In your kinky Wednesday media column: the FCC loses again, Cosmo goes to the Middle East, French Vogue eyes a new editor, SI's swimsuit issue goes 3-D, and media hiring is no longer the luxury affair it allegedly once was.

  • A federal appeals court has tossed out a $1.2 million fine that the FCC levied for a 2003 episode of NYPD Blue "that featured a seven-second shot of a woman's naked buttocks and the side of one of her breasts as she prepared to take a shower." The FCC has, for all intents and purposes, had its ability to harshly regulate TV indecency neutered. More buttocks! More side boob! More freedom! Less decency! Huzzah!
  • Hearst is launching "Cosmopolitan Middle East." That should have a predictably funny outcome.
  • Emmanuelle Alt, the fashion director at French Vogue, is reportedly the favorite to succeed recently departed Carine Roitfeld as editor. WWD says an announcement could come as early as next week.
  • Sony is sponsoring a 3-D video version of SI's newest Swimsuit Issue, that you can order through your Playstation 3. In case you think the big flashing "nerd" sign over your head isn't enough.
  • Nick Summers reports that although the media job market is back into hiring mode, those being hired say everything is not ideal: "The days of going to the Four Seasons and wooing someone are over...Instead you do it over email, or you meet somebody at some crappier restaurant, or over a beer rather than a $300 bottle of wine." Whoa, you guys got a free beer?

[Indecent NYPD Blue photo via]