Archives: October 2010

Photo: Henry Rollins by Jeremiah Garcia

Not sure how the rest of the NPR umbrella is faring in its fundraising efforts in the wake of the Juan Williams fiasco. But here in Los Angeles, our member station KCRW seems to have figured out a nice formula for bringing in the cash — being awesome. KCRW put on its annual Halloween-eve “Masquerade” fundraising party on Saturday. And let’s just say this was not your mid-90s scweddy balls NPR scene.

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Yesterday, the TelePictures blog TooFab.com revealed the text of an apology email circulated to several dozen readers of Shape Magazine by editor Valerie Latona. Apparently, this group was extremely displeased with the publication’s October 2010 cover photo of LeAnn Rimes in a red bikini, along with the teaser tag ‘How Working Out Saved Me,’ a reference to her extramarital affair with CSI star Eddie Cibrian.

Wrote Latona:

Please know that our putting her on the cover was not meant to put a husband-stealer on a pedestal-but to show (through her story) how we all are human. And this woman in particular found strength in exercise in what she said was her most difficult personal moment.

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For the second year in a row, KCRW is hosting a massive fundraising party over Halloween weekend at the Park Plaza. Called “Masquerade,” the show will feature music from Cut Chemist, Gram Rabbit and The Duke Spirit. 14 KCRW DJs will be also be spinning at the event, including, we’re told, Henry Rollins.

The show takes on an added significance in the wake of the Juan Williams/NPR fiasco–which has threatened to hamper fundraising efforts for member stations. If this show sells out like last year, at 75 bucks a ticket, it would go a long way towards easing any post-Williams fundraising malaise.

More details on KCRW’s site.

LA Times TV industry beat reporter Meg James has the lowdown on a different kind of boffo BO, though some might argue that it still involves a bunch of 3-D jackasses.

Via the newspaper’s Company Town blog, James tips her own story about some staggering figures being compiled by Wells Fargo Securities media analyst Marci Ryvicker:

Ryvicker found that LA stations had collected $105 million [in political ad spending] by the third week of September – three times as much as New York stations. And that was before the candidates’ spending sprees kicked into high gear. By the time election season is over, LA stations could take in as much as $150 million in political money.

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LA-based AOL Jobs editor Lisa Johnson Mandell continues her look today at the high-profile Season Two contestants on CBS Sunday night smash hit Undercover Boss.

Her latest interview is the byproduct of a true rags-to-riches immigrant tale. Chiquita Brands International CEO Fernando Aguirre (pictured) has gone from selling Datsuns in Mexico, to a baseball scholarship at Southern Illinois University, to his present part ownership of the Cincinnati Reds MLB franchise.

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Former Los Angeles Times deputy features editor Michalene Busico has been named the new deputy editor of the self-described “journal of connoisseurship”  Robb Report. The position is newly created. Prior to her arrival at Robb Report, Busico was the executive editor of Entrepreneur magazine.

Press release after the jump:

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The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles has lent their voices to Dan Savage‘s online “It Gets Better” campaign to end bullying against LGBT youth–with a rendition of Cyndi Lauper‘s “True Colors.” The production team for the video packs some serious names, including Brian Graden, former President of Programming at MTV, VH1, CMT and the LGBT channel Logo; Emmy Award-winning producer/director Tim Atzinger; and John Lavin of Bloodrush Films.

Previously on FBLA:

Dallas Lawyer Darrell Cook had to explain in writing why he had to file a continuance for a routine hearing in a lawsuit. He has to go to the World Series to see the Rangers play.

We think there is some parable here about America, baseball and lawyers. About the best and worst things about America, baseball and lawyers. Feel free to write it yourself. We’re not going to do our job either…USA USA!

ABA Journal reports:

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AMC’s upcoming zombie show The Walking Dead is set to make its television premiere this Sunday night on Halloween. The show has gotten a huge amount of attention from its global marketing campaign–unleashing costumed zombies in front of major landmarks in 26 cities. Here’s video of the LA event if you’re interested. Looks kind of half-assed, actually, but it got attention.

As the LA Times notes today–unlike vampires–it’s tough to turn an undead, rotting, flesh-eating creature pop-sexy. So we’re looking forward to a new weekly dose of zombie hijinks.

James Wall, who played Captain Kangaroo’s friendly neighbor “Mr. Baxter” on the 60′s TV show, died in his sleep Wednesday night. Aside from his television celebrity, Wall worked behind the scenes as a stage manager at CBS for more than 50 years, overseeing some of the network’s most important broadcasts. CBS News writes more about his accomplishments.

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