mediabistro.com: FishbowlNY

Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Media Minutiae...

Changes, oh! Down below, up above... WWD's Sara James reports an interesting controversy at Seventeen Magazine: apparently the magazine's October feature "Vagina 101" -- complete with "Owner's Manual: Your vulva has a lot of parts" -- rang eerily familiar to Elizabeth Topp, co-author of "Vaginas: An Owner's Manual" with her mother, Dr. Carol Livoti. Apparently Topp and Livoti were discussing a sex advice column at Seventeen last fall, but their association with Playgirl led to talks falling through. Nonetheless, WWD reports that Topp was shocked to see the feature, which she said echoed her book (not to mention her proposed column). "Even the font looks familiar," Topp said. Seventeen senior health editor Tula Karras says it's a complete coincidence; Topp's willing to cut her some slack on the fact that the story was not, er, particularly exclusive. Nonetheless, she gives sage advice: "If you have a meeting with the authors of 'Vaginas: An Owner's Manual,' then you don't write a story a few months later with 'vaginas' and 'owner's manual' in the title without contacting them first." Meanwhile, our kingdom for a "Duelling Banjos" soundfile...[WWD]
Seeing Daddy - naked! Page Six reports today that AMI's David Pecker is shelling out the cash to suppress an Arnold Schwarzenegger sex tape. Given the immediately preceding item, we are refraining from any of the obvious punchlines. This is a family blog. [NYP] [also: see Fishbowl LA's take]
Hell, he can do that, he can do that: At TMFTML, Alex Balk proves he is a true Renaissance Man with this item, in which he makes an effortless showtune reference that kicks off a semi-ridiculous effort on my part to link every item in this post to "A Chorus Line." Which, by the way, is not as easy as it sounds. [TMFTML]
Peripatetic, poetic and chic: Yesterday Martha Stewart came back but good, kicking it up anklet-free and bringing ratings, stock-price surges and home-cooked cheer to all. To paraphrase Forbes on the matter: "Ooh strut your stuff! Can't get enough of her, love her!" In short, Forbes was impressed. We're wondering if a Forbes story has ever been summarized by Chorus Line lyrics. Probably not. [Forbes]
See, I really couldn't sing, I could never really sing, what I couldn't do was sing: Are Americans finally getting sick of reality TV? A new study says they are. I say that Kelly Monaco totally deserved her title. John O'Hurley, the dance should be enough. All you ever really need is the music and the mirror. [Guardian UK and NYP]
Everyone is beautiful at the ~~ballet~~ Daily Hospitality Suite! It's Fashion week, and pretty is what it's about! Our pink-hued pals at The Daily invite the fabulous and fashionable to their hospitality suite, today 'til Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a bubbly flute o' Taittinger to wash down some "sinful treats." More decadence: rubdowns, blow-outs, and M.A.C. makeovers. We fall into the "different is nice" category, but we're so there. [The Daily]
If you don't get something, chances are you'll find it here. Or just ask Alex Balk.