Is The NY Times the New People Magazine?

On Monday, the NY Times sardonically reported that, because of planned staff cuts, People magazine might have to make do with just one reporter covering Britney Spears, instead of the seven who supposedly composed a five-paragraph story on the tabloid queen and "her 'new guy,' model Isaac Cohen."

On Tuesday, the august paper of record devoted almost two full pages and 16 photographs to three articles on the Golden Globe awards, written by four reporters.

And as if that weren't enough, on Wednesday (today), the celeb-besotted newspaper ran a "News Analysis" (oh, please!) about the deeper meaning of the Golden Globes as a stepping stone for the Academy Awards:

The 84 or so members of the [Hollywood Foreign Press] association are, first and foremost, cheerleaders for the movie industry and the stars that give it light.

And so, it seems, is the Times. At least now we know where all those pink-slipped People staffers should send their résumés.