Gawker

fall TV preview

How To Talk About Fall Television (That You Might Not Be Watching)

That slight crisp in the air this morning signals to us that autumn is fast approaching, with its hayrides and pumpkin picking and legion of miserable children tromping off to their imagined doom. But also it means television, sweet and glorious non-off-season TV like Gossip Girl and, um... other... shows. Many other shows! So many, in fact, that you can't—even with the aid of DVR techmologies—be expected to watch them all. But in this increasingly (for the past few hundred years) pop-driven culture, it's important that you are least able to talk about the zeitgeistiest shows out there, so after the jump we'll give you a few key talking points for some of the most buzzed about series soon to be (or, in a few cases already are) flickering on your idiot box. More »

4:28 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Richard
19 views, Comment

crosleybookcover.jpg this thing looks like that thing

Copycat Blogger Hate-Loves Sloane Crosley

A blogger recently "reviewed" uber-book-publicist Sloane Crosley's book of essays, I Was Told There'd Be Cake, on her personal blog. "I too am a twenty-something year old self-absorbed, middle-class angst who can relate to quite a few of Sloane’s shenanigans. Oh you know, the standard white-girl fare..." Cute, whatever. But! This very same blogger, we notice, can relate to quite a few of Sloane's shenanigans: she's written essays in the past month on her blog about a.) being a bad vegetarian, b.) being a pack rat, and c.) spending a childhood playing the videogame Oregon Trail. Coincidentally, Crosley's book features essays about each of these subjects. Hatecrush alert! Let's compare and contrast: More »

4:20 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Sheila
258 views, 4 comments

Latest by it takes a lot to laugh: She's plagarizing for her personal blog? WTF? more »

news analysis

Why Is The 'Other Woman' Always Such A Blabbermouth?

So John Edwards' maybe-babymama Rielle Hunter was a blabbermouth. Have you ever known anyone who had an affair with a married man? How'd you find out? Rhetorical question, yes! More »

4:17 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Moe
437 views, 5 comments

From the mailbag

The Catalog Of Workplace Humiliation

Yesterday we told you the nightmarish story of NBC's pooping intern. It was perhaps the perfect embodiment of a mortifying day at work. But we asked you, our employed readers, for your own stories of humiliation on the job, and you obliged. We've picked the five best (worst), which are printed in order of increasing terror. After the jump, read why you should never touch scissors at a library, make fun of hobos, joke about speed, pass out on a plane, or try to catch your boss' towel: More »

4:13 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
1,219 views, 6 comments

Latest by unutterable: Does being #3 mean that I get the bronze medal for workplace humiliation? more »

Plutocrats

Dear T. Boone Pickens: What the Hell?

The Daily News and the Post today both led with goofy excitable front page stories on Michael Bloomberg's threat to cover our bridges and skyscrapers with hideous power-generating windmills (both front pages: "WINDY CITY"). Both mention that Bloomberg dined with millionaire windpower enthusiast T. Boone Pickens. Page Six also reports on how Rudy Giuliani ignored the advice of Pickens, "a leading advocate for alternative energy," during his failed presidential run. Pickens just did a conference call with Harry Reid. And he just met with McCain. And he's got a book out! The oil billionaire-turned-pseudo-environmentalist is everywhere. And so we ask, upon learning that Obama's met with him too: what the hell? Why is everyone playing nice with the evil old jackass? More »

4:05 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Pareene
428 views, 16 comments

Latest by blogissuchanuglyword: Corporate raider is, like, the single coolest job on the face of the Earth forever and ever. more »

Shadowy Billionaires Jailed fund manager and teen masseuse trainer Jeffrey Epstein is linked to Leon Black, billionaire co-founder of Apollo Management. [Cityfile]

1 comment

Cafeteria Envy Viacom's oppressively gridlike new cafeteria layout is matched against in-house lunchtime eateries at other Manhattan media corporations. [Jossip]

1 comment

Books

Devil Wears Prada Author Crowdsourcing Ideas for Her Next Novel

Newlywed, former Anna Wintour underling, and bestselling chick-lit author Lauren Weisberger seems to be crowdsourcing ideas for her fourth book. Is she being serious? Maybe! "As always, I invite you to write in with any story ideas..." More »

3:14 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Sheila
2,057 views, 57 comments

GAWKER STALKER

Latest Gawker Stalker Sightings

Submit your Sightings: stalker@gawker.com

  • Ira Glass

    7th Ave & 26th St
    Just saw Ira Glass at 26th and 7th ave. he was wearing an orange shirt, glasses, and that gorgeous salt and pepper hair! a guy with a camera followed him while he bought fruit from a vendor and walked away without anyone (myself included) accosting him (unfortunately).

  • Gloria Steinem

    61 Christopher St
    Gloria Steinem (isn't she 80?) hanging outside The Duplex with the rock band Betty Rules. Looked great. Bunch of lesbians around them.

  • Keith Richards

    1998 Broadway
    Keith Richards stumbling around, unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, outside of AMC Loews Lincoln Square Theater around 9pm Tuesday night, until one of his assistants guided him into a big ol' Escalade SUV. Maybe he saw The Dark Night in IMAX.

  • Susan Sarandon

    405 W 14th St
    Just spotted Susan Sarandon on 56th and 5th at the Japan C exhibit at the Felissimo townhouse! She wore sunglasses and sneakers and was very nice to everyone!

More »

China Fears Moby China has cut off access to the iTunes store after it was revealed that some Olympic athletes have downloaded a pro-Tibet album featuring, among others, tea-swilling bald Lothario Moby. Dear power structure: Please stop affirming Moby's self-importance. [Idolator]

22 comments

Damon Dash

Hip Hop Mogul Faces Foreclosure

Times are hard for celebrities: Rocafella Records co-founder and former Jay-Z sidekick Damon Dash (pictured, with Maybach) can't pay his mortgage! His bank has started foreclosure proceedings on his two apartments after the mini-mogul failed to pay his combined $78,500-per-month mortgage. Times are also hard for celebrity coverage: as you can see, it's been reduced to finding ways to tie in the mortgage crisis with celebrity lifestyles. The media's already expanded the definition of "celebrity" to include politicians and athletes, so playing off real estate trends is a logical next step. There's a massive news hole to fill. First Ed McMahon was foreclosed on, now this! When will it stop? We can't wait to find out! [Newsday. Pic via NYM]

2:38 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
1,111 views, 116 comments

Latest by bringmemyTofu: @Smitros: Thanks. You're a Mack 10 in my book. more »

The lion king

'Operation Lowball' Places Kirk Kerkorian Back at Center of MGM Sale Rumors

FROM DEFAMER.COM: If it's not bombs, bees and/or anthrax threatening to engulf MGM in a dense apocalyptic deathcloud, then there's always the Specter of Ownership Past to give the denizens of Constellation Drive a good mortal scare. More »

2:30 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By STV
384 views, 1 comment

Games convention 08

Space Invaders Attack World Trade Center At Games Convention

FROM KOTAKU.COM: Let's file this one under "Too Soon." Seen at the "Invaders!" booth, tucked away in Hall Four of the Games Convention being held in Leipzig, Germany right now, was this non-interactive installation of the classic Taito space faring aliens laying waste to the Twin Towers. More »

2:10 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Michael McWhertor
7,381 views, 254 comments

Midweek Madness

This Week In Tabloids: Jen, John, Brad, Tom, Katie, Brit... And Olympic Gymnasts

FROM JEZEBEL.COM: Welcome back to Midweek Madness! Let's play One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others, with Us as the obvious winner. More »

2:00 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Dodai
9,297 views, 50 comments

The_Instant_Carr.jpg Books

David Carr's Shifty Definition of "Bestseller"

"The Instant New York Times Bestseller," trumpets the full-page ad for NYT reporter David Carr's memoir in the NYT today. We'll congratulate him for that, as we are fans of his brutally honest addiction memoir. However, it must be pointed out that Night of the Gun has only hit the expanded bestseller list, which is for the runners-up and isn't printed.

1:07 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Sheila
925 views, 34 comments

Latest by BeckySharper: @TheGintheCity: Actually, books that sell en masse at Costco, Target, etc. are weighted less than sales from other more Times-beloved more »

Obvious Connections Need Not Always Be Made Surprise, surprise. TMZ once again reveals itself to be complete dogshit. Though Harvey Levin might be killing the site anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.

56 comments

Marital strife

Elle's "Danger Man" Wants Us To Go On Marriage Strike

FROM JEZEBEL.COM: If Philip Nobel were more of an asshole, I would be less depressed right now. When he agreed to talk to me about his Elle article "Danger Man" — an account of leaving his wife for a younger woman which both Tatiana and I criticized last week — I was sort of hoping for an unremitting narcissist... More »

1:00 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Intern Anna
8,057 views, 205 comments

Rumormonger, Magazine Edition We hear that home decorating magazine Elle Decor is in trouble, and it may not survive into next year. Hear anything? Email us. Could this be related to "the steep decline in the middle market for the shelter category" that's forcing Hachette to close HOME magazine after its October issue? Click through for the internal memo on this latest magazine death. UPDATE: Hachette's PR rep tells us that Elle Decor is "strong and profitable" and will not be shut down—just HOME.

7 comments

Monsters

Our Newest Monster Is a Four-Earred Kitty Cat

Apocalypse Meow! Our endless Summer of Monsters lurches on! The Post reports today about a cat that is 'ear marked' (har... har... wheeze...) because, zomg, it has four ears. A scan of the picture is above. The cat's name is Yoda. It can hear you twice as well. "People do a double take when they see him or his picture," said the cat's owner. "It's great fun showing him off." That's the spirit. "Freak cat! Er'body look! Monster cat!" Oh Yoda. Horrible harbinger of doom you are. Click through for larger image of the demon feline.

12:41 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Richard
3,926 views, 87 comments

Latest by Smitros: @Brooklyn Battery: Possibly, but one of the advantages of our crap economy at the moment is that we don't have more »

Prison talk

Dear Haters, Journalist Josh Wolf Hopes You Don't Get "Indigestion After Eating Your Words"

Josh Wolf is a blogger who spent 226 days in jail for refusing to hand over his footage of a San Francisco anarchist protest in which a police officer was injured. That's because not handing over evidence like that is contempt of court, which we know thanks to the case of Judith Miller and that glamorous spy lady. But at the time Josh did not get as much credit from the "mainstream media" because he was just a blogger, and also possibly someone who hangs out with anarchists, and with the exception of Mumia Abu Jamal journalists generally try to avoid anarchists. Anyhow, Josh is now a free man, and get this…part of the mainstream media! Which is to say, he is a Real Mainsteam Journalists. And he has a message for his critics, according to the San Francisco Chronicle: "If the haters who said I wasn't a real journalist, are still lurking, I hope you don't have too much indigestion after eating your words." Ha ha yeah, Corrections. We'll let you grab a Nexium before we share the details of his important new gig. More »

12:40 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Moe
2,144 views, 47 comments

Latest by triplethreat: @not.a.clever.name: First, I didn't make any statements as to whether he is a good journalist or not. Second, exactly how more »

Marketing

Five Irresponsible Celebrity Endorsements

The public irritation with Michael Phelps gathers steam! Instead of being on the Wheaties box like a real American champion, Phelps has signed on to endorse Frosted Flakes. Yes: Michael Phelps wants your kids to choke down these sugar-encrusted corn scabs rather than the high fiber of Wheaties. The papers already found some doctors to condemn him. Though we shouldn't be surprised considering Phelps' addiction to Big Macs, the goofy-ass swimmer really should have been smarter in terms of his image. After the jump, five more idiotic celebrity endorsements that can't be explained by mere logic: More »

12:39 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
5,721 views, 56 comments

Latest by Aaron Altman: @Aaron Altman: He'll always have those problems. "Mom, me lanyards an' medals are all akimbo again!" more »

Wife Swap

Palimony Suit Could Force Jodie Foster's 'Midlife Crisis' $25 Million Over Budget

FROM DEFAMER.COM: Jodie Foster really has gotten off exceptionally easy so far in her dizzying, delicate miracle of new love with homewrecking writer/producer Cynthia Mort, with her most significant cash outlays being that always-steep first date and the extravagant "My Condolences" balloon bouquet sent Mort's way... More »

12:30 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By STV
6,978 views, 16 comments

Predictions

Rachel Maddow: America's Next Top Pundit

Rachel Maddow, liberal MSNBC pundit, was supposed to get Chris Matthews' show when his contract ran out, but MSNBC decided to capitalize on election fever and complete her transformation from feminist Rhodes Scholar AIDS policy wonk to television star right away. They gave her Dan Abrams show, even though everyone at the network loves Dan and his show's been doing well. But he's a soft-spoken legal analyst and she's a phenom in the making. She's the Keith Olbermann liberals won't be embarrassed to admire! More »

12:27 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Pareene
2,458 views, 30 comments

Latest by sarrible: @Shazzer: Oh, good. I have a question to ask Dr. Maddow (she's a doctor!) and was afraid I wouldn't get more »

shut up, college

Columbia Plays Yale On Gossip Girl, Monocles Fall Out in Disbelief

Gossip Girl, our bitchiest teen soap about Manhattan rich kids glowing dimly, is currently filming at Columbia University (someone run up there and take pictures!) Which makes sense, cause, you know, it's New Yorky and the show loves to make references to all of the city's hotspots (Veselka! Butter! DUMBOsburg!) But, gasp, the scenes they're filming take place at Yale. How dare they confuse one set of rich kids with inflated senses of intellect and caste-like status with another? Plus the architecture is totes different. More »

12:21 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Richard
2,593 views, 28 comments

Latest by iplaudius: @El_Feo: Yes, yes, it was an abortion joke, actually. As for the School of Art, well, of course they cannot abide more »

Jingolympics

All White Men Look Alike In Chinese Stereotype Reversal

When will the far East stop its racist stereotyping of the white man? Athletes from across the world define the Chinese by the slanty-ness of their eyes. But China is just as bad. They harbor the ludicrous notion that whites look alike! Listen carefully, China: BBC pundit Steve Parry is a tall, white, goofy former swimmer. But Michael Phelps is a tall, white, goofy current swimmer. Being mistaken for someone else is just one more thing white men in China are forced to endure, like weird foreign food and a lack of readily available American flag bumper stickers. Watch the clip of Parry being mobbed by enthusiastic Michael Phelps fans below: More »

11:37 AM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
5,985 views, 76 comments

Latest by TripMcCane: I'll be impressed when a Chinese person can make himself look like a white person using two fingers and his more »

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