The Wall Street Journal was all agog recently over news that Perez Hilton - titillating gossip maven with Internet spin - signed to broadcast snippets of celebrity news on the humble old radio in a raft of markets around the Nation.
The twice-daily rag-bites - three minutes in duration - will funnel out into the stratosphere during both the morning and afternoon rush hours.
Was the stint below his stature they kind of inferred between the lines?
On the contrary, Perez (not his real name) noted that he was inclined to float into the ubiquitous airwaves because he perceived the arena as a lucrative medium ripe with the capability to "drive" more traffic to his site. As if he needed any more tongue-wagging followers!
His site captured 2.8 million unique net surfers in February.
Whoa, Nellie!
Hilton noted that he was tuned in to the sassy radio while cruisin' about town one day (gosh, thought he'd have a chic chauffeured limousine by now to purr around the Inner-city in) when it hit him - like lightning - that there was a whole savvy audience "out there" to tap into.
Of course, Ryan Seacrest has been schlepping back and forth between the squawk box and the boob tube for years and he hasn't fared too badly - except in the Metro sexual department, perhaps.
But, Billy Bush?
On the heels of the Perez Hilton stunner I happened to be munching on a tasty plate of French fries at my favorite Burger place on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood when the tattler's voice (no relation) squeaked over the transistor speaker about his spanking-new entertainment feature.
First guest?
A faceless Julia Roberts - who started right in with little foreplay - stirred things up with election chit-chat; then, elicited a number of wide yawns as she touted one of her causes - ecologically-sound water bottles.
Bush gushed that guests have been scrambling to jockey for a spot on his talk fest and that - surprise - he'll not only thumb through his little black book to conjure up scintillating guests but draw on his "in" with Access Hollywood to rustle up first-class celebrities for the regular segment each week.
He either pines to spread his wings - or just maybe - needs the extra moolah to feed those three kids. College tuition is expensive, 'ya know?
But, which came first - the chicken or the egg?
I expect Perez's venture has given the green light to a few media types hesitant heretofore.
So, now I expect that in addition to Bush, Perez, and Seacrest there will be a proliferation of cross-over hosts from far-reaching broadcast corners beckoning when you flip that old-style dial.
Hilton added that the inspiration for a cultivation of new shores was prompted by a healthy appreciation for sexy Paris Hilton (no relation) who he asserts - "has been able to create a cottage industry" - by virtue of her marketing smarts.
The Journal seems to feel that the Perez move indicates willingness on the part of major media to not only acknowledge "talent" on the Internet - but to develop, nurture, and shake hands with it. Sign lucrative deals, in fact.
And, the analysts have concluded that as a result of this startling turn of events a new legitimacy is being forged in respect to the blogosphere and its inhabitants as a result.
So, if the pap Perez doles out doesn't end up appealing to the palette of the commuter folk - at least he'll garner credit for paving the wave for the rest of us mortal gossip-mongers - snatching at the meager crumbs he's left in his wake.
Bush to abandon fake props for radio zip...
