When the subject is Andy Kaufman, people seem to divide into two fairly distinct camps: those brilliant few who recognize him as a comic genius years ahead of his time and the fucking idiots who should probably be put to sleep by the government. While Andy Kaufman: World Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion doesn't offer anything new to the devoted Kaufman-phile, it does package it all together nicely. Buy it for a friend or your mom today! Better yet, start an inter-gender wrestling club in your local community! I know I am, girls! more ›

In a just world families would be heading out to the multiplex this afternoon to see Terry Gilliam's latest (and Heath Ledger's last) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Of course, we don't live in such a world so Sherlock Holmes will be getting all of the business. If you want to try something thought-provoking and serious (yeah, I know you don't), check out Police, Adjective. I respect everything about Nancy Meyers other than the actual movies she makes. Her latest is It's Complicated. I will, of course, pass. Apparently, there is some kiddie flick opening today called Dumb Fucking Chipmunks Movie. Probably gonna miss that one, too. more ›

With that pesky, couples-oriented, Hallmark holiday just around the corner we thought we'd help our readers get into the spirit with a fun little exercise we like to call, "Best Sex Scenes in Movies." It's certainly no secret that sex sells and the opportunist in us couldn't pass on the chance to plug it. After hours of exhaustive but thoroughly entertaining research, we compiled a list of the top ten scenes that fit our bill. From those that inspire the heart, to those that arouse the senses, we feel confident there will be something for everyone in our collection. (Please be warned that our content may not be suitable for anyone under the age of eighteen or safe for work.) more ›

By now, everyone's sick of hearing about how the economy's in the toilet. But hey, sometimes it nets you cheap dinner and a free movie. If you're unemployed, that is. Then you'll want to be heading over to the old Aero, for the uncanny Boris Karloff's spookiest performances, the highly flappable combination of Laurel & Hardy & Fields, and more Ginger than a Shirley Temple - all on their dime (simply present your ID & EDD). For more current freebies, you could always set aside some time to learn something - how about the plight of women in Iran at The Hammer? Or the plight of our descendants stalked by cannibalistic humanoids at The Skirball? Suddenly the recession's a tad easier to bear. more ›

In anticipation of the Oscar Best Picture nod that never came, The Dark Knight is back in theaters today. If you are one of the 113 people who somehow didn't see this movie over the summer, now might be the time. You know how you can tell when a franchise is completely and utterly out of steam? When the star of the franchise stops appearing in the movies. Such is the case with Underworld: Rise of the Lycans which lacks the lovely Kate Beckinsale (but does at least add the equally lovely Rhona Mitra). more ›

In the wee hours of the morning today phones were ringing off the hook all over Hollywood. At 5:30 a.m. the nominees were announced for the 81st Academy Awards. Academy President Sid Ganis and Actor Forest Whitaker made the announcement at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. LAist was there. more ›

While Heath Ledger seems assured of winning Best Supporting Actor at next year's Oscars (and should have won for and Colbert are both minor miracles in utterly different ways. more ›

For an unprecedented fourth week in a row, , which pulled in $10.7M ($19.7M) despite the fact that none of the film's winsome co-stars had a topless scene. more ›

Is there anyone in America who didn't see ($10M/$56.4M). more ›

It's already a foregone conclusion that The Dark Knight will set some sort of record this weekend at the box-office. The only question is how much it will eventually make. 130 million bucks? 140 million? More? The buzz surrounding the film has been almost universally positive so expect a great time as you settle into your seat and enter the dark world of Batman and the Joker. Ledger's final performance is one for the ages. more ›

I wasn't completely sold on the idea of having so many different actors portray Bob Dylan in makes much more sense. more ›

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Photo by GarySe7en via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

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Reports are surfacing this morning of a secret memorial service held last night in Westwood for Heath Ledger, who was found dead earlier this week in a New York apartment. more ›

We always encourage you to press that little recommend button at the bottom right hand corner of every post if you enjoyed it. For one, it tells us what you want more of here at LAist. So here's this week's three most recommended and commented posts, as recommended and talked up by you: more ›

• To update our avalanche story from yesterday, 3 have now been confirmed dead after the snowy storm struck near the town of Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains. One missing person was located Saturday, after apparently walking out of the snow encrusted mountain. Another missing person was located Friday, but died on Saturday morning.
• Remember when Fred Thompson was running for president and NBC stopped showing re-runs of Law & Order featuring the ex-Senator because of fair election laws? Well, one blogger thinks that USA should stop running episodes of Walker Texas Ranger because of the exposure it gives to Mike Huckabee lover supporter Chuck Norris. He "has gone way beyond what other celebrities like Oprah, Sylvester Stallone or Jon Voight have done."
• Bert Parks never saw this coming, but the format of the Miss America pageant has been changed to reflect the sentiments of a younger generation used to shows like America's Next Top Model and American Idol. Miss America will now basically be a reality show in which organizers hope infuse some much needed life into the boring traditional pageant.
• There is nothing more terrible than losing a son. But finding out through the press that your son is dead, as Heath Ledger's dad did, must have stung like something awful.
• We already know that 9 USC students were arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness this morning, but you might not have heard that 9 men and women were arrested in Pomona today for allegedly advertising sex on the Internet. They were nabbed at a motel by undercover cops. God, when did illicit, dirty, immoral, solicited sex become illegal?
• Though rains pounded the southland into a wet submission the last couple of days, the five inches are just a drop in the bucket as far as our drought is concerned. Or, so says the state agency in charge of water, who fears that people will stop conserving water in the wake of the storm that is supposed to continue off and on through Monday.
• Even though 7 percent of you don't seem to care, 53 percent said Yes on Props 94-97, while 41 percent said No. A harbinger of things to come or an aberration? Ten days to find out.

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Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
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Heath Ledger's death today was a big loss to the Hollywood community. It is a notable national tragedy when young talent is lost from the spotlight in America, when someone so young and budding has his life cut short. more ›

Gothamist, parent site to LAist, is reporting the death of Heath Ledger. "Actor Heath Ledger was found dead in downtown Manhattan apartment by the police. Some reports say he died from an overdose." Ledger lived on Broome street. more ›

Those who believe we shouldn't be covering Orange County, cover your eyes for a few seconds: okay! O.C. Sheriff Mike Carona, his wife, and many others used the Sheriff's office as a cover to accept gifts, loans, and other compensation totalling $350,000. Carona has been indicted on ten separate federal counts of corruption. That big rig crash on the 405 at La Tijera was a real doozy -- the accident wasn't cleaned up until... more ›

Nicole Kidman reveals details about her previous miscarriages and subsequent adoptions- Metro More Anna Nicole baby daddy drama - Explosive accusations in Rita Cosby's new tell all book of Larry Birkhead and Howard K Stern being lovers is setting off defamation lawsuits...I personally can't wait to read it - NY Post Jerry Lewis pulls an Isaiah Washington, using the "F" word during his live annual telethon for muscular dystrophy - TMZ Bill Murray explains his... more ›

Mashable Labs shocked the world yesterday when they published their data of 41,000 random YouTube users and determined that the average member is 27 years old, watches 39 videos over an hour and 18 minutes a day. more ›

Last night was Emmy Night. So what did first time amateur ghost hunter/enthusiast, Bekka Reed, do? Go ghost hunting at the Chateau Marmont, which is rumored to be haunted. Did she have any luck, or were there just too many celebrities hanging around after the Emmys? You went out to find ghosts, any luck? Felt definite energy, but no manifestations. I saw many celebrities, but I suck with names. If Heath Ledger weren’t so... more ›

We're bouncing back and forth between the NBC and E! red carpet broadcasts. Woah, Dean Cain is carpeteering for NBC and he still looks like Scott Peterson. Dean, it's time to lose the highlights. more ›

Horseraces! Handicaps! No sooner had we posted about the not-quiet-announced Oscar host than the SAG Award nominees were announced. The biggest surprise must be the nomination of Hustle & Flow in the "best performance by a cast" category (SAG's version of "best picture"), while none of the cast members were nominated individually. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Terrence Howard was robbed. more ›