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January 31, 2008

LIFE STYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS, ROBBIN' HOOD EDITION

Seems some folks are still quietly saying, as last year, that it may be best to end the lavish giftbags given to celeb presenters at award shows like the Globes, Grammys and Goldguys (I mean the Oscars, had to go for the G thing). The theory: people who are already rich are getting thou$and$ in free swag they could easily buy. But wait, are we not a culture that loves excess and doth give it high ratings? Maybe the solution is to balance things out in creative ways, and do it so everyone in our YouTubed society can watch. Like, say, a reality show where a bad-ass breaks into rich people's pads, takes their loot and brings it to poor folk. Imagine the reveals. Name? Bad Man and Robbin' Hood. (You can thank me later, Ben Silverman. Or Sarah.)

HAVE A VERY HARRY NEW SHEARER

All bad puns aside, LA's own Harry Shearer has a CD out that has garnered much attention, called Songs Pointed and Pointless. Shearer has been performing a great deal all over LA in recent months, and signing (at House of Blues and Book Soup, for example) -- and not too long ago he also put out a novel novel, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS (the premise being: What do you do if your town needs money? Why, pretend you're an Indian tribe and get a casino, of course!). We heard a rumor that Shearer pal Christopher Guest may want to direct a film version. Duh!

RETRO RANT: Paul Revere and the Conundrums (or, who Raided the Raiders' rating?)

An Essay on Yesterday

Lately, as I do sometimes, I have become fascinated with a particular segment of pop music history, this time the strange case of Paul Revere and the Raiders. I recall some of their songs, mainly Kicks, Good Thing and Indian Reservation, but when reading their history I learn that they apparently sold many millions of records, some sources estimating as high as 50 million over the last 40 years or so. One source said they were only topped by the Beatles and the Stones for sales by 60s bands.

Yet, when I go to Borders or other local music stores, I find no Paul Revere cds. Not even a nameplate for them. Why arent Paul Revere and the Raiders given respect at least somewhere near that given the Beatles and Stones? (I mean, even Little Steven, of all people, hardly plays the Raiders, if at all!)

God bless Rhino's Nuggets, and iTunes, which feature the band -- but in general, it feels like Paul Revere may have been Raided from the history books (unlike the first Paul Revere). The bandleader Revere certainly isn't Revered by many popologists these days. At least that's how it seems.

So, question... what happened? Why is such a big selling band mostly ignored by the rock intelligentsia? Were they dismissed as pop fluff by those who always talk endlessly about (deservedly-praised) classics like Pet Sounds, Revolver and Pepper? Is their historical fate sorta like the Monkees -- bands acknowledged as having many hits, but not taken seriously enough due to their often-comic personas? (I believe both bands are absent from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, yet both sold millions and influenced many future bands).

Any thoughts welcome! --Don "Patrick Henry" Rose

January 30, 2008

LIFE ALERT FEATURED ON THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW IN HEALTH-TECH SEGMENT; MARTHA AND DR. BRENT RIDGE RECOMMEND LIFE ALERT SERVICE TO THEIR VIEWERS

Life Alert, known for protecting the lives of seniors and increasingly younger adults, captures the attention of Martha Stewart and Dr. Brent Ridge, VP of Martha Stewart Healthy Living, who touts Life Alert’s “inexpensive yet vital” service on national TV show

(January 30, 2008 – Encino, CA) Life Alert is widely known for its popular TV commercials, featuring its trademarked slogan “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” Now, Life Alert is being featured on TV shows itself. The service -- which saves a life every 40 minutes, on average -- is essential for maintaining the health of its members, and no TV program embodies healthy living more than “The Martha Stewart Show,” where Life Alert was recently featured. The national TV program, which attracts the highest concentration of women 25-54 with incomes of $75,000-plus among all first-run daytime series, selected Life Alert to be part of its January 23rd segment on tech gadgets for your health.

The Life Alert service received a strong recommendation from Dr. Brent Ridge, who co-hosted the segment and serves as Vice President of Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. When discussing Life Alert, Dr. Ridge told the show’s studio and national audience that “we recommend this to all of the patients at the Martha Stewart Center for Living,” adding that the service is “so inexpensive yet so vital for people.”

Members of Life Alert can get assistance 24/7 in the event of an emergency (medical, fire or intrusion). As Martha and Dr. Ridge explained to their audience, one press of a small pendant quickly puts the wearer in touch with a Life Alert dispatcher, who talks to the member via a base unit (installed in the home) and sends help immediately if the member is injured, unable to speak, or in danger.

“We are pleased that Martha Stewart chose Life Alert for her show about health-related technology, as we know how selective she is on featuring products and services,” says Isaac Shepher, Life Alert’s founder and CEO. “We are extremely proud to serve our members with state-of-the-art equipment and services, as we have done for over 20 years.” The company, which has members nationwide, saved over 15,000 lives from catastrophic outcomes in 2007 alone. As Dr. Ridge pointed out in the TV segment, Life Alert handles over a million calls a year.

While Life Alert has primarily been servicing seniors and the elderly for the past 20 years, their service is becoming increasingly popular among Boomers and younger adults, whose parents may have the service as well. The reality is that adults of any age can benefit from Life Alert protection, especially when living alone.


Other devices featured on Martha's segment about tech gadgets for health: GPS-enabled sneakers (you can look up the wearer's location on a map via computer -- useful, for example, to keep track of someone with Alzheimer's disease), Glow Caps (can "illuminate, play a melody, and even ring a home phone" as a reminder to take medications) and the Ultreo Toothbrush ("the first power toothbrush to combine patented ultrasound wave-guide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action").

About Life Alert

Life Alert is a Personal Emergency Response company that saves lives from catastrophic outcomes, using a unique technology to provide superior home monitoring and protection. Life Alert was founded in 1987, provides services nationwide, and is the only company endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop.

The Life Alert service solves an issue that is especially important for seniors: home-based protection. Life Alert enables seniors, the handicapped and anyone needing protection to keep living at home with independence and comfort, living their lives the way they are used to, without drastic changes. The average senior Life Alert member keeps living in their own home for an extra six years, compared to those of a similar age without Life Alert. In addition, an ACNielsen study showed that 87% of subscribers called Life Alert’s protection a main or important factor in their decision to keep living at home, rather than move to a retirement home. As Dr. Koop says, “Thanks to Life Alert, you can live alone without ever being alone, and that’s why I wear one.”

For more information on Life Alert, call 1-800-360-0329 or visit www.lifealert.com.

About The Martha Stewart Show

“The Martha Stewart Show,” also known as “Martha,” is a U.S. daytime television syndicated talk show that began airing in September 2005. Hosted by Martha Stewart, each episode includes segments on cooking, interior design, gardening, crafts, health and other topics. “Martha” attracts the highest concentration of women 25-54 with incomes of $75,000-plus among all first-run daytime series, according to Nielsen Media Research. It ranks second to only “The Oprah Winfrey Show” among women 25-54 in households that earn $100,000-plus annually. The Martha Stewart Show is produced by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Productions in association with Mark Burnett Productions.

The show, which also features celebrity guests, is taped live in New York City at 10 a.m. and airs at various times in several markets. “Martha” also airs nightly on the digital cable network Fine Living. The show is distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, in a partnership with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. In November 2007, “Martha” was renewed for a fourth season. NBC Universal renewed in over 60% of the U.S. Station groups picking up the how-to program include the NBC-owned stations, Fox, Belo, Fisher Communications, Scripps, Hearst-Argyle Television, Allbritton Communications and Clear Channel Communications.

Media Contact: Dr. Don Rose, Head of Public Relations, Life Alert Emergency Response. 1-818-700-7000 x103 or drose@lifealert.com .

January 28, 2008

MOLI.COM LAUNCHES TODAY AT DEMO 08 CONFERENCE

A PRNewswire news release states that Mainstream Holdings, Inc., an Internet technology and digital media company, announced today that it entered into an agreement with private investors to receive $29.6 million of funding for the company. The funding will be used to accelerate the international expansion and enrich membership development programs of its subsidiary MOLI. MOLI will be launched today at the DEMO 08 conference.

What is MOLI, exactly? Here are some excerpts from a press release on their website:

Addressing the market need for better privacy and control of social networking member data, MOLI launched at DEMO today, its next-generation community site based on a robust patent-pending platform that allows users to have significantly greater control over their privacy than current options in the market. Designed by financial transaction veterans who understand the need for secure transactions, MOLI's members, consisting of enterprising individuals, groups and small businesses, can control their privacy by managing multiple profiles in one account. Members can then segment their social, business and family relationships as well as attain more control using three levels of permission - public, private and hidden - to determine who can and cannot access their profile information. In addition, members can add low-cost, online store capabilities to sell their products and services within the global community. MOLI membership is free as are most of the interactive tools; MOLI communities are located in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland.

"MOLI has implemented its social networking community in an inventive way to create a new approach to the online social market," said Chris Shipley, executive producer of DEMO. "MOLI will be a company to watch as the market continues to unfold."

MOLI is an online community designed for enterprising individuals and small business owners - a segment of users just beginning to explore the power of social networking. The site uses Web 2.0 capabilities that are ideal for multimedia interactive collaboration and visitors and members can view both professionally created original content (text and high definition video) and user-generated content that appeals to the MOLI community.

Founded by Dr. Christos M. Cotsakos, ...MOLI is the flagship subsidiary of Mainstream Holdings, Inc., a company that focuses in four industry segments: e-commerce, behavioral marketing, high-definition video production, and software and infrastructure development. "We are very excited for the opportunity to launch MOLI at the critically acclaimed DEMO 08 conference," said Dr. Cotsakos. "We have listened to users, marketers, advertisers and industry experts during our beta, to create and build MOLI into the next-generation social media platform..."

"MOLI is a next-generation social media community allowing members to manage multiple profiles from one account. It is designed for enterprising individuals entering that next major lifestyle change, beginning in the late twenties, when control over personal privacy is a more compelling issue," said Judy Balint, President and COO of MOLI. "MOLI is a diverse, sophisticated site where professionally produced content coupled with interactive e-commerce features enable members to connect and conduct business with other discerning individuals, groups and businesses..."

MOLI produces and publishes high quality features about the community's multi-faceted members and stories that appeal to the discerning MOLI community. For advertisers, the appeal of professionally created content in specific channels provides a higher degree of confidence that their message will reside within an appropriate context for their brand.

MOLI offers three types of content for visitors and members to enjoy:
1 - user-generated content created from members in the community

2 - content selected by MOLI from third-party agreements suited for the discerning MOLI community
3 - compelling professionally created original content developed in-house and published in two forms: articles (MOLI View) and high-definition videos (MOLI Video).

- MOLI View is a daily collection of blogs written by well-known freelance writers appearing in various categories: Arts and Entertainment; Fashion and Design; Life and Love; Sports and Fitness; Travel and Leisure; Business and Technology; and Worthy Causes.
- MOLI Video is a compelling video showcase featuring two-minute magazine-style vignettes about MOLI's members. Called "MOLI Rollers" the high-definition, short-format video clips are created and produced in-house by Mainstream's subsidiary, Tertiary Productions. MOLI Video also features Tertiary's first original offbeat episodic series called Park Bench. Easy-to-Use Tools and E-commerce CapabilitiesMOLI provides its members with access to many free and low-cost features as well as premium-customized tools so their image on the site can look "polished and professional" or "cool and modern".

Each account has access to free features and tools, for example, blogs, message boards, RSS feeds, video players, audio players, games, media slideshows, and event calendars. The site uses Ajax technology, so members can customize and personalize their pages with drag-and-drop ease. On MOLI, small businesses can create a free public website to showcase their products and services, and use MOLI's multiple profiles with permissions to communicate in private with customers, employees or suppliers all from the same account. MOLI can be both an extranet and a private intranet.

Also, without doing any programming, members can easily add a fully-functioning store with a multi-media catalogue allowing video, audio, or text, shopping cart, and payment mechanism through PayPal or Google Checkout, for a simple, flat-fee of only $3.99 a month.

More robust than earlier-generation social networking sites, MOLI is built on a patent-pending technology platform designed for scalability and easy global deployment developed by CoVibe TECH, a sister subsidiary of MOLI. This platform has the ability to accumulate and analyze aggregate member data, and facilitate targeted behavioral marketing while protecting the member's personally identifiable information. For example, all members receive a basic version of this aggregated data called "CoVibe Live" for free. CoVibe Live is a real-time snapshot that highlights interesting tidbits of information about the people who visit a member's profiles, such as age, gender, and geographic location. More sophisticated renditions of this aggregated psychographic and demographic data will also be available for purchase in various cost-effective packages designed for individuals, groups, small businesses and advertisers.

MOLI members can access its knowledge-based customer support system that is similar to those found in consumer and financial industries. Members have two ways to obtain information: using the knowledge-based system for text-based and video answers as well as by live chat with MOLI customer support representatives. Live chat hours are available 9 to 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern. MOLI's customer support solution is a first in the social networking industry.

Summary: MOLI is a next-generation social networking site where members can manage multiple profiles in one account. Members can separate their social, business and family relationships and keep control over their privacy. Targeted at both enterprising individuals over 18 and small business owners, MOLI provides an easy to use, content-rich, multimedia interactive platform ideal for both community collaboration and e-commerce. MOLI sites are currently located in the U.S. (www.moli.com), the U.K. and Ireland. MOLI membership is free. Additional pricing for account customization: $1.99 per additional personalized URL after the first one that is free; $2.49/month for MOLI ad-free; $3.99/month to add store capabilities.

TECH CHECK: ZONET MULTIFUNCTION MOUSEPAD




Zonet's Multimedia Multifunctional Mouse Pad - Model: ZUP8020

Here is a very cool product, especially in this age where devices that do many things are "in." Optimize your work (or fun!) space and give a touch of style to your computer with the Zonet ZUP8020 – a true "Multifunctional Mouse Pad." The Mouse Pad produces an ambient blue glow around its clear acrylic base when connected to the USB port. It’s integrated with a four-port USB 2.0 Hub, allowing you to connect extra USB peripherals such as a Webcam, Flash Drive, and other USB devices. With the Stereo Speakers and Microphone, it's ideal for music listening, online chatting, and voice conferencing.

Features:
• Illuminated acrylic base mouse pad with smooth surface
• Built-in 4-Port USB Hub, fully compliant with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0
• Built-in Stereo Speakers
• Built-In Headset and Audio connectors
• Microphone On/Off Switch
• Included Mini-microphone for voice conference and online chatting
• Plug & play, no driver needed
• Dimension: W248 x D123 x H18mm
• Cable length: 120cm

This Zonet product comes with a one year Manufacturer Warranty. We like the fact that, in addition to the ZUP8020 mousepad, you also get the Mini Microphone (or, if you're a fan of Austin Powers, a Mini-Mike!). We dig it at The LA report, and we think you will too.

January 27, 2008

FREE LEGAL UNLIMITED MUSIC DOWNLOADS: SPIRALFROG

by Don Rose

Yes, free music via the Internet is a reality. We're talking good stuff, hits, high quality tunes, not just unknowns and/or unlistenable junk. Go to http://www.spiralfrog.com/ and register (for free, NO credit card needed). Confirm your membership and start getting songs and videos, FREE.

How can they do this, you ask? Yes, ads. A recent Spiralfrog press release explains:

SpiralFrog allows music enthusiasts to feed their addiction to music through free, legal and unlimited downloading. SpiralFrog enables anyone to access and download files from a library of 1 million songs and 3,500 music videos, with new content added frequently. To access the free content, users must only fill out a simple and quick registration form. As part of the SpiralFrog experience, users see relevant, targeted advertising that does not interfere with their enjoyment of music. Songs and videos downloaded on SpiralFrog will play on Windows PCs running XP and Vista. Members can download to their PCs and synchronize their music with up to two portable music players or music-enabled phones that support Windows Media digital rights management.

We knew this would happen eventually. If TV can be free via ads, why not music? Spiralfrog simply serves you advertising as you do things on the Spiralfrog site (like downloading), and they in turn give part of the ad revenue to the music publishers and musicians who provide the music on the site. Sounds good to The LA Report. Yes, it really sounds good! Go get your free tunes!

I can hear you thinking, "Okay, but is there a catch?" The only one I see so far: you may not find certain bands' music that you really want. In other words, if you want a one-stop shop with ALL major acts' music available for download, some for free and most for a fee, then iTunes is still king. Or you can go with Napster, Yahoo! Music, Best Buy's digital music store, and more stores. But SpiralFrog is just getting going, so give it time. And give it a whirl.

For ten MORE free websites to consider, see the fine post that lists 10 Sites for Free Legal Music, at www.last100.com.

NEW POLL: "WHITE" STILL FAVORITE PRESIDENTIAL BODY COLOR; BEIGE, ORANGE SHOW GAINS

by Don Rose

A national poll gauging Presidential popularity shows that, while the facial and body color popularly known as "white" still ranks highest among voters, beige through brown have risen steadily this year. In addition, orange is now tied with purple and avocado among Democrats. Below we list the full results for all colors polling 1% or more with Democrats or Republicans, in response to the question "What is your favorite color for a Presidential candidate?" (Margin of error: plus or minus 4 percentage hue.)

Color:DemocratsRepublicans
VERY PALE LIGHT BEIGE (aka "White") 51% 60%
BEIGE (aka "Tan White")17%22%
DARK BEIGE (aka "White/Black Mix" or "Hispanic") 13% 4%
BROWN (aka "Black") 10% 3%
DARK BROWN (aka "Dark Black")5% 1%
GEORGE HAMILTON 0% 10%
White on one side, Black on the other 2% 0%
Orange, Purple, Avocado (Tie) 1%0%
Spotted, Striped (Tie)1% 0%

January 26, 2008

JAN. 27: BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES, LIVE BROADCAST FROM SIT n SLEEP PASADENA

Chris Carter is taking his show on the road! See "Breakfast with the Beatles" broadcast LIVE from 9am to noon this coming Sunday, at the Sit n Sleep store (you know, the place with the CEO named Larry who'll beat any advertised price "or your mattress is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!") in Pasadena.

Speaking of free, the live event will feature Free Starbucks! And you can win prizes! The LA Report loves this show, so go support it!

With the Ringo album release show/party at the House of Blues Jan. 25th, it's looking like a big Beatle week in LA, indeed. Now all we need (besides love) are some new Macca appearances. If you see Sir Paul around town, let us know! Email: info@thelareport.com.

JAN. 26: ART ACTION AT LAxART & MANDRAKE, CULVER CITY

The big happening hang tonight: the art scene in Culver City, centered around the 2600 block of South La Cienega. In particular, a book launch from 8 to 10pm at LAxART (2640) and an informal party/gathering at nearby hot spot Mandrake (2692).

According to the cheeky LA Weekly, "Mandrake has become a sort of Cheers-like home base for local artists, gallery owners, art tarts, collectors and those who are looking to score with one of those types of people. See, there’s also an intellectual singles-bar feel to the Mandrake, a Regal- Beagle-meets-LACMA vibe, but it offers a different setting for the pickup artists you usually spot in galleries. Here, it’s possible to hook up without stalking your prey and summoning the nerve to try some clever line. Plus, the lighting, the wine and the music are a helluva lot better. The witty remarks are still up to you."

Laxart
2640 S La Cienega Blvd, Culver City, CA, (310) 559-0166 - more info »
Mandrake
2692 S. La Cienega Blvd., Culver City, (310) 837-3297.

January 25, 2008

JAN. 25: 1pm FREE RINGO STARR CONCERT, HOUSE OF BLUES LA

Of course, while it may be free for all, it may become a free-for-all, since lines were scheduled to start forming at 9am. The LA Report was told that bypass-the-line passes were/are available IF you buy Ringo's fine new Capitol/EMI album, "Liverpool 8," at Amoeba Records in Hollywood (up to 2 passes per customer). KLOS FM (95.5 fm) has also been giving away passes, at various times. Beatle fans, rejoice! Doors are scheduled to open at 11am, with a 1pm start time for Mr. Starkey. His set also includes his new producer mate Dave Stewart (who gained fame in the dynamic duo Eurythmics).

The official Ringo Starr website says:

Ringo Starr & Dave Stewart and band will perform a short set of Ringo's songs LIVE at an exclusive event celebrating the release of Ringo's new Capitol/EMI album, Liverpool 8! WHEN & WHERE: 1pm PST on Friday, January 25 at Los Angeles' House Of Blues on Sunset Blvd. & LIVE webcast on Ringo's official site. We hope you can join us for the free LIVE webcast HERE at Ringo Starr's official site: www.ringostarr.com! Pick up Ringo's new album in stores NOW or order online! Log on to the site on Friday for the 1pm PT (4pm ET) LIVE webcast of Ringo's Liverpool 8 celebration!

Two more Liverpudlian tidbits for you all: Liverpool, England is the 2008 Cultural Capital of Europe, so tis a gear year to go! And, if you want to see a hilarious fake take on Ringo Starr from the mockumentary "Dewey Cox," click over to see this fun mock Beatle video clip.

JAN. 25-26: MARTIN SHORT & JASON ALEXANDER STAR IN READING OF NEIL SIMON'S THE ODD COUPLE


Wadsworth Theatre - 11301 Wilshire Blvd. - Los Angeles, CA

Maps

8:00 PM

$37 - $197

TICKETS

Reprise! Broadway's Best

Event Page

2 Performances Only! January 25 - 26, 2008
Martin Short and Jason Alexander reunite for the first time since they appeared in the Los Angeles production of the hit musical The Producers. Their appearance in what is perhaps Broadway's best known comedy marks one of the few times that 2 well-known stars have appeared on an LA stage in the show. The Odd Couple is a special event of the Reprise! 2007-2008 season. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone at 213-365-3500, or by visiting a Ticketmaster outlet -- and at the Wadsworth Box Office located on Wilshire Blvd just west of the 405 freeway, on the Veterans Administration grounds in West LA.
Odd Couple
Reprise! Broadway's Best
Reprise! celebrates the greatest of America's artistic legacies - Musical Theatre. Each year Reprise! brings together an extraordinary collection of performers, directors, choreographers and designers to create an ongoing home for musical theatre in Los Angeles. We have consistently attracted among the finest performers in the musical theatre world, as well as the entertainment world, and our productions have garnered rave reviews, national attention and incredible audience appreciation.

STRIKE NEWS: LIONSGATE & MARVEL STUDIOS SIGN INTERIM AGREEMENT WITH WRITERS GUILD

LIONSGATE SIGNS INTERIM AGREEMENT WITH WRITERS GUILD

LOS ANGELES – Leading independent filmed entertainment studio Lionsgate is the latest company to sign an interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America. The company is one of the largest independent producers and distributors of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content.

The agreement is similar to the deals the WGA has recently announced with United Artists, The Weinstein Company, Worldwide Pants, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Films, and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

“We are pleased Lionsgate has joined the growing number of companies that have signed interim agreements with the Writers Guild,” said Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West, and Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East, in a joint statement. “Lionsgate is considered a leader in the industry, and its signing an interim agreement again confirms that it is possible for both writers to be compensated fairly and respectfully for their work and for companies to operate profitably.”

Upcoming Lionsgate films include Rambo, The Eye, Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, Forbidden Kingdom, My Best Friend's Girl, Punisher 2, Saw 5, and The Spirit. Upcoming television series include Weeds (Showtime, fourth season), Mad Men (AMC, second season), and Fear Itself (NBC, debut season).


WGA AND MARVEL STUDIOS ANNOUNCE INTERIM AGREEMENT

LOS ANGELES – Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced today that they have reached an interim comprehensive agreement that will put writers immediately back to work on the Marvel Studios development slate. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We’re very excited about our summer releases, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, and look forward to resuming work with writers on our future projects including Captain America, Thor, Ant-Man, and The Avengers,” said Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel.

“Marvel Studios’ signing of an interim agreement with the Writers Guild is more good news for our membership,” said WGAE President Michael Winship and WGAW President Patric M. Verrone. “Marvel is committed to fairly compensating their writers and now they can move forward with their planned production schedule.”

Marvel Studios recently launched its independent live-action film studio to develop, produce, and fully finance Marvel movies, which will include two of this summer’s most anticipated releases – Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man will be released by Paramount Pictures on May 2, 2008, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow. The Incredible Hulk, which will be released by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2008, is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt. In cooperation with other studios, Marvel previously produced a long succession of hits, including the Spider-Man, X-Men, and Fantastic Four franchises, Ghost Rider, and Daredevil.

January 24, 2008

WE LOVE LUCY: FORWARD EMAIL TO FIGHT HEART DISEASE

http://lucy.ip07.com/rd/9z1zdkmla0f505bcik76hpo83k74pg6b8iuopa4co3g
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http://lucy.ip07.com/rd/9z1zsrnigosb6cdsljbfjl3k3fmn742umriqi78uro0
http://lucy.ip07.com/rd/9z1zsvl7qtoqd237hb4ilkog0fq3nuaatbci8mloq1ohttp://lucy.ip07.com/rd/9z1z9jfatjucta8efmo4gm2v5tahlocphfg7p1aqi9o

FEB. 6: THE DONNAS ROCK CRASH MANSION, DOWNTOWN LA

“…their straightforward approach and succinct tunes still make for freewheeling fun…” –Rolling Stone

After a headbanging two-month US tour, followed by an equally charged-up November-long European tour, The Donnas promise to continue their quality, ass-kicking performances back home in LA with their gig at the new Crash Mansion on Wed. February 6. In support of their seventh full-length and first self-released album Bitchin’, The Donnas are prepared to push the envelope on their return stateside to bring fans a shout-out-loud showstopper.

Fourteen years and seven critically acclaimed full-length albums later, Brett Anderson (lead vocals), Maya Ford (bass), Allison Robertson (guitar) and Torry Castellano (drums) have decided to take their careers into their own hands with the launch of Purple Feather Records, which is available through Redeye Distribution. Bitchin’, in stores now, represents the label’s first release. For more information including the band’s full tour schedule, visit www.thedonnas.com or http://www.myspace.com/thedonnas .

The Donnas, Crash Mansion, 1024 Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles. Wed. February 6, 2008. ADMISSION: $15 (advance purchase) and $18 (at the door).

January 21, 2008

FEATURED EVENT: JAN. 24-27: ART LA 2008: ANNUAL INT'L. ART FAIR TO TAKE PLACE AT SANTA MONICA CIVIC

ART LA, the New Los Angeles International Contemporary Art Fair, takes place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, January 24 - 27 2008, presenting 60 top international and LA-based galleries representing a cross-section of today's contemporary art trends and directions

A partnership has been instituted between the fair and the 2008 edition selection committee to help select from the submitted applications. The exhibiting galleries at ART LA are an even balance of established blue chip and emerging galleries, all presenting the most progressive, international art work being produced today. 30 exhibitors hail from the immediate Los Angeles area, while 30 are from the rest of the United States and abroad.

The fair is designed to spotlight the Los Angeles art scene, its prominence within current international artistic trends, while bringing influential international galleries and their artists work for the interested art patron and collector alike to enjoy. The finest examples of contemporary art work will be available for view and sale.

ART LA 2008 is proud to be held during the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium's impressive 50th anniversary.

Tickets, Fair Dates and Hours

Public Hours:

Friday, January 25, 12 - 8pm ; Saturday, January 26, 12 - 8pm ; Sunday, January 27, 12 - 6pm

1-day pass $15, 3-day pass $25

Tickets are available for purchase at the box office during the run of the fair.

Advanced tickets may be purchased online by clicking here.

Opening Night Benefit:

Thursday, January 24 , 6:30-10:30pm

The ART LA 2008 opening night reception benefits the Hammer Museum's Hammer Projects. Advanced tickets for the opening reception may be purchased by contacting the Hammer Museum at 310-443-7026 or events@hammer.ucla.edu.

To purchase opening night tickets on-line, click here.

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

DAP BOOKSTORE AND LOUNGE

Hosted in the lobby of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and furnished by Kartell, Distributed Art Publishers (DAP) will be presenting book signings throughout the weekend by acclaimed contemporary artists and architects.

Friday, January 25, 4pm - James Welling: Flowers

Saturday, January 26, 12pm - Michael Maltzan: Alternate Ground; 2pm - Andrea Zittel: Andrea Zittel; 4pm - Frances Stark : The Collected Works

Sunday, January 27, 2pm - Fritz Haeg: Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn

PERFORMANCE

Regen Projects Booth

Saturday, January 26, 3pm - Andrea Zittel Smockshop presents: On Her Dress She Wears A Body Performed by Molly Keogh

PARTICIPATING PUBLICATIONS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

2nd Cannons Publications, Afterall, Art and Living, art ltd., Arte al Dia, Artillery, Bidoun, Flash Art, Hammer Museum, LACE, LAxART, X-tra

January 20, 2008

FEATURED EVENT: JAN. 23-27: LA ART SHOW AND LA FINE PRINT FAIR, BARKAR HANGAR, SANTA MONICA


THE LA ART SHOW RETURNS FOR ITS 13TH YEAR, JOINED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE IFPDA’S LOS ANGELES FINE PRINT FAIR, JANUARY 23 - 27, 2008

Always an excellent event on the Los Angeles art calendar, the LA Art Show, presented by the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA), returns to Barkar Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport. The show commences with an exclusive opening night gala on Wednesday, January 23rd, followed by four days of satellite events surrounding some of the world’s finest art available for purchase. With more than 125 exhibitors from destinations around the globe, this highly anticipated event marks the first time that the IFPDA’s Los Angeles Fine Print Fair will join the exhibition, further expanding the scope of artwork on display.

The LA Art Show is one of the country’s most prestigious art expositions featuring a striking array of artwork spanning cutting-edge contemporary to works from some of history’s finest artists. The show’s outstanding reputation is based upon a continued commitment to present only the best and the highest quality of work. The strength and variety of the show’s scope reflects a carefully selected group of galleries with all works vetted for authenticity by authorities in the fields of art. Vetting is made possible by sponsorship from FADA.

The Opening Night Gala is an event anticipated and attended by international art connoisseurs, prominent art figures and celebrities. The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, will serve as this year’s Honorary Gala Chair. The evening will be catered by some of Los Angeles’ most acclaimed restaurants. All proceeds of the Opening Night Gala will benefit the Art Museum Council and the Prints and Drawing Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

“The Fine Art Dealers Association is proud to celebrate the 13th anniversary of The LA Art Show. The exhibition has gained tremendous momentum with record-setting attendance and sales,” says Howard Rehs, President of the Fine Arts Dealers Association (FADA). “The public is really responding to the expanded focus of the show and the variety and quality of the art. The show and the arts and culture scene in Southern California has really come into its own.”

Panelists and Presentations

In addition to the opening gala and daily shows, the upcoming LA Art show will feature its much lauded lecture series with celebrated art experts. 2008’s lineup includes the following:

• Jori Finkel, art critic and editor, returning with Art Collectors’ Boot Camp
• Peter Fetterman, photographer and dealer, presenting Collecting Fine Art Photography
• Gabriel P. Weisberg, Professor of Art History at the University of Montana, presenting New Realism or Old Realism: Traditional Realism Returns
• David Pagel, Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of the Art Department at Claremont Graduate University, leading a panel discussion of Surreptitiously Yours: Art Politics and Do it Yourself Anger Management
• George Melrod, Founding Director of art ltd. Magazine and contributing editor, leading a panel discussion of Los Angeles: What Kind of Art Capital?
• Ed Killian, winemaker, presenting a wine tasting with Architectural Digest and Souverain Wines.

Partial Listing of Exhibitors

Among the 125 exhibitors involved will be New York galleries: Charles Cowles Gallery, Flowers, Jane Kahan Gallery, Pace Prints, and Rehs Gallery; California galleries: George Stern Fine Arts, Gemini G.E.L., William A. Karges and Paul Thiebaud Gallery; Texas galleries: PanAmerican ArtProjects and David Dike Fine Art; New Mexico galleries: Gebert Contemporary, Gerald Peters Gallery, LewAllen Contemporary and Bellas Artes; Washington galleries: Greg Kucera Gallery and Winston Wachter Fine Art; International galleries: Neffe-Degandt Fine Art and Steps Gallery from England, Misool Sidae AKA Seoul Gallery from South Korea, Wetterling Gallery from Sweden, Whitespace Gallery from New Zealand, Walter Bischoff Gallery from Germany and Gallery Jones, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery and Newzones from Canada. For a complete list of participating galleries visit www.laartshow.com/galleries.

Museums, Installations and Other Participants

Several acclaimed museums and organizations will participate and combine their energies with the L.A. Art Show this year including the Autry National Center, the Art Museum Council of LACMA (AMC), Claremont Graduate University, Fine Art Conservation Laboratories, LA Packing, Crating and Transport, Installation by Maddy Le Meif, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles Art Association Gallery 825, Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), Museum of Ventura County, Prints and Drawing Council of LACMA (PDC), Riverside Art Museum, Shawn Speck Picture Frames and Vandeuren Archival Framing.

Sponsors

Sponsors include: Architectural Digest, Art & Antiques, art ltd., Barker Hangar, Pacific Design Center, Southwest Art and Venice Magazine.

Media Partners

The LA Art Show will also have media support from American Art Collector, American Art Review, Antiques & Fine Arts, Art & Auction, Art and Living, Art in America, The Art Newspaper, Art of the Four Corners, Art Scene, ArtForum, ArtNet, Art Works Magazine, Biz Bash Magazine, Business Jet Traveler, Coagula, Fine Art Connoisseur, Gallery Guide, idbazaar.com, K-Jazz, Los Angeles Master Planner, The Magazine Antiques, Modern Painters Magazine and Savoir.

Admission, Hours & Location

Show admission is $20.

Catalogues are an additional $10 at the door.

Tickets for members of participating museums are available at half price.

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala, benefiting the Art Museum Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, are available through the Art Museum Council, (323) 857-6149. The gala takes place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 with a V.I.P. preview at 6:00 p.m. Tickets prices start at $200.

General show hours:

Thursday
January 24
Noon – 7:00 p.m.

Friday
January 25
Noon – 8:00 p.m.

Saturday
January 26
Noon – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday
January 27
Noon – 6:00 p.m.

The LA Art Show takes place at Barkar Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, 3021 Airport Avenue (off Bundy), Santa Monica, California, January 23-27, 2008. Please visit http://www.laartshow.com/ for the latest information on all LA Art Show activities, participants and events.

January 17, 2008

JAN. 22: DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN FEB.5 CA PRIMARY

from a Courage Campaign email:
.........
Are you registered to vote in the February 5 presidential primary? If you need to register to vote (or re-register, if you have moved), you have until January 22 to do so. Yes ... January 22 is the last day that Californians can register to vote. Our friends at CREDO Mobile have provided a great tool that allows you to register in just a matter of minutes. Please tell your friends by forwarding this link to them as soon as possible: http://www.CourageCampaign.org/register

January 15, 2008

JAN.16: TWIISTUP 3 AT AIR CONDITIONED SUPPER CLUB, VENICE

The LA Report ranks Twiistup in its Top Ten Events of the year. Why, you ask? Well, for one clue, here is a description of the event, from the colorful Twiistup website:

Twiistup connects people from technology, media and entertainment. Held at a nightclub, our quarterly events feature several startups chosen to 'showoff' their products & services to influential bloggers, fellow tech-heads, investors, the media and those interested in learning about what's hot in tech. An alternative to traditional networking events, Twiistup mixes it up with tunes, video, bites, beverages, prizes, swag and the unexpected . Details for Twiistup 3

As you can see, Twiistup combines all the elements we love at The LA Report: intelligent stimulating attendees, fun (there was a dead-ringer Bono lookalike at Twiistup 2!), tech, entertainment and serendipity! We highly recommend this event.

Editor's Update: due to its popularity, Twiistup 3 is either sold out, or almost sold out, but their site does indicate a way you can win 2 tickets; visit http://www.twiistup.com/ for more details. If you are not able to get tickets, then bookmark their site and make sure to make plans early for Twiistup 4.

January 13, 2008

TB HD: THE TERABYTE HARDDRIVE ERA IS HERE

Western Digital® 1TB 3.5" My Book™ World Edition Ethernet External Hard Drive.

Just one of many new "Terabyte Drives" that are here, or coming -- and coming down in price (generally in the $200-500 range, depending on size and brand).

Get used to seeing TB instead of GB, just as GB replaced MB as the HD (hard drive) standard.

A TeraByte is a thousand GigaBytes, or a million MegaBytes! That's a Mega-MegaByte!

In other words: 1000 MB = 1 GB, and 1000 GB = 1 TB. Yep, TB is the new GB.

RETROQUOTES: BEATLES (HAIR AMERICA)

During Beatlemania, a reporter told the Beatles that
some in Detroit said their haircuts were un-American.
John: "That's very observant of them, because we aren't American."

In "A Hard Day's Night" a reporter asks George Harrison what he calls his hairstyle.
His reply: "Arthur."

Journalist: "Do you wear wigs?"
John: "If we do, they must be the only ones with real dandruff."

Journalist: "Would you ever accept a girl in your group if she could sing, play an instrument, and wear the Beatle haircut?"
Ringo: "How tall is she?"

Journalist: "How do you feel about teenagers imitating you with Beatle wigs?"
John: "They're not imitating us because we don't wear Beatle wigs."

Journalist: "What is the biggest threat to your careers, the atom bomb or dandruff?"
Ringo: "The atom bomb. We've already got dandruff."

January 8, 2008

SHM GOLDEN GLOBE SUITE & DINNER TO PROCEED AS PLANNED AT LUXE HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS

NOMINEES AND STARS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE LUXE HOTEL ON RODEO FOR THE SHM RED CARPET GOLDEN GLOBE SUITE & DINNER, PRESENTED BY MAGGIE FERRARI JEWELRY, NATALIE K DIAMONDS, NICOLE BARR B.E.L.T.S. INC & JELLY BELLY GOURMET JELLY BEANS; UNVEILING OF ONE OF A KIND ITEMS FROM DESIGNERS TAKES PLACE JAN 10TH AT 7:00 PM

(Beverly Hills, CA - Jan.7, 2008) The SHM Red Carpet Golden Globe dinner will be held on Thursday Jan. 10 at the Luxe Hotel, 360 N. Rodeo Drive, in the Rodeo Drive Penthouse Suite. Nicole Barr of Nicole Barr B.E.L.T.S. Inc.(Because Every Life Touches Someone) will be honored that evening. Nicole Barr helps to feed underprivileged children here in the US. Designers will unveil one of a kind pieces made in honor of the Golden Globes; the unveiling will take place at 7 pm.

Special one of a kind items to be unveiled include:

Maggie Ferrari Jewelry, one of a kind Jelly Belly dress inspired by Audrey Hepburn from the movie Sabrina. Maggie teamed up with gown designer Elizabeth Galindo; the dress will be adorned with precious Jelly Belly shaped gemstones.

Jelly Belly Gourmet Jelly Beans, will unveil a one of a kind never seen before portrait of screen legend Marilyn Monroe. San Francisco artist Mr. Roger Rocha who was commissioned by Jelly Belly has created the portrait out of 10,000 Jelly Belly Gourmet Jelly Beans.

Natalie K Diamonds will unveil several one of a kind high-end jewelry pieces, made for the award shows and activities scheduled that week.


Chef Kurt Ehrlich of Celebrity Gourmet Catering, who was the chef for four U.S. Presidents, Disney World and numerous stars, is designing and creating all of the food for the dinner.

In addition, The SHM Golden Globe Suite will be open January 10 to January 13 at the Luxe Hotel, 360 N. Rodeo Drive, in the Rodeo Drive Penthouse Suite. Hillary Clinton’s facialist from Ai Spa will be giving stars oxygen facials, manicures and pedicures. Celebrity eye lash extension experts Daniel & Jimmy Dinh of TWIN LASHES will be giving eyelash extensions to stars that visit the suite.

As a way of helping writers who are on strike, SHM designers will donate an item from their collection that will be worn by stars on the red carpet at upcoming award shows. Items will be auctioned off, and all proceeds will benefit the WGA Strike Fund. Stars will be visiting the SHM suite and autographing a Nicole Barr belt, which will be auctioned off; they will join Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler in helping children across the nation. Barr has just donated $50,000 to the Oklahoma City Food Bank.

Stars who come to the suite will leave with a gift bag valued at $10,000, which will include one of a kind items, and a stay at the exclusive Sedona Rouge Spa in Sedona, AZ. In addition, several stars will get a stay in Tuscany and Florence Italy. Roger Neal of Neal Public Relations notes that “this is one of the best weeks in Hollywood, we believe that stars will be going to parties and dinners, they will need jewelry, handbags, and beauty treatments. Our amazing $10,000 VIP Gift Bags will include Maggie Ferrari one of a kind gemstone necklace, JOICO hair products, Iduna Medical Spa anti-aging crème, Olivier Napa Valley for William Sonoma sauce, Sedona Rouge Spa French Milled Soap, Nicole Barr is providing her incredible belts for A-list stars, Sedona Rouge Spa reserve wine, Talley Vineyard wine, Leaf & Rusher Beverly Hills Skin Care, Ai Spa’s fabulous night & eye crème, Tylers Coffee, Fiji Water in Gold Sleeves, Caocoethes Publishing bookmark, Jelly Belly Gourmet Jelly Beans, Ferrare With Company Swarovski studded mother of pearl accessory, special Antique Crystal Jewelry by Elisabeth Leitz, which includes her Mama Chains for pregnant stars, Oksana Tsymbler jewelry."

Stars will receive a 3-day, 3-night stay at Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa, rated as a 5-star hotel by Conde Nast, in magnificent Sedona, Arizona, replete with luxury suite, complete spa services and dinners at their 5-star restaurant Reds. Select Nominees will also get a 5 night stay at the Palazzo Magnani Feroni, which is a 1,500 yr old former Palace, now a luxury hotel in Florence Italy -- and a 3 night stay at the Relais Villa L’Olmo in Tuscany, Italy, in a private Luxury Country Villa.

The SHM Red Carpet Golden Globe dinner will be held Thursday Jan. 10, 2008 at the Luxe Hotel, 360 N. Rodeo Drive, in the Rodeo Drive Penthouse Suite; unveiling at 7 pm. The SHM Golden Globe Suite will be open January 10 to 13 at the Luxe Hotel, in the same Penthouse Suite.
The Golden Globes may have been downsized to a press conference for 2008, due to SAG actors refusing to cross WGA writers' picket lines, but for the SHM Suites, the show must go on -- letting stars enjoy several luxurious days of pampering and gifting, with a festive fun flair that the Globes has always been known for.

January 6, 2008

It's looking more and more like postponement for the Golden Globes, says Variety's Scribe Vibe

from Scribe Vibe (Variety's WGA strike blog):

"There's a real, growing possibility that NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will opt to postpone the Golden Globes Awards, rather than hold the shinding sans celebs or -- even more drastic -- without being televised.
Instead, the organization and network may take a page from the 2001 Emmy Awards, which were postponed twice..."

January 4, 2008

JAN. 10-13: 2008 PHOTO L.A. EXPO EXPANDS, MOVES TO BARKAR HANGAR

New Location to Accommodate More Art, Larger Crowds During Golden Globes Week

Legendary Architecture Photographer Julius Shulman to Be Honored at Opening Night Reception January 10 to Benefit Photography Dept. of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

photo l.a. 2008, the 17th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition and the largest exhibition of its kind in the United States, will take place January 10-13, 2008. To accommodate its expanded size, the expo will now be held at Barker Hangar, located at 3021 Airport Avenue within the Santa Monica Airport complex. The 35,000 square foot Barker Hangar event space will allow for larger booths and an improved lighting system, producing a clean, modern backdrop against which to display more photo-based art (including digital and video) than ever before. Barker Hangar also will comfortably accommodate in excess of 10,000 people - a necessity as photo l.a. has become one of the country's most popular art fairs and will coincide with Golden Globes week.

OPENING BENEFIT RECEPTION

Thursday, January 10, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

photo l.a. 2008’s opening night reception at Barker Hangar will welcome to Los Angeles the new department head and Curator of Photography at LACMA, Charlotte Cotton; honor renowned architectural photographer Julius Shulman; and benefit the Photography Department of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Tickets to the opening benefit reception are $80 (price includes a one-day pass to the show) and are available at the door or in advance. To order tickets, write to photola@lacma.org or call (323) 932-5846.

EXHIBITION

*NEW HOURS*
Friday, January 11 and Saturday, January 12, noon to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 13, noon to 6:00 p.m.


photo l.a. will feature the finest photographic art on display and for sale, from the earliest 19th-Century photographic experiments to the most contemporary photography and photo-based art, exhibited by seventy of the world’s leading galleries and private dealers representing international and U.S. artists. The exhibition will take place at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport located at 3021 Airport Avenue. Tickets are $20 for a one-day pass and $30 for a three-day pass, available for purchase at the door or in advance. Members of the Writers Guild of America are eligible for a free one-day pass. AARP and student discounts are available with valid I.D.

PORTFOLIO VIEWING

Friday, January 11, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Center will host a portfolio viewing of the work of 75 emerging and cutting-edge photographers on the cusp of wider recognition at Santa Monica Art Studios located at 3026 Airport Avenue in Santa Monica (across the street from photo l.a.). Open to the public with a $15 suggested donation. For additional information, call (505) 984.8353 or go to http://www.visitcenter.org/.

LECTURE & SEMINAR SERIES

A diverse array of lectures and seminars will be held in conjunction with photo l.a. 2008.

Friday, January 11 through Sunday, January 13, 10:00 a.m.

Prospective buyers can take advantage of three collecting seminars—guided tours of the exhibition held before public hours and led by Charlotte Cotton (January 11), Dale Stulz (January 12) and John Bennette (January 13). A 3-day pass is included in the $80 fee (per person/per seminar). Enrollment is limited and reservations must be made in advance. Collecting seminars will be held at the Barker Hangar.

Saturday, January 12

LACMA will highlight the extraordinary range of contemporary photography in Los Angeles by curating a series of one-on-one conversations with artists including Charles Gaines and Andrea Bowers (12:00 p.m.), Charlie White and Jeff Burton (1:15 p.m.), Judy Fiskin and John Divola (2:30 p.m.), Ken Gonzales-Day and Connie Samaras (3:45 p.m.), and James Welling and Mark Wyse (5:00 p.m.). The Conversations with Artists series of lectures is co-sponsored with LACMA and is free to the public. The Conversations will take place at the Ruskin Group Theatre Co. located at 3000 Airport Avenue in Santa Monica.

Sunday, January 13

Book collector and gallery owner Paul Kopeikin will lead a panel discussion devoted to books on photography at 11:00 a.m. Also, exhibition honoree Julius Shulman will engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Wim DeWitt at a time to be announced. The ticket price for the Conversation with Julius Shulman, as well the Sunday morning seminar on book collecting, will be $10. Both events will take place at the Ruskin Group Theatre Co. located at 3000 Airport Avenue in Santa Monica.

For additional information on photo l.a. 2008, the opening benefit reception, affiliated lectures and seminars, locations of events, and advance ticket sales, visit www.artfairsinc.com.

January 2, 2008

JAN. 2: "FUTURAMA" DEBUTS ON COMEDY CENTRAL®, 8:00 P.M. ET

COMEDY CENTRAL Will Air All 72 Episodes of "Futurama" Along With Four World Television Premiere "Futurama" Movies, Including "Bender's Big Score" Which Is Scheduled To Air In First Quarter Of 2008

During Premiere Week, Two Back-To-Back Episodes Of "Futurama" Will Air Wednesday Through Friday From 8:00 P.M. To 9:00 P.M.; After Premiere Week, Episodes Will Air Monday - Thursday At 9:00 P.M. & Fridays At 9:00 P.M. And 9:30 P.M.

Greetings, Earthlings! Matt Groening's Emmy Award -winning animated series "Futurama" premieres on COMEDY CENTRAL Wednesday, January 2 at 8:00 p.m. COMEDY CENTRAL will begin to air all 72 existing episodes of "Futurama" along with four "Futurama" DVD movies, including "Bender's Big Score," "Bender's Game," "The Beast with a Billion Backs" and "Into the Wild Green Yonder." "Bender's Big Score," released on DVD this year, will air in the First Quarter of 2008.

"Futurama" focuses on the life of Philip Fry (Billy West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself December 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life—and a "diverse" new group of friends including Turanga LeeLa (Katey Sagal), a tough, but lovely one-eyed alien, and Bender (John DiMaggio), a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws. The show also features guest stars such as Sarah Silverman, Hank Azaria, Bob Odenkirk, Pamela Anderson, Beatrice Arthur, Lucy Liu, Beck and Coolio.

"Futurama" aired on Fox from 1999 to 2003 and the series consists of 72 episodes. The series was nominated five years in a row and won three Emmys including its award for "Outstanding Animated Program" in 2002. "Futurama" is produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox Television. Matt Groening created and executive produces the show, with co-executive producers David X. Cohen, Ken Keeler and Eric Horsted.