POPSITES

Get Him to the Greek (2010)

2011-06-20T23:31:00.000-07:00

Russell Brand doesn't need to act in his movies; he can just play the same outrageous, outspoken, fuck-it-all guy that he is in real life. It doesn't seem fair; when you're making millions of dollars, I think there should be some rule that you have to work for it even if it means making an effort to act.

In Get Him to the Greek, Russell Brand once again gives us the impression that he's playing a version of himself by being a self-centered rock star (Aldous Snow) who just wants to have mischievous fun. Jonah Hill (Aaron Green) is the lowly talent scout who must escort Aldous from England to the United States so that Aldous can sing at the Greek theater, an open air concert venue located in Los Angeles. Surprise, surprise, nothing goes according to plan. Aldous is more interested in girls and blow and has no interest in time or schedules and Aaron plays the straight man who wants to please his demanding boss and his more demanding girlfriend. It's a good set-up (albeit an artificial one) and there are some good laughs mostly at the expense of Aaron who is way outta his league with the sexrockandroll lifestyle of Aldous Snow.

The Greek Theater is an actual theater that is located in Griffith Park. It is open from the early spring to the late fall and hosts a wide variety of acts including (for this year) Peter Frampton, George Thoroughgood, Yes, Styx, The GooGoo Dolls and Janet Jackson. I wanted to go see something at the Greek this year and on a complete whim, I chose to go see Youssou N'Dour.

Never heard of him? Me neither but apparently he is a famous singer from Senegal, Africa and his website is www.youssou.com. I bought my ticket on Ticketmaster (have I told you how much I hate Ticketmaster for their ridiculous service fees?) and waited for the day.

On June 16th, I drove down to the neighborhood just below Griffith Park. I was trying to save some money by not parking in the concert lot so I parked at the bottom of the hill and decided to walk up to the theater.

If you do go to the Greek, this is a good walk to do and you save $15 in parking fees. The neighborhood looks beautiful, filled with old trees and houses and even though you are walking up an incline, it doesn't seem that bad if you're in half-decent shape.

I've been to a party at the house in the picture below. In fact, it was for a dog's birthday party and I brought Dusty, my 15 year old (at the time) Pekingese.

After I was told that it was a "dog friendly" house, I let Dusty wander off while I met some of the other guests. I took a break from the socializing and walked outside to the infinity pool in the backyard. It was a beautiful pool but I was shocked to find a large rat swimming in the middle of it. On closer inspection, I realized it was my freakin' dog. My blind, deaf, arthritic, kidney insufficient, enlarged heart, never-swam-in-his-life dog. I ran over to him and with the help of the party host, we fished him out of the water. He was terrified but thankfully still alive and we calmed him down and warmed him up over the following hour.

This really wasn't a dog friendly house. There was an open fireplace too where Dusty could have wandered and set himself on fire. I suppose the near-drowning was better than a near-cremation. I don't entirely blame the house; Dusty never played with a full deck. In fact, most of the time, he was playing with just a couple of cards and even those cards had been shuffled a few too many times.

Another house along Vermont Avenue. In my dreams, I have a house like this.

After about twenty minutes, I was standing at the gates to Griffith Park. And a minute later ...

I arrived at the Greek!

The Greek Theater is an amphitheater with about 6000 seats and was built in 1929. I assume it's called the Greek due to its architecture which resembles a Greek palace.

When I first arrived, the venue was almost empty. It was time to play on my phone, eavesdrop on conversations and check out the type of people who came to see a concert with a headliner called Youssou N'Dour.

After opening act, a fantastic artist called Angelique Kidjo played. Her voice and her energy were amazing. She got everyone up dancing and welcomed a bunch of extroverts to the stage who proceeded to shake their booties to the beat of the African drums.

After Angelique came Youssou. His voice was clear and powerful and I was very impressed by the acoustics of the Greek. Most of his songs had a Reggae beat and the adoring crowd sang along in ... well, whatever people in Senegal speak. Wait, wait, I'll look it up so we all know ...

French? I don't think that was french. There are others ...

French
Recognised regional languages		Wolof, Soninke,Seereer-Siin, Fula,Maninka, Diola,

Maybe he was singing in Wolof. I hope that's not insulting to him. Maybe he was singing in English and I just didn't understand the accent.

It was a great night. Hugely enjoyable. The music was fantastic and the surroundings were beautiful. If you are visiting Los Angeles, a concert at this venue should be high on your must-do list.

Bring your coat. Even in June, it got a little cold.

**SPOILER ALERT**

In Get Him to the Greek, Aldous Snow does get to the Greek but you already suspected that right? He plays his amazing concert (despite a broken arm) and that big empty space in his heart is replaced by the love of his adoring fans. As for Aaron, he goes back to his girlfriend and tries to find some sort of love there. It was all good and for this much fun, I give the movie as well the concert an A (alpha) plus.

HOW TO GET THERE: The Greek Theater is located at 2700 North Vermont Avenue which is at the south side of Griffith Park. My advice is to park at the corner of Hillhurst and Los Feliz and walk north along Vermont Avenue. Otherwise, pay $15 and suffer the fate of stacked parking.

WORTH THE TREK?: 10/10 Absolutely. Pick a great concert and you'll be in heaven. Try to buy the tickets directly from the box office and save yourself those nasty Ticketmaster fees.

Valley Girl (1983)

2011-01-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

Has anyone seen the recent Nicholas Cage movie Season of the Witch? Anyone? Anyone? You can't fool us, Nic. You're just trying to pay off your credit cards and you're forcing your fans to suffer. It's time to go back to the great quirky films that made you famous like Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, Wild at Heart, Leaving Las Vegas and ... Valley Girl.

Valley Girl is not a great film and truthfully, I didn't see it when it came out back in 1983. I watched it a couple of years ago when I decided to move to the San Fernando Valley and felt entertained, a little nostalgic but it isn't great cinema and probably wouldn't be remembered except for the fact that a valley girl has become such a cultural icon. To be fair, I don't think the filmmakers were aiming for an Academy Award. At the time, the movie made a decent box office and in that context, the movie has been a success.

The movie has a very simple Romeo-Juliet plot. Julie is from the San Fernando Valley and uses words like bitchin', whatever and fer sure!! She's cute, well dressed and even though her parents are aging hippies, she's as wholesome as a box of cornflakes. Randy is from Hollywood (the other side of the valley) and has crazy hair, puppy dog eyes and a rock n' roll soul. He's dangerous but that's just what Julie wants because Tommy, her current boyfriend is a dork and his brains are just bad news. Unfortunately, Julie's friends don't approve of Randy and they want her to date cardboard cut-outs like Tommy for the rest of her life.

What's a bummed out teenage girl to do?

She goes to Dupar's for some comfort food!

Dupar's is a local diner that still exists on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. I've been there many times and it serves up some great food.

I don't think the decor has changed in 60 years. Nothing matches in this place but the atmosphere is "homey" especially if your home has navy blue carpets and fuschia banquettes.

At Dupar's, you can usually find a waitress that calls you "hon", an old guy reading a newspaper and a faded tv star from a show that nobody can remember.

On this visit, I ordered the Californian sandwich with a tall ice tea. I didn't want ketchup which shocked the waitress.

"You don't want ketchup? Are you sure??"

Apparently it is a requirement to order ketchup in a diner. I hate to disappoint anyone so I requested the damn ketchup which seemed to make the waitress very happy.

Dupar's isn't cheap. For a sandwich and an ice tea, the total was about $20. I remember when lunches were $5 and I'm not talking McDonald's or Taco Bell.

Ventura Boulevard is the primary commercial road through the San Fernando Valley. It travels from Woodland Hills, through Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks and comes to an end in Studio City.

Welcome to the valley (at least the rich part), my friends!

Dupar's is at 12036 Ventura Boulevard and if you drive a couple of miles, you'll come to another filming location for Valley Girl, The Sherman Oaks Galleria.

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In the movie, the Galleria is a typical mall with a food court, clothing stores, escalators and teenage girls who are happily charging up their parents' credit cards.

But all has changed.

Presently, the Galleria is an open air business-office-y kinda thing and for me, the only reason to go there is to see a movie at the Arc Light cinemas or maybe have a deep fried avocado springroll at The Cheesecake Factory.

I wanted to get some good photos for the blog so I took out my camera and took ONE picture.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a guy wearing sunglasses and a trenchcoat appeared.

"Sir, you can't take pictures of the Galleria."

It was like an episode from The Simpson's when that nasally-voiced guy appears whenever someone violates a copyright.

He explained to me that I could take pictures of buildings OUTSIDE the Galleria while STANDING in the Galleria but I definitely could not take pictures of buildings INSIDE the Galleria even if I were STANDING OUTSIDE the Galleria. It was all very technical.

When I had a dumbfounded look on my face, he told me that is was a "911 thing".

Apparently, DSW Shoes is a huge terrorist target and they don't want anyone planning their attacks with a point-and-shoot camera.

This is my one photo of the INSIDE Galleria. Actually it was taken outside so it's all very confusing.

After my encounter with trenchcoat man, I was a little freaked out. I had no idea where he came from so I was a little paranoid that he was following all my moves from a satellite.

I wanted to get some more photos but all I could do was take a picture of the sign--and even then I was flustered and practically snapped the photo from inside my jacket. I was afraid someone was going to jump me and smash my camera and throw me into jail.

Here is my illegal photo.

At the end of Valley Girl (SPOILER ALERT), Julie chooses RocknRoll Randy after Randy beats the crap out of Tommy at the prom.

The movie ends with Julie and Randy driving by the Sherman Oaks Galleria in their limo. They are sooooooo in love and the Modern English song "I Melt with You" fills the air.

80s nostalgia. You either get it or you don't.

HOW TO GET THERE: The San Fernando Valley is located in the northern part of Los Angeles county. Dupar's in located in Studio City which is to the east and the Galleria is located in Sherman Oaks to the west.

WORTH THE TREK? 8/10 for Dupar's. The good is great, the waitresses are efficient and mom-like and you never know which wrinkled celebrity you might run into. 5/10 for the Galleria. The days of being a real mall are as dead as 80s fashion. The Arc Light cinemas are great (you get to reserve an individual seat and with some shows, you can even order alcohol) but other than that, this place always seems to be way busier than it deserves to be.

Celluloid Heroes (1972)

2010-07-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

In Hollywood, you don't die, you become a star and if you're famous enough (and have $25,000), you could become a star on Hollywood Boulevard.

My favorite song about this Walk of Fame is Celluloid Heroes by The Kinks, a British invasion band that came to prominence in the US with their single "You Really Got Me". Celluloid Heroes wasn't released until 1972 and its haunting lyrics and melody give us a melancholic perspective on fame; celluloid heroes never feel any pain and celluloid heroes never really die but these same heroes were lonely, fragile and only made of flesh and blood. Despite the shortcomings, the song echoes the public's obsession with becoming famous; Everybody's a dreamer, Everybody's a star And everybody's in showbiz it doesn't matter who you are.

It's a great song written by Ray Davies and I've included the full lyrics below:

Everybody’s a dreamer and everybody’s a star,

And everybody’s in movies, it doesn’t matter who you are.

There are stars in every city,

In every house and on every street,

And if you walk down Hollywood boulevard

Their names are written in concrete!

Don’t step on Greta Garbo as you walk down the boulevard,

She looks so weak and fragile that’s why she tried to be so hard

But they turned her into a princess

And they sat her on a throne,

But she turned her back on stardom,

Because she wanted to be alone.

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood boulevard,

Some that you recognise, some that you’ve hardly even heard of,

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame,

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain.

Rudolph Valentino, looks very much alive,

And he looks up ladies’ dresses as they sadly pass him by.

Avoid stepping on Bela Lugosi

’cos he’s liable to turn and bite,

But stand close by Bette Davis

Because hers was such a lonely life.

If you covered him with garbage,

George Sanders would still have style,

And if you stamped on Mickey Rooney

He would still turn round and smile,

But please don’t tread on dearest Marilyn

’cos she’s not very tough,

She should have been made of iron or steel,

But she was only made of flesh and blood.

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood boulevard,

Some that you recognise, some that you’ve hardly even heard of.

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame,

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain.

Everybody’s a dreamer and everybody’s a star

And everybody’s in show biz, it doesn’t matter who you are.

And those who are successful,

Be always on your guard,

Success walks hand in hand with failure

Along Hollywood boulevard.

I wish my life was a non-stop Hollywood movie show,

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes,

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die.

You can see all the stars as you walk along Hollywood boulevard,

Some that you recognise, some that you’ve hardly even heard of,

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame,

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain.

Oh celluloid heroes never feel any pain

Oh celluloid heroes never really die.

I wish my life was a non-stop Hollywood movie show,

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes,

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for 2.4miles along Hollywood Boulevard and has 2414 stars including the newest star which will be placed on July 29th, 2010 and have the name "Mark Walberg" on it. No doubt, Marky Mark will be there so be sure to show up and throw your Calvins at him.

The Walk is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and you can get more information about the celebrations at http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/.

In Celluloid Heroes, eight stars are mentioned and I decided to track them all down on a recent visit to Hollywood. Because I have nothing better to do.

The first one I found was George Sanders located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard. His most famous role was the dry theater critic in All About Eve for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.

I hope you appreciate the placement of the shadow in my photo which is appropriately in the form of an Oscar.

If you covered him with garbage,

George Sanders would still have style

Sadly, George committed suicide in Barcelona, Spain at the age of 65. He was apparently "bored".

Next to George's star is a Hollywood gift shop selling T-shirts and tacky Oscar statuettes. In this area of Hollywood, there are plenty of shops like this so if you're looking for that "World's Best Mom!" Oscar, then be sure to shop around.

If you do walk this Boulevard, you won't miss the Grauman's Chinese Theater located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard. It is a very imposing structure and well worth a visit to check out a movie. The theater screen is HUGE!

And of course, you have to stick your hands and feet in the cement outside the theater. Judy Garland must have been VERY tiny.

The next star I found belonged to Greta Garbo at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard, the silver screen beauty who just "vanted to be alone". She lived a reclusive life after a long film career and died in New York City in 1990.

Don’t step on Greta Garbo as you walk down the boulevard,

She looks so weak and fragile that’s why she tried to be so hard

Ironically, her star is right next to the blaring neon sign of the Hard Rock Cafe where her star is trampled day and night by hordes of tourists.

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood boulevard,

Some that you recognise, some that you’ve hardly even heard of

And this is why I included the star belonging to Iron Eyes Cody located at 6655 Hollywood Boulevard. I had never heard of him before but after a quick search, I found out that he was the famous "Crying Indian" seen in the Keep America Beautiful PSA which aired in the early 70s. He stood by the side of the road and shed a tear as trash was thrown from a car and landed at his feet.

Such a sensitive Indian.

If you're starting to wonder if Hollywood Boulevard is just full of overpriced tourist shops, then your impression is not entirely inaccurate. However, there are some cool restaurants such as The Geisha House located at 6633 Hollywood Boulevard.

If you're under 30 and want to be in a place where the scene is more important than the food, then check it out.

And the Musso and Frank's Grill, famous for its steak and martinis, is located at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard. It is Hollywood's oldest eatery and was established in 1919.

Next up, I came to Mickey Rooney located at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard.

And if you stamped on Mickey Rooney

He would still turn round and smile,

Apparently Mickey is quite a nice guy but he has yet to apologize for the the buck toothed myopic Japanese landlord in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

He also has Walk of Fame stars for Radio and Television.

And in keeping with the MickeyRooney/Asian theme, his Boulevard star is located right next to a Thai massage parlor. For $40, that's a pretty good deal especially if it includes a Happy Ending! Yahoo!

There are some great murals along the Boulevard ...

But just because you're a star, doesn't mean you get respect ...

And my favorite mural is this one. All the stars are there watching themselves on the silver screen.

Defacing Marilyn should be a crime punishable by death in Hollywood.

Bette Davis is located at 6225 Hollywood Boulevard.

But stand close by Bette Davis

Because hers was such a lonely life

Having been married four times, I'm not sure how she was so lonely but perhaps she never found her soul mate.

And her star is right next to the Pantages Theater. Margo Channing, her thespian character in All About Eve, would be proud.

This is a good theme for the Boulevard. Of course, if you don't quit and never make it, you might end up being old and bitter.

The choice is yours.

One of the first sex symbols, Rudolph Valentino is located at 6164 Hollywood Boulevard.

Rudolph Valentino, looks very much alive,

And he looks up ladies’ dresses as they sadly pass him by.

I'm betting most people have never seen any of his movies and barely know anything about him but his name is instantly recognizable. That makes him an icon.

He only lived to the age of 31 and died as a result of complications from appendicitis.

Now you know.

Hmm, not much to keep Rudolph company. His star is right next to a generic parking lot.

And next, I came to the star of Bela Lugosi which can be found at 6340 Hollywood Boulevard.

Avoid stepping on Bela Lugosi

’cos he’s liable to turn and bite

Bela was famously known for his portrayal of Dracula in the Universal movies. Despite being a legend, he fell into near poverty and was rescued from obscurity by the director Ed Wood who offered him a few movie roles.

He died of a heart attack in 1956.

And wouldn't ya know, right next to Bela's star is a JuicyBurger! Sink your fangs into these gourmet hamburgs.

At this point, I just wanted to include a picture of cool kinky shoes. There is really no relevance.

Writing this blog is taking longer than the time it took to walk down the damn street!

Marilyn Monroe. THE icon. Her star was found at 6774 Hollywood Boulevard.

But please don’t tread on dearest Marilyn

’cos she’s not very tough,

She should have been made of iron or steel,

But she was only made of flesh and blood.

And she wasn't very tough. Her candle blew out at the painfully young age of 36. Probable suicide, mistaken overdose or Kennedy hit? You decide because the history books can't.

And right next to Norma Jeane's star is a McDonalds. Yeeha! All the glamor you can handle right here on the Boulevard.

Get your Sausage McMuffin now! Some like them hot!

Phew! And that's it.

HOW TO GET THERE: If you're from out of town, Hollywood Boulevard is high on the list of must-see attractions and every tour bus is going to drive down it. Otherwise, if you're driving your own car, park in the large underground parking at the Hollywood/Highland complex and get your ticket validated at the little stall on the 2nd floor (buy a pack of gum or a Gatorade or something).

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WORTH THE TREK? 9/10 Sure it's touristy and on certain days, you'll get trampled by hordes of camera-wielding out-of-towners but this strip of pavement is still a lot of fun. You won't catch a live celebrity here but the spirit of the dead ones will keep you in good company.

Pretty Woman (1990)

2010-06-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Remember the time when romantic comedies were done right?

Pretty Woman was a hugely successful film with a worldwide gross of nearly half a billion dollars. It made Julia Roberts into a superstar and resurrected the career of Richard Gere. It drove up the sales of Lotus Esprit cars and the soundtrack went on to be certified three times platinum. I remember when the movie came out and it sat for weeks in the theaters. Everyone, it seemed, was falling in love with Pretty Woman.

Oh, if it were all true. Billionaires don't look like Richard Gere, they look like Warren Buffett. Hookers on Hollywood Boulevard are a little more Laura San Giacomo and a lot less Julia Roberts. I'm pretty sure that sales ladies on Rodeo Drive wouldn't turn away a potential customer in this economy (although I could be wrong about that) and who ever heard of a ultra-rich dude finding love on the streets anyway? It doesn't matter; romantic comedies are supposed to be escapist fantasies and as long as the stars align (which they did in Pretty Woman), everyone goes home happy.

Vivian Ward played by Julia Roberts made her sinful money on Hollywood Boulevard. Of course, Hollywood Boulevard is a major street in Los Angeles and parts of it are still quite seedy. I've never walked down it at night but I'm not sure I would want to without at least a couple of cocktails in me.

I congratulate the scouts for finding authentic filming locations. If you turn off Hollywood and go a short distance up Las Palmas ...

... you arrive at the hotel where Vivian and her hooker roommate (played by Laura San Giacomo) lived.

This is the Hotel Las Palmas and the address is 1738 N. Las Palmas Avenue, 90028.

It looks exactly like it did in the movie. There is the fire escape which Edward Lewis (played by Richard Gere) bravely mounted so he could rescue Vivian from her life of shame. I suppose if you wanted to get technical about it, Vivian had already decided to give up her hooker life at that point so Edward was really just bumping her up into a different tax bracket.

Las Palmas is what you would call a "budget" hotel. It does have a great location if you want to party on Hollywood Boulevard and thankfully, security looks pretty tight at least from the outside.

The rates are $40 a night and $190 a week. That's pretty awesome for Hollywood especially if you're a struggling actor from India and you've come to LA to hit the big time. Good luck Deepak!

I'm guessing hourly rates are probably negotiable.

And the rates apparently include a tv! I wonder if there is HBO ...

If you're interested, the website is http://www.hollywoodhotellaspalmas.com/.

Okay, now for the other extreme. Let's take a ride on a Lotus Esprit and travel from the Hotel Las Palmas to where Edward was staying: The Regent Beverly Wilshire currently known as the Beverly Wilshire. It isn't that far but distance in LA is not measured in miles, it's measured in time and that can vary wildly depending on the time of day. At 2pm in the afternoon, it took about half an hour to make the trip.

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Parking in Beverly Hills can be a bit of a nightmare if you want to avoid the valet. I found a space at the library public parking and it was two hours free. Free in LA? In Beverly Hills? I nearly crapped in my Gucci loafers.

(Please note: I don't own a pair of Gucci loafers.)

If you park at the library, there is a short walk down Rodeo Drive where you can do a lot of window shopping and silently curse your parents for not giving you a bigger inheritance.

Rodeo Drive feels a little like an upscale Disneyland and judging by the number of tourists, a lot of people think of it in this way.

Oh yes, all the famous names are there ...

Something more affordable, perhaps?

And finally, if you haven't collapsed from all the sheer materialism, you arrive at Wilshire Boulevard ...

... and the Beverly Wilshire, located at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard.

It was finished in 1928 and built in the Italian Renaissance architecture style. It is a very imposing building and to me, it looks like it should be haunted but I have no proof that it is.

This ain't no Lotus Esprit but it is a Bentley parked outside for everyone to see. One day I hope to touch one of these cars and not get arrested.

The lobby of the Beverly Wilshire is strangely quite bland. It's easy to walk in--the doorman won't bother you--in fact, if he treats you anything like he did me, he won't even open the damn door. I clearly didn't look like I could afford either to eat or to stay at this luxurious palace.

Why did Edward stay at the Beverly Wilshire? Because it was the best. I should hope so---with rates exceeding $400 a night, I would expect nothing less.

If you feel like you deserve to be pampered (or just live out a Vivian/Edward fantasy), then please check out the hotel website at www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/.

HOW TO GET THERE: The Hotel Las Palmas is in central Hollywood very close to the tourist mecca, the Hollywood-Highland complex. The Beverly Wilshire is in central Beverly Hills and you can't miss it if you are visiting Rodeo Drive.

WORTH THE TREK? 8/10 Seeing the Hotel Las Palmas was pretty cool and if you're a fan of the movie, I highly recommend it. Not sure if I would stay there unless my tax bracket took a tumble. 7/10 for the Beverly Wilshire. The architecture of the building is very interesting but unless you can afford the rooms or the expensive restaurants (CUT by Wolfgang Puck), you might feel as if you're a pauper in a palace.

Swingers (1996)

2010-05-28T22:37:00.000-07:00

Every so often a small budget film explodes onto the scene. Careers are made, catchphrases are created, a new style of music, dance or clothing is invented (or an old style is re-invented) and lots and lots of money is made. Yeeha!

Swingers came out and did all of the above. With a budget of approximately $200,000, it went on to gross twenty times that amount domestically. It brought back swing music, swing dancing and those stylish cat clothes. We were introduced to the phrases "you're so money!" and "beautiful babies" while "wingman" was first used to describe a male friend who helps you pick up a woman. Jon Favreau wrote the screenplay and went on to direct Elf, Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Vince Vaughn came out of nowhere and became a huge hit with movies such as Old School, Wedding Crashers and The Break-Up. Doug Liman, the director, went on to helm The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

If you're not familiar with the movie, the first thing you have to do is check it out. It's that good. Completely lives up to the hype. As a sneak preview, the movie is about two friends who try to navigate the choppy waters of dating in Los Angeles. One is definitely a player (Vince Vaughn) and one is lovesick over the break-up of his last girlfriend (Jon Favreau). Even though the movie is contemporary, the vibe is all retro-swing; the music, the clothes, the drinks and of course, the dancing.

One of the bars that they frequent is an actual lounge called The Dresden Room. It's located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of L.A. and is almost exactly as it appears in the movie.

I recently went there on a Wednesday night. There was no cover. You just walk in and find a seat. It's best to go early because even on a weeknight, the place filled up quickly.

I got there around 9 and didn't have any trouble getting a corner booth. The place was all vintage; faux rock walls, naugahyde booths and lighting fixtures that were straight out of the 50s. I've heard that the crowd is generally described as "hipster" and I suppose on this particular night, it wasn't any different. There were quite a few people who had a sense of style but I'm sure that if you wanted to show up with bedhead and wear a hoodie, you probably wouldn't have felt out of place.

Of course, the bar was very dark and so taking photos was a bit of a challenge. I was also trying to look cool (which can be a difficult task for me) so flashing my camera around was not what I wanted to do.

Mistake me for a tourist? I think not!

Okay, here is my Swingers photo. I am holding my cocktail of choice (a vodka tonic) and showing off my big Daddy-O smile.

In the movie, our group of guys entered The Dresden and a lounge act was playing. This act is none other than Marty and Elayne and this duo has been at the Dresden since 1982. You can still hear their music from Tuesday through Saturday from 9pm till 1:15am.

The night I was there, they were there just like they were in the movie. I didn't recognize all the songs they played but I did know the standards such as Volare, New York, New York, The Girl from Ipanema and Fly Me to the Moon. The volume was perfect; not so loud that you couldn't talk but not so soft that it faded into the background.

The drinks were of average size and quite frankly, I've had better. We also had some calamari which was decent but not exceptional. For two beers, two cocktails and a plate of calamari, the total was $36.22. Not bad for L.A. especially with live entertainment.

HOW TO GET THERE: The Dresden Room is located at 1760 N. Vermont Avenue in the Los Feliz district of L.A.

WORTH THE TREK: 8/10 if you're in the neighborhood and want a cool oasis where you can catch some mellow tunes. For me, it was a trek over the hill and I can find cheaper places with an equally smooth vibe in my own neighborhood. With that in mind, I take it down to a 6/10.

MacArthur Park (1978)

2010-05-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

You know you're having a bad day when you spend a long time baking a cake and then someone goes and leaves it out in the rain. And you can't find the recipe so you'll never be able to bake the damned thing again.

Argh, don't you just hate that?

MacArthur Park is a song that was written by Jimmy Webb in 1968 and describes the frustrations of leaving baked goods out in bad weather. It is one of those songs that after you listen to the lyrics, you think "eh?" but then you find out it was written in the 60s and everything makes sense. (sorta)

Here are the lyrics in case you don't know 'em.

Spring was never waiting for us, girl

it ran one step ahead

as we followed in the dance.

Between the parted pages

we were pressed,

in love's hot, fevered iron

like a striped pair of pants.

Mac Arthur's Park is melting in the dark

all the sweet green icing flowing down

someone left the cake out in the rain

I don't think that I can take it

cause it took so long to bake it

and I'll never have that recipe again

Oh, nooo!

I recall the yellow cotton dress

foaming like a wave

on the ground beneath your knees

birds like tender babies in your hands

and the old men playing

Chinese checkers

by the trees

(chorus)

There'll be another song for me

and I will sing it

there'll be another dream for me

someone will bring it

I will drink the wine while it is warm

and never let you catch me

looking at the sun, oh yeah

and after all the loves of my life

after all loves in my life

you'll be the one

I will take my life into my hands

and I will use it

I will win the worship in their eyes

and I will lose it

I will have the things that I desire

and my passion flow

like rivers through the sky

oh and after all the loves in my life

after all the loves in my life

you'll still be the one

and I'll ask myself why.

(chorus)

Clearly, the song is about a lost love affair. That one true love that got away that you'll never be able to experience again.

I'm okay with the strange cake metaphor but the line that really cracks me up is:

Between the parted pages

we were pressed,

in love's hot, fevered iron

like a striped pair of pants.

Like a striped pair of pants? Uh huh. Go back and have another toke there, Jimmy.

My favorite recording (and probably the best known) is by Donna Summer. It was first recorded by Richard Harris (yep, that's the original Dumbledore to you Harry Potter fans) back in 1968.

MacArthur Park is a real park located in the heart of Los Angeles. Although its early history can be fondly remembered (and Jimmy Webb apparently spent some romantic time there with his girlfriend), the 80s were not kind to this area and the park became known as a haven for criminals, drugs, killings and drownings. Although the area has been cleaned up considerably, the reputation still lingers; when I told people that I was going to check out MacArthur park, the first thing I was told was to not get shot.

To get there, I took the L.A. metro. Yup, it does exist and is not a bad way of getting around the city, at least some of the city.

The L.A. metro is surprisingly clean and you're not allowed to eat, drink or play loud music. Looking creepy and homeless is apparently quite acceptable.

To be completely honest, I was a little freaked out while riding the train. I kept on thinking what would happen if an earthquake happened while I was down there. I suppose there really is only one thing that you could do; put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye! Yahoo!

While the song talks about inclement weather, the day I went was bright and sunny. It was funny to read the rules at the entrance to the park. It didn't say you couldn't shoot, kill or maim. I guess those things are implied.

MacArthur park was actually a very pretty park ... from a distance. There was a large lake, a tall fountain, ducks and a great view of downtown L.A.

There were jungle gyms and a soccer field ...

And even some interesting artwork. The quote "crazy as a pair of waltzing mice" is from a Raymond Chandler novel Farewell, My Lovely. I'm not sure why there were two humans dancing and not two mice but that's MacArthur park for you; a little strange but with a certain degree of charm.

But not everything was so pretty; the lake water was polluted green, the sidewalks were covered with seagull crap, the war monuments were in a state of decay and I saw a rather large condom floating lazily by the water's edge. I got asked a couple of times if I wanted to buy fake IDs and I'm pretty sure I could've bought some good drugs if I had wanted them.

There were also plenty of people passed out on the grass. It was really difficult to tell if they were homeless or just on a lunch break.

Note to self: probably okay to walk here during the day but if you're coming here at night, you're just asking for it. And "it" is probably pretty bad.

But the police were there. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

HOW TO GET THERE: If you're anywhere near a metro station, it's very easy. Just take the redline to the Westlake/MacArthur Park stop. If you're using your own gas, then it's below the 101 and to the west of the 110.

WORTH THE TREK? 3/9. Hmmm, probably not. It was fun to see a different side of L.A. but the park is a little too sketchy, even during the day. It's best to listen to the song instead.

Fantasy Island (1978 to 1984)

2010-05-04T23:37:00.000-07:00

Fantasy Island is one of those tv shows that should never be recreated today. The world has lost the magical touch of Aaron Spelling, not to mention the indelible Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize. That sort of creative lightning does not strike twice.

So, just like one of Mr. Roarke's fantasies, we have to take a step back in time and enjoy the original series when it was first made in the late seventies and early eighties.  With DVDs and syndication, it's an easy step and those dinner jackets look as white as the day when they were first worn.  Of course, if you're planning on watching this show after a long absence, I must warn you about the cheese factor; the outrageous storylines, the polyester clothes, and the hairy chests (among other things) can cause serious nostalgic heartburn if you're not careful.

Perhaps the most recognizable of all the Fantasy Island filming locations was the house which was featured during the opening credits. Tattoo ran up its stairs to ring a bell in the tower and yell "Ze plane! Ze plane!" thus announcing the arrival of the guests who were going to get their fantasies fulfilled. This house, formally called the Queen Anne Cottage is located in the Arboretum of Los Angeles County.

The Arboretum is in Arcadia. For those people who have never visited the land of smog and shallow people, Arcadia is about thirteen miles northeast of downtown L.A sitting in the San Gabriel Valley.

I toured it during the end of March when a lot of the flowers and plants were dormant. It was windy and cold but at least there were very few people.

With the map provided, it was a quick ten minute walk to find the Fantasy Island house.

As you can see from the plaque, this beautiful example of Victorian architecture was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. I guess they won't be bulldozing it anytime soon.

The cottage is in pristine condition and the bell tower where Tattoo made his announcement is clearly visible.

I wondered how many people have thought about yelling out "Ze plane! Ze plane!" while standing in this very spot.

Herve has passed away but his catch phrase will live on forever!

Here's the downside: you can tour the grounds and peek inside but you can't actually GO inside the cottage. Sadly, I was not able to climb the stairs and ring the bell and fulfill one of my fantasies.

This is the lagoon where the plane arrived. You can see why the tv series was filmed here; it's very exotic looking and was probably much cheaper than hauling the crew to Hawaii.

We're not talking the budget of LOST here.

HOW TO GET THERE: Arcadia is located on the 210 just east of Pasadena. You can't miss the Arboretum; it is easily accessible from the Baldwin exit.

WORTH THE TREK: 9/10 If you live in LA, you look for ways to escape the craziness of everyday life and a trip to this manicured nature park will make you forget all about TRAFFIC. The Queen Anne Cottage is the bonus in this neat little trip.

L.A. Story (1991)

2010-02-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly 20 years since I got my first taste of L.A. in the form of a movie.

L.A. Story was released in 1991 and focused on the romantic struggles of Harris K. Telemacher, a meteorologist living in the titular city. The romantic aspects of this movie were the least interesting to me; boy meets girl, boy gets sidetracked by much younger girl, boy comes to his senses and gets girl back. It was fairly generic romantic comedy stuff. Well, except for that talking freeway sign who gave love advice.

What was interesting was all the stuff about Los Angeles. Steve Martin (who wrote the screenplay) poked fun at his city in a very affectionate way. There were lots of easy targets; the beautiful but superficial people, the road rage, the lack of culture, the obsession with money and celebrity, the difficulty of reserving a table at some restaurants and even the health craze. How about a colonic? Anyone?

There were many locations used to shoot the movie but some of my favorite scenes took place at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, otherwise known as the LACMA. If you remember, Mr. Telemacher liked to do performance art in the gallery while his friend videotaped it. This “art” involved Harris roller skating through the exhibits. These scenes had nothing to do with the plot of the movie but they were fun to watch and perhaps showed how Angelenos like to do weird, creative things.

The LACMA isn’t difficult to find and there is easy parking across the street. With validation, the parking cost me $7.

The cost of the general admission was $12, although on the second Tuesday of every month the admission is FREE! As you can see from my ticket stub, I found this out a little too late.

As Harris flew by on his roller skates, he passed by this painting. I have no idea who painted it or what the painting is called but I definitely recognized it from the movie. I found it hiding in a closed gallery and there was no sign to give me more information.

Harris passed by other paintings but I guarantee you that The Scream by Edvard Munch was never at the LACMA.

This masterpiece was obviously shocked at Mr. Telemacher's antics.

HOW TO GET THERE: The LACMA is very easy to find. It's right on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area of L.A. As might be expected, it is located on Museum Row.

WORTH THE TREK? 9/10 Absolutely. The museum is a good size and if you're a fan of modern art, they have some nice surprises. There is usually a special exhibit and for the next couple of months, Renoir is in town. Just a warning though, don't try strapping on a pair of skates. I'm sure this kind of performance art is strictly forbidden!

Clueless (1995)

2009-12-31T15:05:00.001-08:00

Before there was Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, there was Cher Horowitz in Clueless.

Cher, portrayed by the smoking hot Alicia Silverstone, is a rich and pampered teenager who lives at the top of the heap in Beverly Hills. Even though she spends her days at school, she has more important things on her mind; fashion, spending time at the mall and hanging out with her best friend, Dionne.

But Cher suddenly finds she has a purpose when two of her teachers need a love connection. She makes the match and with one success under her designer belt, she set her sights on another clueless and lonely soul, Tai Fraisier (played by the recently deceased Brittany Murphy). Cher has a harder time with Tai because she wants to set Tai up with Elton, a popular senior and Elton has the hots for Cher.

After one of those good ol' high school parties when the house gets trashed and someone pukes in the pool, Elton drives Cher home. On the way, Elton makes a pass at Cher who becomes increasingly frustrated that he is not interested in Tai. When Elton won't stop groping her, she gets out of the car in the parking lot of Circus Liquor and Elton drives off.

This isn't a good idea. After being left alone in the dark, Cher gets mugged and is totally forced to kiss the pavement. This is like, really bad for her and she has to suck it up and call her ex-stepbrother whom she hates at the time.

The party was supposed to be in Sun Valley but Circus Liquor is actually in North Hollywood which really isn't on the way from Sun Valley to Beverly Hills. Oh well, movies aren't supposed to be geography lessons.

You wanted me to take the pictures at night and make them more like the movie ??

As if!

I didn't want the same fate as Cher. The daytime pics will have to do.

This is not an exciting picture but it does indicate the area where Cher was forced down on the ground by her attacker.

In one of those blink-or-you'll-miss-it shots, Cher walks past the Witch's House which is located in Beverly Hills. She walks by it as she pouts about her disastrous driving test.

When I took these photos, the house was in the middle of a reconstruction. There was a green fence around it and the front yard was a little torn up. It has been around since 1921 so I guess it was time for a little tune-up.

HOW TO GET THERE: Circus Liquor is located at the intersection of Vineland and Burbank in North Hollywood. The Witch's House is at 516 N. Walden Drive in Beverly Hills.

WORTH THE TREK? 4/10 for Circus Liquor. Although it is a really cool looking neon sign, it is just that and the store sells liquor which can be purchased elsewhere. 7/10 for the Witch's House because it is such a unique property sitting among the snobby 90210 estates. Unfortunately it cannot be toured and I have no idea when the renovations will be completed.

Charmed (1998 to 2006)

2009-12-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

Not all witches are green, wrinkled, warty and evil.

In the television series Charmed, the witches were young, hot and kicked demonic ass. No wonder it was a guilty pleasure for eight seasons on the now defunct WB channel.

If you're not familiar with the show, there were originally three witchy sisters; Prue, Piper and Phoebe played by Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano respectively. When Shannen Doherty was fired (well, maybe she wasn't fired but something happened and it wasn't good), her character was killed off and the sacred trio was reformed with a half-sister, Paige who was played by Rose McGowan. These sisters lived in the Halliwell Manor which (in the series) was located at 1329 Prescott Street in San Francisco.

In actuality, the Manor is located at 1329 Carroll Street in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles.

This is a small but very beautiful neighborhood of Victorian houses. It isn't difficult to spot the "Charmed house" because it is so distinctive. The camera-toting tourists also gave it away.

In the series, the ground on which the Manor was located was the center of the five essential life elements and was therefore considered a "spiritual nexus." If you're a trio of witches looking to conquer the forces of evil, this is a good thing.

If you're a Charmed fan, then you can't buy the actual house (it's a privately owned residence) but you can come pretty close. The house right next door is up for sale.

Judging by its looks, I'm thinking it's a "fixer-upper."

After checking on http://www.zillow.com/, you can buy this bad baby for less than $700,000! And it comes with seven bedrooms!

Of course, you might get tired of the Charmed fans asking if you've seen any of the Halliwell sisters.

It doesn't take long to walk down Carroll street and admire the other houses. It really doesn't feel like you're in Los Angeles.

And now we come to another famous house. Do you recognize it? Especially with all the MJ stuff going on?

This house was used in Michael Jackson's Thriller video. After her boyfriend turned a little freaky, this is where our heroine ran for safety.

This would not be my first choice for a hiding location if zombies were chasing me.

It still looks a little worn down but maybe they keep it that way for Halloween.

WORTH THE TREK? 9/10. Absolutely. Even if you're not a Charmed fan, this area is worth a visit for the architecture alone.

HOW TO GET THERE: It's easy to find. Echo Park is located in the northeastern part of L.A. and accessible by the 101 or the 110.

Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

2009-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

If you have never heard of this movie, I urge you to drop everything that you're doing and rent or download it right now. I suggest that you get drunk before the movie starts--a few shots of tequila will do--and then sit back, relax and enjoy one of the most underrated comedies of the 80s.

Earth Girls Are Easy tells the tale of three aliens (Wiploc, Zeebo and Mac) who crash land their spaceship in the San Fernando valley. Thankfully they land in a pool which is owned by Valerie, a typical valley girl. Instead of calling the authorities, she does what any quick thinking girl would do; she takes them to her best friend (a hilarious Julie Brown) and gives them all makeovers. Eh Voila! They all turn out to be hunky alien studs who want to paaaaaaarty!

Of course, the aliens get into lots of trouble and Valerie has a hard time keeping them on the down low. At one point, Zeebo and Wiploc take off in a stolen car and get chased by the police. At the end of the chase, the car becomes airborne and crashes into a donut sign which is (strangely enough) in the shape of a large donut.

Randy's Donuts is an actual donut shop located at 805 West Manchester Boulevard located in Inglewood near the L.A. airport. The huge donut is a well known local landmark and was built in 1953.

You can't miss the big freakin' donut. I'm not sure what the sign is made of but the roof must be sturdy enough to support it.

Weirdly enough, I did have a difficult time finding the shop. My GPS sent me in the wrong direction and I ended up in a very scary neighborhood. I was afraid that I was going to get shot and killed all because I wanted to take pictures of a big ass donut.

Thankfully I had my iphone with me and it told me the correct directions. Phew!

After all that work, I had to buy some donuts. I got a selection of cinnamon buns, jelly filled and old fashioned chocolate. They were most excellent and I devoured three of them on my journey back home.

(While I don't advocate eating and driving, the traffic on the 405 was so slow I could have read the entire Wall Street Journal and still got home safely.)

Earth Girls Are Easy isn't the only movie to feature Randy's Donuts. If you've seen the disaster flick 2012, you might have witnessed the big donut rolling down the freeway.

HOW TO GET THERE: If you have a Nuvi GPS, I don't recommend using it. At least, don't use mine because it took me to Compton and nearly got me killed. A better idea is to take the 405 and get off at Manchester Boulevard.

WORTH THE TREK? 9/10. The Donut sign is a great landmark and worth seeing. The awesome donuts are a sweet bonus.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

2009-10-29T20:29:00.001-07:00

No blog about movie locations would be complete without a visit to the Griffith Observatory.

On these grounds, James Dean, Nathalie Wood and Sal Mineo were filmed in all their "teenage" angst for the classic tragedy, Rebel Without a Cause. (Mr. Dean wasn't actually a teenager, he was 24 at the time.)

The Observatory plays a central part to the movie. Early on, the high school class takes a field trip there. After the presentation in the planetarium, everyone goes outside for a good old fashioned knife fight. Nobody gets killed until later when Buzz, the leader of the bullies, drives over a cliff.

But that's not it for the Observatory. Jim, Plato (Sal Mineo) and Judy (Nathalie Wood) run back to the park because the bullies are chasing them. Plato falls asleep so Jim and Judy take the opportunity to wander off by themselves. Judy proclaims her love for Jim even though her ex-boyfriend is not even dead by 12 hours. When Plato is woken up by the bullies and finds out that Jim and Judy have deserted him, he goes batshit crazy and runs to the Observatory. Since this is a tragedy it doesn't end well; Plato is gunned down by the police on the front steps.

If none of this makes sense, go see the movie. It is well worth it. Sorry for the spoilers.

The Observatory is a beautiful building, both inside and out. It is high on the list for must-see L.A. attractions for Korean tourists.

Here are the steps where poor Plato was gunned down. It was probably not a good idea to come out waving a gun when the police have you surrounded.

If you remember the film, this is the area where the knife fight occurred. Nothing much has changed since 1955 except for the skyscrapers in the distance.

It doesn't take long to walk around the grounds. They are very well maintained. And there is free parking!!

Every time I see this part of the Observatory, I think of R2D2. Hmmm, I wonder if George Lucas came here and found some inspiration.

Overlooking the Hollywood sign, there is a statue dedicated to James Dean and Rebel Without a Cause. As the plaque points out, there have been many other films made here but Rebel is the most famous.

James Dean didn't even live long enough to see his classic come to the big screen. The film opened on October 27, 1955 almost one month after his fatal car crash.

HOW TO GET THERE: The Griffith Observatory is part of the large Griffith Park located in the northern part of L.A. county. It is easily accessible by the 5 freeway.

WORTH THE TREK? 9/10 for the beautiful grounds and the amazing views. Although I personally find that the planetarium is a good place to fall asleep, it might be entertaining for the kids. And did I mention that there is FREE PARKING??

Poltergeist (1982)

2009-10-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Since Halloween is fast approaching, I thought I would go stalk a house from one of my favorite movies from the 1980s.

Poltergeist was The Exorcist for my generation. When I saw it for the first time, I felt like I was strapped into a roller coaster and there was no way I was getting off until I had one hell of a ride. This movie preyed on our fears with killer trees, strangling clowns and spirits that made you rip off your own face. Wasn't it a relief when the medium played by Zelda Rubinstein proclaimed that the house was clean?

Except it wasn't.

The house where the film was shot is located in Simi Valley, a community to the northwest of L.A. The address is 4267 Roxbury Street.

I recognized the house as soon as I saw it. Over the past 25 years, there have been some changes (and apparently it was damaged during the 1994 Northridge earthquake) but it is still very recognizable.

At the end of the movie, the Beast threw a complete temper tantrum. Because he couldn't have the little girl, he imploded the entire house and sucked it into another dimension.

At that point, the developer realized that building on top of a burial ground was just not worth it.

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the 405 north and the 118 west and you'll run right into Simi Valley. It's a beautiful area and I wanted to go on two hikes but I couldn't find the trailheads.

WORTH THE TREK? 6/10 The house does have a big role in the movie considering its implosion at the climax. However it is a personal property and sadly I wasn't able to tell if there was the skeletal swimming pool in the backyard.

Arrested Development (2003 to 2006)

2009-10-21T16:59:00.001-07:00

Arrested Development was a television show that I discovered two years after it had been cancelled. I think a lot of people would agree that this was a show that got the axe way too soon. Yes, it was in quirky overdrive but the humor was consistently good and all the characters were lovable in their own dysfunctional way.

The show revolves around the Bluths, a very wealthy family who suddenly become very poor because of Daddy's financial indiscretions. The only honorable sibling, Michael Bluth, tries to hold the family together and is more or less successful. The pilot, which I saw on Netflix, is one of the funniest I have ever seen.

If you've watched the show, the family supposedly had a frozen banana stand in Newport Beach. Most people remember the stand because there was a large lighthouse sitting right next to it.

But the real location isn't in Newport Beach. It is actually in Marina del Rey in a place called Fisherman's Village.

The location of the stand was right in front of the stone wall which is about midway between the bell and the lighthouse.

Here is another view of where the stand was.

The lighthouse is the home of a small take-out restaurant. I love the messy hamburgers which are served by a scowling Chinese woman.

I also had a chance celebrity enounter while I was there. Harrison Ford darted out of a door just while I was passing by. He must have a great make-up artist because he looked years younger than what he normally does.

HOW TO GET THERE: The best way is to park at the Santa Monica pier and rent a bike. Bicycle all the way along the bike path, passing through Santa Monica, Venice and eventually arriving in Marina del Rey. If you don't stop along the way, it should only take about 45 minutes.

WORTH THE TREK? 8/10 but only if you ride a bicycle and enjoy the scenery. Alas, the famous banana stand, as well as the show, is no longer standing.
But there is good news! I have heard that an Arrested Development movie is in the works. Stay tuned.

NEW BLOG!!!

2009-10-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce the grand opening of my newest blog.

I've been taking pictures of movie and tv locations for a couple of years now and I figured I should put them all together in a blog format. For right now, I am concentrating on places that are in Los Angeles but with my travel schedule, I'll probably expand that further.

Please let me know how you like it and any suggestions for improvement are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Popsites

POPSITES

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MacArthur Park (1978)

Fantasy Island (1978 to 1984)

L.A. Story (1991)

Clueless (1995)

Charmed (1998 to 2006)

Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Poltergeist (1982)

Arrested Development (2003 to 2006)

NEW BLOG!!!