Chuck Klosterman

The Algonquin Hotel in New York is legendary for having been home to the Algonquin Round Table, a meeting of literary minds that included Alexander Woollcott, Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, and others. And now the hotel will be part of another literary event: It’s teaming up with publisher Simon & Schuster to create a Simon & Schuster suite and will host a series of readings by writers.

With the launch of Amazon.com’s “Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher” earlier this month, the Internet-based retailer made its first foray into the realm of original, episodic entertainment webcasting. The new half-hour program is a talk show produced by Amazon. “Amazon Fishbowl” can be found exclusively on its Web site home page. It features conversations between Maher and a variety of guests who come on to promote recently-released books, music and movies. A new episode of the show premieres each Thursday night 8 p.m. PST throughout the summer, while host and executive producer Maher, best known for his edgy political humor and pop culture observations, is