defamer-diary

Your Ex-Defamer Editors Are Re-Launching Movieline!

Seth Abramovitch · 02/26/09 05:12PM

Tomorrow, the old Defamer guard—whose heartfelt, semi-coherent ramblings you've warmly welcomed into your homes, office cubicles, and Unabomber shacks for nearly five years now—will bid you all a fond adieu. But this story ends happily.

New Commenters, Part 2: Welcome Citizens Of Facebookvania!

Seth Abramovitch · 12/12/08 01:45PM

The good news just keeps coming for new commenters. We've just been informed that a feature being tinkered with at Gawker User-Feedback Laboratories will go live at noon: Facebook account commenting.

Defamer Technical Difficulties

Seth Abramovitch · 12/10/08 06:55PM

We apologize for the interruption in your regularly scheduled Defaming-of-beloved-scifi-icon services. Apparently one of the rodents who powers our servers got a foot caught in his wheel, sending him flying into the circuitry.

Wherein We Address The Widespread Panic Over Collapsed Comments

Seth Abramovitch · 10/20/08 05:51PM

We interrupt the regular schedule to offer this important announcement: You may have noticed yet another intriguing feature added to our ever-evolving commenting boards: collapsed comments. Understandly, some of you have expressed dismay that your comments have been reduced to the first few words, their remainder shoved away into a digital drawer by some clutter-averse Type-A in Defamer's Feedback Development Sciences department. There's a handy loophole to the feature, however:If you follow other commenters by clicking the heart beneath their user name, turning it red, all their comments will appear in their full, singeingly witty glory. (We can also solve the problem by awarding you star status, which also gives you top priority; we promise to do more of that around here, just as soon as we receive the cupcake gift baskets you have undoubtedly already called in for delivery.) Also, if you haven't yet discovered the exciting "Feedback" link at the bottom of our homepage, we invite you to do so immediately. Simply inputting your Defamer-related frustration or suggestion will whisk it off via pneumatic intertube to HQ, whereupon one of our 24-hour service hedgehogs will instantly leap into action to address it. That is all! Carry on.

Federal Bailout Comes Too Late To Save Local Blogspot

Seth Abramovitch · 10/06/08 10:30AM

Hello, everybody! Defamer editor Seth Abramovitch here, back from what was supposed to be some much-needed rest and relaxation. (I'll spare you the details, except to say that while an all-male Alaskan cruise had initially sounded like a good idea, the hovering helicopters and hockey-mom sniper fire put a considerable damper on proceedings.) Sadly, what I returned to was not the same beloved blogspot I left behind: Our dark leader, Lord of the Nazgûl Nick Denton, had swept in on his fell beast and smote three brave members of the Defamer fellowship. Much distress and confusion ensued. I'll now try, to the best of my ability, to clear up exactly what these changes mean for you.Firstly, we lost our fearless leader Mark Graham—whom we lovingly referred to as "Den Mama" and "King Pookie," in addition to his official alias, "Uncle Grambo." Mark took on an intimidating job and performed it admirably, injecting the site with fresh ideas and energy. As such he will be missed. But fret not, as he is indubitably on to bigger and better things. (We understand he's already in talks to swoop in and fill the charitable-grocery void left by the recent death of an American acting legend, with a planned "Grambo's Own" line of salad dressings and lemonade.) Another wonderful thing lost: Defamer video editrix, To Do anchorperson, and the closest thing we have to a mascot around here, Molly McAleer. This was rough, as we loved Molly like the sister we never had. True, we have two sisters, but neither of them is anything like Molly. The good news is that she is with us for two more weeks—plenty of time for a few more Hostess snack-cake bingings and bike-by clownings for the road. When she becomes famous (TV famous, not just internet famous), we'll be proud to say her launching pad was right here. Her chihuahua sidekick Wagandstuff, meanwhile, is already on his way, having been booked for the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice. Go get 'em, Wags! Everyone's favorite moment-of-zen-inducer Douglas Reinhardt was our final casualty. His mastery of the art of photo-captioning was regularly on display in our recurring feature, A Call to the Bullpen. The good news is he'll be with us for the next two weeks as well—and maybe even longer, if we can convince him to work for worthless Gawker Media stock. So where does that leave us? Well, for starters, I'm still here. So is our crack senior editor S.T. VanAirsdale, and our latest proud addition, associate editor Kyle Buchanan. Sure, we're a little down over the loss of our friends, but we're fully committed to sustaining the constant output of Hollywood headlines, scurrilous gossip, and general nonsense that has come to define the Defamer brand. So stick around! You might just wind up having fun. Seth

Drown Yourself In Andre: It's Mark's Last Day

Seth Abramovitch · 02/15/08 03:47PM

What do you say about Mark Lisanti that doesn't instantly start sounding like pathetic gushing? Is he one of the funniest, most brilliant writers ever to put fingers to keyboard? Of that there is no doubt. Has he left a mark? Try a Godzilla-sized footprint. Working with him over the last three years has been nothing less than the creative experience of a lifetime. The best part is that beneath that mountain of talent, Mark is one of the most humble, humane, and menschy guys you will ever meet. Also: His career has only just begun.