Wednesday, July 09, 2008

More Proof That People Uses Kneepads



There was an interesting little blurb in the NY Daily News today about why People didn't get the exclusive on Drew Barrymore's breakup with Justin Long. Apparently Drew was upset that People put her on the cover of the magazine a few weeks ago while wearing a bikini. That's a nice little factoid the Daily News got, but it is what wasn't explored that I care about most. Why was Drew upset? Was it negative? Not at all. In face her publicist praised the piece saying it was "completely positive." Then why was she so upset?

(The story was) "just not needed on our end at that time." On your end at the time? What? So Drew was ticked that People didn't get her permission prior to publication? I'm assuming from the comments of her publicist that it is standard practice for them to call People, tell them a story and have People print it verbatim. Gasp! People isn't a news magazine? Shocker! See, this is why I call them Kneepads Magazine. They do and print whatever publicists want them to print at the time they say to print it, and in exchange get exclusives which are only one side of the story. Rarely do you see People ever day anything negative about anyone because these exclusives would dry up. Who cares? Do some reporting. Do some news. Don't be a suckup. Customers for the most part who fork over money to buy your magazine think they are getting real news and not just some fluff piece that a publicist spoon fed to the magazine. The public thinks they are getting scoops and insider information, but it is carefully vetted first to make sure that at no time does the celebrity ever look bad.

I would wager that when People heard what Drew's publicist had to say they called crying like a kid at a Michael Jackson sleepover and begged for forgiveness. They probably promised enough ass kissing and enough covers that we as "everyday people" will believe that Drew Barrymore is the second coming. They then got on the Kneepads Hotline to the decrepit one and told Larry King that Drew Barrymore was going to be on the show everyday for two weeks until the entire world knows how perfect she is. Larry, who kept confusing Drew Barrymore with John Barrymore agreed though.

Sample questions from Larry to Drew:

Why do so many people in the world think you are the greatest movie star in the world?

You got your start in silent films right?

How many times have you healed the crippled? Was Angelina Jolie with you?

So, the next time you peruse a Kneepads Magazine at the checkout stand, just realize who is calling the shots.


8 comments:

  1. OMG are you really using Angelina Jolie as an example her, when she has a direct line to People for ONLY postive stories on her and Pitt, good grief, EL, if that is not the double standard I do not know what is. What is it with you and her, you give her a freaking pass on everything she does. How bout fair all around, yes she does good, but she also uses them as a kneepad, Doug Pitt for Brad as well. How many lies has he faxed in? Let me count the ways. let's just be honest about this shall we?
    Some of us out here are in the know about the truth on some of the storeis People prints. We shake out heads too. About every star..including Angelina Jolie. Good for one, good for all.

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  2. Wow, she may be a bitch, but Drew looks gorgeous in that picture.

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  3. Drew does look gorgeous in that picture. I wouldn't fuss about that.

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  4. We are all jumping on Drew, but it could be after 2 failed marriages & some bad relationships inbetween, she knew he wasn't the one, & ended it before it went any further.
    I still think they were cute together.
    I love "Accepted"--he was soo funny.

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  5. it's just gossip for effs sake.

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  6. I had a subscription to People for at least 10 years ... I think even longer than that, and I cancelled it this year.

    There was a time when I felt they did a good job of looking at the whole picture, and I used to sit and read it from cover to cover as my treat for the week. When I didn't even pull it out of the mail pile before the next issue was delivered, I realized that the love affair was over.

    There wasn't any meat with all those potatoes anymore.

    Jax is right: it is just gossip, but obviously since we all hang out here, that's not the problem. There's gossip, and there's gossip .... and People, The Star, and the Enquirer were all starting to blur together ... and none of them were worth the time or money anymore.

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  7. I have decided to step up and offer to be Justin Long's rebound girl.
    Yep.

    Seriously, I hope he isn't sitting around sulking over her. I mean, she married Tom Green forchrissake!

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  8. E news live is no better than people.

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