What We Lost in 2017: Cellino & Barnes, Trader Joe's Corn Dogs, LAist And More

When Elon Musk's SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket at sunset last week, half of Los Angeles wondered whether a UFO had finally made contact. After the events of 2017, I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords.

Turns out the creatures from outer space haven't arrived to save us from ourselves just yet. That leaves us to have to try and once again do better in 2018.

Looking back at this year, there was some reason to be hopeful — particularly as voices were heard and amplified as countless instances of serial sexual harassers and cases of assault were finally exposed.

But we also lost a lot in 2017, including superstars like Tom Petty, Mary Tyler Moore, Chris Cornell and even Judge Wapner.

Some of what we lost we won't miss (remember that tone-deaf Kylie Jenner Pepsi commercial?) and some of what we lost we really won't miss (ahem, "The O'Reilly Factor," ahem). But here are a few more things we said goodbye to in 2017:


10. Cellino and Barnes 
Yeah, Selena Gomez and The Weeknd was big, Fergie and Josh Duhamel was sad, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor was unexpected, and Chris Pratt and Anna Faris was heartbreaking. (Let's not discuss Kylie Jenner and Tyga or Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian.) But the most stunning breakup of the year had to be the ugly split between ambulance chasing attorneys Cellino and Barnes. You know their mad catchy jingle, the staple of daytime TV across the country. Ross Cellino and Stephen Barnes hate each other so much now, they're tossing grenades at each other while launching separate, rival firms. Who gets the jingle? Apparently Barnes spent nearly $1 million to recraft the song with his new phone number.



9. Wet Seal 
The "retail apocalypse" continues. As someone who spent a great deal of time at shopping malls as a teenager in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it's quite sad -- and yet fascinating -- to see the collapse of something that once defined the retail experience. (I still remember Wet Seal as the store with the big video screens blaring freestyle music videos by Seduction and Stevie B as teens shopped.) Also in 2017, The Limited closed its doors, American Apparel shut all of its retail locations, Radio Shack is mostly out of business, Teavana announced it was closing all of its stores, and even retail giants Sears, JCPenney and Macy's shut down hundreds of stores. Also in 2017, Toys 'R' Us, Gymboree and Payless ShoeSource were among the companies filing for bankruptcy — which means the retail apocalypse will likely consume many more major companies in 2018.

8. Cloo, Esquire, Chiller, Seeso
NBC Universal continued streamlining its entertainment offerings in 2017, eliminating some of its smaller cable networks, including crime drama channel Cloo, the young male-oriented Esquire, and horror channel Chiller. Cloo was the successor to Trio, a channel still fondly remembered for its scrappy pop culture programming (including franchises like “Brilliant But Canceled”), while Esquire replaced Style Network's channel slot (and G4's programming mandate) as an attempt to reach upscale male audiences, and Chiller began life in 2007 but was never a major cable player. Several channels have shut down over the past year as the cable industry prepares for an uncertain future in the wake of so-called “skinny bundles” (cable packages with fewer channels) and the growth of cord-cutting. But the rise of over-the-top platforms has already gone through a shakeup of its own, as witnessed by the decision to shut down comedy service Seeso so soon after launch. The comedy streaming platform pitched itself as a home for “Saturday Night Live” episodes as well as originals like “Take My Wife,” “Bajillion Dollar Propertie$” and “HarmonQuest,” but after it failed to find much traction, NBCUniversal pumped the brakes on original content.

7. 140 characters 
We didn't ask for 280 characters. We didn't need it. Twitter, fix youself.

6. San Diego Chargers
Speaking of what we didn't need, Los Angeles went 21 years without an NFL team, and suddenly it has two. The return of the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 made a lot of sense, as that team still had fans in Los Angeles and an emotional attachment to the market, having been here from 1946 to 1994. Still, the Rams had a bumpy first season back in L.A. (it's been a different story this year), making the arrival of the Chargers all the more perplexing. In a city with many more Oakland Raiders fans, and transplants rooting for their old hometown teams, the Chargers are now more like the fourth NFL team in Los Angeles.

5. Popular Photography, Surfing, Self, Teen Vogue, Nylon
Of course, even bigger than the retail apocalypse is the continuing slow death of the media. In 2018, we'll be discussing the disappearance of the Time Inc. and Tribune Media labels, as both disappear for good (unless Tronc comes to its senses and grabs back its rightful claim to the Tribune name). In 2017, we said farewell to several major titles — perhaps, most notably Teen Vogue, a more recent title that has made a name for itself in covering politics and social issues.


4. "The Carmichael Show"
Plenty of shows ended their runs in 2017, including faves "The Leftovers" and "Orphan Black." But at least those shows got to tell the endings they wanted to tell. There was no bigger TV tragedy than the end of NBC's "The Carmichael Show," a comedy that received plenty of critical acclaim but never turned into the hit it should have been. Despite being on the air for three seasons, "Carmichael" only produced 32 episodes. And the show never even aired in the fall, having been relegated to the summer in 2015 and 2017, and late spring in 2016. Could it have thrived with more care? Unfortunately, we'll never know, but at least Jerrod Carmichael had the chance to craft the right comedy at the right time, and provide a platform for performers who have already gone on to big things — including Tiffany Haddish and Lil Rel Howery.

3. Trader Joe's Veggie Corn Dogs
How dare you, Trader Joe's. I'm not vegetarian, but these were better than any regular corn dogs (including the disappointing Trader Joe's turkey corn dogs, which are rubbery in comparison). On the go, the TJ veggie corn dog was the perfect lunch meal. Then, like so many great TJ products, they just disappeared one day without any explanation. This one hurt.

2. Gothamist/DNAinfo/LAist
In a depressing, shrinking media world where local news has been hit hardest, sites like DNAinfo and the Gothamist chain (including LAist in Los Angeles) were more important than ever. As the alternative press shrinks, these sites picked up the slack and covered stories that other outlets were also struggling to handle, given smaller staffs and budgets at even major newspapers across the country. That all came crashing down when billionaire owner Joe Ricketts shut the sites down in November, without warning. Ricketts closed them down after the staffs of DNAinfo and Gothamist had unionized with the Writers Guild of America, East. A right-wing owner who had donated to anti-labor causes, the swiftness of Ricketts' decision to shut the sites was stunning, and left a tremendous void in local coverage.

1. Shame 
The Republicans pass a tax bill that funnels money into the pockets of millionaires and corporations, yet drags its feet to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program. Hundreds continue to die in Puerto Rico, where power won't be restored for several more months, and the administration says nothing about it. Donald Trump lies with impunity, and has golfed at least 80 times (at a cost to taxpayers at over $40 million) after having criticized President Obama for spending a fraction of that time on the course. Louis C.K. apologizes for sexual harassment but makes it all about himself. Many Republicans flocked to Roy Moore, despite the fact that he's a pedophile, choosing party over country. Moore lost, but still won't concede. Kellyanne Conway made up the fake "Bowling Green Massacre." Trump said there were "some very fine people" among the white supremacists causing violence (and an eventual death) in Charlottesville. There is no shame anymore, and hypocrisy now rules the land.

It's been a rough year, setting the stage for what should be a history-making 2018. "Looking back and looking ahead: 2017 was the Year of the Con," tweeted U.S. "House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon. "2018 will be the Year of the Turn." Happy New Year!

Read It Now: TV Guide Magazine's First-Ever Upfronts Special Edition

I'm really proud of the special New York Upfronts edition of TV Guide Magazine that we handed out and mailed last week to key TV programming and marketing executives, media buyers, advertisers and others attending this year's network upfront presentation. I can't remember the last time a consumer magazine put together a trade magazine issue (this was a large, tabloid-sized book roughly the size of The Hollywood Reporter). We wanted to use it as a reminder that as the nation's only magazine devoted to television, we also speak to the trade in addition to the consumer.

Inside we've got Matt Roush's picks for the 10 best TV moments of the season; the most extensive Top 100 season-to-date ratings chart you'll see anywhere (incorporating broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, PBS, more!), a Summer TV premieres schedule; tons of stories dissecting the state of the TV biz; and more.

Here's a link to a digital version of the magazine: http://tvguidemagazine.publ.com/Upfronts-2014.

This Magazine Cover Is A Real Thing

I just find it funny that a magazine called "Yikes" exists, and features stories such as "Miley's Tongue Through The Years" and "The Ultimate 'Would You Rather' Game" (which, for a teenybopper magazine, seems pretty inappropriate). But my favorite cover line? The one using an image of Ariana Grande on the phone. The horror story? "Your Phone FAILS! 'I FaceTimed from The Toilet.'"

I mean. Heavens.

Jeff Goldsmith Gives You The "Backstory"

Congrats to our pal Jeff Goldsmith, who put a lot of blood and sweat (and yes, a few tears too) into launching his brand new magazine Backstory, a deep look inside movie (and TV) making. The debut issue is available now exclusively on iPad here. It was worth the wait. Beautifully designed (there's a definite McSweeney's vibe to it) and chock full of goodies, the best part of the Backstory debut issue is this: It's absolutely free. Jeff hopes you'll like what you see and come back to buy an annual subscription at a still low price.

Here are a few highlights of issue one:

On the Cover: Prometheus
Find out how an off-the-cuff pitch led to the making of the film.

Off the Shelf: Bessie
Writer-director Richard Kelly discusses his unproduced, labor of love script, Bessie. Plus, read the script in its entirety.

Staged: A New Vintage of "Sideways"
Writer Rex Pickett chats about adapting his novel into a stage play. Plus, read the play in its entirety.

Black List Tales: Strange Skies
Scribe Pat Healy discusses adapting Matt Marinovich's novel, "Strange Skies," which landed his script on the fabled Black List. Plus, read the entire script.

Inside the 2011 Nicholl Fellowship
Full coverage of the fellowship, including the screenplay of one of the contest winners

Cinema Obscura: Mr. Nobody
Jaco Van Dormeal discusses his 40 million euro sci-fi film, which you probably haven't seen. Plus, read the script.

In-depth interviews
Featuring director Barry Sonnenfeld, actor Jeffrey Combs and producer Craig Perry

Writer-director Edgar Wright shows you his latest short film series, which the audience helps to create.

It's a large file (I had to delete a few TV episodes off my iPad to make room), but it's worth it.

A Night With TV Guide Magazine's "Hot List"

It's been a fantastic first fall in my new job as the L.A. bureau chief of TV Guide magazine. Highlights have included moderating four panels at Comic-Con (including two with some seriously passionate fans -- "Chuck" and "Community") and writing the "Two and a Half Men" cover story for TV Guide's fall preview issue.

And this Monday, I was there as TV Guide Magazine threw its annual "Hot List" bash in honor of next week's special issue. Yes, that's me with cover girl Zooey Deschanel and with "Blossom" herself, Mayim Bialik. (now, of course, on "The Big Bang Theory").

I also got a chance to spend some time with Mark Harmon, Jane Levy and Rex Lee from "Suburgatory" and producers from series such as MTV's "Awkward." The event was held at SBE's new La Cienega Blvd. club Greystone Manor (not to be confused with the Greystone Mansion -- although, I still don't get why SBE is opening itself up to such confusion).

Other attendees included Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and castmembers from "Modern Family," "The Office," "Pretty Little Liars," "Teen Wolf," "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," and more. The "Hot List" issue -- which features three unique covers celebrating the Hot Women of Comedy -- is on newsstands now.

Read more about the party, from my colleague Rob Moynihan, here. And here's a video from the event:

GOOD Launches Its Los Angeles Website With An Event That Lives Up to Its Name

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It was a good weekend for GOOD magazine, which celebrated the bow of its new GOOD L.A. website and a special Los Angeles edition of its magazine with a two-day launch weekend event (in Atwater Village, near our Franklin Avenue HQ).

We stopped by the event, held at Atwater Crossing, on Saturday afternoon. And yes... we had a GOOD time. The launch weekend promised "urban adventures, DIY workshops, hack-a-thons, civic engagements, artist interventions, resource sharing, literary readings, film screenings, book club meetings, neighborhood walks, and locally-made goods, all at an exciting new creative space in Atwater Village" -- and although there was no chance we'd do all that, we enjoyed what we could.

It was a very kid-friendly event as well. Among the highlights, Blogger Kid scored a succulent for our garden, and learned how to plant seeds in a second pot. I grabbed Maria a sample of a vendor's Caramel Bacon bread pudding. The Blogger Toddler 2.0 and I grooved out to music. And we ran into quite a few others -- including Eating LA's Pat Saperstein (again! see below) and KCRW's Matt Holzman. We know our pal Jessica Ritz and her Taster Tot also stopped by, but we didn't run into her or her hubby.

Good, quite simply, is an organization devoted to living well and doing good. Sign up here if you want to become a part of the L.A. dialogue or at least get an email every afternoon on Good happenings in Los Angeles.

Some pics from our visit on Saturday:


Gnome if you want to, in the green portion of Good L.A.


Dough demonstration.




More demonstrations.


Mural in progress.


Food and more inside.


I can get behind this: Frozen coffee ice cubes are placed in a glass, then Mexican Coke is poured over it.


As promised, the carmelized bacon pudding.

Justin Bieber Tackles The Issues You Care About Most

Inspired by Rolling Stone's cover story on Justin Bieber -- in which the world finally learns the teenybopper's stance on subjects such as abortion -- I uncovered a few more Bieber factoids.

Compiled from my Twitter feed yesterday:

BIEBER ON HOMELESSNESS: "Can't they just, like, get an apartment or something?"

BIEBER ON TRAFFIC: "Can't people just, like, drive faster?"

BIEBER ON GAS PRICES: "Can't they just, like, dig up more gas?"

BIEBER ON WEATHER: "Can't they just, like, extend summer one more month?"

BIEBER ON THE BORDERS BANKRUPTCY FILING: "Can't they just, like, sell more books?"

BIEBER ON THE COLA WARS: "I'm, like, too young to fight."

BIEBER ON AIRPORT SAFETY: "Should you, like, fly with a beard?"

BIEBER ON BORDER SECURITY: "Didn't you, like, already ask me about Borders?"

BIEBER ON OUTSOURCING: "I, like, support India. I played at their Morongo casino."

BIEBER ON THE AUTO BIZ: "I'm, like, a big fan of Eminem."

BIEBER ON MOVIE PIRACY: "I'm, like, totally a Captain Jack Sparrow fan."

BIEBER ON SPACE POLICY: "I so think we need to blow up asteroids."

BIEBER ON HUMAN RIGHTS: "I totally think humans are the best. Suck it, animals!"

BIEBER ON GLOBAL WARMING: "I wear SPF 50, so I'm all good."

L.A. Times Finally Lets All Subscribers Receive Its Magazine

For those of us in less desirable zip codes (apparently east of the L.A. River doesn't cut it?), just because we subscribe to the Sunday Los Angeles Times doesn't mean we get the Los Angeles Times Magazine.

Nope, since its rebirth as a monthly (having previously been scrapped), the L.A. Times Magazine has been zoned to certain zip codes only. Most of my friends on the West side get it... but, ahem, apparently Franklin Avenue HQ isn't in an upscale enough part of SoCal.

The Times announced Thursday that will soon change. The newspaper will now allow all Sunday paper subscribers to "opt-in" in order to receive the magazine. (I guess when circulation drops as low as it has for the L.A. Times, you gotta bolster those eyeballs somehow.) The paper will also be selling subscriptions to non-Times subscribers.

Here's what the paper says:

In the world of fashion, reinvention is a constant and today the Los Angeles Times announces fresh new looks for its most style-conscious publications: Image and LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine. Beginning in January, each will unveil design upgrades and increased online features reflecting enhanced fashion, beauty, shopping and style content. And LA will be more widely available across Southern California via opt-in and stand-alone subscriptions.

Image, dedicated to Southern California’s distinct perspective on fashion and style, will get a bright visual boost with a more photo-intensive layout and increased reporting on trends in the making, new products and sales.

In addition, beginning January 2nd, Image content will be featured in the glossy pages of LA the first Sunday of each month, while remaining a Sunday Times stand-alone section for the month’s subsequent weeks.

LA, which celebrates the gamut of Southern California’s vibrant and influential culture, will increase its fashion, style and luxury quotient with the added Image content. The elegant new print layout will also be reflected online with a refreshed latimesmagazine.com which will include timely news from “All The Rage.” In addition, a new LA-centric e-newsletter highlighting the magazine’s columns, feature stories and expanded digital content will debut in early 2011.

Sunday Times subscribers not currently receiving LA may opt in, free of charge, and readers interested in a stand-alone magazine subscription can sign up now at latimesmagazine.com/subscribe. Delivery will start with the January 2nd issue.

NME Celebrates The Music of "West Coast Mess" Los Angeles

British music wrag NME is celebrating the vibrant Los Angeles music scene... by trashing Los Angeles.

I suppose we'll have to look past that and instead appreciate the fact that NME has devoted a five-part series to our city.

Artists profiled include Liars, We Are the World, Fools Gold, Avi Buffalo (above), Local Natives, Signals, PPM, Warpaint and others.

NME divides L.A.'s music scene into five segments: "the subversives, the tribal poppers, the psych rock contingent, the worldy folk types, and the ever-present Smell scenesters."

Download free MP3s and read further here for "the subversives"; here for the "worldly folk types"; here for "the Smell sound"; here for the "psych rocker" sound; and here for "the otherworldly."

(Thanks to Joe for the link.)

Sign of the Magazine Time(s)

After months of anemic issues of Entertainment Weekly, I was excited to feel some heft when I picked up this week's copy from the mailbox. It finally felt like a normal size once again, after getting thinner and thinner.

It was then that I realized that this week's issue of Time had somehow been lodged inside. Optimism disrupted. Both mags are now so thin, it takes the combination of both to feel like the size of a normal mag. It's our new reality in print.

Travel + Leisure Hates Los Angeles

Blogging.la links to the new America's Favorite Cities poll being conducted by Travel + Leisure magazine -- and Los Angeles is getting killed by the haters.

The survey ranks Los Angeles near the bottom (out of the nation's top 25 destination cities) in Environmental awareness (!), safety, access to outdoors (!), cityscape, cleanliness, pedestrian friendliness, public parks/spaces, skyline/views, architecture/notable buildings and Historical sites/monuments.

Then there's the people categories. We're ranked DEAD LAST when it comes to friendliness and intelligence, and near the bottom in "fun" and "worldly." We're below the top ten in diversity (!) as well.

Gimmie a break. Do people hate the concept of Los Angeles so much that they refuse to acknowledge our city's strengths?

Another Stab at a Pasadena City Magazine

Pasadena magazine launches later this year -- but don't be too hard on yourself if you thought Pasadena magazine already existed.

It did exist -- actually, several magazines have existed under that name through the years, but none have lasted. Launching and sustaining a big-city mag is tough enough, but keeping one going for a smaller city like Pasadena is even tougher. Here's an old Pasadena mag (notice its upscale pretensions) that existed in the early 1990s:



Enter the new Pasadena mag, which promises to cover all of the San Gabriel Valley -- including, strangely, Glendale... which isn't a part of the San Gabriel Valley. But that's OK. (Glendale is woefully underserved by local media, given its population -- 205,000. But that's a rant for another day.)

The Pasadena Star News' Larry Wilson received the same "charter membership" mailer that I did, and took issue with the mag's sense of geography:

Going through the mail at home Monday, I was therefore fascinated when I fished out a fat, glossy envelope inviting me to subscribe to the new Pasadena magazine: "Smart. Sophisticated. Sexy."

Well, thank you very much. That's me all over, your target reader for sure.
Yes, other magazines have had that title before. I don't know who's behind this one; the only name anywhere in the vast literature (besides "Your editorial team") is of publisher Mark C. Hulme. I wish them all the best.

You do have to know your market, though. Yes, it will sell, as we do, outside the city limits. But in his "Dear Reader" letter - you know the drill: "big-city buzz with small-town heart" - the publisher writes, "Whether it's the latest shopping down Mission Street or the magic of a drive down Christmas Tree lane, Pasadena captures the spirit of our one-of-a-kind city ..."

Mmmm. One of a kind, Pasadena may be. But Mission Street is in South Pasadena; Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena.

Coming Soon to a Newsstand Near You: Los Angeles' Life Force

You've probably seen the billboards all over town advertising something called "RealTalkLA."

The new local magazine hits stands May 1 -- the same day its companion website (www.realtalkla.com) goes live.

But I've been baffled by the tiny print in the magazine's logo, which reads, "Los Angeles Lifeforce."

What does that mean? And why is it in the logo, in such tiny print? Is it a part of the magazine's name? And does "Lifeforce" have to do with some sort of spiritual movement?

I called RealTalkLA's Peter Nichols, whose name is listed on the magazine's original press release.

Nichols told me my questions would be answered once I had the magazine in my hands. But no, it's not a part of any larger movement, he said, it's just a tag line.

"We want to be the driving life force for Los Angeles," said Nichols, who said the magazine wants to be the source for "good, helpful, healthy information."

"It's us and our website building a community," he said.

I dunno, if that's the case, the whole line "Los Angeles Lifeforce" may be a little too distracting. Your average reader might be confused as to whether that's the real name of the magazine.

As a magazine junkie, I'm definitely curious. And I always believe the more local media, the better. Here are more details, from the initial RealTalkLA press release:

“RealTALK LA and Realtalkla.com are re-inventing the concept of a city magazine and creating the next evolution of local online community,” said CEO and Creative Director Levin. “We’re out to capture the new spirit, culture and energy of a very changed 21st Century Los Angeles. That of course includes the multicultural diversity of the region. We’re creating inclusive media that gives a voice and a visible presence to all the people of LA. And for everyone we’re going to reveal far more of the exceptional range of mindsets, activities, felt lives and sectors that engage people here. Essentially we’re unmasking an unknown LA.”

The first issue of RealTALK LA, a full color, glossy, high quality monthly magazine, will reach more than 250,000 readers through free distribution at premium locations throughout the city and by home delivery to select households beginning in May 2007.

The companion Web site, RealTALKla.com, which is intended to create a new Los Angeles online community, will feature unique digital media technology, including up-to-the-minute news, Wiki, blogs, Web casts, social networking and a downloadable calendar of local events. The site will premiere online in late April and is expected to reach more than 800,000 unique viewers per month.

More info can be found at the RealTalkLA MySpace page.

RealTalkLA isn't the only new local mag hitting stands in the coming weeks. As LAObserved notes, the recently renamed New Angeles Monthly -- targeting the "east side" (er, how about "Los Angeles east of La Cienega")-- debuts this June.