Rodney on the Walk

Last year's media blitz to score legendary radio DJ Rodney Bingeheimer a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame came up short.

This year, the folks behind the Rodney on the Walk campaign took a much quieter approach (if they did anything at all). It worked: Rodney is among the luminaries announced Friday who will receive a star on the Walk of Fame this year.

Bingeheimer will score a star along with Barbara Walters and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

Oh -- and Erik Estrada! That's right -- Clint Eastwood, Julia Roberts, Robert Redford, Howard Hughes, Mel Gibson, Jane Fonda and Francis Ford Coppola don't have a star. But the former "CHiPs" star [Ed. Note: Second "CHiPs" reference in one day on Franklin Avenue!] now does.

The complete list of this year's Walk of Famers, via USA Today:

— Motion pictures: Michael Caine, Matt Damon, Lauren Shuler Donner, Jamie Foxx, John Goodman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Altman.

— Television: Barbara Walters, Erik Estrada, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry Stiller, Dick Wolff.

— Recording: Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Mariah Carey, The Doors, Crystal Gayle, Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain.

— Live theater/performance: Sir Tim Rice, Lily Tomlin.

— Radio: Rodney Bingenheimer, Stu Nahan.

Nominees are chosen by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce; $15,000 is required for entry. The "Rodney on the Walk" campaign raised the $15,000 submission fee last year after KROQ's Kevin & Bean show held a mini-radiothon on June 17, 2005. Deborah Harry, Joan Jett and John Doe of X called in, and listeners quickly pledged enough money to cover the star's cost.

Rodney, of course, recently earned a little bit more notariety thanks to the documentary "Mayor of Sunset Strip," which chronicled his bizarre spot in rock 'n roll history. In the 70s, he helped run Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco, an L.A. club where Bowie, Iggy Pop, T.Rex, Suzi Quatro, Led Zeppelin, and Sweet were all regulars. And on his KROQ show, which he has hosted since 1976 (and which now subsides in a graveyard Sunday night slot), he helped popularize Blondie, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Go-Go's, Nina Hagen, The Cramps, The Clash, The Cure, The Smiths and plenty others.