In what is certain to be a landmark decision enabling the tabloid media to tie virtually any sluttily marketed celebrity presence to participation in possibly nonexistent amateur sex productions with their poorly chosen partners, a judge has ruled that Britney Spears can't be defamed by rumors that she has participated in the video documentation of the earliest, most penetrative stages of the baby-making process with vaguely vampiric househusband Kevin Federline, letting Us Weekly off the hook for their story that the couple feared the release of a tape featuring their erotic adventures. Chastiseth Lady Justice, offended that Spears thinks she has a reputation to damage:
Monday's NYT Media section brings news of two recent events in the industry: First, David Carr tackles those John Mellencamp "This is our country" car commercials that ran approximately five times for each Tiger pitching error during the World Series. You may have heard about it elsewhere on the Internet, but it's worth reading for Carr's chiding ("you can wave the flag or you can drape one over a coffin. You can't do both.") and his masterful display of what's obviously a deep familiarity with Mellencamp's back catalog. Also, Richard Siklos covers the recent roast of deposed Viacom head Tom Freston, noting the "small clutch of writers who specialize in the genre of media-mogul laughs," of whom Mark Katz, the "reigning king," is cited. Katz was also cited last week by both Radar and B&C, but this story mentions his "[initial reticence] about being interviewed because he does not want to appear to be diminishing the comedic chops of his clients." Guy won't give it up for Jeff Bercovici, but will happily talk to the Times: this is why we still need print media.
A sharp-eyed reader trying to watch some CNN video coverage of the deadly, still-spreading wildfire that has tragically claimed the lives of several firefighters noticed this unfortunate placement of an ad for Catch a Fire. Sadly, CNN.com users hoping that the website had helpfully supplemented their interest in the ongoing conflagration with a related Hollywood offering will be inevitably disappointed, as Catch a Fire (in theaters today!) seems to be a drama about terrorism in Apartheid-era South Africa, not a buddy movie about brash rookie fireman Derek Luke learning the ropes of wildfire-suppression from grizzled, seen-it-all captain Tim Robbins. Contextual advertising technology may have failed us again, but at least it's aided the development departments of studios who will be more than happy to fill this void in the entertainment landscape.
We're not sure if this is a typo or just some of the most honest sportswriting we've ever seen, but today's Dallas Observer tackles the difficulties plaguing the Dallas Cowboys franchise this year, particularly after this week's loss to the Giants. We're don't know if this actually made the paper or is only online, but, either way, hats off:
With roughly five-hundred celebrity-programming-focused basic cable networks vying for coverage of the same dozen or so people on a daily basis, it's to be expected that the crushing pressure to land exclusive video footage of a famous person's house in the salacious act of resting on its foundation might occasionally drive an overzealous camera crew to flirt with illegality. Entertainment journalism watchdog TMZ.com, whose clean, groundbreaking "fart in a mitten" confrontation of Paris Hilton is still the standard by which all celebrity ambushes are judged, reports that an E! crew was caught in the act of trespassing on Brad Pitt's property last Thursday:
• Federal judge orders the NYT to disclose its sources in the Hatfill defamation case. Times vows to appeal. [NYT]
• Katie Couric's taking all the good jobs away from the girls. [B&C]
• New Yorker Editor David Remnick attracts groupies. [FBNY]
• Tabloid Wars: News circulation up, ad revenue down; Post's circulation up, ad revenue up. Of course, the News is still ahead on that whole "not losing millions of dollars a year" thing. [Crain's]
• PBS brass doesn't give a shit who Charlie Rose honors. You can take your precious ethics and stuff 'em. [PBS]
• It's tough to be homeless in New York. [NYO]
