Here are some of the top local media items from LA Observed that won't quite make the Most Clicked On list for 2006:

Mel Gibson: TMZ got the scoop on his drunken arrest and mistreatment of a Malibu sheriff's deputy and never looked back. Advice from Bruce Feirstein and Patrick Goldstein, plus the whole ugly Mel Gibson archive.

Judith Regan and O.J.: She tries to bring publishing sizzle to L.A. but ends up a rube, seduced by the lure of an O.J. Simpson book and fired from her job — by fax from New York.

Ego blows to the Times: Michael Kinsley urges the Times to forget local and go national. Kurt Andersen slaps down the LAT's national aspirations. Bruce Feirstein offers the harsh view from Hancock Park. Tim Rutten and others reply.

Chris Douridas: The KCRW and movie music meister pleaded no contest to cocaine possession and gets probation and counseling, ending a legal saga that began with an arrest for suspected kidnapping.

Daily Breeze sold: End of the Copley era in Los Angeles.

George Clooney v. Huff Post: The actor insists, loudly, that 'I did not blog for that woman'.

New chief in town: Jennifer Steinhauer takes over as Los Angeles bureau chief for the New York Times and soon finds out that L.A. has lots of parking ticket writers.

KTLA ethics: Free rooms and home makeovers gets the station so much unwanted attention that "news" was cut from the title of the "KTLA Morning Show." The first day, Sam Rubin signed off his report from "the KTLA/WB, ah, showroom."

Public radio in flux: Kitty Felde lost her show at KPCC, Patt Morrison got the slot, plus purges at News & Notes, Weekend America and the top job at NPR.

LAPD launches a blog: It got going in May and became the place where Chief Bratton and other top cops replied to media reports. Mariel Garza of the Daily News responded to one of them.

Writing while Latino: Garza shares some of her hate email.

Why maps are good: Channel 2 can't quite get the SoCal geography — and is weak on Mexico too.

Transitions and apologies:
Tracy Rafter, Daily News publisher
Tony Uphoff, The Hollywood Reporter publisher
Howard Burns, THR editorial director
Peter Pryor, THR executive editor
David Jackson, KCAL-9 anchor
Petros Papadakis
Good magazine arrives
Ray Richmond's time in PR
Bill Handel apologizes — twice-ish

2006 media archives by category:
Media people
Televison
Radio
Hollywood
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
Other newspapers
Blogs and bloggers
Books and authors
Public relations