We like Teresa Strasser now. We heard from Teresa Strasser and now Teresa Strasser is a Tabloid Baby pal.

We like Teresa Strasser now. We had a problem with Teresa Strasser about a year or so ago, but we don't have a problem any more.

The Emmy-winning writer, Emmy- nominated television host and journalist walked into our sights after she was hired to replace Rachel Perry as the "news girl" on the Adam Carolla radio program that took over Howard Stern’s timeslot in Los Angeles and other cities, a show that could only be an also-ran in comparison to the colossal enterprise that betrayed its listeners by moving to a private paid channel, but which sank lower in our estimation through its determined arrogance, amateurishness, boorishness and bullying. Teresa then accepted a job on the whitewashed syndicated television version of the corporate porn-pushing gossip site TMZ.com, and after we criticized her role on that fetid platform, she “called us out” on the radio:

“… this media blogger, for some reason he just hates me, and he never writes about the contents of anything I do or my writing, he just writes about how ugly I am…. This guy has a site. I don’t want to say the name of it….But he writes about media... that’s his beat. He writes about our show here, the Adam Carolla Show, and he writes about TMZ… He’s written a book in the past and I think he used to work on Hard Copy. But he can’t work in television any more… I try to put it out of my mind because I thought this is just one guy and I’ve been really lucky I’ve had nothing but mostly nice things written about me. But I woke up this morning and the first thing… I just thought. 'I’m so ugly, I’m too ugly for television.' I started crying.”

Words to that effect only got us going...


So we had an old-fashioned media feud. And while it’s worth mentioning that at the time of our tiff, our online pal Luke Ford chastised us for our “low blow” criticism of Teresa (whom he described as “smoking hot”), we eventually moved on from the Carolla show (she'd left the whitewashed syndicated sister of the corporate porn-pushing gossip site after a few months). We probably last mentioned Teresa in April 2008. Earlier this year, the Carolla show was moved off the radio.

And then, a couple of weeks ago, from out of the blue, we got a Facebook message from Teresa, explaining why she hadn’t accepted our “friend” request.

We won’t reveal the exact contents of the note or the exchange that followed, but will say that we rarely get feedback from celebrities and that she dropped us a note because Luke Ford had vouched for us. We’ll also say that Teresa Strasser is not a phony, manufactured sob sister. What we heard on the radio is apparently what she is in life.


Teresa Strasser is a very nice woman.

She’s now a Tabloid Baby pal. And we are her pal.

Teresa, by the way, is married and, we’re very happy to announce, expecting her first child.

She writes about the impending birth, and reveals that Meredith Vieira smells of “powder, lilacs, and poise” (we’d have expected Grey Goose, Dermablend and Jeff Zucker), in her latest column, which you can read here, and which we hope will lead to a book.

Check out Teresa Strasser’s website here. She celebrates the typewriter, which makes us like her even more.

Dirk McQuickly & Paul McCartney

Rutle Dirk McQuickly stood side by side with Beatle Paul McCartney at the dedication of George Harrison's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this week.

The shadow of the film The Seventh Python, which had its world premiere a few blocks away at the Egyptian Theatre, hung heavily across the event, as many of the personalities who attended appear or are referenced in the Neil Innes film, from McCartney, who produced Neil Innes' first (and last) hit single (with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band), I'm The Urban Spaceman, to fellow Rutle McQuickly to Harrison himself, whose friendship, influence and passing are key elements in the film.

Rock'n'Reel mag features The Seventh Python

“The news is 24/7. When we were young, television had the decency to close down. And peace returned to the planet. There’s no peace now; this is why I battle on about it, it’s time for individuals to come out of the woodwork and say – like the Network movie – ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take any more!’ I feel like that. A lot of people feel like that. But then is it all I can do, make jokes about it?”

The Seventh Python is getting international magazine exposure along with the current buzz over its Golden Ace Award from the Las Vegas Film Festival, its choice as the Opening Selection of The Pacific Palisades Film Festival (May 14) and its special June 9th presentation (complete with Neil Innes concert) at the Wilmette Theatre outside Chicago.

The March-April issue of the UK's Rock'n'Reel magazine features The Seventh Python subject and star Neil Innes in article entitled 'Songs in the key of laughter.' It's a snapshot of the self-deprecating genius on the road and the succinct writing by Boff Whalley (lead guitarist for Chumbawamba!) manages to encapsulate Innes' career, worldview, philosophy and wit in a way that should only whet the public's appetite for the nonfiction film about him.

And of course, the article features Neil speaking about the movie:

"The Seventh Python. Its quite sweet-- but it's difficult for me to judge! And have sort of 'dodged it' for most of my life so to be labelled The Seventh Python-- what can you do? There's a lovely moment on it -- the film makers came over to ask people in Windsor, they got photographs of me and they said to people on the street, 'Do you know this man?' and nobody knew. One woman said, 'It's not that Russian who was poisoned, was it?' It's fabulous. They did it on Hollywood Boulevard, too, asking people the same question, 'Do you know this man?' And there's this lovely moment where this guy turns round and says, 'You're making a documentary about a guy nobody's heard of?' Yes! Let's have more documentaries about people nobody's heard of, because everyone's got a story to tell..."

Rock'n'Reel is a hip and handsome British publication, focusing on an eclectic music mix ("Roots, Rock, Blues and Beyond... since 1988"-- the current issue covers everyone from Grease Band/Wings' Henry McCullough to Gomez, and like all the great British music mags, comes with a free CD). It's got distribution in the United States (mainly through Barnes & Nobles and Borders bookstores). Look for it!

And a tip of the Tabloid Baby hat to Rock'n'Reel editor Sean McGhee for sending along the article...

Exclusive! The Seventh Python is chosen to open The Pacific Palisades Film Festival on May 14th

The Seventh Python has been chosen as the Opening Selection of the prestigious sixth annual Pacific Palisades Film Festival.

The acclaimed, award-winning nonfiction musical film about genius pop satirist Neil Innes will be presented at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14th at Theatre Palisades at 941 Temescal Canyon Road off Sunset Boulevard.

Tickets are $10.

The announcement of the latest accolade for the film produced by our pals at Frozen Pictures comes a few short days after The Seventh Python picked up a Golden Ace Award at the Las Vegas Film Festival.

"It's enough of an honor to be accepted at the Pacific Palisades Film Festival. To be named Opening Selection is a real treat," says Seventh director Burt Kearns. "We've been around the country and are heading around the world. This hometown screening is bound to be a highlight."

"You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll sing along," promises producer Brett Hudson. "We'll definitely get the festival off to a rollicking start!"

The Pacific Palisades Film Festival in the star-studded, industry-heavyweight hometown at the end of Sunset Boulevard is sponsored by the Friends of Film organization, which will award actor Stacy Keach its Lifetime Achievement Award at a VIP party after the screening of The Seventh Python.

The Seventh Python has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "charming and illuminating," and "serious yet comical... a must-see" by Associated Content.

The film was produced by Brett Hudson. It includes appearances and performances by the likes of John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Aimee Mann and Matt Groening. It is brightened further by animation from Bonnie Rose, who beat George Lucas to win The Colbert Report Green Screen Challenge.

Along with director Kearns, more than a few members of The Seventh Python production team, are current or past Pacific Palisades residents. So are Steven Spielberg (current) and Jerry Lewis (past).

Find ticket information at the Friends of Film website.

Carry On, Peter Rogers!

Peter Rogers, the producer who created the Carry On films, has died at the age of 95.

"Mr. Carry On" produced all thirty-one of the classic British comedies and continued working in his office at the film studios until earlier this year. Rogers died peacefully at his home in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, on Tuesday afternoon following a short illness. The bawdy, innuendo-filled Carry On films began with Carry On Sergeant in 1958 and went on to feature teachers, matrons, jungles and camping among their themes. At the time of his death, he was in production with a revival of the series called Carry On London.

And yes, he was born with a double-entendre name. And, no kidding, his late wife was named Betty Box.


UPDATE: Click here to pay your respects.

Phil Spector's mugshot

The Seventh Python wins Vegas Golden Ace Award

At a ceremony that included the raffle of breast augmentation surgery (won by a Tina Fey lookalike) and featured hundreds of independent filmmakers vying for attention, Frozen Pictures' Neil Innes biopic The Seventh Python was awarded the Golden Ace Award for documentary filmmaking at the second annual Las Vegas Film Festival.

Frozen Pictures partners Brett Hudson and Burt Kearns bounded onstage to accept the award just hours ago at the Sunday night ceremony at the Eastside Cannery Hotel and Casino. "Thank you to the Las Vegas Film Festival. The very idea of the Golden Ace Award is a tremendous way to support and recognize independent filmmakers everywhere," said director Kearns, who was, for some reason, wearing a Barry Manilow t-shirt. "This film is about a man named Neil Innes, who is a brilliant songwriter and satirist. We hope distributors especially are curious to see it, and we'll see you next month at the Pacific Palisades Film Festival in Los Angeles."

This just in: Seen in deep conversation with Hudson and Kearns earlier in the day and sharing the Frozen Pictures awards ceremony table with Kearns' wife (and Seventh Python supervising producer) Alison Holloway was Las Vegas-based film and television producer and music impresario Jerry Peluso. Peluso, who was a producer on Frozen's 2006 documentary feature Basketball Man, told our Sam Peters that he and the Frozen team have agreed to collaborate on an as-yet-unnamed music-related film project that he wants to see completed in time for release on 09.09.09.

Watch this space as details develop.

photos by Sally Jade Holloway Kearns

Sunday afternoon at the Las Vegas Film Festival: Countdown to The Seventh Python's Golden Ace

Brett Hudson of Frozen Pictures, producer of The Seventh Python, takes a break from the festival festivities to play the penny slots.

Exclusive photos! The Seventh Python gets attention at the Las Vegas Film Festival

Directors' Panel Session, featuring a guy who looks like Matt Damon who directed a short film called "I'm Not Matt Damon."

Brett Hudson of Frozen Pictures, producer of The Seventh Python, takes a break from the festival festivities to play Bingo.

Burt Kearns, director of The Seventh Python, takes a picture of the marquee.

The picture Burt took.

The producers of The Seventh Python will be awarded The Las Vegas Film Festival's Golden Ace Award "for superior and standout filmmaking" tomorrow evening.

The Seventh Python arrives in Las Vegas

Filling the void left by the closing of Spamalot, our pals at Frozen Pictures are in Las Vegas to accept a Golden Ace Award for The Seventh Python at the Las Vegas Film Festival. The award will be handed out tomorrow night. Watch this space for the latest.

Tickets on sale for The Seventh Python extravaganza at The Wilmette Theatre

Tickets are now on sale for the special June 9th evening of The Seventh Python at The Wilmette Theatre outside Chicago.

The evening at the historic theatre and performance center just north of Chicago will feature a screening of the acclaimed, award-winning film, a discussion with the director and producer, and a special live performance by the film's subject and star, Neil Innes. It's expected to feature many shining stars of the Second City's comedy elite.





"This just might be the most exciting event on The Seventh Python preview tour," says director Burt Kearns, who along with producer Brett Hudson is heading to the Las Vegas International Film Festival this weekend to pick up The Seventh Python's Golden Ace Award "for superior and standout filmmaking." "Chicago is a hub of great comedy and some of the greatest names in the field will be there."

"This will be our third Chicago screening," Hudson says. "The interest in Neil Innes and all things Monty Python shows this isn't just a film for hipsters on the two coasts. The support for this film is coming straight from the Heartland! Our success in the Midwest, combined with the cheering audiences at all our screenings, prove that The Seventh Python is real crowd-pleasing, mainstream entertainment!"



Indeed, Innes' appearance comes amid a US concert tour that includes appearances in New York City, Annapolis, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago.

The Seventh Python, a production of Frozen Pictures, is coming off wildly-appreciated showings at the NY Metro Fest for Beatles Fans, also attended by the star. The film will also be screening in May at the Pacific Palisades Film Festival in Los Angeles.

More details to follow.

9.9.9

This morning on TheBeatles.com:

THE BEATLES' ENTIRE ORIGINAL RECORDED CATALOGUE REMASTERED FOR RELEASE 09-09-09

7th April 2009

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game. Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK, and 'Magical Mystery Tour,' which became part of The Beatles' core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections 'Past Masters Vol. I and II' are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.

Within each CD's new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. With the exception of the 'Past Masters' set, newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.

A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. 'The Beatles in Mono' gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on 'Past Masters'). As an added bonus, the mono "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" discs also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been previously released on CD. These albums will be packaged in mini-vinyl CD replicas of the original sleeves with all original inserts and label designs retained.

Discussions regarding the digital distribution of the catalogue will continue. There is no further information available at this time.

Obama's Hair Design

We hear there are protests in New York City over fried chicken joints being renamed for Barack Obama. We were in Chicago last month and walked by this place downtown on South Dearborn. Obama's Hair Design features "styles by Egyptian."


We'd assumed the joint was black-owned, but a quick check shows that it's not, and believe it or not, used to be called "Osama's":

Al Aribaya News Channel
Egyptian gives Chicago salon Obama makeover

Osama just got an extreme makeover and will now be known as Obama. The salon that is.

An Egyptian barber changed the name of his salon from "Osama’s Hair Design" to "Obama’s Hair Design" in what American media called an ideological shift but which perhaps simply reflected good business sense.

Mahmoud al-Sheikh managed to get a license to change the name of his salon on Nov. 3, one day before Obama's victory, because he figured city officials would not have agreed to put the president's name on a barber shop, he told AlArabiya.net.

In repose to the media hype about his supposed “ideological shift” from fundamentalism to moderation, Sheikh said that the previous name of the salon had nothing to do with Osama bin Laden and that he was never one of his supporters.

"The previous owner of the salon was called Osama," he said. "American media took advantage of that to create a sensational story."

And he saw business drop off by half in the months following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks...

Sheikh pointed out that the main question posed by the American media was whether he changed the name of the salon to attract more African-American clients.

"I told them I am 100 percent convinced of this man. I met him and talked to him. His success was not haphazard. He had goals that he was keen on achieving."

Farrah Fawcett

Fighting cancer, the golden girl has defied the odds for a couple of years now, but we 'd heard she hasn't been doing very well lately. And now a report she's hospitalized, unconscious, critical. We hope for the best.

iPhoney baloney

You can buy an iPhone 3G for $199 and they make you sign a two-year contract with AT&T. Did you know that if your iPhone is stolen, you have to pay a minimum of $399 to replace it? They only give you the "discount" the first time when they force you into that two-year contract.

It takes nice pictures and gives recipes but still loses service on Sunset Boulevard.

Please, share your iPhone stories with us.

Brett Hudson's Beatles Fest cancer remarks spark international response, makings of a movement

Brett Hudson's surprise, emotional discourse on his fight against cancer last weekend at the NY Metro Fest for Beatles Fans continues to resonate throughout the world, as hundreds of victims, relatives, professionals and fans have contacted him and his related businesses, offering to help his cause.

The popstar-turned-producer was at The Beatles Fest to perform and meet fan in his role as a former member of The Hudson Brothers, as well as to present The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic he produced with his Frozen Pictures. It was during a Q&A on the making of the film that he announced Frozen's next project is The Klinik, a film that uses his own battle against throat cancer-- and his treatment at alternative treatment centers in Germany-- as a starting point for revealing alternative and experimental treatments and therapies, and exposing the American medical system that denies patients such protocols.


Hudson's remarks-- and his announcement that he's starting a foundation to give others access to the choices-- sent an electric jolt-- and a bracing shot of reality-- through the fan convention, that drew thousands to celebrate the music and legacy of The Beatles. As word spread through the Crowne Plaza Hotel and beyond, it's generated offers of donations and thousands of hits on The Klinik website, where "Brett's Blog" (currently down for maintenance) has already been a major gathering point.

"It was great to see you in Jersey! I'm so happy to see you filled with energy and enthusiasm. It was also great to hear you talk about your fight against throat cancer and how you have become a survivor. People have to be aware of their options, not just the ones offered by their American doctors. If you decide to document your crusade against cancer and would like any assistance with videotaping or video editing, do not hesitate to contact me..."

"you are truly an amazing man........ BLESS YOU"


The sole negative reaction was recorded hours after Hudson's lecture, by an attendee who wrote on The Examiner website:

"...Hudson spent a goodly amount of his Sunday forum session... sharing his stories of cancer survival and his battles with the U.S. healthcare system. Without sounding unsympathetic to his personal plight, it was an inappropriate diversion from the festivities to say the very least."

Occasional Tabloid Baby contributor Sam Peters, who attended the forum session and sent us the earliest, excited reports about the positive response, reacted this morning:

"The guy what wrote that? I heard Neil Innes sing his theme song when they showed The Seventh Python: How Sweet To Be An Idiot!" Peters told us when roused this morning. "Here's a little tip to that schnook. Don't write about things you're not smart enough to comprehend. I was there and Hudson's talk was a lot more appropriate than playing Cars songs on the ukulele-- no offense to the great musician Gregg Hawkes who did so. Cancer has killed as many Beatles as crazed gunmen. George Harrison died of the same cancer that Hudson's beat. Paul McCartney would never have got tied up with that one-legged ex-hooker if his beloved Linda hadn't died of cancer. Ringo's ex died of leukemia.

"You think that was inappropriate? Hudson made the Beatles Fest relevant to today. The guy that wrote that? I know where his head is. And he should get a little help from his friends to pull it out!"

Whew. Then there were the notes of support:

"I can honestly say that I would not be here today had I not had the escape that was The Hudson Brothers...My daughter is healthy and happy...I am physically healthy and have insurance that is so far cooperating with helping me stay emotionally healthy. I am not only inspired by your strength and fortitude, but I am inspired by the countless Americans who have to endure the sub-par medical care we have in our country. You are right, politicians and government cannot fix this FUBAR system... we have to do it... I will join any group, write to any congressman and do whatever I can in my power to make sure everyone and their brother sees the klinik movie so change can start to happen. When your movie is complete and people start to see it there will be a revolution. Bravo! If I can help in getting even one more person to see it then might not have, then I will be on my way to paying my debt to you..."

"I hope all is well with you, and that you are on your way to feeling more energetic and healthy. Your blogs happen to be in perfect timing with what I am teaching in Pharmacology. I just finished discussing the fentanyl 'transmucosal' narcotics (lollipops!). I hope you don't mind, but I showed the students the photo of your neck, and the images of you in the mask. I heard a couple of audible gasps when I showed the photos..."

"YOU AMAZE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, Brett, I can hardly believe that you were at the NY Beatles Fest. Wow! You are a 'soldier/trooper' for sure! I viewed many of the pics, videos, your blog, the Tabloid Baby write-up that you had, and was so proud of you for speaking up for what you believe in!! So good to see your SMILING FACE. Brother, I don't know how you have done it and continue to do it! You are ONE SPECIAL PERSON!"

"There seem to be so many people that have no integrity, have no conscience, have no heart and will lie as they are looking right at you. Then you meet people or others you know do something so good and sometimes so unexpected that it somehow makes it all okay. Those moments bring tears of gratitude to my eyes..."

Reached this morning, Hudson confirms that he's been "overwhelmed" by responses on various platforms including Facebook, MySpace, websites, email and telephone.

"All the personal praise is very flattering-- but this is not about me," he again insisted. "This is about saving lives and giving people who need financial help the same opportunity I had. Giving them the opportunity to go where they they will get the best treatment for their illness. I'll get the word out when the time's right to support this cause-- if not by donation but in their hearts.

"Most important: speak out! It's also important to simply spread the word!"

Exclusive: British guy comes to America to write book on US-UK relations-- and to meet 500 celebs

We don't subscribe to the idea that British people all have bad teeth. We understand that the island nation discovered fluoride sometime in the Seventies, just as they managed to spin out a chef or two and learn to cook in the past fifteen years. We do hold the belief that all British men have had at least one gay experience, and that even the most lady-killing British male is overcompensating for a buggering in his schooldays-- a prejudice enforced over the weekend when we cracked open Victor Spinetti's book and later on the Virgin America flight home read an Esquire UK article about some hot tart named Rosamund Pike who claimed her hottest romance was with a guy who turned out to be gay and that they and his new boyfriend now go on threesome vacations together, not that there's anything wrong with any of that but which simply isn't so taken for granted in America.

Which leads us to Jules Segal, a young British guy who's arrived in the States to research a new book and embark on a stunt crusade to get 500 US celebrities "to sign a British flag with messages of support for the British people" (the flag will be auctioned for a kids' charity).


Jules pulled off a similar stunt in the UK, in which he got celebs like Cheri Blair, Ian McLellan, Jonathan Ross and Chris Martin, the bedwetting guy from Coldplay and a lot of people we're not familiar with (but who are very familiar in the UK) to shake his hand. He got a lot of publicity and a book out of the deal: Greeting The 500.

Now, like Sacha Baron Cohen, Toby Young and Marco Pierre White (well, not Marco Pierre White...) he's headed across the pond, and like de Tocqueville and Allan Whicker before him, will take the pulse of the big country while exploring the "special relationship" between the UK and the US, and speaking to Americans about their views on all things British, "our accents, our bad teeth, the Beckhams, our music, our common foreign policies, whether we should always go to war together..."

And then there are the 500 celebrities, a list he gathered from a Facebook poll and whom he's approaching quite formally, quite British, actually, through letters and proper channels as opposed to the good old American tradition of stalking.

We like the idea that Jules' project started out as a bet. Jules' mate gave him a list of 500 UK celebs and six months to get his photo taken shaking hands with as many as possible. He need to meet 20% of them to win the bet. Gambling comes into play this time as well:

"Jules has very little money, no full-time job and the residue of a gambling habit. In order to finance his trip, he has placed two bets with the William Hill bookmaking firm. One of these bets relates to how many of the 500 he will manage to meet in 90 days, the other bet will be paid out if amongst others, he meets Tiger Woods, Scarlet Johansson, Kanye West, Emeril Lagasse and Daniel Negreanu and completes a pre-arranged task with each of these individuals..."

The list follows. If you are on it or have an in with someone who is, you can reach him here. We spoke to Jules this week, he comes recommended by our pals at Anorak and we'll be keeping track of his progress.

Jules in in Los Angeles now. He's got quite a task ahead. Some of his target celebs are in prison; one or two may be dead.

Fellow journos: go out and do your jobs, run a feature on The US-Say project and book this guy for your shows.

Segal's List
‘500 Americans’

50 cent Aaron Sorkin Adam Sandler Adam West Al Jarreau Al Roker Al Sharpton Al Gore Al Pacino Al Unser Jr Alan Dershowitz Alan Alda Alan Greenspan Alex Trebek Alex Rodriguez Alexi Lalas Alice Cooper America Ferrera Andre 3000 Angelina Jolie Ann Coulter Anna Wintour Anne Rice Annie Liebowitz Anthony Bourdain Antonio Fargas Ariana Huffington A Schwarzenegger Arsenio Hall Art Garfunkel Ashley Olsen Axl Rose Barack Obama Barbra Streisand Barbara Walters Barry Bonds Ben Stiller Beth Ditto Betty Ford Betty White Big Bird Bill Bryson Bill Cosby Bill Maher Bill Clinton Bill Gates Bill Murray Billy Crystal Billy Graham Billie Jean King Billy Ray Cyrus Bo Derek Bo Jackson Bob Beamon Bob Dylan Bob Woodward Brad Pitt Bret Easton Ellis Britney Spears Bruce Campbell Bruce Springsteen Bruce Willis Burt Reynolds Butch Harmon Calvin Klein Cameron Diaz Carl Lewis Carly Fiorina Carrie Fisher Carson Kressley Casey Kasem Charles Barkley Charles Manson Charlie Kaufman Cheech Cher Chevy Chase Chris Rock Christopher Gardner Christian Bale Christian Slater Christina Aguilera Christy Turlington Chubby Checker Chuck Norris Chuck Palahniuk Cindy Crawford Clint Eastwood Colin Powell Condoleeza Rice Courtney Cox Courtney Love Dale Earnhardt Jr Dan Rather Dan Brown Dan Aykroyd Dan Castellaneta Dan Marino Dan Quayle Dane Cook Daniel Libeskind Daniel Negreanu Danielle Steele Danny de Vito Dave Brubeck Dave Chapelle Dave Grohl Dave Lee Roth David Duke David Geffen David Blaine David Copperfield David Hasselhoff David Letterman David Lynch David Mamet David Schwimmer David Soul Debbie Harry Debbie Gibson Dennis Hopper Dennis Rodman Denzel Washington Derek Jeter Diana Ross Diane Sawyer Dick Cheney Duane Chapman Dolly Parton Don King Donald Rumsfeld Donald Sutherland Donald Trump Donna Karan Donnie Wahlberg Donny Osmond Doris Day Doyle Brunson Dr Dre Dr John Dr Ruth Dr Phil Drew Barrymore Dustin Hoffman Ed Moses Eddie Murphy Eliot Spitzer Ellen DeGeneres Emeril Lagasse Eminem Evander Holyfield Fats Domino Fergie Florence Henderson Frank Oz Frank Gehry Fred Savage Garth Brooks Garry Shandling Gary Busey Gary Coleman Gary Larson Gene Simmons Gene Wilder George Foreman George Lucas George Romero George Lopez George Pataki George W Bush George Clooney Gilbert Godfrey Gore Vidal Grace Jones Greg Louganis Gwyneth Paltrow Harper Lee Harrison Ford Harry Connick Jr Harvey Weinstein Harvey Keitel Hayden Panettiere Heidi Fleiss Henry Winkler Henry Kissinger Hilary Hahn Hillary Clinton Howard Stern Hugh Hefner Hulk Hogan Ice Cube Ice T Iggy Pop Isaac Mizrahi Jack Nicklaus Jack Black Jack Nicholson Jackie Chan Jackie Mason James Gandolfini James Horner James Earl Jones James Ellroy James Hellwig James Woods Jane Fonda Janice Dickinson Jason Bateman Jasper Johns Jaws (Richard Kiel) Jay Leno Jay-Z JD Salinger Jeff Gordon Jeff Goldblum Jeff Koons Jeff Skoll Jenna Jameson Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Lopez Jermain Jackson Jerry Rice Jerry Bruckheimer Jerry Springer Jesse Draper Jesse Jackson Jesse Ventura Jessica Simpson Jessica Alba Jim Brown Jim Davis Jim Carrey JJ Abrams Joan Rivers Jodie Foster Joe Montana Joe Pesci Joe Torre John Glover Roberts John Williams John Irving John Bobbit John Cusack John Daly John Glenn John Grisham John Malkovich John McEnroe Jon Stewart John Travolta John Wooden Johnny Depp Jon Bon Jovi Jordin Sparks Jordy Chandler Jorge Posada Josh Holloway Judd Nelson Judith Sheindlin Julia Roberts Justin Timberlake Kanye West Karl Rove Kate Hudson Kathleen Battle Kathy Ireland Kathie Lee Gifford Katie Couric Kato Kaelin Keanu Reeves Kelly Slater Kelly Clarkson Ken Starr Kenny Rogers Kevin Bacon Kevin Federline Kevin Smith Kiefer Sutherland Kim Cattral Kirsten Dunst Kobe Bryant Laffit Pincay Lance Armstrong Larry King Larry Seinfeld Larry Craig Larry David Larry Hagman Lee Corso Leonard Nimoy Leonardo di Caprio Linda Carter Lindsay Lohan Liza Minnelli Loretta Lynn Lou Ferrigno Lou Reed Louis Farrakhan Lucy Liu M N Shyamalan Macaulay Culkin Madeleine Albright Madonna Magic Johnson Malcolm Glazier Marc Jacobs Marie Osmond Marilyn Manson Marc McGwire Mark Zuckerburg Martha Stewart Martin Scorsese Martina Navratilova Mary-Kate Olsen Matisyahu Matt Damon Matt Groening Matthew Broderick Maya Angelou MC Hammer Meatloaf Mel Brooks Michael Bloomberg Michael Chertoff Michael Dell Michael Douglas Michael Griffin Michael J Fox Michael Jackson Michael Johnson Michael Jordon Michael Moore Michael Phelps Michelle Kwan Michelle Wie Mike Judge Mike Tyson Mikhail Baryshnikov Missy Elliot Moby Molly Ringwald Monica Lewinsky Mookie Wilson Morgan Freeman Morgan Spurlock Mr T Muhammed Ali Nadia Comaneci Nancy Cartwright Nancy Pelosi Neil Armstrong Neil Diamond Nicole Richie Noam Chomsky N Schwartzkopf OJ Simpson Oliver North Oprah Winfrey Oscar de la Hoya Owen Wilson P Diddy Pamela Anderson Paris Hilton Pat Sajak Patricia Arquette Patty Hearst Paul Auster Paul Shaffer Paul Teutul Paul Wolfowitz Paula Abdul Pauly Shore Pee Wee Herman Penn Jillette Perez Hilton 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Anchors away

Local TV news is seeing the end of its big-money anchor era. In New York, local legend sportscaster Len Berman is retiring after 25 years or so. We worked with Len at WNBC, and were there for his first sportscast at News 4 New York. The combination of Len and Marv Albert, the hardest working man in show business, was unbeatable even among the giants they faced in competition. We've been away from NYC for a while now, and it's odd to see a photo of Len looking, well, old. We recall Len as a real sweet guy, were there for his first "Spanning The World" clip segment (and always wanted to tell him that "Spanning the Globe" sounded better) and remember how, in the studio he'd always bare his upper row of teeth to get his smile on before he began his sportscast. Good guy.

And meanwhile in Los Angeles, long tall pinstriped Paul Moyer, a dedicated and totally Angeleno newscaster on KNBC (as in NYC, the "classiest" local news operation), has announced his retirement. Moyer is known worldwide for the recorded spat he had with a female co-anchor (above) which is said to have inspired Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy. We see Moyers around town, or riding in the Fourth of July parade.

This, of course, is only the beginning. The economy, technology and information access have conspired to end this era of big hair and big salaries. Expect to see many more familiar local news giants-- real reporting journos who write their own copy like like Len and pompous TelePrompter reading talking heads alike-- fold up their tents and hand over the reins to the 20-somethings. Time marches on. And we're still figuring out Twitter.

*UPDATE: Our Man Elli in Israel, a veteran NYC sports journalist, adds:

"I never worked with Len, but would see him around the locker rooms and clubhouses, and in the press rooms of New York sports teams. He was a genuine good guy, who never took himself seriously but took his job seriously, and in that he was excellent-- knew his stuff, and presented it in a way that made non-sports fans listen-- and enjoy. He ranks up there with Bill Mazer among the N.Y. sports journalist Hall of Famers. And hey, whatever happened to Bill?"