LAPD Asks Stars For Help

The Los Angeles Police Department hopes some serious star power will help save the day, or rather the entire weekend, when the 405 Freeway shuts down in two weeks.

The department is asking celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Ashton Kutcher to inform their umpteen million followers that the freeway will be shut down from Interstate 10 to the 101 Freeway starting July 16.

“The whole idea is just to re-message the theme of avoiding the 405 area and that it’s going to be a mess if people don’t stay away,”

While star power may be able to help some drivers avoid the chaos on the road, workers and business owners are concerned about the unprecedented shut down.

LAMediaWatch.com

Lindsay Loves To Party

It looks like Lindsay Lohan is definitely not heeding a judge's advice to stay away from things that make people hate her.

Just hours after serving 35 days on house arrest, the troubled actress hit up the Lexington Social Club, a popular restaurant and lounge in Hollywood. Lohan reportedly spent five hours inside the trendy locale celebrating her new found freedom.

When it was time to leave, the 24-year-old introduced the world to her new best friend: the wall. As paparazzi clamored to get a shot of Lohan exiting, Lohan used the wall for support, almost falling to the ground just seconds before stumbling into an awaiting black Cadillac Escalade.

We're not saying she was drunk, but some witnesses seem to think she was. Thankfully, actor Emile Hirsch and Nikita's Lyndsy Fonseca were there to escort Lohan home.

LAMediaWatch.com

MySpace Sold

Once a rival and competitor to Facebook, the downward spiral of Myspace is no longer the problem of News Corp., or its Chief Executive Offficer Mike Jones, following Wednesday’s announcement that the social network was acquired by digital media outfit Specific Media.

News Corp. paid $580 million for Myspace in 2005, and it was hoping to sell the site for $100 million, but the media giant settled for $35 million, AllThingsD reported.

Under terms of the deal, News Corp. will take a minority equity stake in Specific, and Jones will leave the company following a transition period of about two months. Jones won’t be the only one leaving, however, as he said in his memo to staff, “In conjunction with the deal, we are conducting a series of restructuring initiatives, including a significant reduction in our workforce.”

An exact number of layoffs remains unknown at this point.

The Wall Street Journal speculated that Specific pursued Myspace so it could mine the social network’s user data for ad targeting, adding that two Specific executives previously worked at Fox Audience Network, the News Corp. online advertising unit that sold ads for Myspace.

LAMediaWatch.com

Levi’s Film Workshop at MOCA Opens

Open to the community since April, the Levi’s Film Workshop at MOCA is a free workshop that allows people to come in and use its resources and equipment to make their own films.

There’s a camera equipment rental shop, editing stations, a slow-motion camera, a green screen, two stop-motion animation stations, DVD rentals, a phonotrope, and more. And all of it is free.

All activities in the Film Workshop are hands-on and children are encouraged to participate. The casual visitor to MOCA may poke around and learn something new, but there are even die-hard filmmakers using the facility every day to create their films, and director Spike Jonze was in recently using the equipment.

As part of community engagement, the space has partnered with local non-profit media arts center Echo Park Film Center (EPFC), to lead educational sessions every Sunday that cover topics ranging from Super8, 16MM Basics and home media mashup.

Levi’s Film Workshop The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90013
Open Thursday-Sunday 11AM (closing times vary)
More Information
LAMediaWatch.com

CBS fall premiere dates

Viewers waiting to see how Charlie Harper’s (Charlie Sheen) absence will be explained on “Two and a Half Men,” mark your calendars: The big reveal will come Sept. 19.

CBS released its fall premiere dates Wednesday, and its beleaguered comedy will finally make its comeback with new cast member Ashton Kutcher.

But they're not the only ones. The network is ushering in the fall season with new shows and double doses of some of its big comedies — “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory” will air back-to-back episodes.

Making its debut Sept. 19 with “Two and a Half Men” as a springboard is female buddy comedy “2 Broke Girls” before it settles into its regular time slot on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. New drama “Person of Interest” will likely benefit from its “The Big Bang Theory” lead-in on Sept. 22.

“Unforgettable” will premiere Tuesday, Sept. 20, after “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and “A Gifted Man” kicks off the night of Friday dramas — “CSI: NY” and “Blue Bloods” — on Sept. 23.

"Mike & Molly" will make its sophomore return in its old time slot (Mondays at 9:30) on Sept. 26. And newbie comedy "How to be a Gentleman" will premiere Sept. 29 after "The Big Bang Theory."

LAMediaWatch.com

Lindsay -- Freebird!

Lindsay Lohan can walk her front door a free woman again.

The troubled starlet finished her 35-day sentence under house arrest today stemming from a probation violation in her 2007 DUI and drug case.

While her time in home detention has come to an end, the actress still has to complete 480 hours of community service that includes 360 hours working at the Downtown Women's Center in L.A. and another 120 hours performing janitorial duties at the L.A. County Morgue.

The community service must be completed within a year and Lohan is due back in court for a progress report on July 21.
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Her rep added that Lohan plans to celebrate her 25th birthday this Saturday "with friends and family privately," though he declined to say whether she'll do so in her hometown of New York as she's been hinting on Twitter.

LAMediaWatch.com

David Duchovny and Tea Leoni Separate

David Duchovny and his wife Tea Leoni separated today ... TMZ is reporting.

Sources close to the couple say... although David and Tea are taking time apart, they have not decided if they will file for divorce.

David and Tea were married back in 1997 -- and briefly separated in 2008.

The couple has 2 children together -- a 12-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.

LAMediaWatch.com

MLB To Take Dodgers?

(AP) A person familiar with Major League Baseball’s plans says the league “probably” will file a motion to seize the cash-strapped Los Angeles Dodgers.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

Baseball’s constitution allows Commissioner Bud Selig to take control of a team that seeks Chapter 11 protection. MLB first must file a motion seeking termination of the franchise, and the person says that is “probably going to happen.” There is no timetable for that filing.

 

A Delaware judge on Tuesday authorized the Dodgers to enter into a $150 million bankruptcy financing arrangement.

LAMediaWatch.com

Charlie Sheen's new deal, rumored 'Men' death

Charlie Sheen has a new sitcom deal! (Unless he doesn't.) And his "Two and a Half Men" character will die! (Unless the season premiere script changes.)

Monday (June 27) brought a flurry of Sheen-related news and rumors -- and apparently the end of his relationship with "goddess" Natalie Kenly, who TMZ reports has moved out of Sheen's house.

The sitcom-deal report comes courtesy of RadarOnline, which claims he's signed a deal to star in a show for "Mad Men" and "Weeds" producer Lionsgate. A suspiciously long quote from an "insider" says the company has committed to 10 episodes upfront -- without a pilot script or even a writer attached -- with the option to produce 90 more, and that TBS is the "front runner" to land the series.

That apparently is news to TBS: A rep for the cable channel tells EW that "TBS is not in discussions for a possible project with Charlie Sheen." The Lionsgate deal may not be done yet either. Sheen's rep, Larry Solters, tells USA Today his client is "receiving several opportunities but can't comment on anything at this time."

As for "Two and a Half Men," TMZ says the show is leaning toward sending Charlie Harper to his death in the Season 9 premiere, possibly via car crash. That's a change from earlier reports that had the character staying in France after setting off on a vacation in the last episode filmed last season.

Ashton Kutcher's character would be introduced as the new owner of Charlie's house, the report says -- while also noting that the season premiere script isn't locked yet. "Two and a Half Men" is set to film its season premiere in early August; it will likely air in late September.

LAMediaWatch.com

Charlie Sheen SINGLE... Again

Charlie Sheen's last remaining goddess has left the Warlock with tiger blood.

Sources close to Charlie tell TMZ, Natalie Kenly moved out last week -- but hell hath no fury like a Warlock scorned ... because we're told, the actor DEMANDED she return the Mercedes he bought her.

Charlie celebrated the split by declaring war on the entire world, conquering three women from three different countries -- Mexico, Australia, and Colombia -- the very night Kenly walked out.

LAMediaWatch.com

Dodgers file for bankruptcy

The Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig for rejecting a television deal with Fox Network to give the financially strapped baseball team a quick injection of cash.

Monday's filing marks a dramatic attempt by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to keep the league from seizing the storied team, which he has owned since 2004.

McCourt has been struggling to meet payroll and other financial commitments, having been heavily in debt and locked in a bitter divorce battle with his estranged wife Jamie.

DODGERS PLAN TO MAKE PAYROLL

Monday's filing punctuates a stunning fall for one of baseball's marquee teams, whose roots date to 1884 when it played in New York as the Brooklyn Atlantics.

The Dodgers said it has arranged $150 million of financing so that it can operate normally while in bankruptcy, including paying employees and vendors.

Its Chapter 11 filing in the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware shows between $500 million and $1 billion of assets and between $100 million and $500 million of liabilities.

According to the filing, the team's largest unsecured creditors include former Dodger players Manny Ramirez, who is now retired, and Andruw Jones, who now plays for the New York Yankees.

LAMediaWatch.com

Fans mourn Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson fans paid their respects Saturday to the late King of Pop on the second anniversary of his shock death, as his famous "Thriller" video jacket went under the hammer in Los Angeles.

Fans were allowed to place flowers by the singer's mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park just outside Los Angeles, where he died from an overdose of powerful sedative propofol on June 25, 2009, aged 50.

The anniversary was more low-key than one year after his death, when the singer's siblings gathered at the picturesque cemetery, and were joined by thousands of fans.

In downtown Los Angeles, the Grammy Museum -- the music industry body's showcase -- opened a permanent exhibit devoted to Jackson, including two of his famous sequined gloves.

Fans also posted their comments on Jackson's official website, where an anniversary message trumpeted the "indescribably unique spirit that still connects Michael today with countless fans in a way that knows no borders."

LAMediaWatch.com

Chris Brown wins 4 BET Awards

LOS ANGELES – Amid awards for the top artists, actors and athletes, Steve Harvey was recognized for his humanitarian work at the BET Awards.

Patti LaBelle also accepted a special honor at Sunday's ceremony; Gladys Knight presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The night's leading nominee, Chris Brown, collected four awards in all. The 21-year-old singer won a pair of prizes early in the show and two fan-voted awards at the end of the ceremony.

Brown was named best male R&B artist and won best collaboration for his song "Look At Me Now" with Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

Lil Wayne also came on stage when Nicki Minaj accepted her award for best female hip-hop artist.

Minaj was joined by Justin Bieber to present the male hip-hop artist award later in the show. Kanye West won but wasn't on hand to accept the trophy.

Other winners included Diddy Dirty Money, named best group, and Jaden Smith and Willow Smith, who tied as winners of the Young Stars award.

Mary J. Blige opened the ceremony, performing her hits "All Night Long" and "Real Love" before being joined by Anita Baker. The divas performed a duet of "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Beyonce performed from across the pond: Her headlining set at the Glastonbury Music Festival was beamed into the Shrine from England.

LAMediaWatch.com

$1.8M For Jackson Jacket

A famed black-and-red calfskin jacket that Michael Jackson wore in the classic “Thriller” video has sold at auction for $1.8 million.

Darren Julien, president and CEO of Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, says the jacket was purchased Sunday by Milton Verret, a commodities trader from Austin, Texas.

The jacket is one of two Jackson wore during the filming of the 1983 “Thriller” video. Jackson wears the jacket in a scene with a troupe of zombies who rise from their graves and break into a dance routine.

Verret says the jacket will be sent on tour and used as a fundraising tool for children’s charities.

A portion of the sale price will go to the Shambala Preserve, a big cat sanctuary caring for two tigers Jackson one owned.

LAMediaWatch.com

Dodgers exec quits

The man hired to improve the experience for fans at Dodger Stadium has called it quits after just two months on the job.

Steve Soboroff apparently quit on Saturday because of Major League Baseball's oversight of the team.

Soboroff's hiring was announced just one week before MLB Commissioner Bud Selig appointed the former Texas Rangers' president to oversee the Dodgers' finances. The hiring also came shortly after public criticism of the Dodgers following the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow on opening day.

Dodger owners Frank and Jamie McCourt continue to battle over ownership of the team in divorce proceedings.

LAMediaWatch.com

BET Awards Tonight

Chris Brown will have another chance at redemption when the BET Awards are presented Sunday night.

The 21-year-old singer, whose image is still recovering from his attack on Rihanna more than two years ago, is up for a leading six awards, including best male R&B artist and video of the year.

Lil Wayne has five nominations. Both he and Brown are set to perform at the 8-11 p.m. ceremony, which will be broadcast live on BET from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Other performers include Beyonce, Drake, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott. Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj and Gladys Knight are also set to appear on the show.

Patti LaBelle will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Steve Harvey will be honored with the Humanitarian Award.

LAMediaWatch.com

LAPD Remembers Lt. Columbo

The Los Angeles Police Department feels like they lost one of their own in Peter Falk ... even though he only played a cop on TV.

A rep for the LAPD tells TMZ they are "proud" to be associated with Falk's infamous character, Lt. Columbo, who was an LAPD homicide detective.

The rep told TMZ, "The Department extends heartfelt condolences to Mr. Falk's family in this most difficult time. He was truly one of the all-time great TV cops. There will never be another one like him."

Falk passed away on Thursday at the age of 83.

LAMediaWatch.com

Dinosaur... Dinosaur!

The Dinos are coming!

The Natural History Museum's Dinosaur Hall opens on July 16.   Get your tickets before they're all extinct.

Admission is every 15 minutes.

Get your tickets HERE

LAMediaWatch.com

"Whitey" Bulger Back In Boston

Minutes after landing in Boston after 16 years on the run, reputed Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger was escorted into the federal courthouse by U.S. marshals. During his brief appearance, he asked the magistrate to give him back his money.

Bulger, 81, was arrested by FBI agents outside his Santa Monica apartment Wednesday, along with longtime girlfriend and fellow fugitive Catherine Greig, 60.

Bulger and Greig were flown to Boston from California in a small, non-commercial jet, and were immediately whisked away in a convoy of state police cruisers, motorcycles and black Chevy Suburbans with dark-tinted windows.

Bulger appeared at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse just before 4 p.m. for the first of two hearings -- one on various racketeering charges and another for murder and related charges.

The pair are expected to return to court next week.

David Boeri, an investigative reporter for WBUR in Boston, tracked James "Whitey" Bulger's story for the past 26 years.

He says Bulger relished violence, and may have killed many more people than the 19 the feds know about.

 "He was a brutal killer, unlike mafia dons, who often removed themselves from the violence, he liked violence, he engaged in murders up close personally. His sidekick once told me... he says he's murdered somewhere in the range of 60 or 70 people. Killing women, young women, strangling them."

Boeri says tips about Bulger over the years led him to San Diego and even a trip to Venice, California. That's how close he got to the notorious mobster.

LAMediaWatch.com

Actor Peter Falk Dies

Actor Peter Falk -- star of the TV show "Columbo" -- died last night at the age of 83 at his home in Beverly Hills.  Family members have declined to discuss the cause of death.

The actor had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to his adopted daughter, Catherine Falk.

In 2009, a judge established a conservatorship for the ailing actor after a court battle between Catherine and wife of more than 30 years, Shera Falk.

Falk won four Emmys for his starring role in the television detective series, "Columbo." He also received Academy Award nominations for movies in 1959 and 1960.

LAMediaWatch.com

Bulger Remanded To Massachusetts

Crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger appeared in federal court Thursday afternoon and waived his right to a removal hearing.

Bulger will now be remanded to Boston, MA to face federal charges of murder, extortion, racketeering and money laundering stemming from crimes committed from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s

The infamous crime boss, who was on the FBI’s most wanted list, was the leader of South Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, according to the FBI. Officials believe he was responsible for as many as 19 murders.

Bulger, 81, and his girlfriend, Catherine Greig, 60, were arrested Wednesday night at the Princess Eugenie apartment complex in Santa Monica following a tip from the FBI’s Boston Bureau.

The pair was arrested without incident. The complex’s manager said they had been living there for over a decade under the names Charles and Carol Gasko.

LAMediaWatch.com

Peter Frampton files for divorce

Peter Frampton has filed for divorce from Tina Elfers after nearly 15 years of marriage.

Papers filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court show Frampton, 61, seeking visitation with their daughter with physical custody of Mia, 15, going to Elfers. Irreconcilable differences were cited as the reason for the divorce.

The guitar hero and wife No. 3 split up on New Year's Eve, according to People.

Frampton is embarking a 35th-anniversary tour — ending in Paris in November — of his mega-selling double album "Frampton Comes Alive!"

LAMediaWatch.com

Artest wants to change his name to World Peace

Ron Artest has filed paperwork Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally change his name to "Metta World Peace."

Among the definitions for "metta" is a Buddhist virtue of kindness.

Artest has informed the Lakers of his plans but has not yet filed the necessary paperwork with the NBA to apply for a name change on the back of his jersey, Lakers spokesman John Black said.

"My understanding is 'Metta' will be his first name and 'World Peace' will be his last," Black said.

Artest, 31, is due back in court for a name-change hearing on August 26, according to court records.

The attorney who filed the proposal, Jill Rubin, said she was handling the change of Ronald William Artest Jr.'s name but had no additional information as to why the 14-year NBA veteran was doing so.

'Runaway Bride' Starring Hef on Lifetime

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A week after being jilted by his 25 year-old fiancee, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is making the most of his new "runaway bride" theme.

Hefner, 85, said in a Twitter message that an aborted TV special about what would have been his third wedding has been revived with a new twist.

"The marriage special planned for Lifetime TV is now going to have a 'runaway bride' theme with a two-hour special to air in July.

The marriage would have been Hefner's third. Crystal Harris has since said she did not believe she was the only woman in Hefner's life and was irritated by his 9 p.m. curfew and long meetings with attorneys over a prenuptial contract.

LAMediaWatch.com

Prosecutors urge TV producer's extradition

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to ignore efforts by a reality television producer charged in his wife's death in Mexico to present evidence and testimony from his daughter to fight extradition.

A prosecution brief filed Thursday calls Bruce Beresford-Redman's efforts to call his daughter as a witness during an upcoming extradition hearing an effort to distract the court from overwhelming evidence that he killed his wife.

Lawyers for the ex-"Survivor" producer have introduced statements from the couple's 6-year-old daughter into their opposition paperwork, and said at a press conference they hope to call her as a witness.

The U.S. government's brief states that Beresford-Redman is not allowed to call witnesses during the proceeding, and that much of the evidence he seeks to enter is inadmissible.

LAMediaWatch.com

Jackson doc's lawyers to see 'This Is It' footage

Sony Pictures Entertainment has agreed to provide a private screening for Dr. Conrad Murray and his defense attorneys to view some 100 hours of raw footage of Michael Jackson's rehearsals for his "This Is It" concert.

But according to documents filed in court Thursday they won't be allowed to make public statements about what they see.

A stipulation reached by both sides said that Murray and his lawyers will have access to 21 boxes containing audio-visual recordings of Jackson's rehearsals which became the basis for a concert movie after his death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the superstar's death on June 25, 2009, from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives. His trial begins in September.

After the viewing, lawyers will prepare a log of segments they want to obtain for use in Murray's case.

A hearing on the issue is scheduled for Friday but lawyers for both sides indicated in the papers they will ask for the matter to be continued to July 27.

LA County Can’t Mandate Condoms In Porn

A Los Angeles appeals court says the legal system can’t compel public health officials to require and enforce condom use in porn.

The June 16 ruling by the 2nd District Court of Appeals upholds dismissal of a case brought against county health officials in 2009 by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

In its suit, AHF contended that the officials should be compelled by the court to issue a regulatory order requiring adult film performers to wear condoms in sex scenes and get hepatitis B vaccinations.
The appeals court said the county health officer has discretion in his duty to prevent and control disease.

The advocacy group’s lawyer Brian Chase says the case will be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health did not immediately provide comment.

LAMediaWatch.com

No Jail For Lindsay

Lindsay Lohan will not go to jail,because Judge Stephanie Sautner ruled the prior judge -- Elden Fox -- only required controlled substances testing from January 3 - February 25, 2011.

In other words, Judge Fox ONLY ordered testing for drugs and not alcohol.

Judge Sautner said Lindsay is now restricted for the remainder of her house arrest to one friend at a time at her Venice loft, in addition to family members.

And, the judge said NO PARTIES at Lindsay's crib.

Judge Sautner said the only thing Lindsay was guilty of was "extremely poor judgment."

The Probation Dept. cannot test Lindsay anymore for drugs or alcohol, because there's no court order allowing it. So Lindsay is free to drink all she wants, as long as she's not driving after she drinks.

LAMediaWatch.com

Former Mob Boss Caught in Santa Monica

Crimeboss James “Whitey” Bulger will face a federal judge this afternoon; nearly 16 years after the FBI began searching for him.

Bulger, 81, and his girlfriend, Catherine Greig, 60, were arrested Wednesday night at a Santa Monica apartment complex following a tip from the FBI’s Boston Bureau. The pair was arrested without incident.

Bulger is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in downtown at 2 p.m. on charges including murder, extortion, racketeering and money laundering stemming from crimes committed from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s.

The infamous crime boss was the leader of South Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, according to the FBI.
Greig is facing charges of harboring a fugitive. Officials say she had been on the run with Bulger since 1995.

LAMediaWatch.com

Lindsay Flunks Alcohol Test

Lindsay Lohan tested positive for alcohol earlier this month ... and has been ordered to appear in front of an L.A. County Superior Court judge tomorrow morning ... and the Probation Dept. wants her in jail.

Lindsay was tested twice last week. Sources tell TMZ ... Lindsay tested positive for alcohol on one of the tests and negative on the other. In both tests, she tested negative for drugs. One of the tests was administered just after Lindsay had a rooftop barbecue party.

The L.A. County Probation Department will ask Judge Stephanie Sautner to yank her out of house arrest and throw her in L.A. County Jail. 

The Probation Department is not happy because they tried to force Lindsay to take two tests in May but Lindsay's lawyer, Shawn Holley, refused to make Lindsay submit, claiming it wasn't part of her probation. Turns out it was, so Lindsay subsequently took the two tests, one of which she failed.

The Probation Dept. is also ticked that Lindsay is having parties while under house arrest.

Judge Sautner will hold a hearing tomorrow at 10 AM.

LAMediaWatch.com

Jackson's former GM pleads guilty in tax case

A former general manager for Michael Jackson pleaded guilty Wednesday for failing to file tax returns during the time she worked for the late pop star.

The Justice Department said Raymone Bain failed to pay income taxes owed from 2006 through 2008. During that period, she was responsible for daily operations of the Michael Jackson Co., including financial, public relations and marketing tasks.

Court documents put the tax loss between $200,000 and $400,000. Under a plea agreement with the government, Bain agreed to pay the back taxes she owes and must file accurate returns covering five years starting in 2004 before her sentencing Aug. 31.

She pleaded guilty to two counts in federal court Wednesday. She could face up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine for failing to file a federal tax return in 2008, and up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine for failure to file a District of Columbia tax return in 2008.

LAMediaWatch.com

New Anchor Coming To NBC 4

Lucy Noland is leaving KHOU in Houston and heading to KNBC in Los Angeles where she will report and anchor, though it hasn’t been announced what show she’ll anchor.

Noland had been co-anchor of KHOU’s main 5pm and 10pm newscasts since 2007.

Before KHOU, Noland was co-host of WNYW’s “Good Day New York.” Noland had been with WNYW for three years — from 2004 to 2007. Before that, she spent 7 years at WJBK-TV, the Fox owned-and-operated station in Detroit.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, educated at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Noland has three children.

She starts at NBC4 on July 11.

LAMediaWatch.com

FOX11 Announces Launch of 5 p.m. Newscast

Kingsley Smith began his tenure as KTTV news director with a big announcement. On his first day with the station this week, Smith announced that the Fox O&O would be launching a 5 p.m. newscast in the fall.

Earlier this month, KTTV announced that Smith, who had spent the last three and a half years leading the newsroom at Fox’s WTXF, would be replacing Jose Rios as news director.

A Fox spokesperson tells TVSpy that the new 5 p.m. newscast, which will move into the time slot currently held by “Dr. Oz” when that show leaves for KABC, has been in the works for a bit now but that Smith is making it a top priority.

The 1-hour newscast is set to make its debut on September 12th and will follow Anderson Cooper‘s new syndicated show in the lineup. The station is still working out who will appear at the anchor desk.

LAMediaWatch.com

Singer Glen Campbell has Alzheimer's

Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the 75-year-old country singer, songwriter and guitarist and his wife, Kim, have told People magazine, a condition that has prompted him to describe a new album coming in August as his final recording.

The singer plans to undertake what he’s calling the Glen Campbell Goodbye Tour upon the album’s release. The itinerary is still to be announced.

Campbell’s career stretches over five decades from his early years as a session guitarist in Los Angeles when he played on recordings by Phil Spector, the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and many others, to his success as a solo artist with such hits as “Gentle on My Mind," “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Galveston” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” to his years hosting the CBS-TV show “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” and a side career as an actor in the original film version of “True Grit,” in which he appeared alongside star John Wayne.

LAMediaWatch.com

Tobey Maguire Sued Over Illegal Gambling

Tobey Maguire is involved in a bankruptcy case ... because he's really, really good at Texas Hold'em poker

A hedge fund manager named Bradley Ruderman is currently in prison for operating a ponzi scheme, defrauding a number of clients by essentially stealing from Peter to pay Paul. But according to legal docs obtained by TMZ, Ruderman was also a not-so-good poker player.

Ruderman's company is now in bankruptcy and the trustees are looking for money anywhere they can find it to pay his victims and other creditors. 

According to docs, Tobey, Ruderman and others laid down lots of loot in private, unlicensed, high-stakes games at posh hotels in L.A., including the Four Seasons and the Peninsula. Ruderman -- who has already admitted to losing $5.2 million on the poker tables -- fell victim to Tobey's card skills.

In California unlicensed poker games are illegal so the winnings are considered ill-gotten. As for how much, the docs say more than $300,000 betweeen 2007 and 2008.

So now the bankruptcy trustees are going after Tobey, trying to seize his winnings so they can use the money to pay off creditors.
LAMediaWatch.com

Octo-Doc Begs To Keep Practicing Medicine

Octomom's doctor, Michael Kamrava, is now pleading with a judge to let him keep practicing medicine ... even though the state Medical Board has already ruled to strip his license.

In court documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court ... Doc Kamrava requests a stay of the Medical Board of California's decision earlier this month to revoke his license -- and says he intends to appeal that ruling.

Kamrava claims the Board exceeded its jurisdiction and violated his due process right to earn a living.

If the court doesn't step in Kamrava's license will be revoked on July 1.

LAMediaWatch.com

Michael Jackson exhibit at Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Madame Tussauds in Hollywood unveiled its new limited-time exhibit, The Michael Jackson Experience, on Monday.

The exhibit features three wax figures of the King of Pop from various stages of his career -- the Jackson Five years, the Invincible Era and the "This Is It" Michael.

The exhibit, included as part of Madame Tussauds general admission price, runs through Labor Day.

Michael Jackson first sat for a Madame Tussauds wax sculpture in 1984. He was sculpted six times before his death and is the most widely exhibited figure in the Madame Tussauds worldwide empire.

LAMediaWatch.com

Red-Light Camera Set to Expire

LA's red-light camera program is set to expire at the end of July after the city council considered a motion Tuesday that would have extended the program.

The proposal, presented by Councilmen Tony Cardenas and Bernard Parks, would have prolonged the program for one year on a month-to-month basis. The city's Police Commission voted earlier this month to end the red-light camera program contract with an Arizona-based company.

After a lengthy discussion Tuesday at City Hall, the council did not have the votes to overturn the commission's decision.

The council's Tuesday meeting came one day after the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which is led by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, adopted a resolution to endorse red-light cameras as a safety tool.

LAMediaWatch.com

Megan's mouth got her fired from 'Transformers'

Michael Bay says Steven Spielberg demanded he dismiss Megan Fox from the third "Transformers" film after she compared Bay to Hitler.

Bay tells GQ magazine in an article appearing in its July issue that Spielberg, who is an executive producer on the film, told the director to "fire her right now" after Fox made the Hitler remarks to a British magazine last year.

Fox told the magazine before production began on the third "Transformers" installment that Bay "wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is."

The 25-year-old actress was replaced by Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," which opens next week.

Paramount confirmed Tuesday that Bay made the comments to GQ but did not elaborate.

LAMediaWatch.com

Kate Winslet, J-Lo nominated for Hollywood stars

Kate Winslet and Jennifer Lopez are among nominees announced Tuesday to get their star on Hollywood's storied Walk of Fame next year.

Jennifer Aniston and Scarlett Johansson can also get their names on the Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk in 2012, while actors Richard Burton and Malcolm McDowell, along with soul legend Barry White, will get posthumous stars.

"Simpsons" creator Matt Groening was also nominated, along with John Lasseter and Sumner Redstone from the film world, and musicians Boyz II Men and Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band Heart.

The nominees were chosen from hundreds of applicants considered at a June 17 meeting of the committee, whose decision was ratified by the Chamber's board of directors.

While the nominations are for 2012, those chosen have up to five years to schedule ceremonies to unveil their stars, after which their selection will expire.

LAMediaWatch.com

Ryan Dunn died from crash's impact, fire

PHILADELPHIA - A coroner's report says "Jackass" daredevil Ryan Dunn and his passenger died from the impact and resulting fire of a car crash in suburban Philadelphia.

The Chester County coroner Tuesday lists blunt force trauma and thermal trauma as the causes of death. Toxicology results will take four to six weeks to complete.

The 34-year-old Dunn and his 30-year-old passenger, Zachary Hartwell, were killed early Monday. Police say Dunn's Porsche might have been traveling as fast as 100 mph when it crashed.

West Goshen Township police declined to discuss the investigation.

Mourners are placing flowers at the scene of the crash in West Chester. Police say Dunn's car jumped a guardrail, flew into a wooded ravine, struck a tree and burst into flames.

LAMediaWatch.com

CBS enters 10-year Grammy deal

NEW YORK - No need to change the channel: The Grammys will be on the CBS network for the next 10 years.

The Recording Academy announced Tuesday that it had reached a new deal to keep the awards show on the network, where the Grammys have aired since 1973. The network will also broadcast the now annual nominations concert special, which this year will air Nov. 30.

The Grammys are set for Feb. 12, 2012.   Both events will air live from Los Angeles.

This year's Grammy telecast in February featured stars like Eminem and Lady Antebellum. It drew the show's biggest TV audience in 10 years, with 26.6 million viewers.

Online: grammys.com

LAMediaWatch.com

Suspect in Stow beating ordered to serve time for parole violation

The man Los Angeles police have named as the prime suspect in a vicious assault on a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium on opening day was ordered back to state prison Monday to serve 10 months for violating his parole.

Deputy Parole Commissioner Ali Zarrinnam ruled that there was sufficient cause to put Giovanni Ramirez, 31, back behind bars because he had access to a gun that had been placed in a laundry basket at the residence where he was staying.

The ruling buys time for the LAPD, which might otherwise have been forced to release Ramirez if it couldn't persuade the Los Angeles County district attorney's office to charge him in the Stow beating.

The LAPD has yet to present a formal case against Ramirez, who was arrested May 27.

LAMediaWatch.com

Skateboarders expected to descend on L.A.

(LA Times) Thousands of skateboarders are expected to take to the streets of downtown Los Angeles this afternoon for a group skate in celebration of "Go Skateboarding Day," event organizers said.

Slated to begin at 1 p.m., the "Wild in the Streets" event starts at Hollenbeck Park just east of downtown.  After a five-mile ride along an undisclosed route, skaters are to end at Lafayette Park.

The route will be made public just prior to the ride, said Raluca State, a spokesperson for Emerica, a skate shoe manufacturer organizing the event.

Roads will not be closed for the event, State added.

This is the first time it is coming to Los Angeles. State said it will benefit Boards for Bros, a nonprofit group that collects and refurbishes skateboards to donate to children who cannot afford them.

LAMediaWatch.com

KCET-TV Moving to Burbank

On Monday officials said the independent television station is headed to Burbank, moving to new headquarters at the Pointe, a 14-story office tower on Alameda Avenue.

The move follows KCET's announcement earlier this year that it had sold its current headquarters in Los Feliz to the Church of Scientology for a reported $42 million.

The station has struggled since splitting from Public Broadcasting Station earlier this year. Taking up 1½ floors at Pointe, KCET's new digs will measure 55,000 square feet, about half its current size.

At this point, no layoffs are planned as a result of the move. The station employs 125 people.

The station has been at its Sunset Boulevard site since 1970.

LAMediaWatch.com

LA Sparks roll back prices for 14th anniversary

The Los Angeles Sparks will mark the 14th anniversary of the WNBA's inaugural game by reducing the prices for all but the courtside seats to their 1997 levels for tonight's game at Staples Center against the New York Liberty.

Tickets that are usually priced at $55 or $36 will be sold for $20, while the price for the remaining non-courtside tickets will be $7.50.

The anniversary will also be marked by highlights from the Sparks' history being shown on the video board, all fans receiving a commemorative poster featuring the greatest players in team history and several players wearing the limited-edition Sparks 15th anniversary sneakers, including forward Tina Thompson, the only player to play in all 15 WNBA seasons.

Gingrich finance team quits

ATLANTA (AP) — The top fundraisers for Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign have abandoned his struggling bid amid anemic fundraising and heavy spending.

Campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond is confirming to The Associated Press that fundraising director Jody Thomas and fundraising consultant Mary Heitman have left the team.

The former House speaker’s campaign has been on life support since earlier this month when 16 top aides and advisers resigned en masse over disagreements with the Republican candidate.

Gingrich has insisted that he will stay in the race.

LAMediaWatch.com

ICANN Opens Domain Naming

Move over, dot-com — get ready for dot-anything.

The group that governs Internet domain names is opening up the system so that companies and organizations can apply to create their own versions of .com, .org or .gov. Under the new rules, instead of a coke.com, Coca-Cola might control the domain .coke and assign Web addresses such as drink.coke or bottle.coke.

The Marina del Rey group known as ICANN called it "one of the biggest changes ever" to the way the Internet's naming system works. With the domain expansion, the group of 22 existing suffixes — many of which were established in the early 1980s — could quickly balloon to hundreds or thousands. ICANN said more recognizable addresses would allow Web users to find what they're looking for more quickly.

ICANN has been planning the naming expansion for much of the last decade. The group, which has been the steward of the Internet's naming system since 1998, said it would begin accepting applications in January.

Internet observers expect that the initial expansion might bring 500 new options for site suffixes, which are called generic top-level domain names (or gTLDs). There are only 22 now, including the original eight, (.com, .edu, .gov, .int., .mil, .net, .org and .arpa).

Since 2000, ICANN has added 14 top-level domains, including .biz, .info and .jobs. Few of the new names have caught on, with .com remaining the standard across many industries.

Still it can be difficult and expensive to find new .com names, with the most desirable long ago snapped up by companies, individuals and speculators who stockpile names in hopes of selling them to the highest bidder.
LAMediaWatch.com

New graphic tobacco warning labels

Dead bodies, diseased lungs and a man on a ventilator were among the graphic images for revamped tobacco labels unveiled on Tuesday by U.S. health officials.

Proposed in November under a law that put the multibillion-dollar tobacco industry under the control of the Food and Drug Administration, the new labels must be on cigarette packages and in advertisements starting in October 2012.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg were to announce the nine new warnings at the White House, but the labels were released early Tuesday.  Click here.

They show images that may disturb some, including one titled "WARNING: Cigarettes are addictive," illustrated with a photograph of a man smoking a cigarette through a hole in his throat.

Others messages point out the dangers of secondhand smoke to children, tobacco's causal link to fatal lung disease, cancer, strokes, heart disease and death.
LAMediaWatch.com

Ryan Dunn's passenger identified

Ryan Dunn, left, and Zachary Hartwell, right, were killed in a car accident near Philadelphia on Monday, June 20, 2011. The man in the middle is unidentified. Dunn tweeted this photo shortly before the accident

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20072944-10391698.html#ixzz1PvWyDY2q

Police identified "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn's passenger as Zachary Hartwell. Dunn and Hartwell were killed when Dunn's Porsche skidded off a road outside Philadelphia.

Dunn and Hartwell were killed when Dunn's Porsche crashed into the woods before bursting into flames. Police said they identified Dunn through his tattoos.

Autopsies were to be conducted Monday, though it was unclear when the results would be released.

According to court documents, Dunn was charged in April 2005 with driving under the influence after crashing his car in West Whiteland Township, about 2 miles north of Monday's crash site.

LAMediaWatch.com