PREACH IT! Hi! Now that I’ve spoken, that’ll be $100,000

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

How adorable is that? Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi arrives on national TV, becomes an instant reality star -- and buys her own Coach handbag at a local outlet store in New York.

Repeat: Celebrity (and, like her or not, Snooki is famous) buys her own handbag.

Stars are infamous for demanding truckloads full of free stuff every year -- everything from jeans to, yes, handbags -- largely through their publicists. Snooki’s purchase just makes her all the more huggable.

Then again, it looks as if she can afford that bag. According to another report,’Jersey Shore’s’ Snooki is now commanding a $10,000-a-pop fee for personal appearances. Per Celebuzz, that puts her well above Seaside Heights cohorts Pauly D ($7,500), J-WoWW ($5,000) and Ronnie($3,500). The 10 grand demand may sound ridiculous, but a girl needs tanning money, and that hair isn’t going to pouf itself. Besides, if you believe some of the celebrity-appearance booking sites out there, Snooki’s price isn’t nuttin’.

Sure, asking fees have dropped in accordance with our hard-luck times. According to Forbes, reality stars were able to demand up to $25,000 per appearance back in 2007. Now, a simple meet-and-greet might command only $3,000.

But quite a few stars are still demanding top dollar, particularly musicians, who are expected to not only appear but also sing at private appearances.

“All the real A-level music talent will need a minimum of $200,000 to $300,000 for events,” says talent wrangler Robert Tuchman, executive vice president of Premiere Global Sports.

Examples? “John Legend, John Mayer, Leona Lewis, etc.”

And there are a few stars still commanding six figures just to walk around and talk. Per the booking agency All-American Speakers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry the Cable Guy, Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and Donald Trump all have one thing in common: a $200,000 minimum asking fee.

The agency did not return requests for comment. Still, “those fees are real,” Tuchman assures me, “but negotiable in some cases.”

Of course. I myself charge the Los Angeles Times only $100,000 per post, you know.

Recession and all that.

-- Leslie Gornstein

(bottom) Donald Trump and his wife, Melania. Credit: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

Want to wallow in Leslie Gornstein’s blown-out ‘Jersey Shore’ jungle (plus the one post that’s not like the others)? Go for it.

PREACH IT! In defense of Ron-Ron juice and poundin’ it out PREACH IT! ‘Jersey Shore’ news at this hour -- you know you want some

PREACH IT! ‘Jersey Shore’ fans: Help me shed my Chihuahua shame

PREACH IT! Pass the peppehs, we’re going down the shore (the ‘Jersey Shore,’ that is)

Equal time for Alyssa Milano: A very tan argument against ‘Jersey Shore’ And here are links to posts with gratuitous beefcake and cheesecake, if you’re into that:

Rihanna, dear, why can’t you keep your clothes on?

Hot photos: Megan Fox’s body for Emporio Armani

Important news about men in Santa hats -- and cows

Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter(we’re @LATcelebs). And if you want to become a fan on Facebook, we have a snappy new address: facebook.com/ministryofgossip.