Sarah Jessica Parker Keeps Fans at Bay
Mad fans want a piece of Sarah Jessica Parker. Mad ladies want Jon Gosselin. And Ashley Dupre's mad at the haters. Rise and shine! Here's your Thursday morning Gossip Roundup!
Happy Birthday
New York editor-in-chief Adam Moss turns 52 today. If you work at the magazine and you see him in the hallway, please be sure to extend your best wishes. Others celebrating today: George Clooney is turning 48. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is 56. Folk legend Bob Seger is 64. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama…
George W. Bush's Sad Book Deal
There's now a rumored-price tag on George W. Bush's forthcoming memoirs, "Decision Points:" a $7 million advance from publisher Crown. How does that stack up to other Deciders?
Obama Will Be Rupert Murdoch's Next Tony Blair
Lovable media mogul Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp, has been going around predicting a landslide victory for the Democrats this November and also big-upping Senator Barack Obama—he called Obama a "superstar" and a "complete phenomenon" at a conference yesterday. He apparently nudged his pet tabloid the New York …
Zuckerberg, Decker and Brin walk into a Jerusalem bar...
Israeli president Shimon Peres has invited a number of luminaries to celebrate the country's 60th year of independence, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Yahoo president Sue Decker and Google cofounder Sergey Brin. They'll be discussing technology as part of the Facing Tomorrow conference in May.…
Page, Branson, Wales and Blair fuel up private jets for more green getaways
Earlier this month, Virgin's Richard Branson hosted Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and his wealthier coevals on Necker Island for a discussion on global warming. The beach party seemed to be held mostly for the benefit of a sun-satiated New York Times reporter. But, between sips of pinot grigio, Branson and his tanning…
While Wikipedia burns, Jimmy Wales and women in bikinis save "world on fire"
We were right: Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales really did skip off to Richard Branson's Caribbean getaway in early March, even as a scandal unfolded over his governance of the world's most comprehensive list of gay animals. The powwow on Necker Island, which included Google's Larry Page, Tesla Motors chairman Elon Musk,…
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's memoir has sold to Knopf, surprising many, including Knopf editor Ash Green: "I thought Rupert Murdoch would get it," he said. "Because Murdoch for ten years supported Blair through his newspapers, and he has the Sunday Times first serialization, and he has HarperCollins,…
If Rupert Murdoch's son James takes over News Corp., the company's pro-Israel stance may change. At a 2002 meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "Murdoch said he didn't see what the Palestinians' problem was and James said that it was that they were kicked out of their f— homes and had nowhere to f— live."…
James Ottaway Calls Rupert Murdoch A Liar
Your daily dose of Rupert Murdoch news: In an extensive interview with Dow Jones director James Ottaway (who, you'll surely care to remember, controls approximately six percent of the company's voting shares), the recalcitrant stockholder reiterates his disdain for Murdoch, charging that no matter what the News Corp.…
"This is Gordon Brown's moment. The terror attacks (and his response to them) have established the tone of his premiership as surely as the death of the Princess of Wales (and Tony Blair's reaction to it) did for his predecessor's. No temperament could be better suited to the times than Mr Brown's: all that famously…
"BBC2 cut short its live coverage of Tony Blair's last prime minister's questions today to show a promo for its drama series Rome." [Guardian]
Tony Blair Takes Off
After ten years of loyal service (to us), Tony Blair has stepped down as British Prime Minister. Our new man in London is dour Scot Gordon Brown. Blair will now attempt to settle the Palestinian problem, which is surely much easier than having to take orders from a dyslexic alcoholic with Dick Cheney's robot hand up…
Which Enormous Rupert Murdoch Story Should You Read Today?
Both today's New York Times and New Yorker offer lengthy pieces about Rupert Murdoch. And when we say lengthy, we're not exaggerating: The New Yorker piece clocks in at 7409 words, while the Times offers a more sprightly 3868-word story. If you're interested in the Murdoch story but don't have the eight hours it would…
The British press reacts to outgoing P.M.'s criticism of media. Shockingly, they're dismissive. [Guardian]
Departing British P.M. calls the press a "feral beast tearing people and reputations to bits," notes that "[s]candal or controversy beats ordinary reporting hands down. News is rarely news unless it generates heat as much as or more than light." An analysis and business model both! We never said the guy lacked talent.…
George W. Bush Actually Isn't Drinking Again, Yet
President Bush drinks a (non-alcoholic) beer as he jokes about his non-plans to reduce carbon emissions with German chancellor Angela Merkel and British prime minister Tony Blair. Later Blair and Bush lamented the non-success of their war in Iraq. How they laughed!
U.S. Puppet Departs Position "Running" Tiny Island Nation
As expected, British Prime Minister Tony Blair today announced that he would step down from that position on June 27th. Blair has served for ten years, and the British electorate has clearly grown tired of a man whose admitted charms are intertwined with a streak of officious sanctimony so severe that it makes Mario…
Media Bubble: Over the Moon
- You can't pay people to read newspapers these days. [PEJ]
- Old Man Redstone loves him some Les Moonves. [NYP]
- NBC's Bob Wright: Crucified by the FCC. [WSJ]
- Time for Bruce Wasserstein to buy Field and Stream, etc.? [NYP]
- English-language Al-Jazeera will interview some has-been British politician. [Independent]
Gossip roundup
· Elizabeth Hurley has convinced her married lover, Arun Nayar, to file for divorce from his Italian model wife so he can marry her instead. [Page Six]
· The Loser's Lounge tribute to the Mamas and the Papas got raided Friday night by various city agencies and the show was delayed for an hour. No violations were…
