James Franco offers some choice words for writer Sam Anderson, who wrote Franco's New York profile, and the Portlandians behind fan fiction opus Fucking James Franco: They are all using him. The Hollywood Reporter reports,

New York Magazine cover stories that purport to capture and explain some element of our current zeitgeist are not to be taken seriously. Just to be clear. Only people hermetically sealed in bubbles of Manhattan privilege would even labor under the delusion that such works of artful fiction were meant to be "believed," in a literal sense. Still—it is bothersome that they continue to be foisted upon the public. Why not just publish a collection of knock-knock jokes, instead? They'd contain more wisdom.

It's center-left policy wonk musical chairs: New York magazine just poached columnist Jonathan Chait from The New Republic—which hired Tim Noah, recently laid off from Slate, to replace him. What will Chait's sex diary read like? Stay tuned!

In your humid Thursday media column: ridiculous WaPo Twitter uproar of the day, everybody's needlessly peeved at Jose Antonio Vargas, Gothamist is sponsoring long-form journalism, an editor flees New York mag, and the Village Voice could have itself a strike.

Huh. New York Times op-ed expounder Frank Rich, who currently possesses a huge chunk of the Sunday opinion page in the world's most influential newspaper—where he's allowed to say whatever he wants—is leaving all that behind to go write for New York magazine, where he "will be an essayist for the magazine, writing monthly on politics and culture, and will serve as an editor-at-large, editing a special monthly section anchored by his essay." Rich's own explanation:

Hugo Lindgren, the new editor of the New York Times Magazine, spent a decade working under New York magazine editor Adam Moss before getting his big break. It makes sense, then, that Lindgren's great ambition is to crush Adam Moss.

New York magazine wrote about Anderson Cooper's boyfriend's new bar today, minus the word "boyfriend." Chicken?

In your wounded Monday media column: prestigious magazines clash over characterizations, Dana Milbank is now more ostensibly respectable, the alt-weekly war in San Fran rages on, and another departure at Forbes.com

In a new interview with New York magazine, little ol' Katie Holmes admits her precocious paparazzi-bait daughter is better at being famous than she is, perhaps because she's still starstruck with Tom Cruise.

New York has published a depressing profile of John McCain and his quest to become a boring right-wing hack who can survive a Republican primary. He's so miserable. And he doesn't appreciate naked children like Scott Brown giving him advice!

Vice magazine founder Gavin McInnes subjected himself to New York's 21 Questions. He punctuates an answer with "nigga" and talks about explosive diarrhea, hand jobs, and post-marital sex. Edgy! Don't say he's not fauxhemian or he'll piss in your cereal.

Foodie Adam Platt has tactfully responded to Keith McNally's vicious letter over a bad review.

Everyone whispers that O editor-at-large Gayle King is Oprah Winfrey's secret lesbian lover. This headline inverts King's comment about how much she enjoys spending time alone in her literal closet. Cute wordplay, but do not get on Oprah's bad side.

Last night was football night and magazine night in America! New York hosted both the National Magazine Awards and the first round of the NFL Draft. Which one was better? Which was more embarrassing? Which had Anna Wintour?

Michael Hirschorn, the exceedingly smart man who uses his talents to bring shows like Flavor of Love to your TV screen, has his eye on a new prize: New York magazine's approval matrix. Highbrow Despicable or Lowbrow Brilliant?

A remarkable number of editorial employees have left New York magazine recently! Well. Five, at least. Let us review the departed, below.

Yesterday, we introduced you to the farcical "Draft Larry Kudlow" campaign, a pretend movement to convince TV economist Larry Kudlow to run for Senate against Chuck Schumer. Today, for fun, we'll introduce you to Larry Kudlow the addict.

This morning, it was announced that New York Magazine deputy editor Hugo Lindgren will be departing for Bloomberg BusinessWeek. NYM editor Adam Moss sent out a gushing tribute to Lindgren, who's been there for six years and before that worked with Moss at The New York Times Magazine, to the magazine's staff.

We're still all trying to figure out whether British actor Ben Whishaw is gay or not and New York magazine isn't helping. They're trying to deflect blame for the hubbub back onto Out magazine. Damn, everyone. Why the drama?

Ben Whishaw is currently co-starring with Hugh Dancy in The Pride off-Broadway. He's so proud he essentially came out to Out magazine. Then why is he in New York magazine talking about being straight?