By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
Today in Bald-Faced Hypocrisy: Page Six Calls Out Manohla Dargis
As you certainly know by now, kneejerk defenses of The New York Times are not exactly a default reaction around Reeler HQ. But considering the smug slapdown Page Six dropped this morning on my beloved Manohla Dargis–whom the Post playfully accuses of ripping off Andrea Peyser (of all people)–I thought a little context might be in order.
For example: Remember when The Reeler followed up on local movie producer Julius Nasso, who apparently lied to Daily News gossip Lloyd Grove about a beating death he witnessed during a nine-and-a-half month prison term in Elkton, Ohio? It went something like this (from The Reeler, Aug. 26, 2005):
(Nasso) wound up in a low-security prison like Elkton–where a spokesman today told The Reeler that no such death ever occurred.
“The one allegation where the inmate was kicked to death in the middle of the night?” the spokesman said. “Really, what you’re talking about there is an inmate homicide. We haven’t had any inmate homicides here at Elkton. Never, let alone the time that Nasso was here at Elkton. I can tell you that.”
And then–shock of shocks–Page Six runs this item Aug. 30:
The Daily News breathlessly reported last week that movie producer-cum-felon Julius Nasso – who helped mobsters extort actor Steven Seagal – said he watched a fellow inmate being kicked to death by gang members during Nasso’s recent stint in the Elkton, Ohio, federal prison. But Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Carla Wilson told The Post’s Dan Mangan that not only was there no homicide in that prison during Nasso’s time there but that “there’s never been any homicides at Elkton.” Look for the News to report next that Nasso has beaten breast cancer.
I figure Page Six will get around to crediting me eventually–probably around the same time Ms. Dargis handwrites a note of apology to Andrea Peyser. Until then, nobody should hold his breath–and the pot might consider shutting the fuck up about the kettle.