A look from Pugh's fall '08 collection.Photo: imaxtree

Ed Helms Is a Jerk, and Other Culture Highlights From This Week’s ‘New York’

Adam Sternbergh interviews Ed Helms, television's best douche. David Edelstein reviews Hounddog and The Duchess. Sara Cardace raps with Ghost Town star Ricky Gervais. Jerry Saltz reviews the New Museum's After Nature. Carla Blumenkranz talks to political performance artist Mark Tribe. John Leonard reviews Fringe and True Blood. David Callicott rocks out with Jonathan Lethem. Justin Davidson takes a look at two ridiculous upcoming New York skyscrapers. Also, is book publishing over? Yes, says Boris Kachka.

Selena and Taylor: Looking for Prince Charming?

Music Review: Taproot's 'Road Home' is meandering (AP)

Dunzo: Daisy Lowe and Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson and his model girlfriend, Daisy Lowe, have broken up. We don't know why, but it sounds like they might have ended things on this side of the pond. They were seen together last week celebrating Ronson's 33rd birthday at a home in Buckinghamshire in the English countryside but "parted" in New York during Fashion Week. Fashion Week is supposed to bring people together, not tear them apart! [People]

Paul Smith brings harems and hammams to London (Reuters)

Audrina Patridge: Getting Real About Hills Reality

Stock slide melts media

'Going Dutch' is elegant and thought-provoking (AP)

AP - "Going Dutch: How England Plundered Holland's Glory" (Harper. 432 pages. $35), by Lisa Jardine: In November 1688, Prince William of Orange, the elected leader of the Dutch republic, set sail from the port of Hellevoetsluis in command of a 450-ship invasion fleet bound for England.

'Going Dutch' is elegant and thought-provoking (AP)

AP - "Going Dutch: How England Plundered Holland's Glory" (Harper. 432 pages. $35), by Lisa Jardine: In November 1688, Prince William of Orange, the elected leader of the Dutch republic, set sail from the port of Hellevoetsluis in command of a 450-ship invasion fleet bound for England.

Luella mixes "sick" colors, aristocracy for London (Reuters)

TV product placement dips

Gary Cole Completes London Cast of 'August: Osage County' (Playbill)

The ‘Entourage’ Guilt/Pleasure Index: You Can Do It, Vince — Become a Star Again!

With the title "Unlike a Virgin," the second episode of the Emmy-approved Entourage's new season promises — guilt galore? Or pleasure to spare? It remains, as always, the one show we can't stop watching–slash–can't stop hating ourselves for watching!

Guilt:
Go go Ari Gold — deliver thee an offensive quip! "You will come back stronger than ever — like Lance Armstrong, but with two balls," was the best Ari could muster this week, trying to reassure Vince that he would eventually bounce back from the flop that was Medellín. At least that's Ari in his element. Turtle is the posse's active ladies' man. Except he's, well, Turtle, so the closest he gets to sin is watching a little girl-on-girl and trying to pick up a woman who — score?! — has a boyfriend whom Turtle discovers that she lies to.

Drama diligently tries to keep things going with his Cannes-acquired long-distance girlfriend … but when he misses their daily video chat because he's at a party, he tells a lie …. and soon exposes … yaaaaaawnnn … his deep insecurities, leaving accusatory messages that elicit this perfectly reasonable response: "I knew you were a little crazy when you said we had to get on the computer every night. I had to call the police on my last boyfriend and don't want to call the police on you." Click!

Pleasure:
Sweet relief comes with the random introduction of new dirtbags. When Eric tries to sign good ol' boys and new screenwriters Nick (Giovanni Ribisi) and LB (Lukas Haas) as clients, they meet at the Bullets and Bitches Artillery Club and Topless Bar. Levi Johnston and Track Palin were no doubt impressed when Nick ended the meeting by cocking his shotgun and striding off, telling E that they'd work with him only if he could get their script produced with Vince.

Back from Fantasy Island and unable to land a part, Vince actually reads a few scripts. Then — when he thinks he's being pawned off on a hanger-on by his hot crush — he pledges that he's ready to start acting like a star again. Then he goes back and lays claim to his hot crush, the pop star Justine (Leighton Meester); Turtle, well versed in Vince's motto, "Never be the first, never be the last," establishes that she's no longer a virgin — "Why do you think her last few albums haven't sold?" She warns Vince she's not looking for anything serious, but the closing scene bodes ill: They blissfully hold hands as distraught, wasted Drama swigs Jack Daniels and mutters, "You guys really kind of like each other, huh? That's great. That's great."

Could McCain Topple the Empire State?

Every four years in recent history, during the presidential campaigns, a dozen or so swing states run wild with a sudden influx of attention and activity, while New York finds itself warming the bench on the sidelines with a Baggie of orange slices. Blame it on that damned archaic, elitist safeguard, the Electoral College. This year has been no different, as the Empire State, home to the Most Cosmopolitan City in the World, has polled so solidly blue that its usefulness to John McCain and Barack Obama has so far been limited to fund-raising, ground-zero photo ops, and SNL guest appearances (weather permitting). But with a new poll showing Obama’s lead slipping to a meager five points, could that soon change? Might New York soon be basking in some of the disproportionate pandering and coddling that perennial swingers like Ohio and Pennsylvania take for granted? Unlikely, but if we could somehow manage to generate a few more of these shocking polls, you never know. At last, what New Yorkers have been waiting for: something to fight about. [Newsday]

Reality TV a ‘Necessary Part’ of the Fashion-Magazine Business Model

Fashion reality shows aren't going anywhere anytime soon. (Which is just fine by us, thank you very much.) Ad Age reports, "TV or online-video presence is fast becoming a necessary part of a fashion magazine's business model." Just look at the numbers: Since Elle signed on to Project Runway in 2004, its ad pages increased so much it went from No. 6 in its category to No. 2, with Vogue at No. 1. However, Elle's ad pages for September rose 6.6 percent, while Vogue's fell 7.1 percent from 2007. Nonetheless, Vogue's new online reality show Model.Live, which earned more than 1 million video streams, has boosted its revenue, while, according to publisher Tom Florio, "maintaining the integrity of Vogue and the industry it covers." [Ad Age]

‘House’ Returns to Save TV's Tenderest Bromance

We’re sure Fox’s medical drama can withstand an 8 p.m. time slot. House is the most-watched scripted show on television, and last season's finale left not a few juicy unresolved plotlines: Wilson’s (Robert Sean Leonard) girlfriend Amber died in a bus accident, and it was Dr. House’s fault — sorta. Tonight’s premiere will reveal if TV’s tenderest bromance can survive the fallout, what case the medical detectives will blunder through next, and if being implicated in a friend's death can make the misanthropic House grow a heart.

Who Needs Nick Jonas When You've Got an Underwear Model, Right, Miley?

Spears to Set Off 'Circus' in December

Damien Hirst poses for photographs in front of his work entitled 'The Incredible Jouney'

Dow Closes Down More Than 470 Points

Ack! Maria Bartiromo just came on with a full head of highlights and the ringing of bells happened and the Dow has closed, down around 470 points. And thus concludes Bloody Monday.

Artist Isca Greenfield-Sanders Falls to Earth

Isca Greenfield-Sanders is showing a series of delicious watercolors at Goff + Rosenthal (through October 11) of minuscule figures parachuting through cloudscapes the color of summer and candy. The paintings are apparently based on vintage images of WWII and the Korean War and have the simplicity of form that made Monet’s water lilies timeless.

Applegate Back In Who-ville

Take-Two stock takes a tumble

Sony takes 'Step' in right direction

Sarah Palin Gets the Disney Treatment

Last week, Matt Damon likened the possibility of a Sarah Palin presidency to "a really bad Disney movie." Jezebel took that idea and ran with it, clipping various Disney classics to put together their version of The Sarah Palin Story. The takeaway: If Palin actually did assume the presidency, she'd probably end up looking like Ursula from The Little Mermaid. [Jezebel]

Ben Affleck moves to WB's 'Town'

At Costume National, in Search of Patty Smyth, Malcolm Gladwell Finds Patti Smith, Singing Praises of Oral Hygiene

Seeing a bespectacled Malcolm Gladwell step inside Costume National's party for Patti Smith this past Friday night piqued our interest. Is the New Yorker scribe and novelist a megafan? Or did he merely hit one of New York Fashion Week's final fêtes at the request of his friend, and companion for the night, actress Lake Bell? "Neither," he confided. "I got her confused. I thought she was the one who was married to John McEnroe, but that's another Patti Smith." Patty Smyth, we corrected him. "I was all excited by the fact that John McEnroe was going to be here and I guess I'm wrong," Gladwell explained, adding, "I'm simply crashing and so I'm happy with whatever happens."

Fortunately for Gladwell and the rest of the fashion and art crowd — which included Ryan McGinley, Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson, and Alan Cumming — in attendance at Costume National's new Mercer Street store space, Smith treated everyone to a live performance that included a heartfelt rendition of "Because the Night," which she dedicated to her late husband, whose birthday fell on this past Sunday. Decked out in her iconic menswear uniform (which included Costume National men's pants, which Smith credits as "the best"), Smith was sporting a particularly unexpected accessory — a toothbrush still wrapped in plastic in her breast pocket. "I got it on the airplane. I always carry a toothbrush because, being a singer, sometimes after eating, you want to sing, and you just want your mouth clean," Smith said. "Also, when you're singing with somebody else, you don't want your bad breath in their face," she continued. "I once was on tour with Bob Dylan and we were singing on the same microphone and I was running around backstage trying to find a toothbrush. And I thought, 'never again.' I'm not uptight about things, but I like to have clean teeth. It's a good fashion accessory — the toothbrush, the clean teeth."

Goldfrapp Sleepily Schizo at Radio City

We thought that Goldfrapp's Friday show at Radio City would be an appropriate capper to Fashion Week; an avant-garde Madonna, the British sylph has a model-ish face out of a Victorian daguerreotype, and her disco tracks have been featured in commercials for the Sex and the City movie and a Diet Coke ad where a lady gets an "edgy" haircut. The concert itself, though, also evoked the delirious exhaustion of the week gone by. At times the frizzy-haired diva, slouching in a human-maypole frock, sipping white wine, a harlequin collage swirling on the giant screen behind her, seemed to be (sleepily) hosting an after-after-after-party.

Maybe it was the set list. With her band dressed like the Polyphonic Spree, Goldfrapp performed mostly from her two most recent albums: the sexy, high-sheen dance-pop of 2006's Supernature, and this year's Seventh Tree, a gorgeously downbeat, folksy affair that recalls the Carpenters, among others. Mixing up headphone songs and club bangers willy-nilly in a live show has a schizophrenic effect: One minute, we were on our feet dance-vamping to "Ooh La La," and the next we were craving a scone and someone to cuddle during the pleasantly twee "Clowns."

Still, unlike, say, Madonna or Kylie, Goldfrapp can actually sing live without the help of a Vocoder or backup, and her voice zigzagged impressively from electro-sultriness to Nick Drake delicacy. And the enthusiastic crowd, not as universally gay as we had stupidly assumed, didn't seem to mind the vertigo-inducing song selection or Goldfrapp's detached mood. In fact, when our lady closed out the 100-minute show with the lovely, tea-steeping song "Some People," we spied two audience members still standing and swaying to a nonexistent techno beat. Feeling generous, we didn't point and laugh.

MTV to retire 'TRL'

New York Allows AIG to Borrow $20 Billion

Governor Paterson relaxed regulations today in order to allow New York–based insurance giant AIG permission to access as much as $20 billion in capital from its subsidiary companies in order to conduct its day-to-day operations. (Yesterday, the insurance giant added to an already tumultuous weekend by asking the Federal Reserve bank for $40 billion, citing a liquidity crisis.) In explaining his decision, Paterson reasoned that should the company fail, thousands of New York jobs would be lost (6,000 in Manhattan, 8,600 statewide). But it was not, he said, "a government bailout," because the state is not going to provide the money, it's just going to give them a chance to fix it on their own, i.e. not fuck it up. Not like last time. Because if they do, then the subsidiary companies will have less money and then they'll have to borrow from the state and — but we're probably silly to worry. Since, as the governor said, AIG is "extraordinarily solvent." (Then why are they asking to borrow $40 billion? Unclear.) And anyway, the announcement seems to have somewhat staunched the bleeding, because shares in AIG have stopped totally plummeting and are now just down around 57 percent. So. Let's hope this works. [Dealbook/NYT, WSJ, Newsday]

Ralph Remains Steady, Donna Gets Slinky, and Chado Ralph Rucci Gets Sexy

Aaaaand we're done, Fashion Week but a lingering memory. The critics, however, still have a few final things to say on the last of the shows.

Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren's elegantly rendered safari-chic collection gave the impression of a glammed-up Indiana Jones for many. "If there is such a thing as 'refined ruggedness' Ralph Lauren found it," remarked the Associated Press. Fashion Wire Daily elaborated, "[Lauren] mixed sporty glam with Third World Princess style." With a subtle nod to YSL, "Lauren brought the same sense of luxury, glamour, and exceptionalism to this collection he brings to every other element of his brand," assessed Robin Givhan of the Washington Post. Critics praised the show as an adventurous turn for the designer, both in his deft rendition of traditional styles of dress and the diverse group of models he chose to stalk the runway. Evening gowns were standouts — "The chiffon versions floated. The silk styles slithered. Mouths watered," wrote Givhan — as well as a pair of gold sequined harem pants that Cathy Horyn called the "best harem pants of Fashion Week." WWD agreed, cheering, "Let's hear it for tricky pants that worked." The rare missteps came in the accessories department: Fashion Wire Daily lamented that there were simply "a tad too many," and most reviewers pounced on a particularly "ginormous" turban that British Vogue thought resembled a person "suffering from a really bad toothache." But the show was generally heralded as complete and inventive. "From the first ensemble to the last, Lauren proved himself a supple, smart, and sophisticated designer," declared Givhan.

Watch a slideshow of the Ralph Lauren collection.

L'Wren Scott
Though critics recognize that Scott can put together a dazzling show — Sarah Jessica Parker and Ellen Barkin and beau Mick Jagger gussied up the front row — "this time it was more about the clothes than ever, with a real point of view," asserted WWD. Cathy Horyn agreed, calling the showing "Ms. Scott's strongest collection since she began her label." Style.com noted that the predominantly black-and-white collection combined Scott's "typical rock 'n' roll elegance" of second-skin jeans and slim silhouettes with elements of "billowing movement" — pleats, capes, feathers, fringe, and lace fedoras. "The striking thing about her dresses was the intimacy and the refinement of details," remarked Horyn; standouts included midcalf sheaths "sizzling with rhinestones" and a black plissé dress with white lace shoulders. Now in her fifth season, "her message rings ever more confidently and clearly," concluded Style.com.

Donna Karan
Donna Karan presented a provocative collection of "lovely, languid clothes that pour over the body," WWD sighed. The Associated Press called it a "new take on the nice girl-naughty girl contrast," and Godfrey Deeny of Fashion Wire Daily agreed, calling it a "happy counterblast" to a week heavy on buttoned-up "secretarial looks." Several reviewers praised the fluidity of the silky designs, which draped and dipped around the body, though there were a few critiques amid the praise. Cathy Horyn at the New York Times thought the collection "felt repetitive and in need of more color and surprise," and the Washington Post's Robin Givhan derided a "peculiar color that could best be described as soap scum." WWD countered that the shades "created some of the week's steamiest moments," and Style.com called them "seductive." Most noted that the "butter soft, slinky" looks weren't exactly office-appropriate, "[b]ut what a vacation wardrobe it would be," lauded Style.com.

Watch a slideshow and video of the Donna Karan collection.

Chado Ralph Rucci
Ralph Rucci unveiled a sheer, chic collection of structured suits and layered skirts. Critics praised his foray into new fabrics, particularly "geometric insets of wool on sheer tulle." "The effect was both modern and, yes, kind of sexy," assessed Style.com. WWD noted that the labor-intensive clothes seemed to skew younger than usual, concluding, "It made for an impressive collection." Cathy Horyn of the New York Times concurred, "Somehow, the collection seemed more spontaneous and free-thinking than usual." Standouts included a black sequined jacket paired with a slim, floor-length skirt and a fuchsia party dress with back cutouts. "The clothes were light in attitude, fabric, and, above all, proportions," asserted Horyn. Overall, the collection was viewed as an creative feat from a particularly skilled designer. "Rucci makes exquisite clothes of an extraordinary quality unparalleled in New York," declared WWD.

Watch a slideshow of the Chado Ralph Rucci collection.

‘SNL’ Premiere Could’ve Been Even Worse

The season premiere of Saturday Night Live that you likely fell asleep halfway through — seriously, that locker-room sketch where Michael Phelps danced is probably still going — isn’t necessarily the one that Lorne Michaels had envisioned. According to Tom Shales, Barack Obama had been scheduled to appear but canceled Friday night because he didn’t think it was appropriate to do the show in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Chuck Norris was supposed to be on too, but he also canceled because of the hurricane, presumably because he was busy reversing its spin or something. But it could have been worse! Tina Fey, who, to no one’s surprise, nailed her Sarah Palin impression, almost had to cancel — but for a completely awesome reason: She was filming Oprah’s 30 Rock cameo! And, of course, Oprah reschedules for no one.

Fey-as-Palin Wins the Early Vote On 'SNL' [WP]

Sean Avery’s Next Stop: Reality TV!

Some time ago Sean Avery was spotted in the fashion closet at Marie Claire's offices. We thought maybe the former Vogue intern had spilled a beverage on André Leon Talley and needed a new fashion magazine at which to hang his Alexander McQueen fedora (you know he has one). But perhaps he was just ironing out the details for his reality-TV debut on Marie Claire's new docudrama, Running With Heels, which the New York Post reports began filming last week. Apparently our darling Sean met with the magazine's editor-in-chief, Joanna Coles, to discuss getting a piece of the Heels pie, and the conversation was taped for the show. And here we've been trying to figure out why he hasn't come knocking on the Cut's door for an internship! You know, Sean, if we hire you, we bet we can work something out with Bravo. We'll even give you an extra-large cubicle all for yourself. And maybe, just maybe, a lunch break. Granted, you'd have to take it with us.

CAMERA HOG [NYP]
Related: ‘Marie Claire’ Gets Its Own Reality Show

Dow Jones falls 500 points

Forbidden pleasures haunt famed writer

Daniel Radcliffe Walking a Thin Line Between Harry Potter and Tony Montana

"If I went off and did another fantasy film, everyone would say, 'He's not even trying,' but if I went off and played a drug dealer, they'd say, 'God, he's trying way too hard.'" —Daniel Radcliffe [NYT]

"It's embarrassing how little I've listened, or been taught. I mean, I had heard of Earl Grey, but I didn't know he became prime minister, and I didn't know he had as big an effect on politics as he did." —Dominic Cooper, tea drinker [NYP]

"All my neighbors are loggers and ranchers and tough guys. One of them has a sign on his property that's a big picture of a shotgun pointing at you, and it says, 'We don't call 911.' I'm a fairly antisocial hermit type. So I like it up there." —Bruce Campbell on his farm near Ashland, Oregon [NYT]

"We've got a character who's an ex-astronaut; he's the eighth man on the moon. It's the kind of thing we can't do in England, because we don't have any astronauts." —Matt Lucas on bringing Little Britain to America [LAT]

"I was in a bar, trying to remember the name of a Hitchcock film. Billy Joel walked in so [I asked him] but his security stepped in. I asked cops, but they were too caught up in Billy. Then I told a homeless guy, 'I'll give you $10 if you know the name.' He responded, Notorious, 1946." —Aasif Mandvi [NYP]

Will Tina Fey return to 'SNL' as Palin?

Palin Impersonators Abound on TV, Web

Britney Spears is to release new album in December

Britney Spears to Release Album in December

Jennifer Lopez Finishes Triathlon

Buyers ignore credit crunch at London Fashion Week (Reuters)

Reuters - Turmoil on the financial markets hasn't made small buyers timid at London Fashion Week.

Philip Roth revives old themes in 'Indignation' (AP)

'Genius' author, 46, found hanged

Matt Damon & Wyclef Bring Hope to Haiti

Pick the best Asian films of all time

'Harry Potter' star bares all

How Sammy Davis Jr.'s life fell apart

Lindsay Lohan Blasts Palin on Blog

FOX411: 'Officer and Gentleman' Reunion?

London Fashion Week in squeeze talks with rivals (Reuters)