TellZell has started an online petition urging everyone in Los Angeles who knows how to read and write (and Joel Stein) to sign a petition calling for Sam Zell to add two seats to the Tribune board of directors — “one to represent the workers and another to represent readers.”

For those with a vested interest in a quality local paper (and Joel Stein), here’s the petition site.

We were wandering through the showroom floor at Comic Con 2008 and had some sightings.

We believe we saw what we think was Fred Savage. And we also think we saw about 20 guys that really looked like Fred Savage.

We also spotted Joel Stein wading through the crowd. Then we overheard someone say,”That’s that guy that writes all those unfunny op/eds for the LA Times and is sometimes on VH1.”

Bingo.

John Brady has a piece in Folio about Time magazine and Joel Stein. Brady writes:

Does anyone here remember that wonderful year 1996, when Time magazine did a redesign that caused a reader revolt? Well, I remember it well. One element in the failed repositioning of the newsweekly was a recent staffer, Joel Stein, who was the magazine’s novelty item just before the collapse. Stein specialized in news lite-hot dog eating contests, stuff like that.

When the magazine regrouped, Stein was missing in action.

Now, under the editorship of Richard Stengel (who signs his Editor’s welcome column “Rick”), Joel Stein is not only back; he is riding higher than ever as the magazine sinks to new lows.

Ouch. Then Brady attempts to be diplomatic:

Look, Stein is Stein. I’m not picking on him so much as I am wondering why Time turns over so much of its space and its reputation to someone so frivolous and unfunny…

Totally! We ask the same question of the LA Times when they publish him. We blame them. It’s not the kid’s fault for kicking the back of your seat the entire five hour flight – it’s the parents’ fault for giving him Starbucks and proximity.

Hello Imma. Hello Abba: Joel Stein wants us to believe that the Jews who run Hollywood all got their gigs by going to the same Jewish summer camp together — and he offers as proof a long list of names of people you’ve never heard of.

If Us Weekly Ran The Show: No offense to Johanna Neuman, who did the best she could using – you know – ethics in reporting this piece about the private meeting between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama at Sen. Dianne Feinstein‘s house, but if an Us Weekly reporter had been on the story, we’d know a helluva lot more about that meeting than the fact that the two candidates drank water and shared a laugh.

Writers’ Strike Cost California $2.1 billion: According to Richard Verrier, “effects of the three-month walkout continue to ripple across the state’s economy, causing a projected net loss this year of 37,700 jobs directly and indirectly tied to the entertainment industry, according a study released Thursday by the Milken Institute.” But, then, you already knew that.

Ian Parker succeedes where Joel Stein failed. In the New Yorker’s 10 page celebrity profile, we learn that George Clooney sprays his salad with Balsamic Breeze:

a wonderfully balanced blend of bold balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil-all in an innovative spray bottle. Plus, there’s just 1 calorie per spray!

And Clooney’s got the hardware: electronic pepper grinder which doubles “as a marital aid.”

And he’s hot for fruit:

His refrigerator contained many individual servings of watermelon, in plastic tubs.

Stein had the guy over for dinner, and yet didn’t enlighten us, the readers, with any of this vitally important information. Where are his editors? Where are the standards? Henry Luce is twirling in his grave.

HBO has picked up Academy-Award nominated doc. A Taxi to the Dark Side, after Discovery chickened out.

Barbara Walters will interview Ellen Page, Harrison Ford, Vanessa Williams, and Mylie Cyrus. Pick the two with shows on ABC.

Who will be forgotten in the Montage of Dead Stars this year?

Joel Stein invites George Clooney home for dinner, and alas, merriment does not ensue. Stein claims Clooney is the only movie star “we have now”, rather than telling the truth–Clooney’s the only star on Stein’s sofa. When Liz Smith eventually passes on, Joel Stein will be ready.

Britney Spears, Detained For Drug-Testing: Oh dear. Well, to look at the bright side, at least the LAT didn’t re-post that Britney-Madonna kiss pic.

Jay Leno: Scab or Not? The WGA and The Tonight Show host are at odds over whether he’s really allowed to write his own jokes … never mind that he shouldn’t be allowed — strike or no.

Running Out Of Column Ideas? We know how hard it can be to come up with a column every week, but does Joel Stein think anybody will be fooled by his latest stunt: Speaking at the L.A. City Council’s public hearing period — to denounce public hearings. We call for this column to adjourn.

We hear that the LA Times is soliciting opinions for a year-ender on how to improve the cultural life of our city. Unfortunately, they’re calling it

Polishing the Big Orange

The Big Orange? Or the Big O?

If we wanted to live in New York, we would. Can’t our local paper figure out a real urban identity without having to copy someplace else?

And while we’re on the subject, please no opinions from the following:

Roger Mahoney, Jonah Goldberg, Joel Stein, Rosa Brooks, Mike Davis, and Ed Boks.

Did Joel Stein copy Media Bloodhound’s not-all-that-brilliant idea? Stein wrote a column introducing Ann Coulter Mad Libs (thus dating himself by about 20 years) a full two weeks after the blog post heralding Ann Libs appeared. Skippy makes the case.

(Memo to all concerned: Mad Libs is no longer a pop culture reference, nor are Yahtzee, the phrase “talk to the hand”, and The Hair Club for Men. Thank you.)

Patterico, who really should apply for a PI license, points out that Stein even used a cute lil’ trademark sign, because he’s such a wag. Reader Bradley J. Fikes expresses the hope of thousands:

Maybe this is what’s finally needed for the LA Times to put the wretched Joel Stein out of our misery.

But Spring Street watchers know that a lack of originality gets one promoted at the Times, not fired.

Stein will no doubt tell anyone who’ll listen that he never reads blogs, and that he had this ehhh? idea all by his lonesome.

And as Op-Ed Assistant Editor Matt Welch is moving to DC to edit Reason, we can expect that section to get much, much worse.

Stand-up comic Tina Dupuy won the BrooWaHa writing contest with a nifty essay on jury duty, Stand Up, Sit Down, Do Your Civic Duty .

The notice stated that jurors should dress “business casual”. But this is LA. I’ve always considered “business casual” to be something ironed worn with uncomfortable shoes. Maybe it depends on your vocation. From the looks of some of the other jurors plodding along the halls of the courthouse their “business” was either a Crocs model, a lifeguard or an adult industry professional. It’s justice that’s blind…as for the rest of us–we see you.

Dupuy’s not exactly a novice, as she’s a HuffPoster and written for the Daily News. She also blogs.

FBLA encourages the LA Times to snag Dupuy. She’d be a welcome addition to the Op-Ed section–maybe even a replacement for Joel Stein.