Regan Rumors Roundup
Who would have thought that so many ex-Regan employees (who really do have their own support group, a tipster tells us) would be getting in touch about their deposed bosslady's rants and antics? Well, everyone, of course. After the jump, some of the most fun/sickmaking shit in our inbox, with extra Jane Friedman goss sprinkled on top for good measure.
a couple of years ago i had the amazing experience of working on a show for vh1 with judith regan. i had heard all the 'crazy' stories about her and was definitely looking forward to our editorial meetings. i was actually impressed with how she lived up to the crazy label. but my favorite thing was that she told a story about how big howard stern's dick was at about every meeting. my favorite was the one when she described working on the book private parts with him and she realized he had a hug erection under his sweat suit and flicked it with her pencil, and said something to him about not popping a boner unless he intended to use it (I'm paraphrasing). she was insane. she talks about dicks in general more than almost any person i have ever met. i think that she thinks it is somehow a feminist thing, either that or its very freudian. i also really liked her male asistant who she was constantly berating and making to carry her purse.
Your item re: Judith Regan's gold vagina reminds me, unpleasantly, of a lunch I had with her in the previous century. My agent at the time, [redacted], brought us together to discuss a book project. I instantly distrusted that face with its dead serpent eyes. Then I lost my appetite when she began telling us her problems with a dry vagina, as though she were a news reader giving the weather report. Of course, I thought "cunt" from the beginning, but was too polite to bring it up. The lunch ended on a sour note, with voices raised — mine and hers. I wonder if she ever found a good moisture cream.
in 1994, I worked with her at News Corp. I was managing editor of a news magazine for the Fox network, and Judith was going to co-host with Andrew Neil (imagine that for a second). She was also setting up ReganBooks and working every day with Stern on his latest tome. One day I strolled into her office for a chat, and she says, "Dan, you know what's going to be huge?" "No, tell me". She hoists a book about 5 inches wide up from the floor behind her desk, lifts it over her head and says, "The Catholic Catechism!" "You want to do a piece for the show about it?" "Obviously", she says. "What about it"? "I have no idea", she says. "OK" said I, and that was it, no piece, no Regan book, zip. And it's been so hot ever since!
The protagonist of the story, Jane Friedman, has two legacies from my few
years at Harper. One was her voicemail to everyone on 9/11 telling them
they'd better call their supervisors if they weren't coming in on 9/12. The
other was her fabulous annual email to everyone explaining that instead of
holiday bonuses, she'd made a substantial donation to the UJA "in your
honor" (not your name, but your honor). It' s totally random that this
donation entitled her to sit at a head table at their annual dinner. It's kind of like Alien vs. Predator. I'm thrilled the Alien finally bit it,
but the Predator sucks, too.