Michael Scott Moore, a writer from Manhattan Beach, was researching a book about pirates in Somalia when he was abducted by a group of 15 men, and he's currently being held hostage, reports the Huffington Post. more ›

Joe Bodolai, a former writer for NBC's "Saturday Night Live," was found dead in a hotel room in Hollywood. TMZ reports that "cops recovered a bottle of antifreeze and Gatorade in the hotel room ... and it's likely his death was due to consumption of the toxic chemical." more ›

Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of beloved 1960s sitcoms like "The Brady Bunch" and "Gilligan's Island," has died. He was 94. "Schwartz died of natural causes in his sleep, surrounded by his family," reports TMZ. more ›

Towards the starting point of a traveling installation exhibit of a body of work from illustrator, author, and designer Maira Kalman there is a loving sketch of a woman the artist once spotted on the street. "I saw her," the drawing reads in Kalman's famed handwriting. more ›

If you're not familiar with Josh Heald, you've at least no doubt heard those four little words he made so famous: Hot Tub Time Machine. As the writer of the film, the idea for such a wacky, hilarious, throwback ski comedy is all his. LAist was fortunate enough to sit down over some (spilled) coffee with Heald as he talked about getting his project off the ground, working with such a great cast, duping IMDB, and of course that damn title. more ›

Laptop: Check. Screenplay notes/freelance deadline: Check. Need for caffeine and WiFi: Check. Now, where to? The Huffington Post's LA site has a piece today giving their picks for the 10 best non-chain cafés or restaurants where writers can open up their laptops and tap away (mostly) happily. The list includes everything from Palihouse to the members-only Soho House, along with Larchmont's Bricks and Scones, Intelligentsia, Abbot's Habit, and Casa del Mar (home of LAist's least favorite brunch). But the list comes with another 10 points: Rules for good behavior that will ensure you don't ruin a good spot for others. Any good writing place you're willing to share that didn't make their list? Let us know! more ›

Director John Hughes, 59, has died, according to TMZ. He was in New York City on a trip taking a morning walk when he suffered from a heart attack today. Hughes' movies--some of them that he wrote, director or both--many of them based in around Chicago, included classics such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. After stepping back from the film industry, he resided in Northern Illinois on a functioning farm, enjoying his time with a family and supporting independent art, notes Variety. R.I.P., John Hughes and you were right when you wrote this line for Ferris: "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." more ›

KCRW’s “Martini Shot” is TV writer/producer Rob Long's weekly peek into showbiz. Told from his experiences, Long's four-minute commentaries explore Hollywood's inherently humorous dualities, and eccentricities. more ›