Lisanti is pushing on

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Defamer's Mark Lisanti has resigned his post and will be gone as of Friday. He doesn't say why, of course. The burnout factor is pretty high with this kind of work. I would love to grow HE's audience by contributing to Defamer in some modest but daily way (there have been discussions along these lines) but...but...but....a voice is telling me such a move would shave two or three years off my life. But maybe not.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 12, 2008 at 9:16 AM

comment #1

Zimmergirl says ...

You'd be a great addition to Defamer, I think. They're going to need some strong voices with Lisanti out.

Posted by Zimmergirl at February 12, 2008 10:04 AM

comment #2

giantman says ...

I agree you'd be great for Defamer, but would Defamer be great for you? And who knows, those might have been the best three years of your life.

Posted by giantman at February 12, 2008 10:18 AM

comment #3

EOTW says ...

Don't do it, Wells. Seriously. The only thing I dislike about your web site is the gossipy crap (i won't get into the political stuff). I like your view on movies and the news surrounding them and I know the potential for gossip is there but I like it when you show restraint and don't go there (even if you often do). Save Defamer for the tabloid stuff. Don't tell me it doesn't get your goat that Poland puts you amongst the gossip columnists on the MCN front page.

Posted by EOTW at February 12, 2008 10:25 AM

comment #4

diesel says ...

never visited defamer until you mentioned it. they got two little stories on the front page today, one about dolly parton's breasts and the other is molly friedman's boring analysis of paris hiltons box office appeal. i'd say no to defamer if i were you.

Posted by diesel at February 12, 2008 10:28 AM

comment #5

christian says ...

Don't do it. You act quite superior Jeff to the rubes and then pimp this online supermarket housewifey gossip rag for disaffected psuedo-hipsters. Stay clean as Mike B. would say.

Posted by christian at February 12, 2008 10:35 AM

comment #6

Jay T. says ...

What the hell, if the money is good, give it a shot... just make sure the money is enough to be worth submerging yourself knee-deep in that crap.

Posted by Jay T. at February 12, 2008 10:37 AM

comment #7

dangovich says ...

If you could maintain your independence, then why not? The beast only burns the people who get in its belly.

Posted by dangovich at February 12, 2008 10:40 AM

comment #8

Zimmergirl says ...

You all are obviously not regular readers of Defamer.

Posted by Zimmergirl at February 12, 2008 10:41 AM

comment #9

Jay T. says ...

Uhh... why exactly do you say that?

Posted by Jay T. at February 12, 2008 11:55 AM

comment #10

christian says ...

Because obviously a regular Defamer reader would not doubt its greatness.

Posted by christian at February 12, 2008 12:05 PM

comment #11

diesel says ...

as I'm sure there are regular Perez Hilton readers who wouldn't dream of doubting that sites greatness...

Posted by diesel at February 12, 2008 12:13 PM

comment #12

jodyr says ...

Lisanti told me he was burned out and was going to leave a few weeks ago. As far as Defamer without him, it's certainly not going to be the same. Seth Abramovitch has been doing a great job carrying on in the Defamer voice, but I'm not sure he'll be able to maintain the tone in and amongst the NYC snarksters that are taking over.

As far as Jeff contributing, as good as a writer as I find him to be, he doesn't have the go-for-the-throatiness that Nick Denton requires of his slaves, himself being the most go-for-the-throaty of them all.

Posted by jodyr at February 12, 2008 1:01 PM

comment #13

Ju-osh says ...

Jeff used to work for a site called MoviePoopShoot.com. He survived that.

Posted by Ju-osh at February 12, 2008 1:03 PM

comment #14

erniesouchak says ...

Defamer is hilarious. Not quite the tone you go for, Wells.

Posted by erniesouchak at February 12, 2008 1:18 PM

comment #15

Midwest Doug says ...

Mark was fantastic, and when the site was all his, it was at its peak. Not as good now, (yes, I'm a curmudgeon), but still entertaining. I think a regular Monday and Friday posting gig on Defamer would be a good thing for Jeff.

Posted by Midwest Doug at February 12, 2008 1:23 PM

comment #16

Zimmergirl says ...

Just that to call Defamer only a gossip site is to miss, I think, the wonderful satire therein - Lisanti was brilliant at what he did and I agree - when it was all him it was probably better but you can't fault a site for trying to make more money I guess. I'm glad to see he's moved on, though. He was ultimately wasting his time/talent.

Posted by Zimmergirl at February 12, 2008 1:34 PM

comment #17

christian says ...

You can only snark Britney for soooo long.
Or can you?

Posted by christian at February 12, 2008 2:23 PM

comment #18

BurmaShave says ...

The problem with Defamer is that LA will never feel like a city the way New York does. That's why Gawker works but Defamer is just a headache inducing mess. There should be a 'Defamer Shamer' though, where formerly great stars can be ridiculed for carrying their own luggage or filming a TV show.

Posted by BurmaShave at February 12, 2008 2:24 PM

comment #19