Then Bonnie Fuller, queen of the lowest common denominator, took over US Weekly. Fuller realized the public would rather see “grab shots” than studio portraits, and prefers tales of Ben Affleck’s trip to a strip club to warmed-over drivel about his most recent artistic achievements. “It’s a changed world,” says Janice Min, who took over at US earlier this year, after Fuller left to remake the supermarket tabloid Star. “Certain publicists still say, ‘Why do you even care about their personal lives? Can’t we just talk about the movie?’ Well, that game ended a long time ago.”
Some publicists haven’t taken their loss of power calmly–one publicist from a top firm was overheard saying Fuller’s daughter got cancer because Fuller was mean to celebrities. But the smarter flacks are adjusting. When an US staffer landed the first post-sex-film interview with Paris Hilton by booking a seat on the same Australia-Los Angeles flight, Min and Dan Klores, Hilton’s newly hired crisis manager, worked together on a cover package. “I don’t think it would be terrible if the big-time publicists had less power,” says Ken Sunshine, who represents Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Timberlake. So, Mr. Sunshine, what’s up with Ben and J. Lo? “They’re doing just fine. Thanks for asking.”
