A Visit to 'The Good Place': Exploring TV's Most Thoughtful, Pun-tastic Comedy Up Close

NBC recently held a "For Your Consideration" Emmy event on the Universal lot for "The Good Place," and Maria and I couldn't resist seeing the setting up close — especially because (spoiler alert), the show has moved on from this world, so who knows how much longer it will be this way. But for now, "The Good Place" outdoor setting still stands, and it even is a popular sight on the Universal Studios tram ride.

At the event, the popular (and ambitious) episode "Dance Dance Resolution" was screened, followed by Q&A with the show's stars and producers — including, of course, Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, and creator Mike Schur. 

These photos don't do the town justice, but suffice to say, the pun game is strong.

Retro Friday: Home Movies of Los Angeles, Circa 1977-78

Wolfgang Gegusch took this film (no sound) of a trip to Los Angeles in 1978. (L.A. starts about 1 minute in, after a drive on the freeway.) Check out some of the old downtown scenes (Pershing Square in greener times!) and a lengthy visit on the Universal Studios tram ride.

Below, Mackenzie Rough shares his home movie of a 1977 visit. My favorite part is when he starts focusing in signs of the era. That includes a sigh ridiculously (well, for now) gas prices:



Here's Rough's film:

NBC Turns Conan's "Tonight Show" Studio Into KNBC's New Home

NBC Universal will turn its empty "Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" soundstage into the home for KNBC and NBC News' Los Angeles bureau.

Move will take place in 2012. That means KNBC will move out of Burbank after 50 years.

Feeling a bit of deja vu? Yep, KNBC announced in 2007 that it would relocate to a property across the street from Universal Studios.

Thomas Properties is developing that site, dubbed "Metro Studio @ Lankershim," a 650,000-square-foot project located on Lankershim Boulevard where an MTA Red Line subway stop and a parking lot stand.

But that complex, originally targeted to open in 2011, was delayed by entitlements and other issues (local homeowners raised a fuss over traffic concerns, for example).

According to a Thomas representative, Metro Studio @ Lankershim is still in the works and is now targeted to open at the end of 2016 or early 2017.

NBC U is still expected to be a major tenant at that time, and KNBC may make another move then. But for now, 2016-17 is too far away for the station, which also needs a fresh coat of paint.

Hence the Universal lot's Stage One, which has been dark since O'Brien signed off earlier this year. NBC U announced Thursday that it would remodel the building into a two-story high-definition studio and newsroom housing both operations.

NBC U sold its longtime Burbank lot in 2008 to M. David Paul/Worthe Real Estate Group; since then, it has leased back much of the facility.

Besides KNBC and NBC News' L.A. bureau, the lot continues to be the home of KVEA, "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," "Access Hollywood" and "Daysof Our Lives," among others. NBC Entertainment moved to the Universal lot a few years ago.

Plan will separate KNBC and Telemundo's KVEA, which previously operated as a duopoly. That's because NBC U is also shopping for a new facility that would consolidate KVEA, Telemundo network news, the network's sales department and its spinoff channel Mun 2 all under one roof. Those divisions are scattered across Burbank, Glendale and Universal's CityWalk.

A Telemundo rep said NBC U is looking at several locations for the network's operation, and it hopes to move by the end of 2011.

Read more about it here at Variety.

Retro Friday: Universal Studios Edition

From 1980, it's Battlestar Galactica -- the original, of course -- at Universal Studios Hollywood!



From 1986: Grab some Pioneer Chicken and head to Universal for King Kong.



This is kinda cool: Someone uploaded a home movie from a 1970s visit to Universal with their grandmother.

Conan Comes to Los Angeles: The 99 Cents Only Store, Already Front and Center on "Tonight"

Above, Conan O'Brien discovers the joy of 99 Cents Only toilet paper. The host visits the famed store on tonight's inaugural episode of "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."

The 99 Cents Only Store visit is a part of a pre-taped package featuring Conan as he takes over a Universal Studios tram. He convinces the tram driver to take it off the lot and on the road -- and winds up at a nearby 99 Cents store. He brings out a haul of cheap goods for the tourists on the tram... endearing himself to potential viewers, one 99 cent item at a time.

Blogger Preschooler Says The Darndest Things: Universal Studios Edition

About six months ago, I took Evan to Universal Studios, and figured he'd love the tram ride. He loves trains, he loves buses, what's not to love about the tram?

Well, I hadn't thought it through that well. If you remember, there are some random moments on the tram ride that might freak a 4-year-old out. When Jaws comes splashing water; during the simulated earthquake; when King Kong comes by; etc.

Yesterday, though, out of the blue he told me that his attitude toward the Universal tram had changed. "I'm old enough now, Daddy, it doesn't scare me anymore."

How did we get onto the discussion of the Universal tram? Apparently it has entered his dreams. Evan recounted a recent dream in which he was driving the tram -- but "I pushed the wrong button and the tram fell into the water!"

Universal Studios Thanks Fictitious Fire Department For Support

(Pic credit: Mike Meadows, via LAFD News & Information blog.)

Universal Studios Hollywood has sent the word out that it's "open for business" and that none of the theme park's rides have been affected -- well, other than the tram ride, which has incorporated the fire (and obviously no longer visits the charred King Kong) as part of the experience.

The park has begun airing radio ads promoting the fact -- but I was struck by this: In the ads, Universal thanks "The Southern California Fire Department" for its heroics.

Southern California Fire Department? No such agency exists. The Los Angeles County Fire Department battled the blaze, with a huge assist from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Actually, I'll let the LAFD's d'Lisa Davies describe who all came out to assist:

On Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 4:50 AM, 31 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 9 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 2 Rehab Units, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 4 Helicopters, 4 EMS Battalion Captains, 7 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, Emergency Air 1, Foam Tenders 60 & 100, the Heavy Equipment and Dozer Company, Supply & Maintenance Mobile Mechanic, 1 CERT Coordinator, under the direction of Agency Representative Assistant Chief Greg West, responded to assist the L.A. County Fire Department, to a Backlot Soundstage Fire at 3900 Lankershim Bl. in the Studio City area.

Guess "Southern California Fire Department" was easier to say.

R.I.P., Universal Tram Ride King Kong

(Flickr pic by SFPhotocraft.)

Sunday morning's blaze at Universal Studios destroyed several sets and buildings... and also burned down the King Kong portion of the famed studio backlot tram tour.

The King Kong attraction was cheesy, yes. And hadn't been updated in 20 years. But it was still a main highlight of the tour, and I'm sure the re-enactment of what a earthquake would look and feel like inside a San Francisco subway station was impressive back when it first opened.



The King Kong portion was so old that I got a kick out of the fake news broadcast that ran during it: Rolland Smith, who was lead anchor at New York's WWOR-TV at the time the ride was created, takes center stage. Why WWOR, of all things? For a brief period in the early 1990s, Universal owned WWOR (Channel 9 in New York), and had rebanded the station as "Universal 9."

Also, according to this, former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani once criticized Universal Studios for the King Kong feature, which included graffiti painted on fake subway cars.



The attraction (built in 1986) won't be rebuilt, the L.A. Times reports, but instead be replaced by an all-new feature.

Scenes from the Strike: "Picketing with the Stars" Day

The actors -- particularly from TV, which has been hardest hit -- joined writers Tuesday afternoon to rally outside of Universal Studios. A few pics from the Franklin Avenue camera:


Impromptu "Everybody Loves Raymond" reunion: Exec producer Phil Rosenthal with Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton.


Brad Garrett: “I had a well-publicized negotiation four years ago. All I wanted was my share. That’s all the writers want.”


Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg; "SNL" has been dark since the strike began.


Wait, that's what "AMPTP" means? (This sign, and the next few, were held by Sarah Silverman, Kathy Griffn and others.)


A rallying cry for workers everywhere.


Making a long-term point.


Wait, is that pencil flashing a "Writers Guild" gang sign?


Picket sign, autographed by a variety of stars (Victor Garber, Ray Romano, etc.) that will be auctioned off, the sign holder said.


"The Office" supporting players Leslie David Baker (Stanley) and Kate Flannery (Meredith) dance along to a protest band.


Jay Leno hits the picket lines again, this time sans Krispy Kreme.

Farewell to Beautiful Downtown Burbank

Johnny Carson famously made fun of "Beautiful Downtown Burbank." So did "Laugh-In." Jay Leno still teases his show's home base. But that's all about to change.

Well, in four years. NBC is officially announcing today that its west coast news operations, as well as KNBC and sister Telemundo outlet KVEA, will move into a new building to be erected above the MTA Red Line subway stop on Lankershim in North Hollywood (across the street from Universal City). NBC Entertainment will also likely be making the move, but perhaps on to the Universal lot.

NBC is touting the new site as "green" friendly, pointing particularly to its location above a subway as one way to encourage public transit use. New building will also be equipped for high definition broadcast.



Curbed LA first leaked word of the announcement yesterday; by late in the day, the LA Business Journal and LA Times had stories as well. Now, a little history lesson, as I wrote last night for Variety:

Before moving to Burbank in the early 1960s, NBC's West Coast headquarters were on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. That building, dubbed NBC Radio City, was demolished in 1964. A Washington Mutual bank now sits on the site.

After the NBC move, Burbank will still be home to two broadcast networks, ABC and the CW. Not far away, CBS is readying a move from the Fairfax district to Studio City, on its Radford lot.

NBC isn't completely abandoning Burbank. The company plans to sell its 34-acre Burbank lot, but lease back some of the space for various uses.

Back to the Future, But Soon History

(Flickr pic by Gary Bembridge.)

It was long overdue: Slashfilm reports (by way of Blogging.la) that the "Back to the Future" ride at Universal Studios Hollywood will shut down in September.

It was time. The ride, fifteen years later, feels remarkably dated. After all, when the ride opened in 1993, the web and the Internet were still fringe elements in society (all the LED displays and "flux capacitor" designs now seem very... well, 20th century). It's still a well-done ride... but "ET" was better, and they already eliminated that one several years ago. ("ET" is also more evergreen... This new generation probably knows little about "Back to the Future" -- look to that scene in "Knocked Up" where Katherine Heigl's character doesn't get the Doc Brown references).


(Flicker pic by D. Rodriguez.)

But does that mean the horribly punny "Snack to the Future" eatery will close too?

I'm also not shedding much of a tear, because Back to the Future: The Ride will be replaced by a "The Simpsons"-themed attraction, as this press release notes:

Universal City, California – After thrilling over 61 million visitors with wild rides across "the space-time continuum," the ground-breaking "Back to the Future: The Ride" attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood will soar into the future for the very last time on Labor Day, September 3, 2007. Fans of the attraction will also have an opportunity to take the last ride and drive off as the owner of one of the stainless steel 1981 DeLoreans that served as inspiration for Doc Brown's flux capacitor-equipped time machines.

"Back to the Future: The Ride" blends breakthrough simulator technology with a cutting-edge Omni-max 70mm film to create a total sensory experience. A signature attraction at "The Entertainment Capital of L.A." for over 14 years, the ride is being closed to make way for the introduction of a new thrill ride based on the enormously popular "The Simpsons" TV series and movie. The Simpsons ride is slated to debut in Spring 2008.

"Back to the Future: The Ride" was introduced in 1993 as a continuation of the Oscar®-winning blockbuster "Back to the Future" film trilogy directed by Robert Zemeckis and executive produced by Steven Spielberg for Universal Pictures. The attraction features an eight-seat convertible DeLorean Time Travel Vehicle that elevates the theme park ride experience to an unprecedented level of detail, beginning with an artfully staged queue line experience that helps set up the ride's narrative storyline.

At the center of "Back to the Future: The Ride" is an original film, masterfully designed to interface with the simulator's technology by an award-winning team of filmmakers, including Oscar-winning and three-time Oscar-nominated director Douglas Trumbull, Oscar-nominated cinematographer David K. Kennedy and Oscar-nominated writer Bob Gale.

(Flickr pic by Paul Mannix.)

Hmm, not sure what I'd do with a DeLorean.