The holiday cheer-spoiling piece about Los Angeles I read over the weekend was Mary McNamara's profile in the Times Sunday Calendar of character actor Michael O'Neill. You know him: he's been the Secret Service agent on "West Wing," the jockey's dad in Seabiscuit and in a ton of other roles. Last year was his best year yet, in fact—but he's thinking of giving up acting as a living. He's in his 50s, has three kids (and a wife who is a lawyer), and says: "I have been very, very fortunate in my career....[but] I cannot support my family on scale plus 10. I am too old and too good to be making scale plus 10 [union scale of $695 a day plus 10% for the agent]." I assume the story falls behind the CalendarLive wall, ensuring an online audience in the dozens.

Also from the weekend:

• LAPD officer Mario Cardona was shot while breaking up a raucous party Saurday night in the 77th Street division. He underwent surgery Sunday and is in stable condition. The gunman was killed by return fire.

• Open Wide by Variety's Dade Hayes and Jonathan Bing is reviewed by Lynda Obst in the LAT Book Review, and the authors have an opinion piece of their own on the op-ed page.

• The L.A. Business Journal reports that Dodger Stadium will look different next season, with 1,600 new premium seats closer to the field, less foul territory and somewhat relocated dugouts. Some seats on the low-priced upper reserve level will be removed to keep the stadium within the city's legal cap of 56,000.

• Some of the metallic finish on Disney Hall will be dulled to cut down on the glare that bakes neighbors in summer. Frank Gehry is taking part in the discussions.