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John Beard: The Wall Street Journal devotes most of a TV column to the Fox 11 anchor's cameo appearances on series such as "24" and "Arrested Development." Tim Iacofano, a producer on "24," says he wanted Beard because it is easier than training an actor to act like a reporter: "You're going to be paying somebody to do it, [so you] might as well be paying someone who knows how to do it. Via Franklin Avenue, which also warns everyone to "watch your back at work"—it's Girl Scout Cookie time.
David Gershwin: Sources say the communications deputy to Council President Alex Padilla is leaving City Hall to join the MWW Group, part of the IPG public relations empire. Which means he'll probably show up back in City Hall doing some lobbying. MWW's top executive in Los Angeles is veteran political adviser Harvey Englander.
Jim Sheehan: The head of the FBI criminal division in Los Angeles is being transferred to Washington after an agent who had been his girlfriend killed herself. "There are a lot of problems in the L.A. office…and a lot of personnel issues," an FBI source told the Times. "And this shooting unleashed everything in the way of rumors."
Jeanie Buss: She wants her man Phil back with the Lakers, but she says her dad hasn't spoken with Jackson.
Leroy Arons: USC Annenberg is hosting a celebration of the late journalist's life on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. at the school. The Advocate recently carried a story on the former Washington Post bureau chief in L.A.and founding president of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. He died in November.
Eric Garcetti: The blogging councilman and colleagues Wendy Greuel and Jack Weiss offered a motion to push the city toward using more open source computer programs and re-routing the money saved on software to hiring more cops.
Bill Bratton: The chief says he's lobbying Valley council members Padilla, Cardenas and Zine to support his and the mayor's wishes for a public vote in May on a tax increase for police. He needs 10 votes and, no dummy, he figures Villaraigosa and Parks aren't going to be siding with Hahn any time soon.
Patterico: The Pontificator-in-chief of the anti-LAT caucus has a brand new look about the blog.