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NEXT LEVEL REACHED
“Get ready for the next level in the blogosphere,” warns the NY Times:
Arianna Huffington, the columnist and onetime candidate for governor of California, is about to move blogging from the realm of the anonymous individual to the realm of the celebrity collective.
According to the NYT, unless we’re failed gubernatorial candidates and unimpressive columnists, we bloggers are “anonymous”.
She has lined up more than 250 of what she calls “the most creative minds” in the country to write a group blog that will range over topics from politics and entertainment to sports and religion. It is essentially a nonstop virtual talk show that will be part of a Web site that will also serve up breaking news around the clock. It is to be introduced May 9.
Sounds like a pile of crap.
Having prominent people join the blogosphere, Ms. Huffington said in an interview, “is an affirmation of its success and will only enrich and strengthen its impact on the national conversation.” Among those signed up to contribute are Walter Cronkite, David Mamet, Nora Ephron, Warren Beatty, James Fallows, Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Maggie Gyllenhaal, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Diane Keaton, Norman Mailer and Mortimer B. Zuckerman.
Hmm. Can’t wait for Diane Keaton‘s opinion on, say, nothing. This won’t work; blogs function best when they focus closely on events or themes, chasing down links and evidence to support their arguments. You think Keaton (or Cronkite, or Mailer, or Beatty, or Mamet) will devote more than a post or two to any given issue? It’ll be a festival of shallow takes, as Cronkite predicts:
This gives me a chance to sound off with a few words or a long editorial. It’s a medium that is new and interesting, and I thought I’d have some fun.
Yay. Blogs rule.
You have to admire the chattering classes. They make it a continuing challenge to ignore them.
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 04 25 at 10:49 AM • permalinkWalter Cronkite
Fossil. Famous only because he read from a teleprompted when boomers were in their teens.
David Mamet, Nora Ephron
?
Warren Beatty
Loser from that Dick Tracy movie, right?
James Fallows
?
Vernon E. Jordan Jr.
Famous only for being the straight man for Jim Varney.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Vacuous tart.
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
Fossil.
Diane Keaton
Has-been.
Norman Mailer
Lunatic has-been.
Mortimer B. Zuckerman
?
The odds of any of these people saying anything interesting are pretty close to zero.
Posted by Rob Crawford on 2005 04 25 at 10:51 AM • permalinkLike the average person that doesn’t read blogs now will start reading this one just because their favorite actor/actress/news anchor/Clinton-era slimeball happens to post every two weeks or so.
Like the people that do read blogs will have time to add a new massive group blog to their list. Hell, Power Line seems to do about 5-8 posts a day, and they’ve only got 3 people. Multiply that by 80. Plus, what little that turns out halfway decent will get lost in the rest of the crap that gets posted—just like the rest of the blogosphere combined.
“Get ready for the next level in the blogosphere,� warns the NY Times:
“Warns” seems fitting…
I can hardly wait to be educated by the opinions of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Mortimer B. Zuckerman, to name only two.
Posted by Susan Norton on 2005 04 25 at 10:57 AM • permalinkHasn’t America got enough B and C grade talk shows for these C and D grade celebrities?
Posted by Aging Gamer on 2005 04 25 at 10:58 AM • permalinkWell, Zuckerman can probably tell good dirty stories about boffing Gloria Steinem for money…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 04 25 at 11:10 AM • permalinkIf
Zsa ZsaArianna had gotten one vote for every time she appeared on Larry King in the runup to the California recall election, she would’ve gotten more votes than . . . Gary Coleman, at least. Never before in the field of political media has so much attention been lavished on someone so insignificant.I’m more interested in what the 250 and more regular commenters to this blog have to say. They seem much more intelligent, motivated, and interested in current events than those recruited by Arianna.
Case in point: how many of them, including Uncle Walter, made the slightest effort to check up on the TAG faxes that were publicized with the intention of imperiling the presidency of George Bush?
They’ll probably blog about the shape of their swimming pool or the newest restaurants that have opened up.
Posted by wronwright on 2005 04 25 at 11:41 AM • permalinkWhoopee. Hooray. Yippee. Yowsah. Oh, boy. Hurrah. Great. Huzzah. Happy happy, joy joy. I am overwhelmed with excitement.
Excuse me, I feel a sudden urge to defecate.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 04 25 at 11:44 AM • permalinkMaggie Gyllenhaal is a no-talent B-list Hollywood actress, and sister of prettyboy Jake Gyllenhaal. And she isn’t even that good looking.
She recently said that America brought 9/11 upon itself because it has “done reprehensible acts”:
Skank opinesPurely a hypothetical case: if she is raped and murdered, I will say that she brought it upon herself because she has “said reprehensible things.”
Posted by Kosmopolit on 2005 04 25 at 11:50 AM • permalinkLooked her up at IMDb, this tidbit from her bio/trivia there:
The first six movies she made (Waterland (1992); A Dangerous Woman (1993); Shattered Mind (1996) (TV); The Patron Saint of Liars (1998) (TV); Homegrown (1998); Resurrection (1999/II) (TV)) were all directed by her father.
Rather nice of daddy. And:
To promote her film, Secretary (2002), she posed for Playboy.
When in doubt, show some boob.
Posted by Aging Gamer on 2005 04 25 at 11:59 AM • permalinkEveryone who has attended a Vanity Fair Oscar party should be beaten with shoes, preferably still on feet.
Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2005 04 25 at 01:18 PM • permalinkEveryone’s comments are so goo, I have only one thing to add.
Could someone please shut Walter cronkite up? Holding his head under water for 30 minutes should do it, I think. Not that I advocate violence.Posted by miriams ideas on 2005 04 25 at 01:22 PM • permalinkArianna Huffington already has pieces in the LA Times opinion section at a rate far greater than her qualifications merit.
The LAT circulation is going down. You do the math.
Posted by zeppenwolf on 2005 04 25 at 01:28 PM • permalinkCould someone please shut Walter cronkite up? Holding his head under water for 30 minutes should do it, I think. Not that I advocate violence.
I understand that stopping his food and water is quite a peaceful way to go.
Posted by Rob Crawford on 2005 04 25 at 01:39 PM • permalink“Get ready for the next level in the blogosphere,� warns the NY Times:
They’re too late, it’s here already - Celebrity Baby Blog.
“Get ready for the next level in the blogosphere”. Well, “Going down !”, as an elevator operator would say.
What’s prominent about this collection of geezers (my reaction to each one, incidentally, is almost identical to that of Rob Crawford’s)? Kronkite’s only notable achievements, as I recall, were (a) setting the stage for American defeat in Vietnam through his idiotic analysis of the Tet offensive, and (b) carrying out an evening broadcast one time after he had crapped in his pants as a result of the untimely kicking in of a laxative. Really, I don’t want to hear from him, or even of him, for the rest of my life. The rest of those bozos? I didn’t care what they thought when people actually knew who they were.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is a no-talent B-list Hollywood actress, and sister of prettyboy Jake Gyllenhaal. And she isn’t even that good looking.
Yes but she did a decent job bending over a desk and getting spanked by James Spader. Granted, she might have reached the upper extent to her acting ability. But if there was an Oscar awarded for getting a good butt whipping, I think Maggie should be considered strongly for it.
Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing many of the female members of this new celebrity blog bending over and getting a good spanking.
I would mind seeing Walter getting spanked. No, please. Just put the old man in a nursing home somewhere. Please.
Posted by wronwright on 2005 04 25 at 03:24 PM • permalinkThe bag’s on Keanu now…the notion that any of these nitwits has anything New to say or Contribute, that hasn’t already been heard from them ad-nauseum is so ...Mainstream…
Huffington has simply absorbed and re-spewed the MSM concept of “repourposing” assets.Posted by -keith in mtn. view on 2005 04 25 at 03:29 PM • permalink“Most blog readers fled to blogs in relief, from these people. “
Exactly what I was thinking rhhardin.
If the blogosphere becomes mainstream we’ll have to invent something else, but I think they might be surprised how difficult it is to attract and retain readers when there are so many other places people can go.
This is going to be a source for more Timbo material than Web Diary and Margo. Though he will probably have less opportunity to mock their inability to spell than he does with Margo.
My guess is that the celebs will find online life uncomfortable because anyone can rip their writings to pieces without concern for their feelings.
Posted by Ernst Blofeld on 2005 04 25 at 04:50 PM • permalinkI can’t wait for Arianna’s pile o’ crap. Do you all think for one second that there won’t be hilarious displays of idiocy by these people, which we can then throw back in their faces?
I would imagine that every post will be screened by the person’s publicist or personal assistant, but they can’t catch every ridiculous statement. Remember all of the inane statements on Barbra’s personal site, the gullibility displayed there and her furor at being smacked down after falling for the hoax Shakespeare quote. It will be like the silent movie stars who couldn’t find work after sound was added to films because their voices were terrible. This blog will demonstrate that these people have no “voices” fit for public consumption.
After this all blows up in their faces, Arianna’s status will plummet along with the number of invitations to entertainment industry events.
This will be fun, fun, fun.
Errata of the Elderly and the Irrelevant? Cult of the Clueless? The MSM Echo Chamber? Lame-Ass Leavings of the Leftover Left?
It’s gonna stink.
Gathered together in one godawful dump site, the usual blowhards with the usual fatuous opinions. Half their traffic will be real bloggers strip-mining for nuggets of stupidity. They won’t have comments because they don’t want anyone to talk back.
It’s gonna stink, but in a fun way, until they shut it down.
Shhhhh!! Our betters are about to speak!
Posted by nofixedabode on 2005 04 25 at 06:51 PM • permalinkSounds like a regular black hole of Hollywood stupidity.
If want to see how the concept should work, try Lucianne.com. The news is interesting and the comments witty.
-N. O’Brain
Posted by N. O'Brain on 2005 04 25 at 06:53 PM • permalinkOh, and I’m guessing, just off the top of my head here, that comments will be turned off in about 3 nanoseconds after the blog starts up.
-N. O’Brain
Posted by N. O'Brain on 2005 04 25 at 06:55 PM • permalinkOh, wow!! I haven’t been this excited since the launch of Air America. (Wait. Isn’t that what I said about BigWoodenAlGore’s announcement of whatever POS TV thingy he’s launching?) I may have to retire to the parlor and fan myself.
As for Huffington, her only talent appears to be figuring out how to become famous for being famous. But, then, that’s what celebrity is all about today, isn’t it? You don’t have to actually produce anything of interest, just get famous.
Works for a whole slew of here today, gone tomorrow (but all too frequently not soon enough) types.
And as for actually reading what this pathetic bunch (or their low-paid minions) might write. Eeeeewwwwwwwwwww!! It’s bad enough that I accidentally stumble across their vapid spewings from time to time as it is.
The next level? Jeez.
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2005 04 25 at 07:45 PM • permalinkHmm, the “Love Boat� meets the internet. Looking forward to reading Charo’s views on the IMF and debt relief.
Will Captain Merrill Stubing be the webmaster?
I give it 2 months.
SMG
Posted by SMGalbraith on 2005 04 25 at 08:31 PM • permalinkThese people are utterly clueless. They seem to think that blogging is all about the medium, rather than the content. The only significance fo the medium is that it has allowed previously unheard voices and opinions to be expressed without being censored and/or controlled by the MSM.
I was just as skeptical about Uncle Rupert’s call to editors to get involved in blogging.
Damn, trackback worked finally. Go me.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2005 04 25 at 09:13 PM • permalinkWow, the big-government committee approach to blogging! That’s gotta work!
Posted by Crispytoast on 2005 04 25 at 09:20 PM • permalinkHolding his head under water for 30 minutes should do it, I think.
His yacht crew was considering it, but Cronkite was smart and never let any of them learn how to use the sextant…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 04 25 at 10:07 PM • permalinkI am unaware of the existance of any anonymous bloggers, other than the ones who post online casino links at Blogspot and never return. Lots of us are nicknonymous, a few are known to be pseudonymous,but it is not practical to have a blog and not have some sort of identity.
I have a sense of who Wretchard the Cat is, and who Natalie Solent is (and imagine that a few readers have some sense of who triticale is) but, not being one for watching movies this is the first time I ever saw the name Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Hollywood Squares?
Hollywood Blogs?
Whatever.
Posted by N. O'Brain on 2005 04 25 at 11:13 PM • permalinkThis appears quite different to Mr Murdoch’s proposal. I agree that Huffie’s site will probably die off for most of the reasons explained above.
I have been thinking about how Murdoch’s proposal would work. Is he talking about making every article commentable? That would be fun, and certainly put a lot of journo’s on their toes. Or would it be just columns? But he wants to make money - will he rely on adverts, or a subscription model?
How would he compete with the likes of Lileks and Mr Blair? Unless, of course, he doesn’t, and he employs said individuals? So time to fess up tim, has young Murdoch sent Sarah over to do a bit of convincing?The vacuousness of the contributions of Arianna’s 250 will will be inversely proportional to how many links are in their posts. The more links, the more coherent. The fewer links, the more we’ll see arguments like “everybody knows” and “it’s a given that…”
I’m guessing the celebs won’t bother to do the diry work beyond one lazy link to an article that fits their prejudices.
So who cares?
Meanwhile, back on Planet Matters Worth a Damn…
THE SYRIANS ARE OUT OF LEBANON!
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 04 26 at 12:33 AM • permalinkI remember from the biography channel, how JFK use to shoot up speed balls in the oval office. This he did in front of Times reporters ... his friends.
I want Walter
MondaleCronkite to answer about his actions in regard to this coverup.Posted by papertiger on 2005 04 26 at 01:32 AM • permalinknot another web diary surely. perhaps margot could be a consultant to them.
Posted by Astonished on 2005 04 26 at 07:27 AM • permalinkArianna Huffington is no prizewinner… after being married to her for 10 years, her husband decided he was gay.
I bet that hatchet-faced Greek skeezer could do it even to priapic Bill Clinton.
Posted by Kosmopolit on 2005 04 26 at 09:23 AM • permalinkMore metrosexual gloss! Sounds like one big Columbia faculty meeting…
Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2005 04 26 at 09:37 AM • permalinkI look forward to this greatly. Think of the chance to further their education.
They’ll learn new words like fisk and Protein Wisdom. They’ll find out that trackbacks don’t mean that people like them. Think of the disbelief when the proles don’t take what they say as gospel.These are people totally insulated from reality by toadies at every turn. What happens when they read somebody hilariously ridiculing them for the pretentious nonsense they will spew?
Now that’ll be funny. Heck, I doubt Jeff Goldstein and Scrappleface will have to go anywhere but her site for ideas and links. Heck, Jeff might even leave off abusing John Hawkins.
Chinesearithmetic — Word among the trendoids is metrosexual is on the way out…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 04 26 at 10:23 AM • permalinkEh, I say let them give it a whirl. It’s a good way to get more people into the blogosphere, and if they turn out to be leftist airheads, it will be a source of never-ending humor.
Posted by Tatterdemalian on 2005 04 26 at 10:31 AM • permalinkYes, we should encourage the creation of more Webdiaries.
Now I realize we haven’t received an OK from Karl Rove on this yet. But I suggest we not say anything about it being incredibly stupid and a potential career breaker for these clue-challenged celebrities. On the contrary, let’s say good things about their plan like “You’ll be as famous as Al Franken!”
Posted by wronwright on 2005 04 26 at 10:58 AM • permalinkIn the voice of Pepe: “Oh Arianna, you are so learned.”
Posted by Tommy Shanks on 2005 04 26 at 11:04 AM • permalinkIf you want a taste of how crappy a minor Hollywood celebrity blog can be, then go no further than Wesley Crusher’s (nee Will Wheaton)
What an asshat.
Posted by joe bagadonuts on 2005 04 26 at 03:56 PM • permalinkJoe bagadonuts—As a charter member of the Beam Welsey Into A Wall Club, where were you when we needed you?
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 04 26 at 07:49 PM • permalinkSpeaking of ‘celebrity’ blogs, this is a gem:
CBS executive producer Rob Burnett on Rosie O’Donnell: “The last thing I want to do is get into a fight with a powerful celebrity who has a blog read by tens of people”
Rosie O’Donnell says no to David Letterman ‘Late Show’ appearance
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2005 04 26 at 09:12 PM • permalink
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If the former Puff Daddy married Huffington, could I blow their house down?