Maxim's Top Lad Toppled

This just in: Maxim editor in chief Jimmy Jellinek has been fired and replaced by James Kaminsky, most recently editor of Mens Journal and a former Maxim hand. (Looks like Gawker heard about it, too.)

This is almost not news; I first reported that new Maxim owner Kent Brownridge was shopping Jellinek's job way back in May, before he'd even reached a deal to buy the company.

In the event, Brownridge let him go in a manner befitting his half-serious nickname, Dr. Evil: He fired him two hours before a staff-wide party to celebrate the rebranding of Dennis Publishing as Alpha Media. I'm told Jellinek took advantage of the advance warning and has some sort of TV deal in the works. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: It's official. It looks like Kaminsky got an editorial director title; bully for him. Here's the release:

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> ALPHA MEDIA GROUP INC. NAMES JAMES KAMINSKY
> EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF MAXIM MAGAZINE
> New York, NY, August 23, 2007 - Alpha Media Group Inc. CEO Kent Brownridge today announced the appointment of James "Jim" Kaminsky to Editorial Director of Maxim magazine, the largest young men's lifestyle magazine in America. As the first to hold the title of Editorial Director in the magazine's history, Kaminksy will oversee the editorial strategy and direction of Maxim.
Kent Brownridge, CEO of Alpha Media Group Inc. said, "Jim is an enormously talented editor with a finger on the pulse of young men's lifestyle. I am absolutely thrilled that he is joining Maxim."
Kaminsky was most recently Editor of Men's Journal where he presided over an extensive editorial and design overhaul. Prior to that, he was Deputy Managing Editor at Rolling Stone magazine where his work on the article, "Inside Scientology," by Janet Reitman, was nominated for a 2007 national magazine award for reporting. He was also the third Editorial Director in the 50 + year history of Playboy magazine.
This appointment marks a homecoming for Kaminsky who was Executive Editor at Maxim from 1999 to 2002. During this time, the magazine experienced record reader growth establishing itself as the leader in young men's lifestyle magazines.
Kaminsky graduated from Boston University. He resides in Manhattan.
About Alpha Media Group Inc.
Alpha Media Group Inc. is a multimedia company that includes Maxim and Blender magazines and Maxim digital. Maxim magazine is the most successful young men's lifestyle magazine in America reaching more than 12.4 million readers each month. Blender is a general interest music magazine that reaches nearly 2 million readers monthly. Maxim digital encompasses Maxim.com, Blender.com and Stuffmagazine.com and reaches more 5 million unique visitors each month. Maxim magazine is published in 43 countries; Maxim radio is broadcast on Sirius Satellite radio on channel 108. Alpha Media Group Inc. is owned by Quadrangle Capital Partners II LP, a private equity fund focused on the media and communications industries.