Richard Johnson: Target D'Jour

The gossips over at the Daily News continue to trade blows with their rivals at Page Six -- the latest fusillade launched Saturday by the News' flashy upstart Ben Widdicombe directly at gossip-in-chief, Richard Johnson;

Hey, Lachlan (Murdoch)! Tell "Grandpa" Johnson that his lead item on Wednesday, about Steve Madden, was in my column two weeks ago!

Johnson also caught fire from an, um, less expected source this weekend, Minneapolis Star Tribune's pseudonymous gadabout, CJ. Apparently, not contented with a personal apology Johnson wrote after he failed to credit the columnist in an item about Jay Mohr she wrote about first, CJ compared the editor to a car thief:

I stole your car, and I want to apologize. If you'll give me another chance, I'll tell everybody I'm driving your car the next time you point it out to me.

Whoa, CJ, we're not sure Richard Johnson needs your car but we bet Johnson will never knew what hit him. No, seriously, he won't know. You better email the column to his assistant so he sees it.The Gossip Columnist Pissing Contest: A Quick Reference Guide [Gawker]
Gatecrasher [NY Daily News -- Last item]
C.J.: Reheated item was fresh here [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]