We shuddered a little when we read Rabbi Richard Rushfield's beautifully moving piece on "Todd Smithson, husband of Carly, the greatest singer in Idol history."

It wasn't the sad-but-sweet tale of how Smithson became something of an outcast after he tattooed his face that made us quiver. It was the the fact that the good rabbi met with the Idol-spouse in Smithson's San Diego tattoo parlor. We know a thing or two about reporters and tattoo parlors: Whenever an inquisitive media type enters one, he or she leaves with some ink. We've seen it happen twice before. Would it happen a third time?

The rabbi's piece makes no mention of it, but we've heard rumors that we was, in fact, considering going under the needle. Here's hoping that if he did get a tattoo, it wasn't on his face.

Our thanks to TellZell for this tip.

Ken Reich was fervently working on what he called "L.A. Times Roll of Honor" for those that had been laid off. Go to Take Back the Times.

FBLA was saddened to learn (via LA Observed) about the passing of Ken Reich. We hadn't known the former LAT reporter well, but he was definitely one of the nicer long-time staffers at the paper while we were there. And we were fans of his blog. He'll be missed.

More details as the come in.

We've been curious how the lukewarm LAT Magazine writer Elizabeth Khuri has kept her job through all the lay-offs.

Now we know. Khuri was dating and is now married (as of Saturday) to Otis Chandler.

From the NY Times:

The bridegroom is a grandson of the late Otis Chandler, who was the fourth generation of the Chandler family to be publisher of The Los Angeles Times; he held the position from 1960 to 1980. The bridegroom's great-grandfather, Norman Chandler, was publisher from 1945 to 1960. The bridegroom is also a great-grandson of the late Dorothy Buffum Chandler, who helped raise money to build the Los Angeles Music Center.

Phew - that won't keep us up at night anymore.

We announced Monday that Patrick Goldstein will be a full-time blogger for the LAT, shifting his "Big Picture" column to a by-the-minute blog on the L.A. Times web site.

The news floored us. We thought newspaper reporters still viewed bloggers as unkempt basement monkeys writing snarky hyperbole in their underwear. Turns out, we were wrong. (We totally have to buy a pair of pants.)

For more insight about what this shift means, we asked Patrick a few of our patented stupid questions. He was kind enough to answer:

continued...

Some little birds at the LAT tell us that venerated entertainment journalist Patrick Goldstein will expand his Big Picture column with
the launch of a new blog Tuesday morning.

The LAT hopes to put Goldstein's knowledge and sources to work in a blog that brings responsible journalism to the faster-than-pulp pace of 24/7 online entertainment reporting.

The Big Picture is one of our favorite columns at the paper, and we're excited to see what it evolves into as a longtime journo wades into the world of full-time blogger. No word yet on whether he'll be reporting in his underwear (we highly recommend it).

Good luck, Patrick!

More as we get it...

This is from Digital Spy:

Really? Bill and Ted? Serious? George Carlin was the subject of a Supreme Court case for obscenity and may hold the record for the longest stand up career in the history of the art form - that may be a tad more note worthy than a late 80's bone head buddy comedy?

That's kind of like noting Greta Garbo for her needle point skills.

We found this on the 'internets'. It's from '03, just before the invasion of Iraq by US forces.

We post this just because its not a highlight for either journalist. And because both are no longer with us - it makes it kind of eerie.

Jared Paul Stern former New York Post gossip writer, sued Ron Burkle, Bill and Hillary Clinton for defamation. Yesterday, the New York State Supreme Court Judge Walter Tolub dismiss it.

LA Weekly's Patrick Range McDonald has been following the case:

Tolub concluded that Stern's complaint failed to "identify any of the supposedly false and defamatory statements that any of the defendants ever made or conveyed. Additionally, and equally important, is that the complaint does not deny that any acts or quotes attributed to plaintiff were untrue." Tolub also wasn't thrilled with Stern's lawyer, Larry Klayman, who has a history of suing the Clintons, describing him as an "avowed enemy" of the former president and New York senator.

McDonald sent FBLA this email. "I talked with Jared Stern for two hours for a different story I wrote about Burkle, and he seemed very reasonable and level-headed. The thing with him, that really sticks out to me, is that he was never charged for a single crime, even after the FBI investigated it. But his career was still decimated after Burkle, a billionaire with a lot of big time connections, played hard ball with him. For any journalist, I would think they would want to keep a close eye on this case."

We are so there.

As closeted 'Sunday Show' nerds, we are shocked and saddened. But mainly shocked.