Director Jason Reitman's live read of the Coen brothers' The Big Lebowski at LACMA's Bing Theater was the hottest ticket in town on March 29. The L.A.-set cult film capped off Reitman's Film Independent series, and the casting was inspired: Seth Rogen (The Dude), Rainn Wilson (Walter), Christina Hendricks (Maude), Hank Azaria (Donny), Jason Alexander (The Big Lebowski), Catherine Reitman (Bunny), Fred Savage (Brandt), Nick Kroll (Jesus) and Sam Elliott reprising his role as The Stranger. more ›

Yet another production of the ironically bittersweet Prisoner of Second Avenue, is playing in Los Angeles. Neil Simon's play lets audiences peer into a middle class and middle aged New York couple's living room to witness the rapid decline of their mental stability after facing personal and economic tragedy. In a smart differentiating move, the latest addition to this Simon storm has high production value and a talented cast led by a very animated Jason Alexander and spirited Gina Hecht at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. more ›

Jason Alexander, perhaps known best for his run as George Costanza on the sitcom Seinfeld, struck a cycling middle-schooler early this morning, according to LA Now. The 14-year-old boy was on his way to campus when he was struck by Alexander at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and June Street. The "was taken to a hospital in stable condition." However, while the LAPD "took an accident report and are investigating the incident," Alexander was not cited. A spokesman for the actor says he was "shaken up" and that he "stayed with the cyclist until the paramedics and police arrived and all indications are that the injury was minor." more ›

Considering that Doug Liman has directed some seriously good movies (Go, Swingers, The Bourne Identity), to see how badly it can go. more ›

As if the past couple of weeks haven't been bad enough for Britney, her former bodyguard has officially testified about her drug use, more specifically a bender she went on with singer songwriter and fellow rehaber Howie Day - News of the World more ›

When I saw in the theater, there were about 60 people in the audience.  Virtually all of them maintained the appropriate funereal silence as the film was slowly excreted through the projector.One guy, though, was apparently watching the funniest movie he had ever seen.  I imagine he’s one of the few that will be lining up to buy today.For the rest of us, it’s probably a couple of good docs, some excellent TV, a Jason Alexander boob-heavy curio and a long overdue (for me, at least) Wack Pack biography.

One dark note this week…the emergence of a new, sinister and completely unnecessary form of DVD.Actually, I should say a new form of packaging a DVD since there is not really any fresh material on these so-called “steelbook” and “lenticular” editions.They just look really shiny.Because I am sick and tired of studios repackaging crap in new boxes, these releases are consigned to “after the jump”.

Norbit
Maxed Out
The Messengers
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Fired!
Seinfeld: Season 8
CHiPs: The Complete First Season
Rescue Me: The Complete Third Season
Kenneth Keith Kallenbach: American Icon
Senior Trip
Fantastic Voyage (Collector’s Edition)
Twelve O’Clock High (Special Edition)
Hogan’s Heroes: The Complete Series
Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band: Live in Dublin
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
The Henry Rollins Show: Season One
SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom Adventures
The Best of Chappelle’s Show (Uncensored)
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: 2-Disc Collector’s Edition
Unholy Matrimony/My Third Wife George (Kinky Couples Double Feature)
French Quarter
Seizure!
The Sand Pebbles more ›

We're big fans of Bill Maher and his weekly Real Time on HBO. The hour-long show features a panel of distinguished guests discussing politics and pop matters of the day with Bill, but the highlight of each show is the "New Rules" segment, in which Maher introduces a set of hilarious new rules. (Also, highly recommended is the book, or audiobook of the same name.) The "New Rules" above are from Friday's episode --... more ›

One week before we expect hundreds of folks to protest the inauguration of our Commander in Chief to his second term locally, PETA is doing their own protest against another military man: The Colonel. more ›