Mostly missed, in an hourlong interview with Sean Hannity that produced buzzworthy soundbites about Katie Couric and Dancing with the Stars, was former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin‘s unprompted response to the uproar surrounding daughter Willow’s recent Facebook misadventure.

While Palin correctly points out that the national media should not have exploited the musings of a 16 year-old, the balance of her response reveals important things about Sarah Palin, not as a parent, but as a media critic and human being. Not only does she undermine her claims of media “lies” by making stuff up herself, she also displays a disturbing attitude about the use of the word “faggot.”

Seeking to make hay out of Willow Palin‘s Facebook misadventure, among other things, Bonnie Goldstein, Editor of Politics Daily’s “Woman Up” blog, writes that the Palin teens “lack supervision,” and that “Sarah Palin may want to budget a companionable nanny for the older children.”

While we predicted that some would level this attack, it seems counterintuitive that a blog devoted to women’s issues would not only see the Palin kids as fair game, but would then perpetuate the sexist notion that parenting is the sole purview of the mother. Todd Palin’s name never comes up.

TMZ is reporting that Willow Palin, 16 year-old daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (and sister of newly-minted Dancing with the Stars champion Bristol Palin) struck back at a critic of her mom’s TLC show by calling him “f*ggot,” along with a string of other obscenities. The incident is being widely reported on the internet, and while Miss Palin’s word choice is, indeed, homophobic, it would be unfair to label her a “homophobe.” If anything, the lengthy exchange illustrates the lack of thought that goes into this kind of name-calling, and presents an opportunity to get these kids thinking, instead of fighting back.

Read the full, uncensored exchange after the jump.

So the whole Charlie Sheen debacle this week is about to get just a little sleazier.

You see, that “escort” locked in the bathroom isn’t an escort at all. She’s a porn star, Capri Anderson, and as she gets lawyered up, get ready for her to step into the media spotlight!

In an incident that’s being widely reported on the internet, 16 year-old pop superstar Justin Bieber was accused of assaulting a 12 year-old boy during a game of Laser Tag on Friday. Most news accounts of the incident indicate that, according to the Laser Tag facility’s staff, Bieber was singled out and cornered by a group of players, and that Bieber accidentally struck the boy in an attempt to get away. However, TMZ is reporting that the 12 year old who made the assault accusation called Bieber “faggot,” and that Bieber did not strike him.

Breaking News: Actress With Drug Problem Fails Drug Test. TMZ is reporting that Lindsay Lohan failed a drug test last week.

Lohan, however, is denying it.

Earlier today, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi plead guilty to disturbing the peace in a New Jersey courthouse after being arrested this past July while wandering around Seaside Heights clearly intoxicated. TMZ got footage of Judge Damian Murray’s ruling, in which he said she seemed like a “Lindsay Lohan wannabe.” He also asked a question all reality show contestants should ask themselves: whether it’s “worth trading your dignity for a paycheck.”

Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods have finalized their divorce. According to TMZ the two reached a settlement in early July and Elin would like to revert to her maiden name. According to the site Elin is set to receive $100 million and it sounds like they will share custody of the children, though the details of the settlement have not yet been made public.

You knew this was coming. Or at least you hoped this was coming, because I think it’s safe to say Steven Slater‘s airline attendant career is indefinitely on hold. TMZ is reporting that Slater has landed (no pun intended) a reality TV show offer in which he will be featured helping contestants quit their jobs.

We know most of our loyal readers probably had trouble sleeping last night without knowing the fate of tiny drunken jailbird Snooki, who was arrested in Seaside Heights, NJ yesterday afternoon while filming the third season of Jersey Shore. Well, you can all conclude the candlelight vigils and hunger strikes: Snooks is roaming free on the boardwalk, and didn’t have to stay the night.

Breaking news (or a Friday in the middle of the summer’s version of breaking news)! Snooki AKA Nicole Polizzi AKA the inspiration costume contest winners at “Remember the Aughts” costume parties for years to come, has been arrested. While details of the arrest are still slim, we can only presume that the MTV star has finally been brought to justice for stealing America’s heart.

Readers, it is with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye that I report this sad, sad story. A terrible tragedy has befallen our nation, our society, hell, the entire human race. I speak, of course, of the news from TMZ that the Sexy Russian Spy, Anna Kushchenko AKA Anna Chapman, will not be appearing in Sexy Russian Spy Pornography. Oh, darkest of days!

Remember Tony Hayward, the cartoonishly detached BP CEO that provided the only temporary relief (in the form of relentless mockery) from the unending agony of the BP oil disaster? He’s back, unfortunately, and he’s eating seafood. Even more scandalous, there was a pretty girl within thirty feet of him while he did it! TMZ has the Pulitzer-worthy investigation.

MZ got its first tip at around 1 p.m. PST that Michael Jackson was being taken to the hospital, “it was not that alarming,” recalls Harvey Levin, explaining the singer had “been taken to the hospital many times before” for non-life threatening ailments. Gossip Cop spoke to Levin about that fateful afternoon — exactly one year ago today — because it was TMZ’s executive producer and his team who broke the worldwide exclusive of Michael Jackson’s shocking death at the age of 50.

The White House is starting to behave as though they have something to hide. Or at least that they have something they think they should hide. After a strong push to keep the focus on SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan’s upbringing and “real life” story — likely as a way to distract from her paper trail [...]

Following a weekend of speculation launched by TMZ, the Advocate has posted a profile–dated May 5–of Country Music singer Cheley Wright announcing she’s a lesbian. The gay magazine’s announcement appears to answer the speculation launched by super publicist Howard Bragman who said weeks ago that there would be a Cinco de Mayo gay announcement media blitz including a cover of People magazine and trips to the Today Show, The View and The Joy Behar Show.

In the event that you’ve been in a coma for the past few days, you may not know that Larry King has recently filed for divorce with his eighth wife. TMZ has gone full throttle in their coverage, and if we need any better example of the media frenzy surrounding this story is video of the very staged public hug between King and his soon-to-be ex-wife Shawn Southwick.

Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks confirmed Monday in an interview with Jay Leno that he’d be leaving the show at the end of May after 18 years with the show – a move first reported in February.

And now we have Eubanks’ replacement, from another network’s popular show – American Idol bandleader Rickey Minor.

This is a sad way to start the day. TMZ has reported (CBS followed up) that Eighties teen star Corey Haim was found dead in his home this morning from an apparent drug overdose.

A few hours after it was announced Tiger Woods would make his first public statement Friday at 11amET since his Thanksgiving night…incident, he was spotted jogging in a widely circulated Getty Images picture.

But on closer inspection, the image, and the public statement, is vintage Tiger – and that’s not a good thing.

A book review in today’s New York Times examines Shocking True Story, the new history of original gossip magazine Confidential. And reading about the early celeb rag’s conquests — from Lucille Ball to Joe DiMaggio — it’s impossible not to be reminded of today’s gossip leaders, from Gawker to Perez Hilton. It’s a comparison Gawker boss Nick Denton would not only be proud of, but made himself.

What a difference six months make! The power of TMZ is such these days that a mere tweet can set even those most established media organizations afire with nary a question mark in sight. A short time ago TMZ reported and Twittered out that Jay Leno “Jay Leno has made a new deal with NBC, [...]

Conflicting reports surround the apparent death of Casey Johnson, girlfriend to Tila Tequila and daughter of Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets. TMZ initially reported her death, but Ms. Tequila recently tweeted that she learned that Johnson was “not dead but currently in a coma!!!” Alas, a spokesmen for the Jets issued the following statement: “The Johnson family is mourning its tragic loss, and asks for privacy during this very difficult time.” (via NY Daily News.)

Newspapers are dying, magazines are dying: this is the story of 2009 where the media is concerned. However, the future of media, such as it is, does not look quite so dim. Or dim at all, really. Obviously, the brave new media world that we are slowly moving into (some at a quicker pace than others!) will look entirely different in twelve months’ time, likely in large part due to the efforts of the folks we listed on our online editors of the year poll. So who gets the final nod? Our picks below: feel free to add yours in the comments section.

A Russian website has today posted photos of what appears to be an upcoming National Geographic spread, which purportedly uncovers photos of British authorities constructing Stonehenge in….1898. Gasp! The photo spread, which online at least appears totally believable, alas (again) is a fake. Take a look.