fameballs

Dave Zinczenko, America's Last Hope

Hamilton Nolan · 09/08/08 12:55PM

Dave Zinczenko is the self-proclaimed "Barak [sic] Obama of publishing"! That, we hear, was just part of the inspirational email that Men's Health editor and former Julia Allison boyfriend Dave "Abs" Zinczenko sent out to his entire staff recently! He alone can save the magazine, was reportedly the gist of the message. Also, the Zinc is apparently searching for a top-notch publicist to get him back on the Today show—he used to appear regularly, but then his friend, a Today show producer, got fired! First he lost his title as Designated Magazine Industry Hottie, and now this. Perhaps Dave should be a bit more generous passing out the dinners with Men's Health models. Is Zinczenko really this much of a narcissist? He looks like such a nice young man. If you got the last email, or have other recent info to share about the abbed one, email us. [UPDATE: Dave Z tells us that Men's Health is looking for a new PR director, but that he is "Absolutely not looking for personal PR. (And never have)"]

Rex Sorgatz Grows His Microcelebrity One B-Roll at a Time

Sheila · 09/03/08 12:53PM

Rexie! The nerdy Midwestern micro-celebrity "expert" and blogger who allegedly makes Tumblr girls (and the HuffPo's Rachel Sklar) weak in the knees has inexplicably grabbed yet another bit of micro-fame—he's in some b-roll for the local news in St. Paul, outside the Daily Show. What does the voice-over say about him? Just wait. (Bonus footage: the redhead is former Wonkette editor Anna Marie Cox.)

Gorgeous George's Guide To Villainy

Hamilton Nolan · 08/27/08 03:03PM

Gorgeous George led to Julia Allison. Which is to say, he was "one of the first entertainers to create a faux persona that elicited hisses." The original fameball! George was a pro wrestler in the 1940s, and figured out that being a bad guy could be just as lucrative as being a good guy—and a lot easier. A new biography of GG has just come out, and his crazy life as a body-slamming fop offers plenty of guidance to anyone considering using villainy as a path to fame. Five things to set you out properly on your road to evil destiny:

Leven Rambin Joins Her Own Fan Club

Sheila · 08/25/08 10:31AM

The teen soap star (and little sis of lifestreamer/dating columnist Julia Allison's BFF Mary) has moved to L.A. to do some more acting. Maybe it's swelled her head: a tipster brought it to our attention that she's become a fan of herself on Facebook. See?

Inside The Nonsociety Cattle Call

Hamilton Nolan · 08/08/08 12:50PM

We asked for spies to infiltrate (far too dramatic a term, really) the Julia Allison/ Nonsociety pilot show shoot yesterday. We know the event caused a good deal of drama amongst the fameballs themselves; but what was it like for the average attendee, drawn in by the heady promise of proximity to Mary Rambin and co.? Gawker commenter Rolls Royce Revenge obliged by sending us a full report on the doings. The full tale of the "profoundly weird" experience (and JA's "steaming heaps of charisma"), after the jump:

Be An Extra On Julia Allison's Show!

Hamilton Nolan · 08/07/08 08:46AM

NonSociety, Julia Allison's new media project of indeterminate meaning, needs your help! The protocelebrity and Wired cover girl is filming a TV pilot show for Bravo with her friends, and she's sent out an invitation seeking "35 fashionable, vivacious people who will agree to go on camera." It's interesting that while Julia's show has been heavily hyped for some time, she's rather self-deprecating about its prospects. The exclusive affair happens tonight, so the invite is last-minute. While you might expect, say, half of your friends to come to a party you throw, we're conservatively estimating that Julia is counting on around a 5% response rate, meaning she sent this email out to 700 people in search of 35 takers. We could be wrong! After the jump, read the entire invite-then RSVP and help her out. It's the least you can do. Spies, please send us some details.

Jakob Lodwick Could Never Quit Us

Sheila · 07/31/08 03:09PM

Only weeks after the millionaire tech-boy stormed off the Internet in a huff, he reappears in this video on his website. SERIOUSLY Jakob, you should just bring your blog back because posting stuff like this anywhere simply invites more abuse. Also, this vid will be especially relatable if you've ever smoked a boatload of weed and ate a bag and a half of 'shrooms at the same time.

iPhone Schadenfreude

Sheila · 07/28/08 02:20PM

Nonsociety lifecaster, "tech blogger" Megan Asha, has damaged her iPhone 3G with a stiletto! Remember, it's wrong to take pleasure in the misfortunes of others. Except when the Jesus Phone is involved! HAHA. [NonSociety]

Julia Allison, Spiritually Indicted

Sheila · 07/25/08 09:28AM

"Her days are taken up with aggressively managed project that involves cameras and dictating where and when she should be and how she should behave that she doesn't enjoy, she's not having sex any more, and she's actually depressed by the sensation of being a publicly traded brand..." [Radar]

Keith Gessen Movie Features Not Quite All The Happyish Young Blogging People

Ryan Tate · 07/24/08 09:46PM

Here's Rex Sorgatz's video of various people reading from the de-Harvardized copy of tortured soul Keith Gessen's All The Sad Young Literary Men. It was shot largely in the Gawker offices! And it involves such noted internet personalities as Andrew Krucoff, Choire Sicha, Julia Allison, Alex Pareene, Rachel Sklar — the d-list goes on and on. You'll either find it entertaining and funny (I did!) or feel like you need a decoder ring. A cheat sheet to the best moments is after the jump, if you want all the surprises spoiled, along with an update on the status of the modified All The Sad Young Literary Men, now an official literary hot potato.

Pregnant Man's Baby Photos: $300,000

Ryan Tate · 07/23/08 08:19PM

Female->male transsexual Thomas Beatie is featured in People magazine today with his new daughter Susan Juliette, born June 29 in Bend, Oregon without a c-section (which would make it a "natural birth," haters!). GaySocialites.com said the child will live a "confusing life" because of the father's love for the spotlight, adding that admirers of the pioneering birth should bear in mind that "you don't go on the cover of People magazine for free honey!" Actually, that's very true!

Five Annoying Online Publicity Stunts

Hamilton Nolan · 07/14/08 01:55PM

Michael Ian Black, comedian and VH1's go-to analyst of pop culture, has started an online feud with testosterone and beer-fueled guy blogger Tucker Max. Black challenged Tucker to a fight, Tucker accepted, and now they are both talking trash in a way advantageous to the promotion of Black's new book. This would all be cuter if Black didn't just try to start another online feud with David Sedaris, to promote the same book. These online publicity stunts are incredibly difficult to pull off without being annoying; below, a jaded look back at five that sucked the big one:

Nonsociety's Video Remix: Valtrex Edition

Sheila · 07/14/08 11:15AM

Gawker videographer Richard Blakeley noticed that if you re-mix the embarassingly bad Nonsociety video (dating columnist/publicity whore Julia Allison & Friends' new "online business" with actual investors) it syncs up perfectly with... a Valtrex commercial. Watch it! In related "defending your online reputation" news...

Mary Rambin Videoblogs Her Colonic

Sheila · 06/24/08 02:03PM

Hey, have you guys ever heard of a colonic? Dating columnist Julia Allison's best friend, "handbag designer" and failed-reality-show veteran Mary Rambin, has a very important public-service announcement to make: colonics are good for you! She made a video about them! [Style by Mary] Update: Oh, copycat! Tracie from Jezebel did this months ago.