media

Star Turns

cityfile · 02/19/09 07:45AM

Did you know that Elle editor-in-chef Robbie Myers had a tiny part in Caddyshack when she was 18? It's true. ("The director, Harold Ramis, picked me out of the crowd. I had a very small role, but it was a huge hit at college parties," she says.) Were you aware that Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter appeared in Alfie? Or that Richie Rich made a cameo in Zoolander? Fashion Week Daily went digging for some little-known (and occasionally embarrassing) performances by members of the fashion/media elite. You can see the full collection by clicking on the photo above. [FWD]

More Viacom Layoffs Today?

Hamilton Nolan · 02/18/09 02:20PM

In your gloomy Wednesday media column: More rumored Viacom layoffs today, Newsweek staffers are mad at the boss, Playboy might have to sell Playboy, and more!:

Pinch Jr. Joins the Times, Playboy Now Up for Sale

cityfile · 02/18/09 01:27PM

• Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, the son of New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr., is joining the paper next week as a Metro reporter. [NYO]
• Following a huge fourth quarter loss, Playboy says it's now up for sale. [Folio]
• It's rumored that Viacom is laying off staff today. [Gawker]
Newsweek staffers are unhappy about recent changes at the mag. [NYP]
• Sean Delonas is in hot water for his cartoon in the Post today. [E&P]
Mort Zuckerman says he can fix the Daily News by printing it in color. [MM]
Vanity Fair is shutting down its German edition. [WWD]

Rumor: Newsweek Closing Bureaus?

Hamilton Nolan · 02/17/09 03:01PM

In your bracing Tuesday media column: rumors of Newsweek closing a bureau [UPDATE: or maybe more than one], Barbara Walters tells the truth, questions are wrestled with, and Flex sells:

Ad Pages Fall, Bristol Palin Speaks

cityfile · 02/17/09 12:36PM

• Ad pages for monthly magazines in March dropped by 26 percent. [Crains]
• Sirius XM has reached a deal with Liberty Media to avoid bankruptcy. [NYT]
• What Bristol Palin had to say in her interview with Greta Van Susteren. [ABC]
• Not surprisingly, local news stations covered A-Rod's press conference today in lieu of President Obama's signing of the stimulus bill. [THR]
• A look at Politico and "the brave new world of post-print journalism." [TNR]
Barbara Walters at a breakfast this morning with 60 Minutes's Steve Kroft and Ken Auletta: "I think the only programs that will still be there as they are now in 10 years are the morning shows." How convenient. [Portfolio]
• Thanks to the popularity of Slumdog Millionaire, ABC is thinking about reviving Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? during primetime. [NYT]

Maybe We'll All Get to See the Coffins Come In

Hamilton Nolan · 02/17/09 11:35AM

Ever since the heroic War on Terror began, the Pentagon hasn't let the media cover the arrival home of the coffins of dead US soldiers. Now maybe they'll loosen that ban...because the Pentagon hates war?

Newspaper Really, Really Didn't Mean to Offend Gun Nuts

Hamilton Nolan · 02/16/09 05:23PM

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal posted on its website a publicly available list of citizens who have concealed weapons permits. Did this cause gun nuts to go crazy, terrifying the newspaper's editors? You bet!

Cable News Anchors Are Incredibly Stimulated

Hamilton Nolan · 02/16/09 04:45PM

The Stimulus Package: Obama signs it tomorrow and oh my freaking god, the cable networks will totally talk about it. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC each have their own promo; they grow increasingly insane: