The December issue of Vanity Fair contains a pretty shocking article called “A Crime Of Shadows.” The piece is about a convicted sex offender named “J” who was coaxed by Pennsylvania detective Michele Deery into meeting for sex in a parking lot. While this is not a crime, Deery had posed in a chat room as “Heather,” a mother with two kids and she made it very clear to J that she wanted her young children—who she said were ages 8 and 11—to be involved. Deery and J had quite a lot of nasty back-and-forth before their meeting, where a bunch of cops, not a mother and her two kids, showed up and slapped J with a slew of charges, landing him time in prison. But what about his side of the story? That’s what this piece focuses on.

• Robert Pattinson denies rumors that he and Kristen Stewart are dating in the December issue of Vanity Fair. Also in the story, he says he thinks he resembles a cartoon character and that one of his legs is longer than the other. [Vanity Fair]—This could be the first time the Tiger Beat crowd will rush to purchase a copy of Vanity Fair.
• Lindsay Lohan and Gerard Butler reportedly got cozy in Morocco on Sunday night, locking lips on the dance floor and then leaving together. [NY Daily News]—If this is true, Gerard is totally taking advantage of Lindsay, who still seems to be getting over Sam Ronson.
• Some people are saying Kate Hudson, who is dating Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, is a good luck charm for the team. Also, a source told Us Weekly that A-Rod is “less of a jerk” and “more free-spirited” now that he’s with her. [Us Weekly]—If he’s become less of a jerk, she’s a real miracle worker.

David Letterman, we haven’t forgotten about you and your staff member-diddling ways! Nell Scovell, the second female ever hired to write for “Late Night with David Letterman” recently penned a piece for Vanity Fair‘s website alleging that sex between high-level male and lower-level female staffers led to a “hostile” work environment:

“Without naming names or digging up decades-old dirt, let’s address the pertinent questions. Did Dave hit on me? No. Did he pay me enough extra attention that it was noted by another writer? Yes. Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. Was I aware that other high-level male employees were having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. Did these female staffers have access to information and wield power disproportionate to their job titles? Yes. Did that create a hostile work environment? Yes. Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships? Yes. Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no. Here’s what I did: I walked away from my dream job.

And he also spills the beans. In the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, Levi Johnston says that there wasn’t much parenting in the Palin household, that Sarah wanted to keep Bristol’s pregnancy a secret and then adopt the child when it was born, and that she quit her job as governor so she could make triple the money writing a book. Do we believe him? Maybe. Regardless, it will make for a very entertaining read! [Vanity Fair]

Sure, Levi Johnston is easy on the eyes, but can the hockey hunk write? We’re guessing probably not. Why, then, is Vanity Fair publishing a piece by Levi titled “Me And Sarah Palin” when there are real journalists who would die for a byline in the national magazine? Clearly, Levi is dumb as rocks, but his handlers have brilliantly steered him off-course from D-list celebrity nude pix doom to the respectable pages of VF. Levi’s cover story is not online yet, so we have to wait for whatever fresh angle Bristol Palin‘s baby daddy could possibly cast on Alaska’s ex-guv. But we already know she’s shady as hell, alright? [Vanity Fair]

Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett not only died the same day, but now they’re also being remembered by Vanity Fair at the same time. The September 2009 issue will be available on Aug. 5 in NYC and LA, and Aug.11 nationally. [8/3/09]

The August 2009 issue of Vanity Fair, which will hit newsstands tomorrow, went to print before Michael Jackson died. Coincidentally, another star who passed too soon, Heath Ledger, is on the cover. The cover story, “The Last of Heath,” details Ledger’s exhaustion, insomnia, custody battle, final movie role, and untimely death. Contributing editor Peter Biskind interviewed Hollywood figures close to the actor about his final few days. After the jump, several gloomy quotes depicting what life was like for Heath.

Let me just preface this whole thing by saying that I would give my non-existent left nut to look like Gisele Bundchen. She’s about a thousand feet tall, skinny and has a bangin’ bod and I want in, so call me girl. That said, Gisele’s not the one I’d switch with if I was looking to be a high fashion model. While catwalkers like Natalia Vodianova can transition seamlessly from one look to the next, Gisele is always more or less her boring old gorgeous self.

If you ask us, that’s why her Vanity Fair cover brought in the mag’s lowest newsstand sales in two years and her Bazaar cover a few months back bombed as well. Gisele covers aren’t not selling because she’s “losing her looks,” as Vanity Fair spokeswoman Beth Kseniak suggested the other day—the girl remains smoking hot. It’s just not the sort of hot that allows for much imagination. Plus, who actually wants to read what Gisele has to say? She’s a model, not an entertainer.

The new issue of Vanity Fair comes out today, and it’s graced by Johnny Depp’s tousled hair and Mona Lisa smile. The interview took place in paradise on Johnny’s private Caribbean island. In between sipping daiquiris and plunging into the deep blue, writer Douglas Brinkley pieced together an oddly revealing portrait of the mysterious hunksicle. After the jump, the juiciest bits on Johnny.

In the June issue of Vanity Fair, writer Rich Cohen forgoes the usual bowing down that occurs in celebrity features. Instead, there is only a little reverential treatment of cover girl Jessica Simpson and a fair amount of criticism—well, at least for a glossy profile.

There have been danger signs. First, the sudden weight gain, as evidenced by pictures that turned up in the tabloids earlier this year showing the starlet, onstage, looking less than slender, holding the microphone like a turkey leg, and wearing what were described everywhere as “mom jeans.”

She didn’t want to talk about her weight, so, of course, that’s all I could think of—it gilded each question in my mind: What are you working on now [that you’re fat]? Do you see yourself as part of a class, with Christina and Britney [or are you too fat]? Do you feel that your relationship with Tony Romo has affected his performance as a quarterback [because you are fat]?

And our personal favorite:

As an actress, she’s slightly less skillful than the actress who replaced Suzanne Somers on Three’s Company.

[Vanity Fair]

Tina Fey is on the cover of the new Vanity Fair. In the magazine, Maureen Dowd’s profile of the Emmy-winning “30 Rock” creator and star—and Sarah Palin impersonator—reveals a lot about the woman behind the comedy—from her opinions on strip clubs to how she got that scar. After the jump, the highlights of everything you ever wanted to know about Tina Fey but were too busy laughing to ask.

Vanity Fair has posted the latest version of its annual New Establishment list. But, hey! Where are all the women? Out of the 100 moguls, entertainers, and businessfolk who made the list as the top 100 “leaders of the information age,” just how many are women? A whopping nine. Who are they, you ask? Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Arianna Huffington, Miuccia Prada,  Diane Sawyer, Anna Wintour, Annette de la Renta, Donatella Versace, and Diane Von Furstenberg. So, what have we learned? If you’re a woman who wants to be considered a player in the New Media era by the media, you better be an entertainer, work in fashion, or have really, really great hair.

What’s a woman who has been dead for over 40 years doing on the cover of this month’s Vanity Fair? Well, when the lady in question is Marilyn Monroe, it’s no wonder the ultimate sex symbol is still making it as a cover girl from the grave. Her case has been reopened—or rather, her filing cabinets. After Frank Sinatra insisted she keep her affairs in order, Miss Monroe began storing her mementos in two not-so-glamourous metal office drawers which have just been recovered. And both the business and company she keep are fascinating! More info on what was inside, after the jump…

The September issue of Vanity Fair features French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on the cover, looking as effortlessly glamourous as ever wearing a classic white collared shirt, jodhpurs, and leather riding boots. Writer Maureen Orth spoke with Carla, and also met President Nicolas Sarkosy (who told her, “I am happy like nev-air.”), and the first lady seems absolutely charming. While some may think their whirlwind, three-month romance was too rushed and the relationship couldn’t possibly last (she didn’t even vote for him in the last election), we think it just might work, and here’s why.

We take everything we hear on Fox News with a grain of salt, but being that they’re only reporting on a story that’s in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, we’ll give this rumor a little credence. According to an expose on the former-President in VF, Clinton has been dilly-dallying with many women since leaving office, while he’s been on the road—on the road doing what? Promoting his book? Campaigning for his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton? The article also alleges he was “running with a fast crowd” which required an “intervention”. Ruh-roh. There’s also details of an affair with actress Gina Gershon, as well as a cursory mention of a transexual, though it’s unclear in what context. Yeah, so, not starting off to be a good news week for the Clintons, huh?

Amid Vanity Fair-gate, Time published Donny Osmond’s thoughts on Miley Cyrus’ career:

Show business is about idolization. As an idol to tweens the world over, singer-actress Miley Cyrus, 15, is riding a huge tidal wave at the pinnacle of her career; this is as it should be. I hope she enjoys it. I guarantee there will be many bumps in the road ahead. One of them, especially for somebody who acts and sings on her own TV show, is that your image becomes cryogenically frozen into a specific stereotype…..Her challenge will be overcoming the Hannah Montana stereotype. Miley’s fans are not thinking about the fact that she will grow up too. As she does, she’ll want to change her image, and that change will be met with adversity.

Maybe the real lesson learned from all of this isn’t that Miley Cyrus is a lil’ trampy for 15, or that her parents were remiss, or that Disney needs to chill the hell out. Maybe it’s that Annie Leibovitz is played out. [Comedy Central: The Colbert Report]

Alright guys, what do you think of this whole Miley Cyrus/Vanity Fair/Annie Leibovitz debacle? To refresh: Leibovitz shot the pop star for the magazine draped only in a sheet, very little makeup, and tossled hair. No matter which way you cut it, the photo certainly is provocative. It’s also beautiful, but really, wouldn’t expect anything less from a photographer of Leibovitz’s caliber. All that said, Cyrus is 15-years old. Regardless of whether her minders or grandmother or parents were at the shoot, isn’t it kind of…odd…for a magazine or a photographer to suggest sexy look in the first place?