Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Monday 2.8.2010

NBC makes Conan disappear online, feuding over Conrad Murray, the gay judge hearing the Prop. 8 case and plenty of politics notes for a Monday. After the jump, as usual.

  • NBC has removed every episode of the Conan O'Brien "Tonight Show" from its NBC.com website and from Hulu. All Things D
  • The Times over the weekend profiled AEG's Tim Leiweke as an "under-the-radar figure" who is "driving the transformation" of its part of Downtown: "a smart, savvy player who can link arms with financial backers, politicians and unionized workers with equal gusto" and "a classic example of an influence peddler who curries favor with lawmakers through huge financial donations and gets, in turn, handouts in the form of tax breaks and a rubber stamp on his vision." LAT
  • Are the DA and LAPD feuding over today's possible charging and arrest of Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray? TMZ thinks so.
  • The biggest open secret in the landmark Prop. 8 trial over same-sex marriage being heard in San Francisco is that the federal judge who will decide the case, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, is himself gay. Matier & Ross/SF Chronicle
  • Steve Lopez "squeezes one more column" out of the Hummer owned by deputy mayor Jaime de la Vega and arranges a stunt drive. LAT
  • More than any disaster the city has faced, the financial meltdown of the past year is serving to force Los Angeles to redefine itself and the services it provides. DN
  • The City Council has shelved its monthly relocation to the Van Nuys city hall as a budget measure. Orlov/DN
  • Of course Mayor Gavin Newsom is seriously considering entering the race for lieutenant governor, says C. W. Nevius. SF Chronicle
  • Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has resurrected an idea to convert overhead freeway displays into electronic advertising billboards. Sacto Bee
  • The District Attorney's Office is investigating whether the Carson City Council violated state law by allowing Mayor Jim Dear to use a mute button to silence speakers at meetings. Daily Breeze
  • Orange County politics blog the Liberal OC, three of its contributors and former Assembly candidate Ryan Gene Williams have sued the publisher of rival blog Orange Juice! for copyright infringement, conspiracy, cybersquatting, and unfair business practice. Navelgazing
  • Parking is at such a premium for Friday midday prayers at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown that the devout keep their arrangements secret. LAT
  • Sam Zell sat for a 40-minute interview with a Chicago TV station and was never asked about Tribune or the company's bankruptcy. Vocalo
  • Writers who have gone unpaid by The Advocate found it ironic that the magazine reported on Rachel Maddow being owed about $4,000 by Air America. Queerty
  • Tracy Wood was an early adopter to the use of computers as an investigative reporting tool, but wonders why they still can't translate her handwriting. LAT Opinion
  • KNBC traffic reporter Paul Johnson is recuperating from brain surgery. Franklin Avenue
  • Frank Magid, the television consultant who created the happy talk format of TV news — he called it "action news" — died in Santa Barbara at age 78. Wash Post

Plus a late note: Former City Hall aide Jennifer Forkish has been named a vice president at Englander Knabe & Allen.


More by Kevin Roderick:
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The Media
LA Times gets a top editor with nothing but questions
LA Observed Notes: Harvey Weinstein stripped bare
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Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14


 

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