There were probably worse movies released this year than Mr. Brooks (see Norbit, The Game Plan). However, Mr. Brooks was undeniably the most absurd. Everyone plays against type--to hilarious results. This is definitely a must-rental, but only if you plan to get really stoned. The final episodes of The Sopranos are finally available. What really happened to Tony during the much-hyped finale? I think it was all a dream inside an autistic boy's head.... more ›

If you keep walking west down Hollywood Blvd past the nonsense of Hollywood & Highland, past the tourist and super heroes at the Chinese Theater and down the next block, you will find the Knitting Factory, tucked away beneath what was once a movie theater. Boasting three stages and tons of bands every night, the Knitting Factory comes to us via New York and has hosted some shows this year that LAist had a great... more ›

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

43 people suspected of being members of the Eastside Pain Bloods gang were arrested by more than 400 police officers in predawn raids yesterday. More staff cuts coming at the Daily News: zone coverage of Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley to be eliminated. Yikes! How much did Tony spend to help get his three candidates onto the school board? The L.A. City Council has just approved a ban on smoking in city parks.... more ›

- LAX: After 15 years of little more than occasional face lifts, efforts to find common ground on an airport modernization plan are on hold again. - Three Years Later: Paul was one of the students standing at the bus stop in front of Taft High in Woodland Hills after school on Sept. 9, 2003 - six days in to the new school year - when three gangbangers drove by and fired a semiautomatic weapon.... more ›

The inaugural EconSM conference, produced by Rafat Ali's ContentNext Media Network (parent of the excellent PaidContent site) is rockin' the Beverly Hilton with entertainment and new media heavies. EconSM addresses the present and potential economy of the social media marketplace in regards to online news, Hollywood, music, mobile media, and more. The amusing "Social Media Meets Hollywood" panel, in which Carson Daly sat alongside The L Word executive producer Ilene Chaiken, preceded lunch. Daly... more ›

A Word or ~43: Welcome to the weekend my little ones. Other than the local teams the NBA is lighting up the dial all over the place tonight. During your busy weekend don't forget that "The L Word" and "The Apprentice: LA" are coming back on Sunday. Tonight - Friday - January 5th, 2007 Clippers @ Wizards (the CW, 5:30 p.m.) Blue Jackets @ Ducks (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Nuggets @ Lakers (Fox Sports, 7:30p.m.)... more ›

Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. more ›

What could have happened? The movie had probably the best buzz and internet hype of any movie so far this year. The anticipation level seemed so high that people should have rushed out and go see the movie the moment it opened. Unfortunately for "Snakes on a Plane" the magic sort of fizzled. And that, as they say, is that. The opening weekend gone with not that much to show for it. So, what... more ›

LA Observed lets us know that the times they are a-changing. will no longer provide the TV Times to Sunday subscribers unless they call and ask for it. The rise of TiVo and DIRECTV, whose listings are actually on the TV (where they belong) is the probable cause for the change. LAO points us to Todd Everett who breaks it down. Franklin Ave. is also on the scene. more ›

+ Caroline on Crack gives a positive review to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles today. She gleefully had a delicious "linner". Caroline wonders why she ordered a side of gravy after finding herself satisfied with the chicken and syrup, but LAist remembers Roscoe's being famous for chicken even more dry than Zankou, so the gravy is recommended for Roscoe's and garlic for Z. Biggest difference: one can arrive at Zankou at 11:01pm and have their late night chicken at 11:02p -- try that at Roscoes. more ›

SFist was there for the 4.4 Earthquake in the Bay Area, which is a good reason to visit The L.A. Times' EQ coverage archive. LA City Beat combs through the West Valley and finds that it's not so bad. They even talk up Follow Your Heart, which we mentioned last week. That plus Figueroa Street, 818 movies and ‘What is your favorite, secret treasure of Los Angeles?’ LA Weekly reports on the convictions of... more ›

Last night was "about community. It's about you playing the role of the community-based policing component essential to keeping crime down," explains Mayor Villaraigosa. Best lede: "They're calling it 'Slaughterfest' and promising concertgoers will "bleed metal" at the Whittier Community Theatre later this month." NPR visits some local DMVs: Drivers license photographs are notoriously ugly, even for the beautiful people of Los Angeles. Producer Ayala Ben-Yehuda visited two Department of Motor Vehicles offices in... more ›

323.603.6312. Now you can stalk our editor Tony Pierce. Just kidding. That's not his phone number, but between 11 and 12 this morning, you can reach him there at Ring My Bell. Boo hoo! Nissan is forcing the city of Pasadena to give back their electric cars! "They were like chickens running around with their heads cut off..." The L.A. Times looks into the behind-the-scenes politics of what the heck is going on with... more ›

Yesterday, sidewalk laws at the Daily News. Today, sidewalk repairs at The L.A. Times. With just less than 50% (5,000 miles) of LA sidewalks to repair, the city moves on with its 50/50 program. more ›

We know. It's hot. And The L.A. Times makes sure you know it with about 10 billion heat/fire related articles in today's paper: more ›

San Francisco is proud host of a new reality show called "How to Get the Guy" that's unfortunately not a descendant of Will and Grace, Queer Eye, The L Word, American Idol etc. Also a biodefence lab is coming to the East Bay and SFist teaches wine pairing. more ›

Everyone rags on the 405. At least it is predictable. On the other hand, the 101 is becoming the new 405. more ›

That forecast of "wacky weather" we mentioned in Thursday's Lunch News post was right on. Our blood has thinned and we are frigid sitting here in our sandals. Too bad for vacationers in Palm Springs. more ›

Taking a stance against Valentine's Day can only be best suited by seeing the EAR Unit tonight at REDCAT. The L.A. based new music group will perform tonight with some holiday treats and surprises by the artist collective - Empire of Teeth. Tonight's feature is the world premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's . Zwilich was the first woman composer to win the Pulitzer Prize. more ›

Over the past few years, string quartet tributes to pop culture have flourished and it can like it's more of a prolific commodity than an artistic endeavor. Vitamin Records are the ones responsible for those String Quartet Tributes you see out there and we are curious who in their right mind made the decision to make a Clay Aiken Tribute? The L.A. based, The Section Quartet (pictured above) participated on a good number of those albums (but not Clay's) and play tonight (think Radiohead) in a concert presented by KCRW at Largo. Some hate this type of strung out tribute music, some love it - we'll let you decide and chime in. more ›

We found ourselves at the premiere of the lesbiriffic romantic comedy April's Shower last night at the Regent Cinema in Hollywood. Attending a gaysploitation premiere is a little bit like attending a major movie premiere, only smaller and obviously gayer. There were all the usual requisites: a red carpet (small, no bouncer), television reporters (from something called 'Q Television') and plenty of sub D-list celebrities hoping to score an extra drink ticket, but the whole thing was a lot less Brokeback Mountain and a lot more Muff Dive Molehill. more ›

America’s favorite TV lesbians returned Sunday during the third season premiere of Showtime's The L Word. The show’s party line has always been universality: Despite the characters’ sexual orientation, these lovely LA ladies are just like us. Kinda. more ›

Multi-hyphenated Guinevere Turner, 37, is queen of the shorts at this year’s Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (Outfest 05). The actress-writer-director stars as a clairvoyant in Beyond Lovely, which screened last night as part of Outfest's “Funny Ladies” program. more ›

Apparently that's what the rest of the blog world thinks. Gridskipper is polling for the world's sexiest cities and Los Angeles has been nominated in the categories of "World's Most Lesbian-Friendly City" and "World's Sluttiest City". Should we feel honored? I guess it depends on if the people that nominated us for "lesbian-friendly" aren't the same people who nominated us for "sluttiest". We'd like to think that its the high-minded images of the LA in The L Word that gridskipper readers are thinking of and not necessarily the rampant girl-on-girl action happening in porn valley (NSFW) at this very moment. more ›

The 23rd annual Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Outfest 05) kicks off tonight with a screening of the French comedy Côte D’Azur at the Orpheum Theater downtown. While the opening gala’s ticket will set you back $50-$150 at the door, the festival’s other general screenings are prices even we at LAist can afford. more ›

Kit learned that Ivan isn't what he seemed; more ›

This week we had lots of sizzling dynamics to enjoy: Alice and Dana's enjoyable coupling [it's the first time we've seen fun chemistry between lovers on this show and hope the producers realize they are funnier and charismatic as a couple than as constantly searching singeltons]; the producers seriously puncture the pretentions public radio by having Alice audition for a commentator gig on KCRW using a precious "sotto" voice; Shane likes churches; Mark likes Shane and has pledged himself as her wannabe ronin; Jenny is now channeling Coco Chanel in all the worst ways; Helena makes an excellent antagonist and Bette, while developing a worrisome tendency to drown her sorrows in candy and ice cream, has also mustered up enough calories to exhibit a backbone. It's a good thing Tina's baby-to-be will have one assertive mommy, cause this pregnancy has turned Tina's already weak character into mush.
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Each week we're compelled to watch the "L Word," motivated by the same impulses that force motorists in traffic to gape at a car wreck on the freeway. We just can't help ourselves. more ›

It's that time of year again. more ›