Conan O'Brien and Ricky Gervais Yuk It Up at the TV Academy; Plus: Here's Something You Didn't Know About Conan

Quite possibly the greatest thing I learned at the TV Academy on Tuesday night? Conan O'Brien's assistant is on a dodgeball team named "The Arsenio Balls."

O'Brien was at the TV Academy theatre in North Hollywood to interview Ricky Gervais on stage and screen an episode of Gervais' Netflix comedy "Derek." I came to see two modern-day comedy legends riff with each other. And while much of the conversation was a serious dissection of the state of comedy (fascinating to hear as well), the two did indeed manage to crack each other up numerous times.



Gervais: "I'm surprised they pay me format fees for The Office. it's just an office!" Conan: "You don't have to take the money."

Gervais to Conan: "I can't wait for your breakdown!" Conan: "I just got picked up through 2018, I can start now."

The two also had some laughs at the audience, which had some typically bizarre questions and observations. One guy, who had freelanced frequently for O'Brien's TBS talk show "Conan," told the host he brought a gift of a six pack every time he worked there. Did O'Brien ever get the beer? "No!" O'Brien then riffed on his assistant, who had left the screening early to, yes, play a game with the "Arsenio Balls."

Cheap Date: $3 Movies in North Hollywood

I dare you to come up with a cheaper date than the one Maria and I pulled off on Sunday night: $3 movie ("Bridesmaids," at the Valley Plaza 6 in North Hollywood) and tacos from El Pollo Loco. Total cost of the evening: $10.

OK, so I'm not proud of the El Pollo Loco. But there aren't a lot -- actually, there aren't any -- food options near Regency Theatres' Valley Plaza 6. Located at the north end of North Hollywood, the Valley Plaza 6 is about the only life left in what's otherwise a ghost town of a shopping center.

And then there's the time warp of the Valley Plaza 6 itself, which is like going back in time to experience the movies in a 1983 setting. (I doubt the theatre has been updated since then.)

But the saving grace: $3 movies. That's right, $3 movies. And these aren't moldy-oldie-released-in-January films either. "Bridesmaids" is still in regular, $15 theaters -- which made our $3 ticket even more sweet.

If that doesn't drive you, on Tuesdays the tickets drop to $1.50. And apparently, according to the folks on Yelp, hot dogs are just $1. (I do have my limits to my cheapness, and $1 hot dogs didn't quite cut it.)

Playing right now at the Valley Plaza 6: Bridesmaids, Thor, Rio, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Fast Five. (See? Maybe it would actually be worth $1.50 to see "Fast Five." Probably not. But you won't feel as bad.)

'Scrubs' Hospital To Be Scrubbed?

(Flickr pic by Jeff Soffer.)

The North Hollywood Medical Center hasn't actually operated as a real hospital since 1998. But it played one on TV.

The former hospital doubled as "Sacred Heart" on the long-running TV series "Scrubs" and can easily be seen from the side of the 101 as you pass by North Hollywood. But now that "Scrubs" is no longer on the air and a permanent tenant, it looks like the empty building is set to be torn down.

News of the "Scrubs" hospital's fate comes from series creator Bill Lawrence, who Tweeted his good riddance to the structure the other day:

Heard SCRUBS hospital will be torn down. Thank God. Was filled with rats and asbestos - they tried to make it a retirement home. Classic.

Another tidbit later Tweeted by Lawrence: "Truth: came back to work one year, writer felt something in couch, pulled off cushions and there was a possum living there." Also, "The Shield"/"The Chicago Code" creator Shawn Ryan later piped in that he shot an episode of "Angel" there.


(Flickr pic by Ryan Stockstad.)

According to Wikipedia, other shows that have shot there include "The Sopranos," "Childrens Hospital," "The Office," "Parenthood" and "The Forgotten." Oh, and the Britney Spears feature "Crossroads." Hell, they should torch the place solely because of that.

Your Favorite Southern California Holiday Traditions, Part I: The Christmas Caroling Truck

We asked you last week, as part of our Franklin Avenue contest for $25 eBay gift certificates, to name your favorite SoCal holiday tradition. And you delivered.

This week, in the days leading up to Christmas, we'll award the best entries. (And it's not too late to enter -- send yours RIGHT NOW to franklin_avenue[at]yahoo[dot]com.)

Our first winning entry comes from Jodi, who shares her love of the Magical Christmas Caroling Truck of Toluca Lake and North Hollywood:

It's my 15th Christmas in L.A. (I only went out of town for one) and the tradition I love the most is the The Magical Christmas Caroling Truck that drives around Toluca Lake and North Hollywood every Christmas Eve. I'll never forget our first Christmas here when we were sitting in our apartment in Burbank/Toluca Lake and heard what sounded like a football game or something outside. We ran downstairs to behold a huge tractor-trailer totally decked out for Christmas, pumping out music, and filled with jolly folks singing and accompanied by a parade of more singers and dancers. I was awestruck.

When we moved into a house a couple of years later, it was within a mile of the apartment and we were thrilled to learn that our new North Hollywood home is within the Magical Caroling Truck's route! For many years now, our friends a few houses down have a party on Christmas Eve. Various people listen out for the truck (oh you can hear it coming) and when it's near us, we all run out and enjoy! Sometimes we walk along with it for a while. A couple of years ago, one of our friends made a bunch of red and green signs that said things like "Thank You!" and "Yay!" and I don't remember what else that we held up for the carolers, which they got a kick out of.

I can lean toward being a little bah-humbug about the holidays, but I LOVE this for some reason. I can't wait 'til next Thursday night! It should be hitting us sometime between 8:30 & 9:15 according to the flyer left on our door.

Thanks to Jodi, who wins our first $25 eBay card! More to come!

NoHo's Gateway to Hideousness

(Photo by Jodi Kurland)

Over at Metblogs L.A., Jodi Kurland highlights the truly tacky NoHo Gateway, which was recently installed. The lettering, the colors, the design and the way-too-literal interpretation of "the arts"... it seems way too amateur for Los Angeles.

I like NoHo and what they're trying to do with North Hollywood's burgeoning "arts district." Yet this sign sets that progress back. The commenters on Jodi's Metblogs post seem to agree -- they were brutal.

Two Ways to Experience Your City This Weekend

The Friends of the Los Angeles River holds its 20th annual "La Gran Limpieza" Great L.A. River Cleanup throughout the city. Help made the river less shopping cart-y in the process.

Over near Franklin Avenue HQ, the Friends of Atwater Village are sponsoring a cleanup site in Atwater Village at the Sunnynook Pedestrian Bridge. They suggest bringing "gloves, clothes to get dirty in, sturdy shoes, hats and sunscreen." Cleanup takes place between 8 a.m. and noon; they'll provide the water and snacks.

If that sounds too dirty for you, head over to North Hollywood, where the the Museum of the San Fernando Valley is conducting a special North Hollywood Historic Walking Tour.

The tour, which costs $10, takes 2 1/2 hours, and begins at 10 a.m. at the North Hollywood Park (Tujunga Ave. at Magnolia Blvd. - Amelia Earhart Statue). Email NoHoTours@aol.com for details.

One-Stop Shopping for Light Sabre Holders and More

North Hollywood-based prop house History for Hire is throwing a big sale this Saturday, as at least 50 below-the-line crew members and vendors look to make a few bucks in this tough economy by selling some Hollywood memorabilia.

The prop house is promising bargain prices on all sorts of things, including crew jackets, wardrobe, collectables, artwork, animation items, projectors, Aloha shirts, director's chairs, old Sears catalogs... and even "light sabre holders."

Event takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the History for Hire parking lot, 7149 Fair Avenue in North Hollywood.

Used Books for Christmas

(Flickr pic by Melle Music.)

Sadly, Los Angeles doesn't boast as many used book stores as it once did (blame the Internet, I suppose, as well as megastores like Barnes & Noble and Borders, not to mention big box stores like Wal-Mart). But we're still lucky to be close to two decent survivors.

For Angelenophiles on your list, the Los Angeles sections of both stores contain some treasures -- books about our fair city that are no longer in print, including several printed in the 70s and 80s that feature photos of now-destroyed landmarks. (As you might have guessed, I picked up a few gems the other day.)

The Iliad bookstore recently moved locations (from Lankershim to Cahuenga, about a mile east) after the original location's landlord jacked up the rent. Rumor has it the Iliad owns its new location, which is admittedly smaller but at least means a little more stability.

The Iliad Book Shop, 5400A Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood



As for Brand Bookshop, as Los Angeles magazine recently noted, it's by far the best-organized used book store you've ever seen. There's still plenty joy of discovery there, but it's nicely assisted by books placed in well-labeled sections they're supposed to be in. It's definitely one of Glendale's treasures.

Brand Book Shop, 231 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale