Remember Steve Webster, the TV publicity exec who imploded his career by eavesdropping on high-level conference calls at FX long after he was fired? He pleaded no contest yesterday to a count of criminal wiretapping. His lawyer argues he's a prime candidate for probation. That's what Cody Cluff got yesterday — three years probation — and he's an actual criminal. Cluff pleaded no contest in May to embezzling public funds from the Entertainment Industry Development Corp., where he was executive director. The county probation department urged jail time because of his "corruption and greed," but the state prison system didn't want him, urging his remorse be taken into account.

* Add blotter: Dana Harris in today's Variety covers former literary agent Marcie Wright getting out of county jail after serving 160 days for embezzling from clients such as Marc Cherry, creator of "Desperate Housewives." She now goes on (yes) three years probation. Sheesh, whatever happened to getting ahead in Hollywood by sleeping with somebody?