I was tipped off about this about an hour ago by my anonymous source at MGM, but apparently the deal officially went down today after an intense meeting of the board at the Limpin’ Lion’s HQ in Century City. Despite a valiant fight from the frightened kitty of Constellation Dr., there was little to be done to stop the kamikaze onslaught of the Sony stamp and Comcast cash, swooping down and clutching Leo, mewing and hissing, in their mighty talons. Farewell, sweet MGM. You ruled this town with an iron fist, like, fifty years ago, and yet those of us not wearing Depends and who have the same hips God gave us hardly knew ye.

Meanwhile, young upstart studi-ette Miramax is pumping out the product while advancing the quality of life for Hollywood’s working cla—wait, what’s that? Right. What I meant to say is Miramax is continuing its layoffs, this time concentrating on its highly successful acquisitions staff (the folks behind this year’s surprise blockbuster “Hero” and other small-timey-fare-made-profitable “The Station Agent”, “Dirty Pretty Things” and “City of God”) but keeping intact its development arm (remember “Ella Enchanted”, “Jersey Girl” and “A View from the Top”? Me either). I can only hope that the continued paring of the ‘Max will somehow quell the voracious appetite of axe-wielder Harvey Dubya long enough to make amends with his friends at Disney, or at least begin to re-ingratiate the free-spending Weinsteins with the penny-pinching peons at the Casa de Mouse.

I guess only time will tell.