Need an update on the Universal fire? Ask Al Roker *

While reporters from Los Angeles newspapers and TV stations were being kept out of Universal Studios back lot this morning, at least one media outlet was allowed to report live from the scene of yesterday's fire: NBC Today's weatherman Al Roker. NBC and Universal (surprise) are part of the same corporate family: NBC Universal.

Al gave an update on weather conditions in front of the blackened ruins of part of the studio. Local reporters, meanwhile, following up on the blaze could not even find studio PR people this morning to answer questions, including why the Today show was apparently the only media allowed on the property.

* Update 10:43 AM A spokesperson tells the Times' Andrew Blankstein that another media outlet will be permitted on the backlot today: Access Hollywood, which is also owned by NBC Universal.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[JOURNalism cHiCk]

I was shocked when I heard about the Universal Studios fire, the King Kong attraction has been completely burned down as well as the New York set. Just one year ago since i visited the park. I went through the King Kong attraction, and went on a tour of the sets, including the New York one. Now its horrific to know that they no longer exist. Watching the news this morning, I actually did notice that the reporters that were reporting the incident were not at the exact site where the fire occurred. Now that I've read that Al Roker was at the actual site I would have like to see the ruins of what was left of King Kong and the New York set. I think its pretty clear that NBC was the only one able to get extra access since Universal and NBC are tied together. I also hope to see what was lost rebuilt.

[Dan]

I agree that it doesn't seem fair that Al was the only "reporter" allowed at the site. But you'd think he'd at least be accurate with his information. At one point, while going down the list of movies that had been shot at the burn site, he mentioned The Music Man. Not true. The (original) Music Man was shot on the back lot at Warner Bros. The (yuck), Matthew Broderick, remake was shot in Canada.