Again, my hopes and prayers for everyone’s safety.
I don’t know what the coverage is like where you are, but here in Los Angeles, it is geared very much to the entertainment industry. And representative of just how myopic this town is.
Lots of headlines are about which celebrities had to evacuate – as if Kim Kardashian evacuating is any more important than anyone else. Alyssa Milano is safe we’re told. An industry website featured the headline proclaiming Caitlyn Jenner safe. Whew! Like in the midst of all this destruction and heartbreak I give one shit about Caitlyn Jenner.
The big news was the loss of the Paramount Ranch. Oh no. The sets for WESTWORLD were destroyed. Yes, that’s unfortunate, but it seems to me it pales compared to people losing their homes. Oh, and the hospital that burned down. The mansion used for THE BACHELOR and THE BACHELORETTE was damaged we’re told. And the industry report added that neither show was currently in production. Thank God! Seriously, when you look at the scope of these fires who gives a fuck about THE BACHELOR’S possible production setbacks?
Hollywood has never been one for perspective. The day President Reagan was shot it was the scheduled night of the Academy Awards. They were postponed as a result, and one of the trades had the large blazing headline: OSCARCAST POSTPONED. And then underneath, in much smaller letters: The President Shot.
My sincerest hope and prayer is that if you’re personally affected by these fires that YOU’RE safe, your animals are safe, and YOUR home is spared. The sets for WESTWORLD will be rebuilt. THE BACHELOR can rent a different mansion. I know it’s a hard thing to ask in this town, but seriously, let’s get real.
24 comments :
The Weekend Post works well - now there's only one day of the week where I'm discombobbled.
And sending my best to everyone dealing with these fires - it's a true tragedy.
Between the fire and the shooting, that area has gone through a lot.
So, yes, we can offer our hopes and prayers.
But like that woman on television who lost a loved one to the shooting who said that instead of hopes and prayers she wanted gun control, perhaps we can now rely on the new Democratic majority in Congress to offer both gun control and measures to reduce climate change so others need not suffer.
My cousins both lost their homes but are safe themselves. They lived in Paradise. I very much appreciate your blog post today. It is comforting to hear a compassionate voice in this truly ugly political climate.
On the subject of Hollywood-centric views of the news,
one of the pleasures of reading Variety’s obituaries from a few decades back
- aside from their forbearance In not running mine-
was in finding send-offs for famous cadavers with only
the slightest of show biz connections e.g. a Pope.
For Fun Free Searches Of Nearly A Century Of
Industry Trade Publications
START HERE:
http://lantern.mediahist.org/advanced
Recalling the National Lampoon Sunday Newspaper Parody. A big front page headline declared that two local old ladies had vanished on vacation. A subhead adds, "Japan Also Missing".
As I write this the sky has a distinctive brownish haze and there is a definite smell of smoke in the air. It seems easy to feel less sympathy for the rich and famous, but they are also suffering in their own way. Although, it would probably be much easier for them to rebuild than a non-celebrity.
The main thing that I take away from the fires is I am truly humbled. I have nothing to complain about. Any time I start to feel sorry for myself for whatever reason I remember that there are large numbers of people that are far worse off than I am. My life's not great, yet I am truly blessed. "But for the grace of God, there go I."
As for the Paramount Ranch, I had spent much time there when I was an extra. They shot a lot of westerns out there including, Dr. Quinn.
I hope and pray that all those affected by the wildfires will very soon be able to resume normal lives.
M.B.
My niece works at the hospital that burned down. She's now out of work, but she and her cats are safe.
I don't disagree with the general sentiment, but my local news suggested Jenner's house was completely destroyed, so at least reporting her safe makes sense in conjunction with that. We don't need to hear every evacuated slightly famous person is safe or not, but if it's known their house burned down, I'm not dinging the news for reporting that.
I don't believe half of what I read on the Intertubes, but the story going around is that some idiots put a can of propane in a campfire and shot at it for fun. If true, when they're found they should face 26 counts of murder (so far).
Stay safe, Ken, and all in SoCal.
The old M*A*S*H filming location burned too, as I understand it.
@Janet Hopefully. Because Trump decided we've already spent too much money trying to help California, and that they need to fend for themselves from this point on (not to mention, it's their own fault anyway, according to him).
Janet, I'm sure the NRA is speaking to the new members of both houses, offering financial support...
Remember during one fire, when Paul Moyer was hysterically yelling, "There is Celebrity Homes in that area, Celebrity homes.
All the coverage I've seen has been on network TV, but the video footage is horrific. I was in LA about two months ago and drove around the Malibu area on the PCH, so it's surreal to see places I passed now charred or destroyed. As beautiful as Malibu is, it's in such a environmentally fragile location given how prone it is to flooding and fires.
One of the newer UHF stations in Nashville, Channel 17, announced that day, "President Reagan shot, details after Voltron!"
Actually, apparently the NRA is broke...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/902918002
Been a rough week out here. Borderline and Paramount,two of my favorite places.
Got to keep rollin...
Don't feel bad for the people who lost multi-million dollar homes; they've got insurance. Feel for the old lady who lost her double-wide trailer.
-30-
@Joseph Scarbrough: The latest reporting I’ve seen is that Malibu Creek State Park is closed due to the fire, but is not currently burning. However, that area has been scorched by wildfires many times previously, including during the filming of the M*A*S*H finale.
For those directly impacted, the legacy of this horrendous event will last a lifetime. And it’s not over as of this writing.
If it were here in Kansas City, the lead on the evening news would be, "City burns to the ground, several killed or injured, but first. . . the weather!"
A terrific site, and a font of knowledge for my "Carole & Co." research.
So, what fou think explains the myopia?
When confronted with it, how do media types respond?
Hey, Ken... I just read that your old Mash set was destroyed by the fire.
I got a new computer and forgot your URL. So I have discovered that KenLevine.com is for sale! only $995!
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