Downtown, It's Yuppies vs. Hollywood as Film Shoots Encounter More Angry Residents

Above, a typical sight in downtown Los Angeles: A film or commercial shoot (this one looked to be for an auto) that we caught while walking around last fall.

Once upon a time, Downtown Los Angeles was so deserted after hours or on weekends that Hollywood could treat it like an empty backlot. No longer. With so many residents now downtown, the population dubbed "Yoga Yuppies" by Curbed LA are not pleased:

Here's the Mad Men location manager: "We used to film car chases all over the place and land helicopters in parking lots. You'd never have to ask permission or get letters from residents -- they weren't even there." And the guy who works on Revenge, via The Hollywood Reporter: "Years ago, we'd shoot there, and you'd barely have to tell anybody." Skid Row, on the other hand, not a problem, according to the Castle scout: "But those people know the routine ... We have more issues with the yuppies not waiting for a shot and going to walk through it with their dog or to get to yoga." They'll just have to adapt though--Downtown has been playing New York since well before it was gentrified or even ungentrified--it first appeared as Manhattan in Harold Lloyd's Speedy, shot on Flower Street in 1928. And it's still got the basic look: "Right underneath our noses in Los Angeles is this New York backlot," according to one location expert; the Mad Men manager says "The buildings — when they were built, how they were built, their height, their look — are very similar ... If you're shooting on Spring, Main or Broadway [in downtown L.A.], you have no idea that you're not in New York."

Scenes from Anaheim's Wondercon

You may recall that last month I had the opportunity to moderate TV Guide Magazine's TV Showrunners panel -- featuring Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries), Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead), Steve Molaro (The Big Bang Theory), Remi Aubuchon (Falling Skies) and others -- at Wondercon in Anaheim.

Since I was going down there, I thought it might be fun to introduce the Blogger Kid to the "con" culture, and also brought along his older cousin for the ride. They both got a kick out of the spectacle. Evan was a bit freaked out at first by all the costumes, but the Nintendo booth (where he kept going back to try out games) and all the Minecraft paraphernalia won him over. Here are some photo highlights:


Stormtroopers


Inside the convention center


Inside the convention center

Mike on Radio: KROQ's Kevin & Bean Ask, What's Up With NBC's New Reality Show?

Kevin & Bean's Bean and Ralph were taken aback by the idea behind NBC's new reality show "The Million Second Quiz" (read about it here, and brought me on the show this morning to try and explain it. Granted, it's hard to figure out just how this show will work, but I give NBC some props for at least trying to put together a live spectacle that it hopes to turn into a big event before the fall launch. Ralph and Bean aren't having it.

It was a fun give-and-take today. Listen by clicking below!

The End of the Gibson/Universal Amphitheatre

Sorry music fans, Harry Potter needs the room. After 40 years, the Gibson Amphitheater -- the venue formerly known as the Universal Amphitheatre -- is set to close. And it's a shame. It's still one of the best places to see a concert in all of L.A., as there's not a bad seat in the house, even in the back.

But Universal will tear the building down after its last show in September in order to make room for a new Harry Potter-themed attraction. Here are the details:

Starting in late summer, NBCUniversal will begin construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed land at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, as well as new and upgraded television production facilities, office space and infrastructure on the Universal Studios lot. These projects represent a nearly $500 million investment in the Los Angeles economy and the creation of more than 2,000 construction jobs alone.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be a fully immersive experience for the entire family designed to bring the Harry Potter fiction and films to life with impeccable detail and authenticity. Similar to the dynamic Universal Orlando Resort themed land that opened in 2010, the Hollywood experience will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle that will serve as the centerpiece of the impressively themed environment. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts.

The Universal Amphitheatre first opened as an open-air venue in 1972, but was covered in 1982. News that the Gibson might shut down first leaked in 2011, but today's announcement makes it official.

I'm guessing the Gibson/Universal is the biggest venue in L.A. to be torn down since the Shubert Theatre was erased from Century City.

March Arbitrons: Ryan Seacrest Gets a "10"

What's the deal with Ryan Seacrest? His KIIS-FM morning show posted a 10 share this March among listeners aged 18-34, the first double-digit share in the demo over at least the last year. That made him easily No. 1 among young adults. KROQ's Kevin & Bean dominated the money demo, adults 25-54, with a 7.5 share of the audience. And in listeners 12+, KFI's Bill Handel was No. 1 (thanks to his older audience).

In total day ratings, KIIS-FM also reclaimed the No. 1 spot among persons 12+, with a 5.7 share, followed by KBIG "My 104.3" (5.4), KOST-FM (4.6), KFI-AM (4.3), KAMP "Amp Radio" (4.0, its best showing in a year), KPWR "Power 106" (3.9), KRTH "K-Earth 101" (3.7), KROQ-FM (3.4), KHHT "Hot 92.3" (3.3) and KSCA (3.2, its best in a year).

KIIS was also No. 1 in 18-34 (9.3), while KBIG was No. 1 with 25-54 (6.2).

Spotted: "Little Mommy"

Hey, I'm a fan of Little Golden Books, but I'm not sure I approve of them celebrating childhood pregnancy.

Scenes from a Sunday Ride on the CicLAvia Route

The classiest way to do it: Fine dining, CicLAvia style. Of course, extra props to these people for sticking with the plan even as the temps reached 90 degrees.

Another beautiful return to CicLAvia this Sunday, as a handful of streets from downtown to Venice were shut down for bikes, strollers and pedestrians. We parked near El Pueblo and rode through downtown, making our way through MacArthur Park and all the way to Arlington before turning around. So no, we didn't make it to Venice, but that's quite all right. We enjoy the downtown vibe and biking through all those old buildings. Plus, the crowds were lighter than usual on the street, as I assume most folks wanted to see CicLAvia on the west side for the first time.

Some pics from our day on the road:


At the El Pueblo starting point in downtown.


Not too crowded at El Pueblo.


Passing Caltrans


On Main, near the Pacific Electric building


Live music at the Silo Vodka Bar on 7th


A view of the Wilshire Grand demolition


MacArthur Park pit stop


Finding shade in MacArthur Park


Lunch break: Mama's International Tamales in MacArthur Park


Tamales at Mama's in MacArthur Park!


Mandatory dismount


Yes, they really are pedaling that thing.

On Set With the Cast of "Scandal," This Year's TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorite

Last week I got to make the cast and crew of ABC's hot drama "Scandal" literally scream with delight. Visiting the show's Oval Office set, I presented Kerry Washington and the show's cast and crew the TV Guide Magazine award for Fan Favorite Drama -- and they were beyond thrilled. It was quite exciting to see their reaction and truly make the day of a hard-working group of people. (Some of the crew members thanked me again as I walked off the set.)

Plus: Watch as Washington gives me a hug (it's documented, people) as I give her the Fan Favorite Award for best actress. The issue is on stands now, pick it up!

License Plate of the Day: Obi Wan Edition

Kenobi! Spotted in the Valley by our pal Tony.

How TV's Southland Embraced L.A.'s Local Eats

Not only does TNT's "Southland" showcase parts of Los Angeles rarely seen on TV, but it ventures into some of its legendary and lesser-known eateries for some true-to-life color. Among the joints showcased on "Southland": Philippe's, Langer's, Tony's Steak House, El Siete Mares, El Tepeyac (Manuel's special burrito, of course), Cha Cha Cha, S&W Diner, Johnnie's Pastrami, Pacific Dining Car and so many more.

The L.A. Weekly's Squid Ink blog recently asked "Southland" associate producer and location manager Mike Haro to talk about "Southland's" connection with L.A. eateries:

SI: Name a favorite restaurant that's appeared on Southland.
MH: I have several favorites. For us, budget is always a concern, but we were able to film briefly at Bottega Louie. Earlier this year we had a scene where a car totally crashed into a restaurant and we used this really cool Filipino place called Bahay Kubo.

SI: Explain your process step by step: Do you drive around by yourself?
MH: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The way the show works, I'll get the script and break it down and discuss ideas with the director and production designer. Once they sign off, I will have my scout go out, but oftentimes, because I know the city so well, I'll say, "Go here, and check around these streets." He'll go and come back with whatever he can find in those areas.

SI: When you shoot at a restaurant, is it all visual? How important is it that the Southland cops are shown eating at a place that actually serves delicious food?
MH: We want to have at least some interesting features of the restaurant. But we are also of the belief that whatever is real is real. If we're told to find a certain kind of restaurant, we will. We like to go on locations that are readymade, that we don't have to enhance. The challenge for me and my scouts is to really make sure it fits the character, without having to do anything. A lot of shows dress a location to fit the character. Sometimes that doesn't feel real. It looks art directed as opposed to looking like a real location. I think that's key to our show having that gritty, real look. In the next couple of episodes, you're going to see some locations that we never could have art directed.

More Changes at KCRW: Harry Shearer's "Le Show," NPR's "Weekend All Things Considered" Leave Air, Move to Digital

Tom Schnabel isn't the only KCRW mainstay departing the airwaves. Harry Shearer's "Le Show," which has been heard on KCRW since 1983, is also moving to digital. In its place, KCRW will now run the "TED Radio Hour" on Sundays at 10 a.m. It's part of a big weekend schedule shift at KCRW. Also gone: NPR's "Weekend All Things Considered" (which will still be heard on KCRW's online news channel, and remains over the air on rival KPCC). That means KCRW will go all-music starting at noon on the weekends. Here's the press release:

Harry Shearer’s Le Show will no longer be heard on 89.9FM. The station plans to continue to distribute the show for podcast and national syndication, and will continue to support the show on its digital platforms. KCRW will add the program to its 24-hour news stream on Sundays.

A mix of political satire and music, Le Show first aired on KCRW in 1983 and is now carried on more than 80 public radio stations across the U.S., the Pacific Islands, and on satellite radio, and has seen significant growth as a podcast in recent years.

“Harry Shearer and Le Show have been a part of KCRW since its inception, providing a voice of satire and comic relief while challenging the political establishment. KCRW pledges to support Harry and his incredible national and digital audience,” says KCRW General Manager Jennifer Ferro.

NPR’s TED Radio Hour, hosted by Guy Raz, formerly of Weekend All Things Considered, will now air Sundays at 10am. The weekly exploration of “ideas worth spreading” was NPR’s biggest new program launch in history and the podcast premiered at the top of the iTunes download charts for its pilot season in 2012.

“We're thrilled to be bringing the TED Radio Hour to Southern California radio listeners. The show brings ideas that inspire new ways of thinking, which has long been a tenet of public radio programming. We believe it's a perfect fit for KCRW's curious audience,” explains Ferro.

As announced last Friday, legendary DJ and former Music Director Tom Schnabel starts a new digital venture that aims to grow KCRW’s world music audience. An expert in world music and jazz, Schnabel will continue to share his wealth of knowledge through his popular Rhythm Planet blog, an on-demand music show, a Rhythm Planet membership club and a series of live events including an upcoming music salon on May 20.

“Tom is the vibrant heart of KCRW’s music programming. He’s our first music director and a critical part of the KCRW family. As we continue our digital expansion, Tom is the right person to lead the station into this new territory,” says Ferro. “He has vast knowledge of world music and jazz, among other things, and is an amazing curator, scholar and writer. He is not saying goodbye because he's not leaving. He's just changing platforms - from broadcast radio to digital.”

Listeners can hear Travis Holcombe’s new show Saturdays and Sundays from 3-6pm. Additionally, Anne Litt moves to the new time of noon to 3pm both days. Chris Douridas moves his two-hour show to 6pm on Saturday, followed by Liza Richardson and Metropolis, hosted by KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley.

On Sundays, Gary Calamar stays at 6pm. Henry Rollins moves to Sundays at 8pm and Dan Wilcox moves to 10pm. Eric J Lawrence returns to Sunday nights from midnight to 3am and Jason Kramer moves to Tuesday nights from midnight to 3am.

"Travis started as a volunteer at the station, just like I did, and it became immediately obvious that he had something special to offer. His depth of music draws out gems from all decades, plus he’s been an early supporter of a few artists who have become station favorites. I’m excited Travis is bringing his diverse and progressive playlists to the weekend, and am confident the audience will love what he has to offer," says KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley.

NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered will no longer air on KCRW 89.9FM. Instead, listeners will be kept up to date with top-of-the-hour NPR news headlines beginning at noon on Saturdays and Sundays. KCRW’s digital news stream will continue to carry WATC.

The new weekend schedule reflects KCRW’s efforts to redefine itself as more than just a radio station. KCRW has made significant investment in programming and distribution across multiple platforms. Last year’s launch of respected digital-only shows such as Strangers and the Organist is an example of KCRW’s commitment to expand its offerings beyond the FM dial. The development of the Music Mine and other mobile apps, as well as the successful streams on iHeartRadio, Spotify, TuneIn and others is part of this commitment to put KCRW wherever the audience is.

Here are the new weekend lineups:

SATURDAY
6 am NPR's WEEKEND EDITION
10 am THIS AMERICAN LIFE
11 am GOOD FOOD
Noon ANNE LITT (Music)
3 pm TRAVIS HOLCOMBE (Music)
6 pm CHRIS DOURIDAS (Music)
8 pm LIZA RICHARDSON (Music)
10 pm METROPOLIS (Music)
Midnight MARIO COTTO (Music)
3 am THE LAB (Music)

SUNDAY
6 am NPR's WEEKEND EDITION
10 am TED RADIO HOUR
11 am THE MOTH RADO HOUR
Noon ANNE LITT (Music)
3 pm TRAVIS HOLCOMBE (Music)
6 pm GARY CALAMAR (Music)
8 pm HENRY ROLLINS (Music)
10 pm DAN WILCOX (Music)
Midnight JASON KRAMER (Music)

More schedule details here. The new weekend schedule will take effect immediately, starting April 20. View the complete schedule at: http://kcrw.com/schedule.

Tom Schnabel Goes Digital, Leaves KCRW's Weekend Lineup

Tom Schnabel, the original host of KCRW's signature music program "Morning Becomes Eclectic," is leaving the KCRW airwaves. This Sunday will be the final edition of his long-running weekend program. But KCRW says Schnabel isn't leaving the station; he's instead focusing on launching a new digital platform, "Rhythm Planet." Here's the KCRW memo (from general manager Jennifer Ferro) announcing the change:

As you know, in the last year we've made investments in digital programming and building new audience. We launched DnA and Metropolis to do both of these things last month and we are happy to see the positive response so far.

I wanted to let you know about another exciting new venture.

Tom Schnabel will launch Rhythm Planet as its own stand-alone digital universe. Tom is the heart of KCRW's music programming. He's our center, our core, our beginning.

His last on air show will be this Sunday. He is not saying good-bye because he's not leaving. He's just changing platforms - from broadcast radio to digital.

He has vast knowledge of world music and jazz (amongst other things). He's an amazing curator and scholar and writer. In fact, his Rhythm Planet blog is one of our more popular blogs even with little to no promotion.

Just like Frances and DnA, the goal is for Tom to build a community around world and jazz music. We'll have a Rhythm Planet membership club, live music events (one is coming up on May 20th) and his blog. He'll do a weekly audio show that will be found on his blog and on our site and apps.

I'm excited to announce that Travis Holcombe will join the daytime music programming line up. Many of you know Travis. In true KCRW fashion, Travis started as a front desk volunteer and eventually joined our music staff.

We're finally at a place where we can take advantage of all our platforms - over the air, online and in person. This year we're embarking on making the most of all three of those platforms.

An official announcement on weekend changes will come on Monday. I wanted you to be aware in case you hear Tom talk about his new venture on the air this weekend.

Your dedication and passion for KCRW is what drives this whole operation and I thank you.

- Jennifer Ferro

Schnabel hosted "Morning Becomes Eclectic" from July 1979 to November 1990, before handing the reins to Chris Douridas. He had hosted a weekend show since then.

Mike on TV: KNBC Asks Me About the End of KDAY

I briefly chatted with KNBC on Wilshire -- near the KDAY studios -- about the impending demise of the old skool hip-hop station. (Read my post about the KDAY sale here.)

CBS' Vegas Gives Langer's A Shoutout

CBS' Vegas just paid Langer's the ultimate compliment, giving the legendary MacArthur Park eatery a rave mention in a recent episode. What's cool, of course, is that Vegas takes place in the early 1960s -- but at that point, Langer's was already an institution. Now, of course, it's known for having the best pastrami in all of America. Watch the clip below.

UPDATE: There's an even sweeter backstory to this mention. Per CBS publicist Diane Ekeblad, Langer's was one of late screenwriter Nora Ephron's favorite spots. Ephron was married to Vegas executive producer Nicholas Pileggi.

License Plate of the Day: Optimist Edition

Nice to see an optimist on the road. Must be new to Southern California, however. A few more years on the road, and this driver is going to want to rethink such a sunny vanity plate outlook.

The End of 93.5 KDAY

L.A. radio fans of old-skool hip-hop, bad news: 93.5 KDAY-FM has been sold, and a format change to Chinese language is coming shortly. Radio Insight has the story:

Magic Broadcasting has agreed to sell Classic Hip-Hop “93.5 KDAY” KDAY Redondo Beach/Los Angeles and KDEY Ontario/Riverside to RBC Communications for $19.5 Million.

Look for a flip to a Chinese format to accompany the sale. Phoenix Satellite Television, a British Virgin Islands based company which operates 6 cable networks in China owns a 20% stake in RBC. Anthony Yuen holds the other 80% through his RBC Investments LLC.

If the deal goes through, it would be the end of a nearly 10-year attempt to make KDAY a player in the market. The station had been Spanish-language when it flipped in 2004 to old-skool hip-hop, and started calling itself KDAY -- a nod to the popular late 70s, early 80s AM radio station that was the first in L.A. to play a lot of rap. Here's what I wrote on September 20, 2004:

KZAB 93.5 FM, which had been playing salsa music under the moniker "La Sabrosa", flipped at 12 noon today to an all-hip-hop format. (KZAB is licensed to Redondo Beach.)

The station is now referring to itself as KDAY -- call letters that will be familiar to Angeleno rap fans in the 1980s. The original 1580 AM KDAY has long been recognized as the nation's first all-hip-hop radio station.

The hip-hop format on KDAY, which launched in July 1983, is credited with breaking artists such as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, LL Cool J and NWA. At the time, a 24-hour hip-hop station seemed ridiculous. A full time radio station dedicated to a tiny niche music format?

20 years later, of course, hip-hop KPWR "Power 106" dominates Los Angeles' radio wars. And another, KKBT "The Beat," has also been a market force for over a decade, thanks most recently to the strong Steve Harvey morning show.

It's too soon to tell whether this new 93.5 KDAY will live up to its famous namesake -- or if it will even get to keep the name (a radio station in Independence, Calif., actually operates under those call letters). I'm not even sure we need another all hip-hop station -- KPWR and KKBT do quite nicely, and on much more powerful signals. Perhaps a niche format would be better suited for the 93.5 frequency. Stay tuned.

But then station then went more current, going up against titans Power 106 and 100.3 The Beat. Later, The Beat went to an urban AC format - and KDAY went back to old skool, as I wrote in 2006:

93.5 KDAY has tweaked its format and is finally doing what it had promised in the beginning: Focus on old school tracks. The new KDAY is playing a mix of 80s and early 90s hip-hop (think NWA, LL Cool J, Young MC, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Bell Biv DeVoe) -- and here's the weird part -- along with old funk (and even R&B-flavored disco) tracks. Prince shows up, and sometimes the station even spins some 80s freestyle. It's an interesting mix -- which makes me want to tune in, just to see what they're gonna play next.

But again, that didn't last long, and KDAY started drifting to more current hip-hop. In 2008, the station dumped hip-hop altogether. Radio One sold 100.3 -- which had dropped its "The Beat" branding to become "V100," a mix of urban AC music and talk -- but sold the intellectual rights of "V100" to Magic. Here's what I wrote back then:

As for V100, the station signed off for good on Monday, but former owner Radio One has signed a deal with KDAY 93.5 to bring some of its programming there. Radio One also owns the intellectual property for V100 predecessor "The Beat" -- which means KDAY now plans to call itself "The Beat of L.A.," even resurrecting the old "No Color Lines" slogan and peace sign logo.

After that, 93.5 became mostly syndicated talk -- until it dumped Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden. In 2009, the station went back to old skool, even airing spots apologizing for abandoning hip-hop. Here's what I wrote in 2009:

Now, it's back to basics for KDAY, which is jockless with a pure classic hip-hop format. The "Beat of L.A." format on 93.5 signed off this morning with Boyz II Men's "End of the Road," and according to All Access, relaunched with these songs:

ROB BASE & DJ E-Z ROCK - It Takes Two
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)
112 - Only You (w/ NOTORIOUS B.I.G.)
2PAC - Toss It Up (w/ K-CI and JOJO)
JAY-Z - '03 Bonnie & Clyde (w/ BEYONCE)
WHODINI - Five Minutes Of Funk

R.I.P., KDAY!

A Lion Roaming Around Atwater Village?

Is Spike TV's new TV series Urban Tarzan for real? This clip of a lion roaming the Los Angeles River in Atwater Village is pretty suspect. We bike around here all the time... and wouldn't this have been on the news? The fake LAPD officers (that's some bad acting), the convenient trailer located nearby, the fact that they didn't shoot the tranquilizer gun... c'mon.



But hey, I guess it's all in fun. Watch below.

SPIKE
The King Of The Jungle Vs. URBANTARZAN
www.spike.com

License Plate of the Day: Baseball Business Edition

Baseball business!

Mike on Radio: Talking with Kevin & Bean About the Leno/Fallon Transition

I was back on KROQ's Kevin & Bean Show on Friday talking about the latest upheaval in the late night wars -- Jay Leno's retirement and the move (next year) of Jimmy Fallon to The Tonight Show. As always, it was a fun conversation with the guys, and Bean even gave me a chance to plug our 60th anniversary issue. Click on the icon below to listen to Friday's show; My interview starts one hour and 10 minutes (1:10) into the podcast.

Warning: Justin Bieber Impersonator Warning

What's more disturbing: That there's a "Justin Bieber Impersonator Warning," or that NBC4 decided that this was one of its "top stories"?

Did "Mad Men's" Phyllis Diller-Hosted Tonight Show Episode Exist? Here's Proof It Did (PHOTO)

After watching the premiere of Mad Men, I went through TV Guide's archives to find out whether -- and when -- that Phyllis Diller-hosted episode of the Tonight Show took place. And here it is, exactly during the time of year depicted in Mad Men's season 6 premiere: Friday, Dec. 22, 1967.

But what about the rest of the scenario depicted in the episode? Did a comedian come on and make light of war atrocities? And did it have any impact on a Koss Headphones campaign? For that, I dialed up Matt Weiner -- and he gave me the lowdown here.

Damn You, "Sharktopus" Ends Up on the Target Clearance Shelf

Remember Roger Corman's Syfy masterpiece "Sharktopus"? The 2010 movie, starring Eric Roberts, is about a scientifically engineered half-shark, half-octopus (natch) that escapes (also, natch). Fans of Kevin & Bean also remember Ralph Garman's turn on the film as "Captain Jack."

Well, sorry, film lovers: "Sharktopus" is now sitting in the bargain aisle of Target, for the low, low price of $2.56. Run!

Check Out These Elaborate California Mission Projects

I didn't go to school in California, so I never took part in that quintessential school experience here: Building a replica of our state's old missions. (Read: California 4th Grade Mission Project.) But during a recent visit to the Blogger Kid's school, I caught some pretty elaborate missions made by some of the older kids -- including at least one made of Legos. Clearly, there was some parental help on these things.





Any of you remember doing these in school?

It's Snowing in Eagle Rock! (Not Really)

Spring time, and the trees lining Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock are shedding so much that the sidewalks appear to be covered in "snow."