Kingdom Come

By Jay Jackson

LARC Staff Writer

You've accomplished something in Los Angeles when you're the biggest. The biggest star, the biggest director, the biggest mansion... all measures of success in tinsel town. That said, LA's biggest parade, the King Day parade, reached a milestone this year... 30 years and running.

"This is just a great thing," actor Reggie Hayes told LARC reporter Chris Rose. "It's good to come to a place where you can meet the people, see the faces and feel like a man," added the "Girlfriends" star.

Stretching from Western to Crenshaw, along girthy Martin Luther King Blvd, the two mile parade drew an estimated one million people. Diversity was the theme. Black and Mexican faces was the reality.

"This is really good for the community," said LARC reporter Chris Rose. Good in more ways than one.

Over the weekend, there were 4 murders not far from the parade route. It was a bad way to start the year, especially after last year's historic drop in the murder rate.

But crime wasn't on the minds of the people who lined the streets. Mothers with their daughters, fathers with their sons, this is America at it's best.

Celebrities mingled with paradegoers. Luxury cars and souped-up motorcycles were also a big draw.

When it was over, the rain came. It helped wash the streets. But the memories will never be washed away.

Britney's Bad Day

by Jay Jackson
LARC Staff Writer


"Britney, is there anything you want to say to your fans," shouted LARC reporter Elizabeth Perry as Britney Spears' black 'Slade' pulled up to the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse. It was her latest effort to get visitation rights with her two boys restored.
But, no answer came from the troubled pop star as she started to get out of her SUV. That's when the frenzy began. Dozens of camera toting 'pappos' jumped, pulled, scratched and clawed there way forward hoping to get a shot of Spears.
"It was crazy to be right in the middle of it all," says Perry, a former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and model.
In the middle, she was. Police officers and sheriff's deputies literally shoved the shooters to the left and right to make a way for the wayward star. But just as soon as Spears arrived, she turned around and left, never getting past the curbside.
"She really needs some help," said Deborah Pleasant, a Spears fan and witness to the mid-morning mayhem. "She just needs to go back home to get some rest."
Spears never got to the courtroom, where inisde attorneys wanted to hear her account of what happened at her house late last year. Photos were shown worldwide of Spears being wheeled out of her Studio City mansion, looking dazed and confused.
Because she didn't show up to the courtroom, the judge refused to allow Spears to see her two boys, who now live with the more responsible parent, Kevin Federline.

Malibu Mayhem

by Jay Jackson

When airplanes carrying 20,000 gallons of water are flying less than 20 feet above your home, you know something is very wrong. Malibu's Tecayo Canyon residents found that out when a fire erupted in their little piece of paradise. Actually, fire doesn't quite capture it. Maybe inferno, hell on earth, the apocolypse. Shoved along by winds with a 60 mile an hour push, the wildfire gobbled down 53 homes before it's burning belly was full. Nobody died, but one woman's 2 dogs and cat weren't so lucky.

"It's a real shame," said the victim's father as he picked through the rubble of his daughter's million-dollar home. "We watched it burn on TV. The helicopters showed it all."

Covered by LARC's Melissa Aquino, the fire became a symbol of how the word "success" is defined by the mind of the beholder.

"We got everybody out alive," said one fire department spokesman. "That's a success to us."

But some residents say the operation was anything but successful. With roads choked by fire trucks, construction hold ups and looky-loos, some of the homeowners feared they'd burn to death in their Bimmers and Bents'.

"I feel so sorry for these people," said Aquino as she looked over the destruction while looking for an interview. "They lost so much," she added.

Indeed, they did lose a lot. An estimated 90 million dollars worth of lifestyle to be somewhat exact. A lifestyle these residents say they hope will return.

Fugitive Fears

by Jay Jackson

Police say Raul Alderete is a dangerous man. Just look at his history... you don't need cops to tell you that. He's on the run for allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend, raping her, beating her and telling her how much he loves her over a two day period back in February. Dangerous? You think? America's Most Wanted ran a big to-do on Alderete and sweetened it with a $4 Million bounty on his head(s). But police say that didn't stop Alderete from barging into his new girlfriends North Hollywood home, threatening her, then taking off with her baby.
"This guy has really got some problems," said NewsWatch LA reporter Tihanna McCleese while covering the story. She talked with the baby's mother and grandfather who both share the same worry: can this nut really take care of an 11-month-old baby? Girl.
"I just hope he brings the baby back," concluded McCleese.
Obviously, the family hopes the same. Police, too. But as usual, they're skeptics.
"We believe he's headed to Mexico," Det. Jesse Ojeda told the reporter, McCleese. "He has family there."
If you see the guy, call LAPD at 1-877-LAWFULL.

Writers Revolt

by Jay Jackson

"Five, six, seven, eight, why won't you negotiate," shouted members of the Writers Guild of America as they paraded around the NBC studios in Burbank, California. It's something they've been doing for five straight weeks, as they try to squeeze a few dollars out of the studios for their work. The legal sticking point, no money for DVD and online sales. The real sticking point, more respect in the high dollar, high profile movie business.
"We're doing the work that makes Hollywood what it is," says Michael Jann, a writer for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Covered by LARC reporter Shivaune Christina, writers say they're at full strength, although less enthusiastic compared to the early days of the walkout.
Studio bosses have made an offer to the writers. The writers have made a counter offer. So far, no agreement as of December 7th. But this is Hollywood, where careers, spouses and deals can change over night.
"We're going all the way," Joe Mederio told Christina. As head writer for the Tonight Show, Mederio knows about sticking with things.
But patience is growing thin... on both sides. While covering the strike outside of the Ellen Degeneres studios, several executives from the show confronted Christina, demanding to know her name and what she was doing.
"The guy was really nervous," said Christina, with her casual Austrailian accent. "Everybody's so upset."

JUNO Premiere

by Jay Jackson

You don't find a lot of teenage mothers in posh Westwood. But one young mom-to-be was the biggest star in the city last night. Her name is Juno.
"It's really a story about family," says Juno director, Jason Reitman.
His movie was certainly a family project. Son of Ghostbuster director and co-producer Ivan Reitman, the younger up and comer's movie is getting rave reviews around the globe.
Starring Ellen Page as a teenager who accidentally gets pregnant, the movie shows just how fast life can change on a dime.
"It's about accepting people as they are. Sometimes they hit road bumps in life, but you still have to keep going," says character actor J.K. Simmons, who plays the dumbfounded father.
Covered by LARC reporter Brian Tabije, the premiere in Westwood drew stars such as Jack Black, Megan Fox and Jennifer Garner.
"It's really exciting," says Tabije. "I can't believe I was talking with John Malkovich. He's really peacful."
Indeed. The dome-headed actor spoke philosophically about the movie and the impact it could have on young people.
"It shows young people that even after something tragic or unexpected... you can recover," said Malkovich.
Juno opens later this month.