Check out Mini-WeSmirch for simple mobiles or WeSmirch Mobile for modern smartphones.
5:30 PM ET, October 2, 2009

WeSmirch

 Top News: 
RELATED:
TMZ.com:
Woman in Letterman Case Lived with Suspect  —  One of the women at the center of the David Letterman alleged extortion case is Stephanie Birkitt, his former assistant — according to the search warrant obtained by FOX 5 New York.  And, the warrant says, Birkitt was the suspect's girlfriend …
TMZ.com:
Dave's Alleged Extortionist's Child Support Woes  —  Robert “Joe” Halderman — the man accused of trying to extort David Letterman out of $2 million — had to pay a pretty penny in child support, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.  —  According to the divorce settlement agreement …
Kathy Ehrich Dowd / People.com:
The Woman at the Center of the Letterman Scandal  —  Former David Lettermen assistant Stephanie Birkitt has emerged as the woman at the center of the shocking plot to extort $2 million from the Late Show host, but who exactly is she?  —  Birkitt, 34, until recently lived with Robert “Joe” …
RADAR:
EXCLUSIVE DETAILS: The Woman At Center Of Letterman Extortion Plot  —  Stephanie Birkitt, the woman used by Robert Halderman without her knowledge at the center of the David Letterman extortion plot, met Halderman at CBS about 15 years ago, a source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com exclusively.
TMZ.com:
Dave's Alleged Extortionist Busted Outside CBS  —  We've learned Robert “Joe” Halderman was arrested yesterday outside the CBS headquarters in NYC, and it was news to the people inside who make the news.  —  Our sources say the Manhattan D.A. played the investigation close to the vest …
Discussion: Speakeasy and FishBowlLA
TMZ.com:
Letterman Says Someone's Extorting Him  —  SECOND UPDATE: 11:58 PM ET TMZ has learned the identity of the alleged extortionist who was arrested today for attempted grand larceny in the first degree.  He is 51-year-old Robert “Joe” Halderman who lives in Norwalk, CT.
Popeater:
Hotel Sting Operation Brought Down Letterman Extortion Plot
Discussion: D*ana's Dirt
TMZ.com:
Accused Letterman Extortionist Pleads Not Guilty
Discussion: OK! Magazine
RELATED:
Cindy Crawford / Us Weekly:
Kate Gosselin's Lawyer: Jon Can't Stop Reality Show  —  A lawyer for Kate Gosselin says her estranged husband Jon won't have much luck halting production of the TLC show, Kate Plus 8.  —  “These parties entered into an agreement once the divorce action was filed that allowed each parent …
Dalia Al-Achi / UNHCR:
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie urges the world not to forget Iraqi refugees  —  UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie called Friday on the international community not to forget the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees who remain in exile despite a relative improvement in the security situation in their homeland.
Discussion: Just Jared and Lifeline Live
RELATED:
X17 Online:
Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt Visit Iraqi Refugees In Syria
Discussion: omg!
omg!:   Jolie urges world not to forget Iraqi refugees
David Letterman / New York Post:
Names to watch  —  Britney Spearshas been traveling under a number of aliases over the years.  —  Steve Dennisreveals in a new biography, “Britney: Inside the Dream,” that her favorite fake names include Ms. Alotta Warmheart, “because she had such a warm heart”; Mrs. Diana Prince in honor of Diana …
Lesley Messer / People.com:
Kim Kardashian Calls Herself an Entrepreneur  —  Even when she's sick, Kim Kardashian isn't one to take it easy.  —  “You can turn up the radio so you don't have to hear my blow my nose,” the go-getting star tells November's Cosmopolitan while on her way to take a hike in L.A.
Discussion: Evil Beet Gossip
RELATED:
Just Jared:
Kim Kardashian Covers ‘Cosmopolitan’ November 2009
Discussion: The latest WWD and Hollywire.com
TMZ.com:
Kanye West — They're Just Not That Into You  —  If Kanye West doesn't regret hijacking Taylor Swift, he will now — we're told his concert tour with Lady Gaga was scrapped because ticket sales sucked.  And “sucked” happens to be a nicer version of the word we were told.
Reagan Alexander / People.com:
Lauren Conrad Admits She's One Bad Actress  —  Though her days of battling Kristen Cavallari and Speidi in the realm of reality TV are officially behind her, no way is Lauren Conrad headed for the unemployment line.  But she doesn't expect to run up the aisle to collect an Oscar, either.
Just Jared:
Lady Gaga's Bad Romance on SNL  —  Lady Gaga will debut her new single, “Bad Romance”, on the October 3rd episode of Saturday Night Live.  —  It's her fifth single which will be released on The Fame Monster, a double-disc repackaged version of her debut that will drop on Nov. 24.  Check it out below!
RELATED:
Daniel Kreps / Rolling Stone:
Is Lady Gaga's “Bad Romance” Bound for “SNL”? New Track Hits the Web
Hollywoodreporter / The Hollywood Reporter:
The oompaloompas, live and in person  —  Willy Wonka could soon be kicking up his heels.  —  Warner Bros. is developing a stage musical based on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the children's classic that it bought to the big screen four years ago.  —  Sam Mendes' and Caro Newling's …
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of WeSmirch at 5:30 PM ET, October 2, 2009.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
WeSmirch: site main
WeSmirch River: reverse chronological WeSmirch
WeSmirch Mobile: for phones
WeSmirch Leaderboard: WeSmirch's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
WeSmirch RSS feed
WeSmirch on X
 
 
 More News: 
Denise Warner / Popeater:
Christian Siriano: A Very ‘Fierce’ Life
Discussion: omg!
Cele|bitchy:
Is Ashlee Simpson flirting with her very hot Melrose co-star?
TMZ.com:
Joe Jackson to Branca: ‘Mr. Who?’
Discussion: OK! Magazine
Marc Graser / Variety:
Spooky haunts family audiences
Discussion: The Playlist and MTV Movies Blog
 Earlier Picks: 
Courtney Hazlett / msnbc.com:
Jon Gosselin: In search of large paydays
Discussion: Perez Hilton and Us Weekly
OK! Magazine:
Snoop Dogg's Bling Causes Airport Scare
Discussion: Perez Hilton and ImNotObsessed.com
PEOPLE TV Watch:
EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Tyra Banks Channels Josephine Baker on Gossip Girl
Discussion: Dlisted and Best Week Ever
msnbc.com:
Networks encouraging boycott of ‘Leno Show’?
Discussion: Lifeline Live
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Mia Sato / The Verge:
Memo: Gannett is adding AI-generated summaries to the top of some stories, with a disclaimer at the bottom; some USA Today stories already show the summaries

Arasu Kannagi Basil / Reuters:
OpenAI and Reddit partner to bring Reddit content to OpenAI tools including ChatGPT via Reddit's Data API and to add AI features to Reddit; RDDT is up 12%+

Laura Wagner / Washington Post:
Seven Black and female Chicago Tribune journalists file a federal suit against Alden, claiming it has knowingly paid them less than White and male counterparts

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now