The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries and More: TV Guide Magazine's Showrunner Panel Comes to Wondercon

I hit Anaheim on Saturday for my first-ever Wondercon in Anaheim, but kicking it off with a bang via our all-star TV Guide Magazine Showrunners Panel (see the listing here.)

Here are the panel details:

TV Guide Magazine celebrates its 60th anniversary with an all-star panel of TV's hottest showrunners. Moderated by Los Angeles bureau chief Michael Schneider, the panel brings together top showrunners and producers of current and classic hits for a lively discussion of sci-fi and fantasy television. Panelists include Remi Aubuchon (Falling Skies), Jeff Davis (Teen Wolf), Glen Mazarra (The Walking Dead), Steven Molaro (The Big Bang Theory), Greg Plageman (Person of Interest), and Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries).

Saturday March 30, 2013 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Room 300DE

In addition, TV Guide Magazine editors will be moderating the following panels:

Rich Sands: Falling Skies, Saturday, 12:30–1:30pm, Room 300DE
Damian Holbrook: Arrow, Sunday, 1:00–2:00pm, Arena

Got a question for one of the show runners? Leave a comment!

Mike on Radio: Discussing Barbara Walters' Retirement on KCRW

I joined KCRW "All Things Considered" local anchor Steve Chiotakis on Thursday to discuss Barbara Walters' expected retirement from ABC News and "The View" (which could be announced soon). The interview took place during the station's "Hollywood Breakdown" segment. Listen above or here.

L.A. Times' TV Grid Is Back (Sorta) -- Here's Why

Well, that didn't last long. Just days after eliminating its TV grid from the Calendar section of the newspaper, the Los Angeles Times suddenly brought it back. It's a smaller grid -- fewer channels, less hours and a fraction the size of the old one -- but there it is, back in the pages just days after it had been scrapped for space reasons.

I suppose you could see it coming. As a subscriber, we even received a questionnaire asking if we'd like to see a smaller grid reinstated. I just didn't realize how fast they'd bring it back. Those angry phone calls must have been intense.

I asked the paper to comment; here's what they said: "In recognition that our print readers rely on The Times to provide a daily TV grid, we have brought the feature back to the Calendar section," spokesperson Nancy Sullivan emailed. "TV highlights also appear daily and for those who want a stand-alone guide we offer TV Weekly, which is delivered in the Sunday Times. Searchable and printable online listings are also available at http://latimes.com/tvlistings."

I also asked about the addition of color to the daily comics -- and why, in the space that could be utilized for one more comic (Sally Forth, perhaps), they're instead using it for text. "We are continuously improving all areas of the paper and are pleased to be able to offer the daily comics in color. The text you refer to at the bottom of the page is dedicated to encouraging submissions to our long-standing Kids’ Reading Room feature and providing information about how the community can order The Times’ free Reading by 9 Parent Reading Guide."

I suppose, but remember when the Kids' Reading Room was a daily *full-page* feature? And then downsized to a still major presence in the Sunday comics? Now it's barely anything. But I do approve of trying to reach out to young readers, and wish newspapers could make more of an impact with kids.

CicLAvia Heads To The Sea

As you may know, we're big fans of CicLAvia here at Franklin Avenue (just read our past posts here). The event clears several L.A. roads and hands them over to pedestrians, bicyclists and rollerbladers, and they come by the thousands to enjoy the empty streets.

For the next event (the 6th in Los Angeles) on April 21, CicLAvia is getting ambitious: A 15-mile route (mostly on Venice Boulevard) from downtown to Venice Beach. (See the map above).

My main complaint with CicLAvia is that it's not long enough. And this time out, CicLAvia only takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- not much time to do the whole route round trip (especially with kids in tow). But we hope to see you out there!

Separated At Birth?

"Babe" actor James Cromwell...


... Glendale City Council candidate Mike Mohill...


... and "Breaking Bad's" Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks)?

Gummy Bunnies Are Real

You make the call: Exciting, or disgusting? As spotted at Target.

New Variety Launches Today: What I Would Have Done

Pic via AJ Marechal's Twitter feed.

UPDATE: Just thumbed through the first edition of New Variety. NICE. Stellar design, chock full of interesting stuff and THICK. I can see why it would be tough to do this twice a week (although the content could obviously be spread across two thinner issues, perhaps). Below, my post from this morning on what I would do with the pub.



Farewell, Daily Variety (that's the final issue, above). Hello again, Variety. Having spent 12 years of my professional life at the venerable trade, I am eagerly rooting for it to succeed and still find myself angered by some of the cheap shots that even cheaper competitors throw its way. I was sad to see the Daily go -- but heartened to see a beefed-up Weekly Variety (where we always did some of our best, deeper reads) come on the scene, starting today. For years my colleagues and I dreamed of blowing up the website and completely turning it into something more reader-friendly, while turning the Weekly into a heftier publication. It looks like they're finally doing both. I can't wait to get my hands on today's premiere copy.

Not that anyone asked, but if you're reading this Jay Penske, here's my take on what the new owners of Variety ought to do with the print publication -- starting with the idea of squeezing out at least two issues a week. Given all the congratulatory and For Your Consideration ads out there, I still think a twice-a-week format would better distinguish Variety from its glossy, well-funded competitor, The Hollywood Reporter.

I would have also eliminated Daily Variety, and here's the twist: I would publish what's now known as weekly Variety twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. (Giving Variety a slight edge over The Hollywood Reporter's once-a-week schedule.)

The Monday edition would take full advantage of the weekend box office and the Sunday night awards shows -- the one place where people can buy full-page ads touting their box office domination or congratulating Oscar/Globes/SAG/Emmy/Grammy/etc. winners. The issue would be built around something called THE WEEK -- a detailed list of winners and losers from the past week (emphasizing the big moves at the agencies, studios and networks) as well as a detailed calendar of the week ahead; big stories looking back at last week's big stories and looking ahead to what will be important this week.

Thursday's issue would include detail-heavy TV ratings grids, domestic and international box office charts and full dissections of each -- indispensable info that is harder to translate online. (Also: A look ahead at the upcoming weekend's box office and award shows). Plus that issue would be built around something called THE LIST -- a weekly feature that would change from week to week -- power lists, overall deal rosters, pilot charts, salary surveys -- ultimately, 52 U.S. News & World Report-style must-read lists that everyone will be clamoring to see. This would be a variation of the specials sections that have driven revenue for years at the trades -- so yes, these lists could be touted to advertisers for congratulations ads.

Big newsy stories, industry think pieces, editorials, and Variety's patented, hefty movie, stage and TV reviews would make up the bulk of the two weekly issues. Variety is all about news and attitude.

I'm not a business guy, so perhaps the bean counters decided that even this idea was not financially feasible. But I also still gotta believe, as a print guy, that there's still a portion of Hollywood that wants to see its stories -- and its ads -- on the page.

February Arbitron Ratings: KBIG Goes Big

I can't remember the last time hot AC KBIG "My 104.3" was No. 1, but there it is in the February local Arbitron book, winning the persons 12+ crown with a 5.4 share of the listening audience. KBIG has been either No. 2 or 3 throughout the last year, so a move to No. 1 was inevitable -- but to do so, it had to climb over Clear Channel sibling KIIS, which has been No. 1 for most of the last year (with the exception of the months when KOST airs Christmas music).

KBIG did it by easily winning the persons 25-54 audience (No. 1 with a 5.9 share) and coming in a solid No. 4 with persons 18-34 (where KIIS is still No. 1).

The rest of the top ten: top 40 KIIS (5.1), AC KOST (4.9) talker KFI (4.7), classic hits KRTH "K-Earth" (3.9), top 40 KAMP "Amp Radio" (3.8) hip-hop KPWR "Power 106" (3.6), urban oldies KHHT "Hot 92.3" (3.3), all-news KNX (3.2), alternative KROQ (3.2).

In morning drive, KFI is back at No. 1 among listeners 12+ (6.0), followed by KROQ's Kevin & Bean (5.1) and KIIS' Ryan Seacrest (4.9). Kevin & Bean are tops with 25-54 and No. 2 with 18-34, while Seacrest wins 18-34 and is No. 2 with 25-54.

FREE L.A.: Capital Cities and Gold Fields Concert at L.A. Live

I'm only posting this because I love Capital Cities' maddeningly catchy track "Safe and Sound." But honestly, this will probably be a madhouse and a terrible experience. Nonetheless, if you like braving nutso crowds, L.A. Live will be throwing a free live concert on Friday night by Capital Cities and Gold Fields. The catch: you have to register beforehand at lalive.com/collegefanfest.

The event, of course, is tied to March Madness. The "L.A. Live College Basketball Fan Fest" will also include "an outdoor basketball court featuring athletic challenges and exciting interactive games, a basketball clinic hosted by the Pepperdine Men’s Basketball Team, LA Kings Ice Crew & Ice Rider, LA Galaxy urban soccer pitch and street team, inflatables, contests, prizes, photo opportunities, bands, spirit teams, DJs, live entertainment and more."

Q&A: John Beard on L.A. News, and His Return to "Arrested Development"

In Southern California, we all still remember John Beard for his lengthy stints as a news anchor at KTTV/Fox 11, and before that, at KNBC/4. But Beard gained a whole new level of recognition for playing the news anchor of fictional "Fox 6" on "Arrested Development," frequently reporting on the exploits of Orange County's Bluth family. (Beard also played a newscaster on another Fox series, "24.")

Beard is now in Buffalo, hosting a morning show there (where he wins the timeslot), having departed L.A. in 2009. But he still keeps tabs on Los Angeles, and recently flew back here to shoot some scenes for the "Arrested Development" revival, set to hit Netflix in May. I recently asked Beard to answer a few questions over email:

FRANKLIN AVENUE: As talk of an "Arrested Development" revival swirled for years, did you ever imagine that one day you'd be reprising your role as "Fox 6 News Anchor John Beard"?
JOHN BEARD: I was looking forward to the series revival as a viewer, but since I’m not on the air now in LA I wasn’t sure if I’d be a part of it. But at the taping, the head writer told me I was always going to be in the new series no matter what. I’m very appreciative for that!

FRANKLIN AVENUE: Usually TV show news anchor cameos are "one and done." But you made regular appearances throughout the show's original three seasons. How did it first come about? Did Mitch Hurwitz write the anchor role with you in mind?
BEARD: You get called on to do a lot of cameo appearances when you’re on the air in Los Angeles, but I said no to most of them over the years. When the producers called me about “Arrested Development” I told them no as well. But they explained they wanted me to play myself and that Mitch and the writers appreciated my sense of humor. They said “Just let me send you the script for the pilot. If you say no I’ll understand.” Well, I thought it was one of the funniest things I had ever read, I couldn’t turn it down.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: What are you up to now?
BEARD: I’m now anchoring the morning news at WGRZ, the NBC station in Buffalo, NY. This is the first time I’ve done a morning show except for filling in on “Good Day LA” and the "Today Show." I think maybe I should have been doing morning all along, it fits my personality and I’m having great fun.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: How was shooting the show different for you this time?
BEARD: The first time around, most of my work was done in studio at KTTV, only two episodes were shot with the rest of the cast and crew. This time I shot 12 scenes, all on the lot in Culver City. Most of my scenes were on a “news” set, but there is one long and hilarious scene with David Cross (Tobias).

FRANKLIN AVENUE: I'm sure most people recognize you on the street for being a news anchor, but how often do people want to talk "Arrested Development" with you? What do they ask, and what do you tell them?
BEARD: It’s a mix. In Buffalo, most people know me from the morning show. In LA, they know me from KNBC and KTTV…including some who think I’m still on. People everyplace (even in Canada) come up to talk about “Arrested Development." And there are sometimes those who say they used to watch me in Chicago. I’ve never worked in Chicago.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: What do you miss most about working in L.A. news?
BEARD: I miss my friends in the news business there, both the ones I worked with and the ones I competed against.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: What do you miss the least?
BEARD: I don’t miss having to fight every day to do real news and not fluff.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: When will we see you back on the air in Southern California?
BEARD: Good question… when somebody has a good answer just leave it on my website (johnbeard.com) or tweet me @jb111.

Wilshire as L.A.'s "Boulevard of Prototypes, A String Of Hypotheses 16 Miles Long"

From the front page of the Sunday Los Angeles Times, architectural critic Christopher Hawthorne takes on the contradictions found on our city's main street, Wilshire Boulevard:

Rather than act as a perfect symbol of Los Angeles, Wilshire has operated as a proving ground for new ideas about architecture, commerce, transportation and urbanism in Southern California. For nearly a century Wilshire has been L.A.'s boulevard of prototypes, a string of hypotheses 16 miles long.

It's where we first tried a linear downtown, stretching west toward the ocean, instead of a traditional, consolidated one at the foot of City Hall. It's where L.A. built its first synchronized traffic lights, Art Deco landmarks and clusters of high-end apartment towers.

Most of the major boulevards The Times has examined in this series over the past year had faded in prominence in the post-war, freeway-building era, only to find new momentum more recently. Wilshire, though, never lost its reputation as the place where Los Angeles embraced and tested out the future.

But if Wilshire has been the prow of L.A.'s ship, there have been quite a few icebergs along the way. The street's history is full of dreams dashed in high-profile fashion. It's where plans for a subway to the sea and the tallest building in the world — among many other big-ticket projects — have risen and stalled.

Wilshire is our boulevard of cold feet and second thoughts, the place where Los Angeles confronts its deep ambivalence about putting a low-rise, car-dominated and essentially suburban past behind it for good.

The result on today's Wilshire is a lurching, piecemeal utopianism that can take you from a world-famous piece of architecture to a weed-choked lot, from a realized ambition to an abandoned one, in the space of a few blocks.

Read the full essay here.

Get Over It, Burbank: You Were Going to Lose "The Tonight Show" No Matter What

Let's calm down, folks. The Los Angeles Times reports that Burbank mayor Dave Golonski jokingly will go on a hunger strike if "The Tonight Show" leaves Burbank:

[Golonski]said he is drafting a letter to NBC executives asking them to reconsider the plans to move “The Tonight Show” from Burbank to New York.

“We would be extremely disappointed if the plans to move ‘The Tonight Show’ go through,” Golonski said by phone. “We would like it to remain in Burbank and the region.”

That's fine and good. But others are turning this into a bigger story -- bugging L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, strangely, or touting New York production tax breaks allegedly being put into place solely to steal away "The Tonight Show."

But here's the thing: This is a case of Jimmy Fallon simply not moving. He's been doing a show in New York. He'll continue to do a show in New York. That show's title will change from "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" to "Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." But other than the title switching coasts, nothing is actually physically moving. Jay Leno will still be in Los Angeles, and will very likely host another TV show -- but again, just under a different title (and perhaps for a different network).

There's good reason that Fallon isn't moving to L.A.: NBC tried that with Conan O'Brien -- made O'Brien and his entire team uproot their lives and move to Los Angeles. That didn't quite work out as planned.

I would like to remind Golonski that Burbank already lost "The Tonight Show" -- to Universal City, where Conan hosted the show. Where was Golonski and his wacky fake hunger strike then? If anything, Burbank lucked out: Thanks to the last late night debacle, when Leno (a creature of habit who never left the former NBC lot) took over "The Tonight Show" again, that meant the title returned to Burbank. But it's living on borrowed time: NBC doesn't own its old Burbank lot anymore, it simply leases the production space for Leno. And once Leno goes, even if "The Tonight Show" stayed in Southern California, I can pretty much guarantee it would move to Universal City, where the rest of NBC now resides.

That being said, I was joking today that Leno may never leave his stage -- it may just be a different network that starts paying the rent. But the more that I think about it, that may be a real possibility. So Burbank, you may be losing "The Tonight Show," but you'll always have Jay Leno -- for better or for worse.

Meanwhile, I'm just making an educated guess here, but should Fallon take over "The Tonight Show," I'm pretty sure NBC would move the "Late Night" franchise to Los Angeles (but again, to Universal City -- perhaps even at CityWalk. Sorry, Burbank). That bi-coastal model has worked for NBC since 1982, and it's something CBS now emulates.

Meanwhile, Hollywood.com asked me to comment on where Leno's displaced audience might go once he leaves "The Tonight Show." This is what I told them:

Michael Schneider of TV Guide Magazine, lends his expertise on the subject to Hollywood.com: "In this fragmented TV world, if Leno leaves The Tonight Show, his audience would likely be spread far and wide — it's unlikely one show would be the beneficiary."

"If Letterman outlasts Leno, he'd pick up some of those viewers. Some might stick around to check out Fallon or try Kimmel, but others will likely move on to news shows, syndicated repeats or even their DVR," Schneider adds. "If Arsenio [Hall]'s still on the air at that point (he launches this fall), he could very well pick up a chunk of Leno's audience. But in the end, once Leno's show goes away, his audience may choose another, powerfully seductive late-night competitor: Sleep."

Press Release of the Day: Kate Middleton's Nose Edition

Yes, this is a real pitch that crossed my desk last week:

The iconic beauty, Kate Middleton, has taken the world by storm and is setting beauty standards for women in the U.K. and the U.S. Her nose is now the most requested feature for plastic surgeons and has been titled “spring's hottest accessory.” Our Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in Boston, MA, and Board Certified Plastic Surgeons in Los Angeles, CA, are available to comment on how women on either coast are modeling their looks after the Duchess. Would you like to speak with an expert on why Kate’s nose is ideal for women and what other features of hers women are admiring? Please let me know if you are interested.

Altering your nose to look like Kate Middleton's, in time for spring? I do weep for our countries.

Iraq, Ten Years Later

Read this:

Dying Vet's "F*** You" Letter To George Bush & Dick Cheney Needs To Be Read By Every American (DangerousMinds.com)

Mike on Radio: Talking Midseason TV with Kevin & Bean

Thanks to Kevin & Bean for once again including me on Tuesday morning's show. We talked about the sheer amount of TV coming our way -- the good, the bad and the ugly. I got to plug some great upcoming TV, including Sundance's "Top of the Lake" and "Rectify" and A&E's "Bates Motel." Click on the icon below to listen to the podcast; I come in at about 1:12 into the show.

Franklin Avenue Visits the Los Angeles County Arboretum

For several years we held a membership to the Huntington Library and Gardens (thanks to one of the best Groupons we ever bought), but at a point last year we realized we just weren't going enough to justify our investment. Meanwhile, we were probably visiting the Descanso Gardens (closer to us) more often. When Maria discovered that a membership to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Arcadia also covered entrance to Descanso, we were sold.



We'd visited the Arboretum in the past to attend California Philharmonic concerts, but have now spent some time exploring the gardens themselves. The kids get a kick out of the peacocks roaming the grounds; I like the Queen Anne cottage, as seen at the start of each episode of "Fantasy Island."

But there's a downside to all those birds roaming the grounds: All that bird poop. Watch out. It's everywhere on the yards. I was told that a massive cleanup takes place every single morning -- but I noticed plenty of it by the afternoon. Watch where you walk.

Also on the grounds: The old Santa Anita train depot, now open for tours on the weekends. Also, the Peacock Cafe -- fine if you're hungry, but pretty mediocre food.

Here are some pics from an afternoon at the Arboretrum:










The Queen Anne cottage


"De plane, boss, de plane!" RIP, Herve.


Inside the cottage











The boys




Santa Anita depot








Inside the depot

The L.A. County Arboretum is open daily from 9AM to 5PM
301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007

License Plate of the Day: Sick Edition

(Say it in your best Spencer Pratt impersonation): "Hey chief, that ride is sssickkk!"

Bloopers: Channel 7's Ellen Leyva Knows When To Quit

Gotta love this: KABC-Channel 7's Ellen Leyva struggles with an on-screen statement and knows when to cut her losses. "Well, whatever."

Mike on Radio: Bantering About Fox's New Sports Network and More on KCRW's "The Business"

I'm back on this week's edition of KCRW's "The Business," bantering with the Los Angeles Times' John Horn about:

- News Corp announces their answer to ESPN -- a new cable channel, FOX Sports 1 -- but can they take on this 30-year sports behemoth? - The broadcast channels spend big this pilot season hoping to find something that will stick after a lackluster year. Some familiar names are shooting pilots, including Robin Williams and Greg Kinnear - NBC begins to think about when and how Jay Leno will finally walk away from late night

Listen below!

Aloha to Bahooka: A Last Look at The Kitschy Tiki Restaurant

Sadly, another Southern California restauran institution is now history. Bahooka Restaurant in Rosemead shut down this weekend after nearly five decades in business. Bahooka wasn't necessarily known for its food, but it was definitely known for its kitsch. Fish tanks at nearly every table, Tiki heads and plenty of surf memorabilia lined the walls, and stepping inside was like stepping back, well, almost five decades.


Here's how big fan Chris Nichols eulogized it over at his L.A. Times "Ask Chris" blog:

No! No! No! This can't be happening. Bahooka, the most lavish, bizarre and wonderful restaurant ever built in Los Angeles (did I mention the drinks are served on fire and in salad bowls?) will be gone by next month. The massive labyrinth of flotsam and jetsam, filled with hundreds of blue glowing fish tanks, tikis. street signs, plastic birds, and a jail cell, will close its doors on March 10th after 46 years in business. The first Bahooka opened in my hometown of West Covina but was just a tiny guppy compared to the full majesty of the Rosemead location, which sold after just one day on the market. “They don’t want tiki around here, they want Asian,” says co-owner Suzanne Schneider. “The new owner just wants the building, the liquor license and the fish.” Schneider would not sell the Bahooka name as she plans to sell a line of salad dressing through Costco. A sick relative caused her to act quickly to dispose of the beloved restaurant.

We stopped by on Saturday night (which turned out to be the last night of operation), and although the 4-hour wait meant that we couldn't get a table, I still wandered around and snapped plenty of photos for posterity. Here are some shots from the final weekend of Bahooka, including Rufus the fish:























And here's a video produced by LA Foodie about the final days of Bahooka: