• Mediaite: Bill Nye the Science Guy has gone from kids tv to Rachel Maddow pundit. Hey, if Ben Stein can go from being the guy from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to some right-wing crackpot…

• TVNewser: Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized today in New York City.

• Gawker: Bill Carter of The New York Times is working on a story for Viking about the late night wars (part deux).

• AgencySpy: Coca-Cola’s Superbowl commercial was very much like an 8-year old Yotvata spot, but execs claim it’s just a coincidink.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

— DIANE CLEHANE

Things must be looking up in the journalism biz, because Michael’s dining room was jam packed with media folks of every stripe. While CEOs and spinmeisters held court from their usual perches, writers and editors were shoehorned in all over the place. I was glad I got there early because I bumped into former Self editor-in-chief Alexandra Penney, who I had not talked to since she authored the much buzzed about book, How to Make Love to a Man. “That was another life ago,” said Alexandra. I’ll say. Last fall, I was riveted by her posts on The Daily Beast where she chronicled the emotional and financial devastation that almost consumed her when she lost everything thanks to Bernie Madoff‘s ponzi scheme.

Alexandra bravely wrote about her experiences for Tina Brown‘s site under posts dubbed ‘The Bag Lady Papers,” because, she says simply, “I needed money.” When agent Ed Victor read her deeply personal revelations he told her, “I think you might have a book here.” And indeed she did. The Bag Lady Papers is due out February 16 from Hyperion’s Voice imprint. “When something like this happens, it either galvanizes you or devastates you. I chose to be galvanized because I had to. It’s amazing what you can do when you really need to.”

I was joined today by another enterprising woman, my good friend Dr. Robi Ludwig. In addition to her thriving private practice as a psychotherapist, Robi is a frequent contributor to the Today show where she weighs in on modern relationships and the celebrity crack-up of the moment. She’s logged plenty of airtime trying to get inside Tiger Woods‘ marital meltdown, and she and Redbook‘s editor-in-chief Stacy Morrison dished with Al Roker just yesterday on what couples are fighting about most these days (If you guessed money, you’re right). When Robi is not seeing patients or lending her expert opinion on matters of the heart, she keeps busy with her “inspirational” jewelry line for QVC, Dr. Robi. After her first book, Till Death Do Us Part: Inside the Mind of A Killer Spouse (Atria), kept her busy on the talk show circuit, she is now hard at work on her second which will offer tips on how to have a happier marriage during these stressful times. Earlier this month, she also signed on as a contributor to care.com, an online community and comprehensive source for people searching for caregivers of all kinds from babysitters to eldercare workers. “I’ve always loved the idea of not pigeonholing myself,” says Robi. “There’s no reason to do just one thing if you’re passionate about a lot different things.” Obviously.

Here’s the rundown on today’s crowd:

1. The “Imber Gang”: Dr. Gerald Imber, Jerry Della Femina, Andy Bergman and Michael Kramer.

2. A casually clad Paul Wilmot (loved the sweater!) and Omnicom’s CEO Tom Harrison

3. ‘Mayor’ Joe Armstrong and Norris Mailer

4. Former William Morris chairman Jim Wiatt and Quadrangle Group’s Josh Steiner

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Ad Age: Just over a month after the hip hop magazine Vibe closed, there are reports that the owners of Uptown magazine have been in talks to buy and revive the title. Ad Age reporter Nat Ives said via Twitter that the buyers had confirmed his report.

American Spectator: Ex-New York Times columnist Ben Stein speaks out about his recent ouster.

Newsweek: A look at some of the magazines that managed to attract more ad pages during that first half of this year than they did during the same period in 2008.

Seattle Times: How important is anonymity to food critics today? Food critic Nancy Leson talks about the difficulty that comes with trying to remain anonymous and whether its even possible in the Internet age.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Reuters: Cox Enterprises has taken the Austin American-Statesman off the market. “This is a profitable company, and it just did not make sense to sell it for the prices offered,” publisher Michael Vivio said.

Editor & Publisher: The New York Times has axed actor and business columnist Ben Stein because of this Freescore.com ad. Reuter’s Felix Salmon may be a little too gleeful about this.

Broadcast Union News: The unions are protesting bankrupt Tribune Co.‘s request to pay almost $70 million in bonuses to executives. A bankruptcy court judge will hold a hearing on the matter next week.

Gawker: There are reports that NBC is laying off its creative services promotional teams at local stations around the country.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The denial of service attacks on Twitter, Facebook and other sites yesterday was the biggest story of the day, since it crippled many of the ways people communicate with each other — and a main way we waste time while at work. “It’s still going on,” Matt said of the attacks.

Also discussed: New York Times business columnist Ben Stein‘s dismissal because of his promotional work for a free credit check Web site and the G.I. Joe movie opening this weekend. Jason said he hopes G.I. Joe tanks so that sci-fi movie District 9 can open strong next weekend. “If that happens it will be like a Blair Witch Project beating a Titanic,” Jason said.

You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.