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 Every once in a while, visitors to the Magic Kingdom might catch sight of the new, candy-red colored monorail cars gliding overhead. But don't try and get on board. Several months after they were to go into service, the custom-made Mark VII monorail cars are still being tested to eliminate numerous problems, reports the Daily Travel & Deal blog.
One issue, notable during our current heat wave, is that the windows in the new trains do not allow for enough air circulation, creating uncomfortably warm conditions inside. The new trains, like their predecessors, are NOT air conditioned for the most part.
Does this explain why Snow White will be adding two new dwarfs: Sweaty and Stinky.
-- Jesus Sanchez
Photo: Disneyland
The Oscar-winning artist, whose work was featured in such hits as "Aliens" and "Jurassic Park," died Sunday at his home in Malibu from multiple myeloma. He was 62. More details and photos of Winston's life and work, which earned him four Oscars and numerous nominations.
Photo: Titan Books
 ... mingled with the Hollywood film crowd last night as Warren Beatty got a lifetime achievement award at AFI. Here's a (somewhat tart) note from Susan, one of our readers, who was at the event:
Maybe we have [his] nephew to thank for Clinton showing up at the AFI Life Achievement Award for Warren Beatty tonight -- those of us in the audience were surprised to see him. A frail but very sharp McGovern was there, so were Jerry Brown and a few others.
Besides of course, Jack and Dyan who raced over from the Lakers' loss. Faye Dunaway and Elaine May looked like they had the same doctor for cheek implants; makes you appreciate Diane Keaton's natural approach to aging gracefully.
More coverage -- actually about Warren -- from Anne Thompsons excellent "On Hollywood" blog, People, The Gossip Girls (where Hugh Hefner and his posse of blonds take center stage), USA Today, the ever-cranky Fox News (Hollywood Left-fest!) and of course, AP.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Getty Images
 The creation of a 150-acre reef to anchor a forest of giant kelp is taking shape in San Clemente.
An interview with "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan in LAist.
Those reservoir balls the DWP dumped in Silver Lake might not be so safe after all, says Donna Barstow.
Dinner parties gone very, very wrong. Jacket Copy
MTA ridership just keeps going up. Bottleneck Blog
The Olsen twins incur the wrath of PETA. LA Unleashed
Kid fails driving test five times in one day -- video! YouTube via Fishbowl LA
Ride your bike to work in LA -- a how-to guide from LA MetBlogs.
Start planning for the L.A. Film Festival next week.
Compton will get a new skateboard park in September. Curbed LA
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Los Angeles Times
 It was a few weeks ago when "The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno offended many gays when he asked actor Ryan Phillippe, who once played a homosexual character on a soap opera, to give the camera his "gayest look." The teasing triggered widespread criticism (Leno has caught flak before for gay jokes) and prompted hundreds to post photos of their own gayest look, which just happened to feature a prominent finger.
But it looks like all his forgiven. It was happy faces all around last week as Leno, who apologized for the joke, attended a pro-gay marriage event in West Hollywood and voiced his support for same-sex weddings. When asked why he decided to attend, Leno told the Daily News: "I have friends in the gay community. I mean, we live in Hollywood. Who doesn't know gay people in Hollywood?"
-- Jesus Sanchez
Photo: Associated Press
Former "Tonight Show" personality Ed McMahon appeared on the Larry King show to explain how his Beverly Hills mansion ended up in foreclosure: "If you spend more money than you make, you know what happens," he said. "A couple of divorces thrown in, a few things like that."
The Times' Peter Hong has more details about McMahon's appearance. Here's a video clip as well.
-- Jesus Sanchez
 Have you seen the documentary series on a hurricane recovery project in New Orleans? Well, no one has apparently even though a Los Angeles-based firm founded by producer Damon Harman received $1.2 million in Louisiana tax credits to help finance the series. There's also no sign of the $10 million that Harman promised to raise back in 2006 to build a new community center and restore a city park, which was to be the focus of the series, according to a story in the Times Picayune.
"When third parties come in and are willing to assist the city in its recovery effort, they should certainly be thanked and absolutely not rejected out of hand," Councilman-at-large Arnie Fielkow said. "But as evidenced by this case, careful due diligence needs to be performed, so that the expectation levels of citizens are not falsely raised."
-- Jesus Sanchez
Photo: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times
It's 78 candles on the cake today for one of the true living icons of Hollywood, Mr. Clinton Eastwood Jr., better known to film fans as the outlaw Josey Wales, the Man With No Name from the spaghetti westerns and, of course, Harry Callahan, the San Francisco cop with good aim and a bad attitude. I've spent some time recently with the actor and filmmaker for a Calendar article on the bloody history of Dirty Harry and learned firsthand that even though Eastwood is a serene and warm fellow, his decades of cinematic menace still makes people nervous.
Eastwood and I were at the Warner Bros. lot a few weeks ago and he was headed for an editing bay to put final touches on "Changeling," which opens in the U.S. in November. I mentioned to him that some of his old props and costumes were recently added to a display for tourists who pay for the V.I.P. tour of studio lot in Burbank. That piqued his interest, so a security guard let us step in through a side door. There (not too far from the statuette from "The Maltese Falcon") Eastwood checked out a model of the plane from "Firefox," costumes from "Bridges of Madison County" and other items. We were standing behind three students visiting from Florida State University when Eastwood smiled and said, "I remember this stuff." They heard his voice, turned and almost fell over. Eastwood winked at the visitors from Tallahassee, turned and headed off. One of the college kids looked at me and, for some reason, acted like he had just dodged a bullet. "I thought he was going to hit me!"
-- Geoff Boucher
The "Sex and the City" movie opens tomorrow and Carina Chocano says it's pretty good.
One of the best things about the movie is how it manages to confound
expectations while satisfying them, which seems like an achievement for
a movie based on material that had already plumbed every aspect of its
characters' lives and tied up its narrative loose ends. But some, of
course, remained, and that's where the movie takes off -- will Carrie
and Big get married, will Charlotte have a baby, will Miranda and Steve
live happily ever after, will Samantha be satisfied with just one man?
The rest of her review is here. Pix from the NY opening are here, and fashion pix here.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Craig Blankenhorn / New Line Cinema
GOP senators say no to the $7-billion plan to improve healthcare in state prisons. Just one problem -- the feds might take that $7 billion from the state anyway. More on this latest impasse from Michael Rothfeld.
The biggest drop in home prices in 20 years, with L.A. County and the O.C. really taking it on the chin. Peter Y. Hong has the latest numbers.
There's a bounty on teen popster Miley Cyrus' first kiss. Rachel Abramowitz explains.
Done deal: The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the studios agree on a new three-year contract. AP via LAT.
The Lakers win! The best-of-seven series is now 3-1 and moves to Staples Center on Thursday night. Mike Bresnahan's game story, plus lots of pix and links to more Lakers stories here.
They like him, they really like him. David Beckham's critics sing a different tune.
A new James Bond novel is out and ... wait, isn't Ian Fleming dead? Yeah, and his impersonators don't exactly bring the Bond legacy back to life. Read along with Tim Rutten.
 Earle H. Hagen, the Emmy Award-winning TV composer who wrote -- and whistled -- the theme song for “The Andy Griffith Show” has died. Dennis McLellan writes about his life.
Remember the Olympic skater who was slipped a date-rape drug during dinner? An arrest in the case has been made, Kim Christensen reports.
A teensy bit of good news amid the housing debacle -- lower property tax bills for some of us. Garrett Therolf explains.
-- Veronique de Turenne
Photos: Associated Press, BMI
 Ever since he was a kid, Ventura County filmmaker Robert Radler had a thing for the S.S. United States, a transatlantic ocean liner that carried the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, the Mona Lisa, President Kennedy, and young Bill Clinton crossing to England on a Rhodes scholarship. Now Radler has a PBS documentary on the great ship, the Ventura County Star reports:
[Radler's] dad took him to see it in New York Harbor in 1958 when Radler was 6. It was parked next to the Queen Mary and others of its ilk. He remembers how shiny the S.S. United States was, and how its funnels were painted immaculately in red, white and blue.
"It just blew me away," he said. "It was the space shuttle of its day. The others looked old and stately, but this represented the future."
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While filming, Radler went to the ship's best suite; legend has it that Garland was the last occupant. (The ship's last run was in 1969, the same year that Garland died). He found a full ashtray — full of, he almost swears, Garland's cigarettes with her lipstick still on the butts.
The film, "S.S. United States: Lady in Waiting", airs 11 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m June 29 on KCET. More on the film, promotional poster, at right, and ship here.
--Veronique de Turenne
*Updated: In the original post, I called the S.S. United States a "cruise ship". A reader points out it was actually a transatlantic ocean liner, so the text was changed. V.
Day One with a bullet. Well, a shell casing, anyway. That's what's been found so far in the excavation of the Barker Ranch, where Charles Manson and his murderous band of followers once lived. Louis Sahagun is following the story.
An L.A. Unified police officer who reported sex abuse at South East High School says he was punished with "freeway therapy" and transferred to another campus for embarrassing school administrators. Richard Winton has the details.
That prison plan to shift low-risk offenders to community-level care? Great idea, says Michael Rothfeld.
West Nile virus has been found in 13 birds in the O.C. so far this month, David Reyes reports.
You're excused! San Diego city workers who don't want to officiate at gay weddings can just say no. AP via LAT.
Profits at Home Depot drop 66% as the housing slump continues.
Steve Lopez waxes nostalgic for the soon-to-be termed-out Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Who gave what to whom? L.A.'s richest residents (Geffen, Spielberg, Redstone, Selleck) spread their wealth all around the political spectrum, Tina Daunt reports.
Are you missing baseball's super-slugger Barry Bonds? Yeah, neither is the city of San Francisco, where he's quickly vanishing from the collective consciousness. John M. Glionna reports on Bonds' post-Giants slump.
-- Veronique de Turenne
Photos: Los Angeles Times; Associated Press
 Former Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza retires. LAT
Here's a traffic nightmare: Lakers series at Staples Center vs. "American Idol" finals at the Nokia Theatre tomorrow night.
Commencement tonight at CalState Northridge. The Homeroom
California's state parks need $1.2 billion in repairs. LADN
Subway sandwich shops in downtown L.A. go to 24-hour service. Angelenic
The sounds of summer -- the genius behind the Beach Boys sound, Brian Wilson, sets local concert dates. Los Anjealous
A career in education: woman graduates after 17 years in night school. The Signal.
Taxes on wrestling, sideshows and menageries to rise in Pasadena. Star-News
LA's still using too much power and the DWP's David Nahai's still scolding. LAist
--Veronique de Turenne & Jesus Sanchez
Photo: Los Angeles Times
Our own Kenneth Turan watched it in Cannes and taped his first impression. And check out his full review here.
-- Veronique de Turenne
Retired LAPD officers, like Bob Wheeler at right, have watched over L.A. movie sets for decades. It's a good deal for the ex-cops, who make great money, and for film crews, who can keep production running at 12 to 16 hours at a stretch. Now comes a proposal by the LAPD to ditch the retirees and force film companies to use off-duty, active officers instead, Joel Rubin reports.
It is part of a larger LAPD proposal under consideration to establish a
contract service division that would give the department control over
use of off-duty officers at major sporting and other events.
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"They have not given this enough thought," said retired LAPD Sgt. Brett
Papworth, a board member of the Motion Picture Officers Assn. "We
understand how this industry works, and the industry trusts us to do
our job just like they trust a stunt man to come in and do a stunt
fall."
But they are hardly being left to fend for themselves. Hollywood studios are determined to keep them on the job.
Will active-duty LAPD officers be better enforcers on movie sets, or will the move just make it that much harder to film in L.A.? More in Joel's full story.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
 When legendary Hollywood press agent Warren Cowan defended his profession in a short article a few years ago, he could not help but mention that Kirk Douglas was "one of my oldest friends and clients;" Paul Newman "would think nothing of ... holding a limo door open for me;" and that he spoken not once but twice that very morning with pianist Van Cliburn. It was typical of Cowan not to miss an opportunity to promote and influence, which made him popular with a long list of Hollywood stars over a career that spanned more than 60 years.
Late Wednesday, Cowan, 87, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with cancer only three weeks earlier, his firm, Warren Cowan & Associates, announced.
But it was the many years at his previous firm, Rogers & Cowan, where Cowan and partner Henry Rogers reigned supreme in Hollywood publicity. You have Cowan to thank (or blame) for helping pioneer such popular publicity tools as celebrity sporting events, top 10 lists (the "most watchable man" or "most hypnotic eyes"), and product placement.
Their firm took off in the 1950s as Hollywood's studio system broke down, prompting many stars to hire their own publicity agents. But Cowan was working in the business years before, juggling journalism classes at UCLA while representing actress Linda Darnell.
When asked who is favorite client was, Cowan, at least publicly, never strayed from the same response: "The next one."
Times Staff Writer Dennis McClellan is working on a full obituary. More coverage in Daily Variety and LA Biz Observed.
-- Jesus Sanchez
Photo: 1989 photo from Los Angeles Times Library
A massive water conservation plan is in the works at L.A. City Hall. We'll have the usual measures, like fining those who waste water, limiting how much you can use to water your lawn or wash your car. Most controversial, though, is a proposal to recycle wastewater. Will Angelenos go for
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's $2-billion plan? Rich Connell explains all.
Expect a ruling on gay marriage from the state's Supreme Court today.
Dump a patient, risk a $25,000 fine. That's the new law that just got preliminary approval from the L.A.
City Council. Cara Mia DiMassa has the details.
Did you feel that? Teensy (3.3) earthquake in Paso Robles last night. No reported damage or injuries. AP via LAT.
Lakers win! A squeaker? No, but a bit of a thriller. Get the details from Mike Bresnahan. And how did Kobe do? Bill Plaschke is so glad you asked.
Check in with Mark Ridley-Thomas and Bernard Parks as the two
candidates for county supervisor in the 2nd District talk about health
care in the area (Mar Vista through South L.A. to Compton and into Carson) they want to help govern. Q&A here.
Did Blackwater use some sleight-of-hand to get their training facility in San Diego County? Some angry locals say you betcha. Tony Perry looks into it.
Last year, CBS wanted to stir things up. This year, it's all about "balance." Matea Gold and Maria Elena Fernandez give a rundown of what you can expect to see next season.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
 Former U.S. Secretary of State and longtime Los Angeles resident Warren Christopher has been known as a savvy attorney, prominent civic leader and globe-trotting statesman. But a wimp? That's apparently how Christopher comes across in an upcoming HBO movie about the Florida ballot recount during the 2000 presidential election.
Christopher was a top advisor to former Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore and a key player in the Florida election battle portrayed in "Recount," which debuts on the cable network May 25. In an interview with the New York Times, Christopher, who is played by actor John Hurt (pictured at top), said he was taken aback by the dramatization's portrayal of him (based on excerpts) as weak and ineffective: “I was stunned by the excerpt,” he said in an interview. “Much of what the author has written about me is pure fiction. It contained events that never occurred, words I never spoke and decisions attributed to me that I never made.”
Even James A. Baker III, the chief Republican advisor involved in the recall, said he knows that his Democratic rival "was not as wimpish as it makes him appear."
 Screenwriter Danny Strong defended the film and the portrayal of Christopher. While other people depicted in the film were sent scripts to review, Christopher received none in advance. He actually learned of the film through his tailor, who was asked to re-create one of the former secretary of state's suits for the film.
Early reviews of "Recount" have been favorable. "A thoroughly engaging, first-rate political drama,” said Jeffrey Wells on huffingtonpost.com. But, as for Christopher, the reviewer warns that he is portrayed "as one of the great all-time wimps."
-- Jesus Sanchez
Photo: HBO
Those two LAUSD honchos who did nothing when a student reported
she was sexually abused by a substitute teacher are back on the
job. That's right: They've been criminally charged, yet they're back at the school. Richard Winton and Howard Blume explain what on Earth is going on.
Why did Inglewood police shoot and kill an unarmed man on Sunday? The cops involved say they heard gunshots, but neither weapons nor bullets were found. Police search for reasons but the community demands answers. Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Hector Becerra have the story.
Game 5 of the series is tomorrow and Kobe says he'll be ready. To do what? Mike Bresnahan visits with the Lakers' injured MVP.
The UCLA snooping scandal -- still growing. Sixty-eight current and former workers, including four doctors, pried into medical records that were none of their business. Lawanda J. Jackson, the employee indicted by a grand jury last month, looked at 61 separate files, including those of celebs and her fellow employees. More details from Charles Ornstein.
LAX to Florida for $18? Great travel deals are out there, if you know where to look, says Peter Pae.
Visions of the Virgin Mary in the Mojave Desert, where the faithful
have headed for 20 years for Our Lady of the Rock gatherings. The
Catholic Church isn't thrilled, but attendees say they find solace. Paloma Esquivel makes a visit. (And a photo gallery -- Virgin Mary in a sandwich, anyone? -- here.)
Jimmy Fallon's going to take over for Conan when the time comes. Oh -- and a new "90210" series, a "Boston Legal" pickup, and a "Family Guy" spin-off. Matea Gold and Maria Elena Fernandez have details of NBC's fall lineup.
Fabulist James Frey ("A Million Little Pieces") writes a crummy novel. David Ulin has the review.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photos: Los Angeles Times
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Every once in a while, visitors to the Magic Kingdom might catch sight of the new, candy-red colored monorail cars gliding overhead. But don't try and get on board. Several months after they were to go into service, the custom-made Mark VII monorail cars are still being tested to eliminate numerous problems, reports the Daily Travel & Deal blog.
