So can fans really make a difference? Word has it that enough fans got through to NBC for them to keep the high school football-romance-drama "Friday Night Lights" on the air through a partnership with DirecTV. This gives one hope that a group of people can make a difference but then disappointment that truly great shows like "Arrested Development" couldn't make the cut. Speaking of which, Will Arnett is on Jimmy Kimmel tonight - Arnett mentioned on Conan a couple weeks ago that perhaps there is an "Arrested Development" movie in the works, wouldn't that be something? more ›

PaleyFest08 announced today that they’re hosting an X-Files retrospective with series creator Chris Carter and executive producer Frank Spotnitz on March 26. But if that doesn’t bust out your inner Mulder or Scully, then how’s this? Attendees will also get a sneak peek at The X-Files sequel planned for a summer release. more ›

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No bookish events on Mr. King's Day. more ›

The Mars Volta, not that I'm some kind of outraged fan, had terrible terrible sound on Letterman last night. I've noticed this over the last few years, yeah I'm slow, that the sound production on the live band performances (not "the CBS Orchestra") is always sub par on Letterman. All the other late night shows have better live sound, Late Night needs to figure this out. more ›

I hope you've got a bunch of stuff Tivo'd because there's nothing on until Sunday. You tell me that there is stuff on tonight? What, you mean Friday Night Lights, NUMB3RS, or Las Vegas? Please. Tomorrow, there's no reason to turn on prime time TV unless it's for Citizen Kane on TCM at 8:30. The Big Story is Sunday, check it: Sunday 8:00pm Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project HBO - Special. Don Rickles is... more ›

1. The Obvious- My parents and sister are the most important people in the world to me. They support me in every boneheaded endeavor I partake in, and believe me, there are tons. It's astonishing how many, actually. 2. My friends. Once again, totally obvious. Once again, they're totally awesome. Much love to Porter House, SLC, Shalhevet, AU, and everyone who fits into all, some, or none of those categories. World rockers, each and every... more ›

It's too bad that Ali Larter's power in ? Yes, too. more ›

Fun froo-froo drinks like Smirnoff Ice, Seagram's Coolers, Bacardi Silver and Mike's Hard Lemonade got a vote of approval in the form of a $3.10 per gallon tax (from 2-cents for a 12 oz. bottle to 31-cents), raising the price of six-pack malt liquors near $2.00. The proposed tax increase is due to reclassification of "alcopops" from beer to distilled spirits. The process for the increased tax could take a year to complete. Interestingly... more ›

To be exact, the number is $39,404,362 and it comes from the Department of Water and Power for overcharging utility costs according to a press release from Metro. Metro along with several other governmental agencies have won a joint lawsuit against DWP, charging that the DWP was over billing the agency for utility services over an eight year period. DWP is to pay back approximately $225 million in overcharges to several government agencies that... more ›

People talk shit about our local paper. Sometimes we're the ones talking shit. But every day there's gotta be ten things that you can learn from the Times. Right? more ›

Spring is when we get busy here in the Ist-A-Verse. Very busy. But, after staying bundled-up indoors all winter, it's nice for us to be out, about, and collecting things to write about for you. Here's a glimpse at what's been keeping your favorite citybloggers busily away from home and out of bed. more ›

A Word or 47: Full disclosure - tonight I might watch the cultural trainwreck that is Idol and then it's on to Lost and then an evening culminating with LCD Soundsystem on Letterman, they will kick ass! And then, if I can find some Cialis, a bit of Tina Fey on Conan. Tonight - Wednesday - April 11th, 2007 Jericho/Criminal Minds/CSI: NY (CBS, 8-11:00 p.m.) From post-apocalypse to a dead New Yorker in medieval... more ›

A Word or 52: Some people hated last week's "useless" Lost because it didn't further the storyline but I thought it was a humorously macabre and welcome break that reminded me of some of the better tangential X-Files episodes from 10+ years ago. If looks like we're going back to that story line tonight, oh well. Jericho (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Roger goes off the deep end, and who can blame him Friday Night Lights/Crossing... more ›

A Word or 73: Was sad to learn of the death of Larry "Bud" Melman aka Calvert DeForest who spent over 20 years as a regular on David Letterman's shows - always able to suffer indignities and deal with situations that exceeded Punk'd and Jackass in terms of humor and sophistication by decades. Fox lostsome couple slots in the top 5 last week: American Idol got 1&2, followed by GRey's Anatomy, Deal or No... more ›

Tonight- Wednesday - February 28th, 2007 Sonics @ Clippers (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) Jericho/Criminal Minds/CSI: NY (CBS, 8-11:00 p.m.) The town tries to fix their renewable energy resource/New Orleans serial killer/Illusionist murderer Friday Night Lights (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) It's all about family, the football family. America's Next Top Model (the CW, 8:00 p.m.) Season premiere George Lopez/The Knights of Prosperity/According To Jim/In Case of Emergency (ABC, 8-10:00 p.m.) A kind of endless sitcom hell. Larry... more ›

Austinist gets arty with an interactive guide to SXSW, loved some local art galleries and a new art exhibit and lamented the possible loss of "Friday Night Lights" production to New Mexico. more ›

A Word Or 30: Who else is waiting to hear the announcement of the Anna Nicole Smith Story film deal? Jaime Pressly presents us tonight, with the first reason to watch Leno in years. Tonight - Wednesday - February 21st, 2007 That Touch of Mink (TCM, 6:30 p.m.) Cary Grant wants to get hot n' heavy with Doris Day. Trail Blazers @ Lakers (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Jericho (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Back from hiatus.... more ›

David Mamet & Howard Norton sign their new books 7pm @ Dutton’s Brentwood more ›

A Word or 48: House was pretty good last night and the timing was great what with the blizzard hitting New England today. With the semifinalists declared on Idol and Paula Abdul declaring that she's never been drunk in her life, I get the feeling that show is really coming along now. Today - Wednesday - February 14th, 2007 Breakfast at Tiffany's (TCM, 4:05 p.m.) Holly Golightly, not the band Beauty and the Geek... more ›

A Word or 24: The now much-maligned Lost is back. OK so this is a bad show compared to what else on (basic cable) TV right now? Tonight - Wednesday - February 7th, 2007 Sharks @ Ducks (Fox Sports, 7:00 p.m.) College Basketball: USC @ UCLA (PRIME, 7:30 p.m) Friday Night Lights (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) Racial tension brews in the Panthers locker room, or is it the Jaguars? Some kind of animal. Criminal Minds/CSI:... more ›

A Word or 12: Dirt - I forgot to mention Dirt yesterday, someone just kill me please. Tonight - Wednesday - January 31st, 2007 The Spiral Staircase (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) This nifty thriller from the '40s features a strangler that follows a mute maid through a dark New England mansion during a storm. Lakers @ Celtics (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) Monster (IFC, 6:00 p.m.) Charlize Theron transorms herself in an Oscar winning performance. Worth watching just... more ›

A Word or 56: Thankfully I was doing my radio show last night and was spared the State of the Union, and therefore, a really bad hangover. It was (somewhat) reassuring to see some livid polarized response but half the time I feel like these guys are going through the motions. Two ways to disgust yourself tonight are: Crawlspace on IFC and Primetime: Medical Mysteries, enjoy. Tonight - Wednesday - January 24th, 2007 Crawlspace... more ›

A Word or 23: Our President attempts to communicate using the English language tonight, thus causing a ripple effect of TV scheduling problems extending well into primetime. Tonight - Wednesday - January 10th, 2007 Lakers @ Rockets (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) "Presidential Address" (PBS, CBS, ABC, FOX, etc. 6:00 p.m.) This'll be good, get ready for it. "Armed and Famous" (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Series Premiere. Wee Man, Eric Estrada, Jack Osbourne, and LaToya Jackson are... more ›

One Minute Review: So Courteney Cox Arquette's new venture, 'Dirt', was, as Borat would say, "Dirt from anus". Also, did anyone catch Letterman last night? The first half of the show was devoted to jokes about Saddam's execution, including the Top Ten. I don't think it went over that well, except for maybe at the White House. Tonight - Wednesday - January 3rd, 2007 Blue Jackets @ Kings (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) "Friday Night... more ›

Tonight - Tuesday Lakers @ Rockets (CBS2, 5:30 p.m.) If the NBA consolidated these two they'd be the Lockets which sounds better anyway, what the hell is a Laker, some kind of ship? "Friday Night Lights" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) Cheerleader competition becomes the focus for the town as well as additional male viewers of the show. "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 40th Anniversary" (ABC, 8:00 p.m.) I'm a mean one, so you'd... more ›

Tonight - Tuesday "NBA Basketball" (PRIME, 5:00 p.m.) Pacers @ Lakers "College Basketball (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) Cal State Fullerton @ UCLA "NBA Basketball" (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Heat @ Clippers "The 400 Blows" (IFC, 7:35 p.m.) Truffaut's 1959 French New Wave classic about neglected schoolboy who runs away from home and turns to petty crime, kinda like what the TV Junkie is doing on LAist. "Friday Night Lights" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) When did this... more ›

Friday Night "The Odessa File" (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) TCM presents an evening of spy movies starting with "The Odessa File", followed by "The Quiller Memorandum" "NHL Hockey" (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Blackhawks @ Ducks "NBA Basketball" (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Raptors @ Lakers "Ice-T's Rap School" (VH1, 9 p.m.) Season finale. "Real Time with Bill Maher" (HBO, 11 p.m.) Season finale. "Charlie Rose" (PBS, 11:30 p.m.): The Dixie Chicks and others, well, not other chicks,... more ›

If you’ve never ventured to the Farmer’s Market at The Grove to try out Pampas Brazilian Churrascaria, then tonight is the night. Oh what, you were actually going to make your girlfriend watch Monk at your rat-hole apartment for the fifth Friday night in a row? On the real, Pampas has some top-quality grilled meats, including this writer’s favorites, the sirloin cap (alcatra) and the grilled lamb. The eatery is open and outdoor since... more ›

(AP Photo/Jeff Lewis) more ›