Observatory

Al Goldstein: The Pornographer in Winter

In April shooting will begin on Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story, starring Malin Ackerman. And last month, rumor had it that a second Lovelace biopic was in the works, this one with Kate Hudson in the lead. It’s unlikely, however, that either actress would be getting ready for her money shot, Mr. DeMille, if not Read More

Who’s Your Daddy?

Either Michael Lohan has no luck, or he has no sense of integrity. Or maybe he’s just doubly cursed. The ill-fated father of teen starlet Lindsay Lohan has accumulated a raft of headlines for separate incidents in which he was accused of beating up his brother-in-law, a sanitation worker and fellow patrons at a strip Read More

The Transom

A funny thing happened on the way to the Manhattan Theater Club.

Larry Gelbart, the author of Tootsie and the TV version of M*A*S*H , and co-author of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, wrote a racy adaptation of Lysistrata -the Aristophanes play about Grecian sexual politics-with songs by Alan Menken Read More

An Uncivilized Action

When it comes to Al Goldstein and harassment troubles, once may not be enough.

On Feb. 19, the New York Post sent reporter Denise Buffa to Brooklyn Criminal Court to cover the trial of Mr. Goldstein, founder of Screw magazine, who’s been indicted on 12 counts of aggravated harassment.

For those who haven’t been Read More

Pat Cooper, First Amendment Hero

Comedian Pat Cooper has a bug up his ass. Mr. Cooper, one of the last of the schtarker stand-ups, called The Transom to say that he is “on the fucking warpath” with Howard Stern because the talk-radio star has allegedly muzzled rival shock jocks Opie and Anthony, forbidding them to poke fun at him.

Referring Read More

A Divine Comedy for Bette … Givebacks for Gumbel Backers

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Columbia Tristar Television is finally getting close to creating a show for Bette Midler. The diva recently signed a deal with the studio, but coming up with an appropriate vehicle has been slow going. “It’s almost impossible,” said one writer. “It’s like, what do you do? This is Bette Midler! You can’t Read More

Al Goldstein Accuses Craig Kilborn of Plagiarism

Wednesday, April 28

The Living Edens is a nature show that amazingly doesn’t make you feel guilty. Amazing! The producers travel to exotic lands and film nature for three months, that’s it. Absent are the depressing sidebars about loggers wiping out rain forests or the slow painful death of an indigenous tribe. Executive producer Alex Read More