box_office's blog

LA Observed's Kevin Roderick threw a roof top party at the Formosa Cafe for pals and colleagues to celebrate six years of independent blogging. The mood was surprisingly light, considering most of the partyers had lost their jobs or were about to, or were freelancing for little money. Hot topics: Jay vs. Conan, Twitter vs. Facebook, Melton vs. Rachlis at Los Angeles Magazine, getting into Comic-Con, and making money blogging.

I hung with Variety's Dana Harris, Brian Lowry (his BLTV blog is taking off), Pat Saperstein (who blogs at EatingLA) and Dave McNary (whose wife Sharon just ran her 72nd marathon; her commentary airs on KPCC today). I talked criticism's future with LA Weekly contributor and USC instructor Ella Taylor and KPFK host and history prof Jon Wiener. Ex-journo Ross Johnson explained why he's now vp of corp entertainment at BNC-PR--and plans to return to reporting with a vengeance one day. Ex-LAT writer Bob Welkos is finishing both a novel and screenplay, while LAT columnist Sandy Banks is considering blogging. (She'd be good at it and could connect with fans.) Sunset Magazine recently profiled 99 Cent Chef Billy Robinson.

New L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich worked the room like a pro. When screenwriter and Vanity Fair/New York Observer contributor Bruce Feirstein told him a terrifying yet reassuring story about cops breaking into his house and patting him down to protect him from a reported intruder, Trutanich launched into a passionate speech about the dedication and bravery of L.A. finest. Not what you expect at a Friday night Hollywood party of writers and bloggers.

Kobre Channel's Jerry Lazar, whose daughter Maia is close to graduating from UC San Diego, wielded his flip cam. I was in the middle of skewering a journalist colleague when he pushed the red record button.