nor will his two sons be there, although that was to be expected given they maintain they haven't had any contact with him since his arrest.) Whether Bernie himself will express remorse is anyone's guess, although the cop who was assigned to guard him during his arrest—and who appears on 20/20 tonight—isn't expecting him a stream of tears and apologies. "He did not seem like the most contrite person I've ever met." [ABC News]

Airport-security gimmick Clear is just the latest example of Steven Brill failing investors (see also: Brill's Content, Inside.com, etc. etc.). But this time the mogul is just stone-cold ripping off customers, too, pocketing their half-used $200 membership fees.

Here's the cover of The Post New York Post, a 1984 parody about how the tabloid would cover a nuclear holocaust. It was edited by, I believe, Tony Hendra and Kurt Andersen. I remembered it today for obvious reasons.

Christopher X Brodeur, the kind of inspiring lunatic and perpetual media critic and NYC mayoral candidate who was news around here back in aught-five or so, is now homeless. Can he crash on your floor?

[The lovely and talented actress at some sort of event for Swarovski crystals last night; image via Splash]

Breaking: "While they have not abandoned their love of food, French people increasingly are resorting to a humble sandwich for the noon meal." But: "sandwich consumption per capita is still lower than in other countries." [WaPo]