The XX Factor : Tabloids

Celebrity Is Dead, Long Live Uncelebrities

Willa Paskin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:23:00 GMT

For the sixth consecutive week, Kate Gosselin’s on the cover of Us Weekly . “Mommy You Are Mean” screams the headline, while her husband Jon declares, “ Enough is Enough ” on the cover of People . In Touch and Star are selling the Gosselins as well ....(read more)

All Goody, All the Time

June Thomas — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:28:00 GMT

I've been in Britain for a week now and really should be accustomed to the idiosyncratic standards of the mainstream U.K. press, but nevertheless I was surprised to wake up Sunday morning to hear the announcement of reality-TV star Jade Goody 's death...(read more)

Lost in Translation?

Dahlia Lithwick — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:36:00 GMT

I'm afraid I have to agree that on the vapid -to- moving continuum, I’d put Bristol Palin’s interview a lot closer to the vapid side of the spectrum. It wasn’t just the likes and the ums ; that’s standard-issue and I do it, too. But I don’t understand...(read more)

Seeking Out The Spotlight

Willa Paskin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:52:00 GMT

Jessica wondered earlier why Bristol Palin would agree to do an interview at all , now that the feeding frenzy is largely over, and posited Bristol's telling her overbearing mama to step off. I buy that, but I think there's an even simpler reason she...(read more)