Box-office record for 'New Moon' midnight showings rankles Harry Potter fans

I know, I know, we’ve heard enough about Twilight’s “New Moon” already. Westwood residents couldn’t get away from fans lined up on the sidewalks for the midnight showing holding signs declaring their devotion (like one I spotted that said, "We flew all the way from NY and NJ to be here").

But this is big news, worth bringing up in the endless wizard-vampire comparisons.

Summit Entertainment set the official estimate for “New Moon’s” midnight ticket sales at $26.3 million, breaking the record “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” set this summer at $22.2 million.

Harry may have fallen off the broom-wagon.

At least, that’s what it looks like from the hard numbers. But HP fans have proved loyal over the ten years author J.K. Rowling took to release the seven books chronicling the young wizards (and are now loyally attending the movies) -- and in our Company Town blog comments section, it seems no blood-sucking heartthrob is compelling enough take such a magical love away:

Oprah to end her syndicated TV show in 2011

Oprah officially announced her decision to leave broadcast syndication for cable after her contract with CBS expires in 2011.

Our Company Town blog wrote she will most likely resurface on OWN, a cable network she is starting with Discovery Communications.

Commenters haven’t been saying much about the breaking news on Oprah’s split, but other social networkers are all a-Twitter about the decision:

cruedoll wrote: #oprah rules the world doesn't she? I don't think I have ever even watched her show

tylersnotes: Hey world why is it surprising that Oprah is cancelling her show in 2 years? She's starting a cable channel. Not like she's leaving TV.

drewpickard: I predict Oprah running for president in 2012. President of THE WORLD.

ShineyPink: this is a terrible day for @oprah lovers:(

So what do you think? Is Oprah making a smart move by packing up her show and placing it on cable? Do you think she will still be able to get guests like Sarah Palin and Tom Cruise on this new network? Or is this, the most popular daytime talk show, "jumping the shark"?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Oprah Winfrey on stage at the 60th prime-time Emmy Awards from the Nokia Theatre. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Oprah reportedly is considering leaving Chicago for her L.A.-based OWN cable network in 2011

Rumors are flying around the Web that the Oprah Winfrey show may soon be packing up its longtime broadcast syndication in Chicago and moving to her new Los Angeles-based cable network, the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Even though OWN has yet to launch, there has already been a considerable amount of controversy with the channel’s executives, as three top programmers have left the venture in the last six months.

Winfrey’s production company Harpo Inc. has not confirmed the rumors, saying only that the iconic talk show host would make a decision by year's end. The show’s contract with syndicator CBS Television Distribution expires in 2011.

Meanwhile, people on Twitter don’t need any concrete details to spread rumors around the social network like wildfire, using the hashtag "#Oprah" -- here are some of today’s tweets about Oprah’s predicted move:

JakeJNelson: Its not like anyone is watching anyway...What would be so entertaining about #Oprah

milordsuccotash: #Oprah braves move to her OWN network!! Great move O, she owns and controls her brand!

courtneywade: O is off her rocker.

Henjealy: OMG, WHAT? Probably leaving us for some Olympic-laden city. I see how it is.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Oprah is wise to consider making the switch to her OWN network? Can she survive on cable, away from syndicated broadcasts? Let us know below.

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Oprah Winfrey on the set of her show in 1996. Credit: Los Angeles Times

'This Is It': Does the Michael Jackson documentary redeem or fail to acquit?

The posthumous Michael Jackson documentary, “This Is It,” reported less-than-impressive numbers on opening night but has since garnered hope with its increasing ticket sales, says our Company Town blog.

The box-office surge is partially due to its popularity overseas (like in Japan), but also because of positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

However, readers’ reactions to the film still mirror public opinion seen and heard after Jackson’s sudden death in June: a battle between sympathy for the tragedy of losing a legend and repulsion to repeated allegations of child molestation during his life.

Times film critic Ann Powers gave the documentary an overall positive review, and some readers agreed:

Natalie wrote: 'This Is It' speaks loud and clear to debunk all the myths about Michael Jackson that media/tabloid has implanted in the public's mind. He is a true genius who masters his craft, yet he is also humble and childlike. There is so much talent and goodness in this man that the world has just chose to ignore -- and now we've lost him forever. This film is a gift to all of Michael's fans and music lovers.

For All Time wrote: Through 'This Is It' we learn more about the kind of person MJ really was inside than the last 30 years of slanderous gossip about him. His relentless pursuit of musical perfection, his rare kind of professionalism with fellow players and his unmatched energy level will never be seen in show business ever again.

But others stood by their opinion that Jackson’s personal problems overrode any good brought about by his music:

David wrote: Cant we let this narcissistic madman fade away?? Oops..there is still cash to be squeezed out of him.

archangel wrote: Oh, please Jackson "channeling God"! And which channel was he tuning into during his drug induced God delusions? The Baby Channel, Barney, Comedy Central, the Doper Channels (MTV/VH1). I'm in a quandary deciding which the worse pathos is; Jackson for his mediocre, tainted and trashed legacy... or the media for squeezing this landfill stench from a dead guy just to rack up the sales? Enough!

joel wrote: of course foreigners would cough up the money to see jackson they think he was a god. most countries over there think its ok to molest a child.

If you have seen “This Is It,” tell us what you think. Do you think we ought to appreciate a great film honoring this departed musical legend? Or is it impossible to separate Jackson’s personal life -- and his controversial relationships with children -- from his music?

And if you haven’t seen the film, are you planning on attending? Are you waiting for the inevitable DVD? Or have you had enough of the King of Pop?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Movie poster for "This Is It." Credit: Sony Pictures

'The Oprah Effect': Is Christmas in October naughty, or nice?

It's not surprising that there is buzz after today's Oprah Winfrey Show (she seems to have that effect on people frequently), but this time many are wondering if Oprah's featured offer is just an early example of the acceleration of Black Friday's rabid consumerism. All this, and Halloween hasn't even arrived yet.

On the second segment of her show today, Oprah announced an exclusive sale at Payless ShoeSource: a link to a coupon for 50% off one’s entire purchase. (The offer is only good in stores from now until the close of business Friday, Oct. 30. That's tomorrow, folks -- so if you're interested, don't delay on printing that coupon.)

(Perhaps unrelated to the Christmas season, but still worth mentioning, is another offer recently released by Boston Market. The restaurant chain's coupon, which offers customers the choice of a quarter white meat or a three-piece dark meat meal with mashed potatoes and cornbread for $1, was a response to KFC's free-chicken day on Monday, Oct. 26. Boston Market makes no attempt to hide that the promotion is an attempt to steal KFC's thunder; its coupon reads "$1 Real Chicken Meal: Always better than just a FREE piece of chicken." The offer is good until Nov. 1.)

Lindsay Lohan draws jeers and cheers as artistic advisor for Ungaro

Once Lindsay Lohan graduated from the Disney film factory of cuteness and started to mirror the behavior of the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the negative criticism started rolling in. The negative press didn't just focus on her personal foibles of car crashes, getting thrown off projects and flashing her lady parts; she broke a record a few years ago in her professional career by collecting seven Razzie awards including worst movie of 2007. 

Hopefully Lohan has developed a thick skin from all that drama because this week she co-designed a line of clothes for French fashion house Emanuel Ungaro's Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2010 Collection, and the comments in our All the Rage and Dish Rag blogs were pretty harsh.

Shanna wrote: Kinda reminds me of Dunkin' Donuts uniforms...

joanne agreed: Disgusting, what an insult to UNGARO

lula commented: wow so glad for esteban that he is out of this mess he is rising by the minute while the house sinks to the deep end. tacky trashy no class is an understatement for this slap in the face collection

JohBurgJen said: Been there, seen that. A totally pathetic attempt to put together a fashion show. Are you people joking? Lindsay should stay where she belongs.

Shawn complained: AAAH! My eyes!  All around a very embarrassing moment for everyone involved. The bottom-line, though, is the fashion industry is as cut-throat as it gets. It was rather cruel to prop Ms. Lohan up in this position knowing that her psychological health is hanging by a thread. I feel really sorry for her - but who couldn't see this coming? Except *maybe* for Lohan and that misguided Ungaro exec. On the other hand, if only the clothes were halfway cute - she might get some respect. But they look like Polly Pocket Porn Star meets Pamela "oops, I forgot my pants" Anderson. They are UGLY, look unfinished and completely un-inspired. 

Schwarzenegger becomes latest Republican to back Obama's healthcare overhaul plan

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today became the latest Republican to back an overhaul of healthcare, as the Obama administration gathers support for what it hopes will be the final bipartisan push.

In a prepared statement, Schwarzenegger, generally more liberal on social issues than most of his fellow Republicans, stressed the need for action. "I believe in the vital importance of this issue and that it should be addressed through bipartisan cooperation."

The governor, who is termed out, cited goals he shares with Obama, such as slowing the growth in healthcare costs and ensuring a strong economic recovery. "I appreciate his partnership with the states and encourage our colleagues on both sides of the aisle at the national level to move forward."

Schwarzenegger joins the bipartisanship parade of healthcare reform backers that includes former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, the former Health and Human Services secretary in the Bush administration. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, elected as a Republican but now an independent, has also backed reform.

After the jump check out the latest Twitter updates from Michael Muskal, and your comments.

Should David Letterman be fired for having affairs with members of his staff?

Unless you were on a very long vacation to an amazingly unplugged island or taking a terrific nap, you've heard that David Letterman has admitted to having affairs with women on his staff. The revelations were made public this week after Letterman testified before a grand jury that he was blackmailed by the former boyfriend of one of his lovers. That man, Robert Joel Halderman, was arrested for extortion. He once dated former "Late Show" staffer and Letterman assistant Stephanie Birkitt.

As the news broke last night, articles were written all over the Web, including here at the Times, where reader reaction was mixed. Some felt Letterman did the right thing by admitting his wrongdoing, others felt he should be fired immediately.

Bunny wrote: "Usually not a good idea to have sex with your employees. It is a far worse thing to try to extort someone for $2 million."

bil bornstein added: "Misogynist creep...."

daryl responded to Letterman's claims that he felt "menaced" by the alleged extortion thusly: "Like we care about how embarrassed or threatened you feel, you ethical midget. Think how those women felt, having to put up with your creepy advances to keep their jobs."

Jack went even further: "After firing Dan Rather, it would be hypocritical for CBS not to fire Dave Letterman. Letterman's indiscretions were grossly irresponsible. compromising not only himself, but also CBS and most of all the women who were involved. For a comedian who made a living out of lampooning other public figures who engaged in sexual escapades, he is now crippled, living in a glass house. He doesn't dare joke anymore about Bill Clinton, Mark Foley, Gov. Sanford, etc. or any of their kind without being hypocritical. I will miss him but he has got to go."

More reactions after the jump...

Lopez says Polanski defenders lose sight of true victim

Columnist Steve Lopez reads through old grand jury transcripts in which a girl who was 13 in 1977 describes her encounter with Roman Polanski. Lopez says the director's defenders have lost sight of the true victim in the case. 

To hear these people tell it, you'd think Polanski was the victim rather than the teenager.

And then there's Woody Allen, who has signed the petition too.

Woody Allen?

You'd think that after marrying his longtime girlfriend's adopted daughter, he'd have the good sense to remain silent. But at least Soon-Yi Previn was a consenting adult.

I'd like to show all these great luminaries the testimony from Polanski's underage victim, as well as Polanski's admission of guilt. Then I'd like to ask whether, if the victim were their daughter, they'd be so cavalier about a crime that was originally charged as sodomy and rape before Polanski agreed to a plea bargain. Would they still support Polanski's wish to remain on the lam living the life of a king, despite the fact that he skipped the U.S. in 1977 before he was sentenced?

Lopez hopes Polanski loses his extradition fight, gets hustled back to California and finally gets a sentence that fits his crime.

What do you think? You can voice your opinion here.

In this Nov. 21, 2008 file photo, Director Roman Polansky. center, waves at the screening of Director Oliver Stone's film "W." at the XXVI Turin Film Festival in Turin, Italy. Polanski was arrested by Swiss police as he flew in for the Zurich Film Festival and faces possible extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl, authorities said Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. Polanski was scheduled to receive an honorary award at the festival when he was apprehended Saturday at the airport, the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement. It said U.S. authorities have sought the arrest of the 76-year-old director around the world since 2005. (AP Photo/Massimo Pinca, File)

High-profile outbursts from Kanye West, Serena Williams, Rep. Joe Wilson: Do they show a decline in our civility?

A spate of recent outbursts from high-profile people -- from rapper Kanye West (whose bizarre appearance at MTV's Video Music Awards, in which he snatched the microphone from pop-country singer Taylor Swift as she accepted her award for Best Female Video and announced that the award should have gone to Beyoncé instead, has made headlines all week and even inspired a much-talked-about response from President Obama) to tennis star Serena Williams (whose very public tirade against a lineswoman earned her a $10,500 fine) to Republican politician Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina (whose now-famous shout of "You lie!" during President Obama's healthcare address to Congress led to a House resolution chastising him) -- have led many across the country to speculate about what's wrong with our collective impulse control.

The Times' Robin Abcarian examines the many theories posed by experts about what's behind all the public outbursts in a story published today.  Abcarian writes:

Some say it reflects a general collapse of manners, rooted in the anti-authoritarian strains of the late 1960s. Some offer a psychological explanation: Such outbursts reveal the person beneath the mask of a public persona. Some see an element of racial animus at work.

And one etiquette authority offered an uncomplicated explanation, in particular for West: He just wanted attention.

What do you think -- has civility really declined in America?  And if so, why?  Share your thoughts here.

Photo: Kanye West takes the microphone from Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.  Credit: Jason DeCrow / Associated Press

Patrick Swayze dies at 57 of pancreatic cancer

Heartthrob Patrick Swayze died today, losing his battle against pancreatic cancer. The star of such popular films as "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost" and "Point Break" was 57.

"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," publicist Annett Wolf said a statement.

Earlier this year, in an interview with Barbara Walters, Swayze spoke of the seriousness of his illness, saying he didn't think he would live more than two years. "I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," the actor said. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."

Feel free to leave your thoughts about his life and accomplishments here.

-- Tony Pierce

Photo: Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in "Dirty Dancing." Credit: Vestron Pictures

Fans on Twitter react to death of DJ AM

Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, was found dead this afternoon in his New York City apartment, according to his publicist.

The popular disc jockey toured with Travis Barker, formally of Blink-182, and called off a much-publicized engagement with "Simple Life" star Nicole Richie in 2005.

Goldstein, who escaped a plane crash with Barker in September, was found in an apartment in the SoHo district of Manhattan, according to the Associated Press. Drugs may have been involved, NBC New York reports.

"The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear," Jenni Weinman, his publicist, wrote in an e-mail. "Out of respect for his family and loved ones, please respect their privacy at this time."

Goldstein was scheduled to premiere an MTV show in October, called "Gone Too Far," about overcoming drug addiction after having battled his own cocaine addiction.

Barker's ex-wife, Shanna Moakler, wrote a message on Twitter after reports of Goldstein's death, saying, "My deepest condolences for DJ AM, you were a great artist and will be severely missed. My thoughts and Prayers to his family and friends."

Goldstein wrote a rather grim message on his own Twitter page on Tuesday, quoting lyrics to the Grand Master Flash song, "New York New York." His tweet, which was sent from a Blackberry phone, read, "New york, new york. Big city of dreams, but everything in new york aint always what it seems."

Thousands of fans and friends are reacting to the news on Twitter. We've highlighted some of the more memorable tweets after the jump.

Villaraigosa's remarks on paying for Michael Jackson's memorial service anger readers

Michael Jackson's extravagant memorial service drew criticism last week from city officials who were concerned over the event's estimated $1.4-million price tag. 

However, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced this morning that he would not be attempting to recoup any of the cost, arguing that it was the city's responsibility to oversee the event.  According to L.A. Now, he even criticized a donation website that had been set up by his staff.

“I thought it was ridiculous,” the mayor told reporters during a visit to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. 

Villaraigosa said Los Angeles is a large metropolitan city where major events occur routinely, and that the city is obligated to protect public safety. He added that no one would have expected New York or Chicago to ask others to donate for basic city services during a major event, and he said he is not going to ask AEG, the owner of the Staples Center, to either pay or raise money to offset the city’s expenses.

Many readers believe that Villaraigosa's comments are inappropriate considering the city's financial troubles.

"Given the budget Mr. Mayor, just why should the tax payers pay funeral expenses fpr a private citizen when librarys, parks, hospitals & schools are facing shortened hours/closures, city employees are facing layoffs & furloughs? Oh, wait I know ... it's just another part of your political platform of kising up to the rich & famous," said kgoddess.

Times reporters Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein answer readers' questions about Michael Jackson

Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein are Times reporters who've spent the last weeks extensively covering the Michael Jackson story.  As a result, they are well-versed in the details of the King of Pop's life and death, his family and the people who surrounded him and what the future may hold for his children, his estate and his legacy. 

Ryan and Blankstein are here to answer your questions about Michael Jackson. Got a question?  Post it here and look for the answer in an upcoming video segment on Latimes.com.

Photo: A poster of Jackson is covered with messages from fans at a one-day tribute at Universal CityWalk.  Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images

Fox 11's Jillian Reynolds: Time to grow up?

Jillian (Barberie) Reynolds of Fox's "Good Day LA" is one of the most recognizable faces in local news.  She's also one of the most outspoken, as evidenced by a recent appearance on Howard Stern's Sirius satellite radio show.

Reynolds spoke candidly about not only her colleagues (calling KTTV co-host Dorothy Lucey "very Christian and Bible-thumpy"), but also about her romantic past and present (memorably recalling fantasy play with her husband, Grant Reynolds, including one occurrence when he held a gun to her head).

It's perhaps the most outlandish, but hardly the first, time Reynolds has spoken up about topics her Fox bosses might prefer she avoid. She's previously mentioned her desire to pose nude for Playboy magazine. 

In James Rainey's latest column, he wonders if -- especially in the light of a recent layoff in which about one-quarter of Reynolds' colleagues were told they'd lose their jobs and the on-air revelation that is expecting her second child -- it's time for the bad girl of local news to grow up a little.  What do you think?  Share your thoughts here.

Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images