Southampton - Move over Lou Dobbs. East Hampton's Joy Behar co-host for the last 13 years of the Emmy winning talk show, "The View," will get a table all to herself when her new talk show tentatively titled "The Joy Behar Show" slips into the 9 p.m. berth on HLN, the opinionated sister channel of CNN which hopes to raise its prime-time ratings with the addition of Behar.

Joy's new show will take over the slot currently filled with re-runs of "Lou Dobbs Tonight." The comedienne who is not afraid to stir up a little controversy will continue with her co-host role on the Barbara Walters produced "The View." She will go head to head with Fox News' "Hannity," "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC and her own mentor and friend Larry King on CNN. Pretty heady competition for the red-headed comic! Joy, as you might know, was often a fill-in host for Larry King who is reportedly delighted that she will have her own perch. Ditto Barbara Walters who is overjoyed that her colleague is being recognized for her talent.

Joy promises that show will not be dull as she has demonstrated before on Larry King's show, she is not afraid to challenge a guest and hold their feet to the fire.
You go Joy!

Diane von Furstenberg gets involved in High Line Park.

As you may have heard, MTV is already shooting background footage on the East End for a "True Life" documentary. Oy vey! In a real life "Gossip Girl" meets "The Real Housewives," the network is searching for 18-27 year-olds to trail with their cameras.

Reality shows and talent contests like "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars" continue to consume the American public - and celebrities too. We hear that the latest addition to the" Dancing with the Stars" roster is none other than Southampton's own fashion icon Vera Wang who reportedly has signed up for the next season. This should be a cinch for the still youthful, athletic and turning 60 fashion designer - Vera is a former figure skater and has kept herself in great shape. Watch out when she storms the dance floor. I am sure she'll be designing her own costume, which makes for one more reason to tune in!

Also making news is another major East End fashion icon, Diane von Furstenbergwho with husband Barry Diller recently donated a cool $10 milliion challenge grant for the completion of the Highline Park in New York's Meatpacking District. Both Barry and Diane have their bases of operation in the trendy area - once the strolling grounds of hookers and pimps - and now the hottest scene for international trendsetters. Diane's studio is right below the entrance to the park suspended three stories above on Washington Street.

Alexander McQueen gets involved with community park as well.

The High Line which had been abandoned since rail operations ceased their daily pick-ups and deliveries to the meatpackers after five decades in the early 1980s has now been transformed into an urban oasis. Lush natural gardens filled with indigenous plantings are woven into remnants of the old rail line to great effect thanks to the efforts of local community leaders, architects, designers and urban planners who fought long and hard to transform this old railroad bed into a beautiful park for people and birds. Fixed and movable seating, including great lounge chairs perfect for sunning, lighting, and special features are also included in the park. Its renaissance is nothing short of an urban fairy tale with a happy ending. The park opened this week, the culmination of 10 years of struggle to save, preserve and open the High Line as a public park.

When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen. The park opened officially this week and The Friends of the High Line held its first Party on the High Line presented by Calvin Klein to benefit the park's continuing transformation.

Efforts in the community to raise money continue at a fast pace. To encourage her shoppers and passersby to do the same on a level they can afford, Diane Von Furstenberg has released the "Tracks Towel" for $75, a beach towel whose proceeds go to the further development of the park. Considering that her Warhol-print beach towel retails for $120, this is a bargain. Needless to say, this seems like a great idea whereby fans of both DVF and the new High Line can make a contribution and get something in return to actually use up there.

Sir Paul McCartney urges participants to join in on "Meatless Mondays."

While Diane and Barry may be among the High Line's biggest cheerleaders, she's not the only fashion world figure motivated by the opening of the city's chicest park. Adam Lippes, Alexander McQueen, Anya Hindmarch, Charles Nolan, Moschino, Rag & Bone and Zero + Maria Cornejo are among the many labels that have created limited-edition Friends of the High Line merchandise. The clothing and accessories - tees, denim, hats, scarves, dresses and bags - have been designed and will be sold primarily by retailers in the vicinity of the High Line. Proceeds will help fund park maintenance and are now available in stores.

From parks preservation to preservation of the environment, there always seems to be a major Hamptons figure in the forefront. This week Hamptons royalty, Sir Paul McCartney kicked off an international campaign to help slow climate change that encourages people to "go vegetarian" for at least one day every week. Meat Free Monday is a food campaign to encourage the world to help slow climate change by reducing their meat consumption by having one meat free day a week.

At a press conference this week, Sir Paul and Yoko Ono announced the campaign which is also backed by a star-studded group that includes Stella McCartney, Kelly Osbourne, Moby, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Ricky Gervais, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Sheryl Crow, artist Jeff Koons and chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Giorgio Locatelli.

Sir Paul cited the Food Climate Research Network statement that food production is responsible for between 20 percent to 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations has supported the figures, saying that the livestock sector is one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.

"I thought this was a great idea," Sir Paul told reporters at the campaign's official launch. "To just reduce your meat intake maybe by one day a week and this would seriously benefit the planet. It's kind of easy to do. You've had too much over the weekend anyway and you're all running down to the gym to try and work it off – so just have a meat-free Monday."

And if you think Sir Paul is blowing hot air and are really wondering what the level of greenhouse gas is in the air, you will be able to monitor the situation, thanks to a new giant billboard in Manhattan that features a carbon counter. Digital numbers help viewers track the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The 70-foot-high billboard is outside Madison Square Garden and Pennsylvania Station, not far from the Empire State Building. A widget also will be provided to websites and blogs around the world. The sign, sponsored by Deutsche Bank, uses low-energy light, offset by carbon credits. And you thought the National Debt clock in Union Square was scary, wait until you see this!