MTV Networks Company

Did The Real World beget Facebook? That's the theory put forth by Details' Jeff Gordinier in his think piece on MTV's ur-reality series which is in its improbable twentieth season.

After explaining how the series created "a New America," Gordinier writes:

In 1995 a paperback titled The Real Real World was published to capitalize on the success of the first four seasons of the show: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London. A few pages were devoted to the cast members from each season, studded with grainy snapshots and factoids. Flip through the book today and contemplate Kat’s favorite song (“Africa,” by Toto), Puck’s favorite snack (“Nuts, exotic ones”), and Becky’s preferred mode of transportation (“I usually walk”), and it doesn't take long to realize that you’re looking at an early, analog blueprint for a social-networking site: the beta version of Facebook. “We’re living in an age where everyone has to be famous,” [MTV's Brian] Graden says. “There’s a current belief that every small thing I do is fascinating, so I’m going to share it with all my friends."  read more »

Celebrity tots are getting ready to stumble for MTV's new show, Rock the Cradle. Premiering on April 3, kids of popular (or maybe washed up) performers will compete against one another. The offspring of Olivia Newton-John, Kenny Loggins, M.C. Hammer, Eddie Money and Dee Snider will participate, according to Variety. This should be a sad display of rich kid privilege and temper tantrums, but that seems to be MTV's forte recently (admittedly, My Super Sweet 16 is a train wreck we can't help watching sometimes). MTV also wants that American Idol appeal with a new show, Celebrity Music Mentor Project. More on that from Variety after the jump.  read more »

On the evening of May 31, 2006, a shaggy-haired teenager in Buffalo, N.Y., peddled his skateboard to  read more »

This just in from Complex: the magazine has named 27-year-old Noah Callahan-Bever its new editor in chief. The full release is below.

NOAH CALLAHAN-BEVER NAMED EDITOR IN CHIEF OF COMPLEX MAGAZINE

September 26, 2006--NEW YORK, NY--Rich Antoniello, publisher, Complex magazine, announced that Noah Callahan-Bever has been named editor in chief of Complex, effective immediately. He replaces Richard Martin who is no longer with the company.

Mr. Callahan-Bever was formerly deputy editor of Complex--a position that he has held for the past year. Before joining Complex, he was senior editor of Vibe magazine. Prior to this, he served as editor in chief of Mass Appeal and also worked as a writer for MTV's Direct Effect and MTV News. He began his publishing career at ego trip magazine, where he started as an intern and later became senior editorial assistant.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce Noah's promotion to editor in chief," said Mr. Antoniello. "Over the past year, he has been a major force behind the magazine's growth and continued momentum. He is an excellent leader and an outstanding journalist who has exactly what it takes to advance the magazine to new heights."

Complex published its largest issue ever in August/September while the new October/November issue will hit newsstands Oct. 10 with 146.12 ad pages, a 28 percent increase from the 114.07 pages that ran in Oct/Nov 2005. This leaves the magazine with a total of 678.20 ad pages year-to-date, a 17 percent increase from the same period last year.

Founded in 2002 by designer Marc Ecko, Complex is the definitive cross-cultural men's buyer's guide and lifestyle magazine. Each double-sided issue features two distinct covers and offers a comprehensive style guide along with lifestyle features, celebrity interviews, trend pieces, video game coverage and Web site reviews. With a rate base of 330,000, Complex is published bi-monthly with a stand-alone buyer's guide available once a year on newsstands only.

September 14, 2006

To: Time Inc. Employees

From: Richard Stengel

Re: Staff Announcement

TIME.com has experienced a renaissance under the editorial leadership of Steve Koepp. Within the last year, the site has doubled its unique users and increased the time spent per user by more than 50%. TIME.com has launched blogs (with more on the way), harnessed the fine work of TIME's correspondents, created a powerful partnership with CNN.com, and is rapidly evolving into a 24/7 news organization. Now that we are changing our publication date and rethinking how we put out the magazine, I have asked Steve to come back to the magazine to help think through those changes. During Steve's tenure at TIME, he has excelled in all the important roles he has undertaken, and few know the DNA of TIME better than he does. We will also take advantage of his great experience and sharp insight by having him oversee our most important franchise, "Person of the Year," and some of our other annuities.

I am delighted to announce that Josh Tyrangiel will be taking over as the new editor of TIME.com and will become an assistant managing editor at TIME. Josh will be charged with taking TIME.com to still greater heights, further integrating it with the magazine, and making it a must-visit daily news site for our unique blend of breaking news and fresh analysis. In addition to writing and editing national and international cover stories, Josh has been TIME's music critic for the past five years and has proven himself a high-energy journalist who brings tremendous intelligence to his coverage of the arts and culture. Before coming to TIME, Josh worked at Vibe and Rolling Stone magazines, produced the news at MTV and received a master's degree in American Studies from Yale University.

Please join me in congratulating both of these talented editors on their important new assignments.

R. S.

Today marks a sad occasion in the history of Brooklyn baked goods: Junior's is opening up at 45th Street at Shubert Alley--1515 Broadway, the gaudy Times Square address shared by MTV and Nokia Theater.

At 12:30 this afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg (plus Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Brooklyn BP Marty "Mar" Markowitz) will be dedicating the 6,600 square foot restaurant. And eating.

Somewhere, a cheesecake cries a solitary tear.

UPDATE: Mr. Markowitz did not make it to Junior's--on acount of heart problems--but is recovering well. His press release explains: "I'm now a member of one of the largest 60-plus groups in America--the stent club." (Daily Politics, via Gawker) - Max Abelson

Anna Wintour is a very magnanimous woman.  read more »

On May 24, Stefani Greenfield, owner of the popular boutique chain Scoop, appeared on NBC’s To  read more »

Sitting in a corner banquette at DB Bistro Moderne the other day, the actress Fran Drescher quite un  read more »

Marshall Berman takes a long, Marxist look at the cleaned up Times Square in Dissent. He marvels at the flickering lights, hangs outside the Condé Nast building, and analyzes screaming TRL-crazed teenagers that flock to MTV studios (including a lone Tupac supporter). Like any self-respecting leftist, he also gets hassled by the man outside of the Reuters headquarters. So he rightfully becomes angry with the foreign new service.

"[H]ere it was acting just like the many despotic regimes it covers so well around the world, regimes to which the British feel so superior, regimes that deny that their people are a public and deny that their city streets are public space."

See, who says that Times Square isn't edgy anymore? (Dissent) -Michael Calderone  read more »

On television, you can always live in a spacious, West Village loft with just a handful of twentysomethings and have a great time.

However, in the real world of Manhattan real estate, those apartments cost real money. The former downtown clubhouse used by Real World 10 cast is now on the market for $35,000 a month! It’s just like living in Tuscany. Or on MTV (see the before and after photos).  read more »

Either way, it's a beautiful, fully-furnished triplex for the taking. So stop being polite, and start getting real. Or something.

-Michael Calderone

The big tree in Rockefeller Center is lit, and so too on these December nights are your co-workers,  read more »

“Every time someone’s like, ‘I saw you on TV!’, I think, ‘Nooo!’  read more »

On a sweaty afternoon in mid-September, three days into the new school year, 16-year-old Oliver Igna  read more »

On a sweaty afternoon in mid-September, three days into the new school year, 16-year-old Oliver Igna  read more »

In the Transom: Noah Tepperberg, nightclub and marketing king, has turned 30. But is he actually growing up? Plus: that whooshing sound is the women of Manhattan scarfing up clothes, free and otherwise, for MTV's Video Music Awards. And: Mayor Bloomberg plays a really shabby game of stickball.

George Gurley's third couples therapy session turns self-reflexive and even a bit metaphysical. (Oh, who are we kidding, it's a fabulous car crash.)

David Bradley, the mega-rich owner of The Atlantic is scouring the country for additions to his merry band of word-fiends.

Real estate queen Barbara Corcoran is off for the world of TV—and she has three reality show pitches under consideration. Eep!

Phoebe Eaton does Mayoral candidate Gifford Miller.

Simon Doonan embraces lard and apologizes to Shelley Winters.  read more »

The story of a woman and her first fur.

Also, The Transom has a confession to make: this edition of the paper is the late summer double issue, and therefore The Transom will be on vacation until Wednesday, August 31st. It intends to spend the week face down on a beach, attempting to read via osmosis with a book as a pillow. Until then, then!

Jamie Foxx won best actor for his masterly portrayal of the rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles in  read more »

We were a bit surprised to see "Doctor Dre" listed among the hosts of a fundraiser for Assemblyman Scott Stringer, who's running for Manhattan Borough President, and who is not widely seen as a hip-hop icon.

Stringer's spokesman, Micah Lasher, clarified for us that this is not the West Coast gangster rapper Dr. Dre, but rather half of the East Coast rap-comedy team Dr. Dre and Ed Lover, once famous for hosting Yo! MTV Raps and now apparently in the midst of a grimace-inducing movie career.  read more »

"Scott may be a reformer, but he still likes his rap old-school," Lasher told us.

In a way, it was like 2000. Nobody knew nothing.But this time they admitted it.  read more »

The media is in a total screaming fag frenzy .  read more »

Last week MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom and home to MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon, began distribut  read more »

Is there anything more to say about Ugg boots, the heinous shearling footwear-the winter equivalent  read more »

MTV Break It Down babe becomes CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent"Have you seen it?" asked Serena  read more »

There is a song on the upcoming Triumph the Insult Comic Dog's album, Come Poop with Me , called "No  read more »

They now have Americans troops patrolling their neighborhoods, American-supplied radio on their airw  read more »

Wednesday 26th She taught the men of New York how to walk in stilettos -and, ladies, tonight sh  read more »

Wednesday, Jan. 8Of all the profound questions currently circulating about what impact a U.S.  read more »

Wednesday, Dec. 18Just think: A year ago, Rosie O'Donnell still had a TV show.  read more »

Gouging decorators are a part of Manhattan lore going back to the 19th century.  read more »

WEDNESDAY, MAR.  read more »

Did she or didn't she?  read more »

Before NBC yanked the Jan.  read more »

Wednesday, Dec. 19Who's got the hardest TV job in post–Sept. 11 Manhattan?  read more »

In My 80's-Video 'Safe Room,' It's Always Sept.  read more »

Wednesday, Nov.  read more »

It was a sight that would have given Genghis Khan second thoughts: a battalion of armed policemen be  read more »

Wednesday, August 8Headlines and Semi-Legends !  read more »

And so it is highsummer. It's that time of the year, in early August, when all that surrounds us  read more »

Wednesday, July 25 Tom Freston remembers when he lost it.  read more »

Wednesday 25th It's still summer? When will this fetid season be over?  read more »

I am not the target audience for summer blockbusters.  read more »

The lights are low. The candles are lit.  read more »

dnesday, December 20There was a lot to like about television in 2000. Like The Sopranos .  read more »

Eric Nies is a fledgling news reporter for WNYW Fox 5, the Fox news affiliate in New York City.  read more »

"I think you should write about your dating life," my father told me the other night over dinner wit  read more »

"I'm a journalist. I'm news. I'm looking for news," Dan Rather said.  read more »

Wednesday, June 28After NYTV reported last week on the Late Show with David Letterman 's unofficial  read more »

Wednesday, Mar.  read more »

When I heard that the Right Rev.  read more »

Lost amid the fireworks, laser shows and shots of hundreds of thousands of millennial revelers in Ti  read more »