ON LOCATION: From Rachel Zoe to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, “Gossip Girl” has already hosted its share of quirky cameos from the fashion-media universe this season, and W magazine is up next. In a memo to staffers last week, managing editor Regan Solmo explained that the prime-time soap’s writers have penned W into an upcoming story arc that calls for an unnamed character to intern at the magazine. The episodes (there will be six to eight of them, according to the e-mail) won’t begin to air until the end of January, but the “Gossip Girl” crew was in the W office at 1166 Sixth Avenue on Monday for a one-day shoot. Set dressers stepped in on Friday to help ready the site for its close-up. Among other measures taken to help the office properly radiate its magazine-ness, the crew stocked empty bookshelves and added art to hallway walls. Staffers who chose to could serve as paid extras during the shoot, though producers asked those who were game not to wear all white, all black or “crazy stripes.” Asked for further details, a W spokeswoman said, “The character faces the challenge of being part of the social elite and then thrust into the ‘real world,’ where one starts out on the bottom rung of the ladder.” Sounds like the fashion closet should get plenty of screen time. — Matthew Lynch
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NONFAMILY MAN AT THE TOP: In June, Forbes welcomed True/Slant founder Lewis DVorkin back to the company (after a decade at AOL) and installed him as chief product officer. On Monday, Forbes Media signaled an even greater organizational shift when it said two Forbes brothers are stepping aside as an outsider comes in to take over as president and chief executive officer. Mike Perlis, formerly a general partner at venture capital firm SoftBank Capital and head of Ziff Davis, has been hired to run day-to-day functions.
After 14 years as chief operating officer, Tim Forbes will step down but remain chairman of Forbes Digital and a member of the board, while Steve Forbes is relinquishing the ceo title after two decades at the top but will continue as editor in chief of the magazine and chairman of the board. Perlis’ installment as ceo of Forbes is of note, as it’s the first time in the company’s history that a non-family member has been tapped for the top spot. — Amy Wicks