Rolling Stone is a celebrity magazine that trades on its ancient history of rock journalism and underground credibility, so it is appropriate that it downsizes to match all the other star-worshipping sheets in the checkout line. Rolling Stone is going small, which any longtime reader of the magazine knows it did years ago. "All you're getting from that large size is nostalgia," notes Jann Wenner, the publication's creator and destroyer. Indeed, why should Rolling Stone's size, or any of its physical characteristics, differ from Us Weekly or People. They're all the same magazine, right? I only wish Jann Wenner changed the name, too. Actor/addict Robert Downey, Jr. graces the cover on stands now. Last week it was Disney creation The Jonas Brothers. A few weeks before that it was the underwear-clad girls from MTV's The Hills. By way of comparison, the publication featured Pete Townshend, Frank Zappa, The Band, and The Beatles on its covers in its first full year--and not a single celebrity unrelated to the music industry. Just as MTV proves the television rule that all channels not explicitly anti-E! Channel will one day become the E! Channel, Rolling Stone proves the print rule that all magazines not explicitly opposed to becoming the National Enquirer will one day become the National Enquirer. For Rolling Stone, that day came long before Jann Wenner decided to shrink the magazine.

I say bring back the Plaster Casters.