RIP -- US edition of FHM (1999 - 2006)

The Reaper called this one a while ago, and it was time to cash in. After all, it's time to take the corporate write-off!

All the chips were there for a visit from the Man in Black:

• Magazine left alone by its UK parent with no investment or support.
• Ad pages dropping like Nicole Richie's weight, and let me tell you -- some of those pages were not "Paid in Full."
• Editorial going further and further downmarket until the Grand Central newsstand was pulling them. Once you put porno stars on the cover, it's almost the kiss of death.
• No brand development whatsoever.
• Fashion staff dismissed four or five months ago, which is almost unheard of in the men's category.

So FHM had to go -- Dana Fields, Scott and the whole lot are coming with me today. We're serving them lots of beer on the way down in our "club car."

Special note: if Emap pulls the plug on FHM, how in the world can Giant still be standing?

It's two weeks to Christmas -- we're heading to the home stretch when those asset write-offs look very tempting to publishers and owners. The excitement is killing me!!