Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"MICHAEL Phelps wins no gold medals for party games. At the same South Carolina house party where he was snapped sucking on a bong, the Olympics hero lost a pile of money betting in a high-stakes session of the drinking game beer pong, in which players wing pingpong balls into plastic cups. 'I saw Phelps pull out a roll, a bank-wrapped $2,000. He said, 'I'll match the $2,000,' onlooker Michael Whitworth told the State newspaper. 'Good ol' Phelpsie lost it, too.'" (PageSix)



"In an interview with the Washington Post published Sunday, retired Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones, Obama's national security advisor, gave his most detailed public comments yet on his vision for how he plans to run the National Security Council .. 'The single biggest factor in determining whether the NSC is important is the involvement of the president in national security policy,' said David Rothkopf, author of a history of the powerful council, Running the World. 'If you go back and look at national security advisors, the more important ones than the others are the ones in a real partnership with president who wanted to be involved ..'The best-run process ever, by consensus, was Bush 41,' he said. 'And part of the reason it was the best run process was the president was the best friend of the national security advisor [Scowcroft], [plus] he was deeply engaged and knew exactly what he wanted.'" (Foreignpolicy)





"Howard (Stern) referenced the allegations that pop singer Chris Brown beat his girlfriend, fellow pop singer Rihanna, before the Grammy awards yesterday. In response, Gary came in to say there might be a pattern: he and Jon Hein once watched Rihanna fight with Chris (via cell phone) in front of an LA hotel: 'All the latin guys working the valet said, She's been fighting with the guy for an hour and a half." (HowardSternShow/Rundown)



"Inviting Courtney Love to the awards was always going to cause fireworks - and she didn't disappoint. Naturally, the rocker was erratic and pretty incoherent as she barged her way through the show, leaving everyone with their hearts in their mouths every time she came near them. So it was hardly surprising to see her take a hissy fit backstage, after accepting her gong for Woman Of The Year, when she realised the assembled media had left - because she had taken so long doing her hair and make-up. She turned to one of her aide's and said: 'You have fucked up. I'm going home, no one is here.' Thankfully, after a few reassuring words, she stayed on for the afterparty. Later in the evening, a security guard tried to stop snappers from approaching Courtney. But his efforts merely upset Ms Love, and he was soon bundled out of the way by her own burly bodyguard." (Thisislondon)

"Emboldened by President Obama’s win in November, black candidates around the country are taking their shots at the glass ceiling between themselves and top statewide office. Already, six well-known black candidates are set to make runs at high-profile gubernatorial or Senate races. Several others are taking serious looks at Senate campaigns in top races .. 'There’s no question that President Obama’s election has given people more of a sense that black candidates can run and be viable candidates,' (Rep. Artur) Davis said. 'Barack Obama shatters that psychological resistance.'" (TheHill)



"'Let me fluff up my hair and look fabulous,' said Sharon Stone, whipping off her coat and preening for photographers at Asprey’s pre-BAFTA party Saturday night in London .. 'This is all so surreal,' said 'Slumdog Millionaire' star Dev Patel, who, despite being this year’s award circuit darling, still exhibits newcomers’ insecurity. When a friend pulled Patel toward a camera, he sent a tray of drinks flying. 'I’m so clumsy,' said the 18-year-old star, who was accompanied to the bash by his mother, Anita Patel." (WWD)



"He may be 61, a veteran of four marriages, and, yes, he was marked for death, but Salman Rushdie can still charm a beautiful woman. Having split with 'Top Chef' enchantress Padma Lakshmi in 2007, the 'Satanic Verses' author is now seeing Pia Glenn, the long-stemmed glamazon who plays Condoleezza Rice in Will Ferrell’s Broadway show, 'You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night With George W. Bush.' Some might find Rushdie and Glenn a curious couple. She was born in Harlem, he in India. At 32, she’s 29 years his junior. At 6 feet tall in bare feet, she has 3 inches on him. But even with her wearing 4-inch heels, they looked rather adorable arriving arm in arm at the Mansion party for the show’s opening night." (NYDailyNews)

"Do You Have The 'White Knot' For Oscars? Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters is one of the first, and he wore it on the red carpet at Saturday night's MusiCares benefit. So did musician Dave Stewart at the Grammies. Now its organizers are hoping Hollywood attendees and presenters wear it to the Oscars. It's the 'White Knot' in support of gay marriage." (DeadlineHollywoodDaily)

"Lord knows that NBC head Ben Silverman hardly needs another reason to fire another VP, but at least this one's creative: someone's hiring hookers on the corporate card! The report comes courtesy of ABC News, which could only be a more delicious payback if Silverman-insulted ABC head Steve McPherson delivered the news personally, while taking the network's peacock mascot from behind. Also, naturally, the brothel that was frequented by the unnamed NBC VP also serviced Eliot Spitzer — though they eventually banned Spitzer for being too aggressive (something they would never have to worry about from a flailing, Leno-appeasing NBC VP)." (Defamer)

"A feeder fund manager would approach a bank or a rich individual, announce how regretful it was that the Madoff fund was closed, but drop hints that, if an opening came up, the 'mark' could become a member of the 'club.' The con was on, and sure enough the 'mark' would soon get another visit and hear the good news that finally they could join the club. In my banker’s case—his name shall remain a secret — he was told that, in view of the fact his bank is as prominent as it is, $500 million would be a minimum investment. My banker friend had contemplated investing perhaps 20 million for a look-see but, after the suggestion of 500 million big ones, told them thanks but no thanks. A wise and prudent man. When the ‘mark’ or ‘marks’ would ask for details, the answer was automatic: 'We cannot reveal anything of Bernie’s moves or investments because they might be leaked, and all of Wall Street will follow suit.' Or words to that effect. It was a good con, and they all fell for it. The $500 billion question is, of course, did the feeders know it was a con, or had greed got in the way of common sense? I’d say in the case of Philippe Junot, Charles Fix and Thierry de la Villehuchet, it was definitely the latter. They had, after all, put most of their own money in it." (Takimag)

"Sarah Jessica Parker leaving her townhouse on Charles Street ... Lauren Hutton walking with a friend in the East Village ... Madonna, Guy Ritchie, and the kids heading into the Kabbalah Center ... Amy Adams arriving at JFK ... and Samantha Ronson leaving the Bowery Hotel." (Cityfile)

"ANOTHER little baseball-related item. Instead of being wild about (Joe) Torre's hit-and-run book, many Yankees, except for maybe general manager Brian Cashman, seem even pleased. They say now everyone will know the guy they know. They say he's an egotist. Money-hungry. They actually labeled him 'Dough' Torre. They say he's not a nurturing team player but someone only in it for himself. They say he'll show up and make appearances for charity, but never give an actual buck to any cause. They say they say they say. They say plenty. They also say this is the end of the line for him careerwise." (CindyAdams)

"Mamma Mia! Penelope Cruz unleashed her inner dancer at the Weinstein party. She dragged up pal Marisa Tomei to boogie to Dancing Queen." (3AMGirls)

"These utterances are verbatim, folks -- they were spewed in all seriousness by various partygoers and clubcrawlers -- and it's my moral obligation to pass them on to you without comment. I mean without MUCH comment: 'Why did Martin Luther King get credit for I have a dream? It started in Gypsy!' (Sound of my eyeballs rolling in their sockets.)" (Musto)

"Just stopped by our TX advocacy day training to thank the LS Army before they head off to the capitol in support of smoke free Texas .. On with the phone with good friend and amazing artist Christopher Wool." (Lance Armstrong/Twitter)

"The Audit Bureau of Circulations just released magazine sales figures for the second half of 2008. How bad was it? Here's one indication: Total single-copy sales (ie. newsstand sales) were down 11.1 percent from the year-earlier period, to about 43.4 million units. Publishers were able to make up some, but not all, of the shortfall by selling more subscriptions (up .53 percent) and by distributing more "verified" copies (up 6.6 percent), but total circulation was still off .86 percent industry-wide for the half." (Portfolio)



"'This most definitely doesn't look like anything last year,' observed one guest at the Tenth Annual Lycée Français de New York Gala at 7 World Trade Center, benefitting the famed Upper East Side institution. The changes were overwhelmingly positive. The gathering was in co-chaired in part by Olivier and Charlotte Sarkozy and honored Dior's Sidney Toledano. So gowns abounded, editors like Robbie Myers, Glenda Bailey, Cathy Horyn, and Virginia Smith showed face, and Toledano's longtime friend Alex de Betak helped orchestrate the fundraiser with elaborate lighting and innovative table settings. In other words, it wasn't a your average bake sale." (Fashionweekdaily)

"There were precious few awards presented on last night's Grammys, but there was a helluva lot of entertainment, and though some of it was downright bizarre (Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers?), there was plenty to enjoy and gossip about. Still, some questions continue to nag: Is Whitney Houston not the roughest piece of road on both coasts? I'm scared a-huh. Didn't Alison Krauss used to be a bashful looking country bumpkin? Who did her work? Is there anyone they didn't pair Al Green with? No matter who was performing, he seemed to pop out and croak a few notes. Anyone think Chris Martin should take a chill pill and drop the hyperactive monkey routine?" (Musto)

"Grammy winners Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were dissected today on Howard Stern. Stern said Robert Plant is unrecognizable from his former Led Zeppelin self. Stern said he remembered when Robert Plant wore belly shirts and platform shoes, he said now Robert Plant looks like he's from somewhere in 'Middle Earth.'" (Gather)

"Trying to talk David Shuster into starting to Twitter. - but I think he is too afraid to tweet." (Joe Trippi/Twitter)

"'The cult of the equity' that arose in the past half-century has come under attack and may be headed for the dustbin, according to Robert Buckland, Citigroup Inc.’s global strategist. The CHART OF THE DAY compares the total returns since 1990 on MSCI Inc.’s World Index of developed markets and a global government-bond index compiled by JPMorgan Chase & Co., as Buckland did in a report last week. 'Miserable returns and extreme volatility' in stocks this decade have led some investors to reappraise their ownership of equities, their favored holding since dividend yields dropped below bond yields in the late 1950s, he wrote. MSCI’s index has tumbled 27 percent since 2000. The index has declined about 50 percent since October 2007, just as it did from March 2000 to October 2002. JPMorgan’s bond gauge, by contrast, has risen 80 percent." (Bloomberg)

"On Friday night, a roiling crowd of local TV newsmen and -women packed into an Irish bar in midtown to toast their former colleagues who had recently lost their jobs in the layoffs and buyouts that have been sweeping WNBC-4, NBC's flagship station in New York. In the days leading up to the party, some staffers jokingly referred to it as a 'Wake 4 NY' and a 'gathering of the recently departed.' Others took to calling it 'Severence-Fest 2009.' Sure enough, the past year at WNBC-4 has been one of upheaval, as managers dismantled the traditional newsroom in favor of a so-called digital 'content center.' Dozens of veteran station employees have lost their jobs along the way." (observer)