News of the layoffs comes three weeks after Alpha Media folded music magazine Blender and moved its editor-in-chief, Joe Levy, to the company's flagship publication.

Mr. Garbarino joined the magazine less than a year ago after leaving his position as editor-in-chief of BlackBook. Mr. Wilson, late of The New York Post's 'Page Six,' joined the magazine in 2006.

Mr. Garbarino responded to an email from The Observer from a bar near his former office that read, "Wilson and me sitting at jimmy's corner. Pugilists at rest."

A call to Alpha Media Group's spokesperson to confirm numbers and names has yet to be returned.

Being editor in chief of Maxim seems a bit like being the keyboardist for the Grateful Dead or the drummer for Spinal Tap: It's a sweet gig ... for as long as it lasts.

Since the U.S. edition of Maxim was launched 12 years ago, the magazine has gone through nine top editors (10 if you include the hamster) in its quest to combine the dewiest WB actresses with the laciest lingerie. By way of comparison, GQ has had two editors in that time—Jim Nelson replaced Art Cooper, who died in 2003—as has Esquire, whose editor David Granger replaced Ed Kosner in 1998. (O.K., maybe 2.5 if you include Randall Rothenberg's brief tenure as "acting editor.")

In April 1997, the New York Daily News' Keith Kelly (yes, that Keith Kelly) reported that Felix Dennis was launching Maxim, "a bible for the Regular Guy" with Clare McHugh as editor in chief. "I think having a woman editor is an advantage you can get away with a lot more," Ms. McHugh told Mr. Kelly.

She was gone seven months later (again, per Newser Kelly), having, "resigned from Maxim to pursue other projects and directions."

Next up, Mark Golin (after a short interval of Keith Blanchard—remember that name!—working as acting editor), who took over the magazine in 1998, bringing it to new prominence, increased sales and headlines like MAXIM: IF IT ONLY HAD A BRAIN and Maxim's sometimes amusing, always dumb.

By February 1999, Mr. Golin had jumped ship to Details and was replaced by a hamster named Sammy.

Sammy's brief and ultimately uneventful run ended when his job went to Mike Soutar.

By April 2000, Mr. Soutar had left to return to London and become managing director of IPC Music & Sport, a rival magazine company.

With Mr. Soutar safely back in Blighty, Keith Blanchard was back on top at Maxim, where he stayed for the next four years—a good run, all things considered.

In July 2004, David Carr reported in The New York Times that Mr. Blanchard would be replaced by Ed Needham, late of Rolling Stone. Two years later, The Guardian was reporting Mr. Needham's resignation and return to England.

Mr. Needham was followed by Jimmy Jellinek, who moved from helming Maxim's little brother publication Stuff in May 2006. His tenure lasted just over a year when he was replaced by James Kaminsky, in the job until yesterday, when the departing editor told Keith Kelly (now of the Post, thank you very much), "I wish everyone working at the magazine the best."

Which brings us to Mr. Levy, who will now oversee Maxim and maxim.com according to a memo from Alpha Media Group CEO Stephen Duggan.

We wish Mr. Levy luck.

Stephen Duggan, the CEO of Alpha Media Group, wrote in a memo this morning to staffers, that "with great sadness, we will also announce that Blender magazine will cease publication with the April issue. Since 2001, Blender has provided unmatched music coverage and entertainment news in its unique voice to a profoundly dedicated audience of music enthusiasts. We are particularly grateful to the sales team and to the tremendously talented editorial staff for their hard work and commitment to Blender."

We've heard from a Blender staffer that each one of the staffers will receive three months of severance.

Maxim editor James Kaminsky will be leaving and Jay Woodruff will become "chief content officer" of  Maxim.

Here's the memo:

To: Alpha Media Group Staff

From: Stephen Duggan, CEO

Re: Announcement

------------------------

As all of you are aware, the global financial crisis has severely impacted the media industry. Alpha Media Group is weathering the current economic difficulties and we are confident that with the changes we are implementing, the company is in the strongest position possible to continue moving forward.

With this in mind, today we will announce that we are integrating the editorial operations for Maxim and Maxim.com. The merger presents immense promise for the Maxim brand as a leader in a 21st Century media strategy that includes print, digital, mobile, television and film.

Please join me in congratulating Joe Levy and Jay Woodruff who have been named Editor in Chief and Chief Content Officer, respectively. Ben Madden, who was named Group Publisher in February, will oversee sales and sales strategy, marketing, events and client services for the print and online properties.

Additionally, and with great sadness, we will also announce that Blender magazine will cease publication with the April issue. Since 2001, Blender has provided unmatched music coverage and entertainment news in its unique voice to a profoundly dedicated audience of music enthusiasts. We are particularly grateful to the sales team and to the tremendously talented editorial staff for their hard work and commitment to Blender.

Thank you for your continued hard work.

Maxim and Blender will be the chief beneficiaries of the new owners' money and time from now on, with plans to increase the rate-base for Blender, the music and lifestyle magazine, to 1 million by January 2009.

Maxim will get "Stuff for Men" as a section of the magazine, now that the title no longer has to compete with FHM magazine, the other lad-shopping mag.

• Adweek: 'Stuff' Folds Into 'Maxim'
• New York Times: New Owner to Combine Men's Magazines

In other media news:

Ziff Davis media is trying to restructure $390 M. in debt (Keith Kelly)

ABC does some downsizing in its D.C. bureau (FishbowlDC)

Goldmans, Browns in feud over O.J. book deal (MSNBC.com/Today)

Ryan Seacrest will host the Superbowl on Fox (Variety.com)

FSG to face firestorm over controversial Israel book (newyorktimes.com)

Get ready for the Book of Rove: Washington macher is already on the case (Publishers Weekly)