Archive for February 2005
And His Hair Was Perfect
It is raining in Southern California. But nothing can dampen my memories of our wild night of flaming debauchery at Trader Vic’s. Not even the soul-crushing pain at the base of my skull. We at MTV News are strong advocates of team building excercises. And nothing says “team” like a night of flaming beef kabobs,…
Read MoreHello, America
It’s wind. It blows all over the place. I wore a blue blazer today. I got a raise. And a bonus. I had lunch across from the Sony lot, got a colleague onto the “War of the Worlds” set (Speilberg! Cruise!), made a deal for a major Hollywood A-lister to blog for MTV.com, and saw…
Read MoreWhat A Life
Today will be different. I woke early, tossing and turning in my bed until the sun broke through the windows. I jogged in Beverly Hills, taking in the blue sky, the soaring palms, and the waking birds. I turned down Carmelita Street, where I jogged so many years before (in the “Almost Home” era). I…
Read MoreAxel F
LA’s finest were parked outside the hotel tonight. “They waiting for you?” Robert joked. “I got five bucks that says they’re here for the hip hoppers across the hall from me.” Today began auspiciously enough. A beautiful din rose from the clock radio’s tiny speakers. It sounded like Beta Band meets Talking Heads meets Franz…
Read MoreIt’s The Pictures That Got Small
It is always 1980 on Sunset Boulevard. We just had dinner at The Rainbow, a tiny little dive wedged between The Key Club and The Roxy. Like CBGBs in New York, The Rainbow is famed for 80s-era hair metal debauchery. I overheard someone say, “Can you imagine how much of Motely Crue’s DNA is in…
Read MoreSuper Sunday
Yes, I was supposed to be on American Airlines #801 to LAX in ten minutes. But I’m not. I’m home, two beers in, watching the Superbowl. And I’m blogging in real time. 5:25 PM – I pick up a six of Brooklyn Lager, a bag of Sun Chips, a frozen Mama Celeste and a pint…
Read MoreJust A Minute
I woke from a very short, very weird night of dreams at 6:45 this morning. If the sky weren’t so blue, and the buildings painted so brilliantly with morning light, well, then I might just have stayed in bed. But I didn’t. Yes, I grabbed my camera. Yes, the results are above and to your…
Read MoreA Day Moment In The Life
It’s just before noon. I am in the third hour of a senior staff meeting. We are discussing The Next Big Thing, the sheer scope of which leaves me struggling for breath. I am in a corner conference room on the fourteenth floor. Fifteen floors above, my voice mail remains unchecked since Wednesday. I lean…
Read MoreIn My Room
I have medical confirmation. It’s stress. See, the corner of my left eye won’t stop twitching. You wouldn’t notice it to look at me. I look normal. Or whatever I normally look like. But I can feel it. And I can see it. I have what my grandmother used to call “bedroom eyes.” She had…
Read MoreStacked Actors
I’m not much of an actor. I was in a few high school musicals: Fredric in “Pirates of Penzance,” and Pippin in “Pippin.” I sang pretty well. But when it came to convincingly speaking words that weren’t mine, I fell flat. That and I kept breaking character by running my hands through my then-copious bangs.…
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