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'Saturday Night Live' season finale: Bill Hader's last show and Kanye West post-SNL rant (video)

Mike Roe — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:25:20 -0700

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City.; Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

This weekend, Ben Affleck is scheduled to host “Saturday Night Live” for the fifth time. Affleck’s appearance is competing with other big SNL stories though, including cast members leaving and Kanye West going off on a rant on the show before his appearance as a musical guest.

West performed Wednesday night at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City for Adult Swim’s upfront presentation, and he had some unkind words about the idea of participating in any SNL skits this weekend.

“[I had a friend ask me, ‘Are you gonna go on] SNL and you’re going to do like a skit about the paparazzi and shit and like humanize yourself?’ I ain’t here to apologize to no motherf---ers man,” West reportedly said, according to Complex.

“Hell nah I ain’t doing no motherf---ing SNL skits, this my goddamn life. This ain’t no motherf---ing joke. That’s it. Stop that s--- right there.”

You can listen for yourself here (warning — this clip contains profanity):

West also seemed to show his current discomfort with the show in promos for the episode:

Of course, he didn’t have any problems with appearing in sketches back in 2005:

Or 2007:

This isn’t the first time West has dissed SNL — he did it in his 2010 single “Power” as well, where he said, “F--- SNL and the whole cast/Tell them Yeezy said they can kiss my whole a--/More specifically they can kiss my a-- h---/I’m an a------? You n----- got jokes!/You short minded n----- thoughts is Napoleon.” He changed the lyrics when he performed the song on the show though:

Saturday is also West's fifth appearance as musical guest. It’s unclear whether that counts toward being allowed in the show’s prestigious “Five-Timers Club,” which Affleck himself will be entering this week with his fifth time hosting. Paul Simon was let in based on a combination of musical appearances and hosting, and has only served as host four times, but with West’s zero times hosting and apparent lack of any interest in playing along, that may not be in the cards. (Though couldn’t you see a sketch with an angry West complaining about not being allowed in the club?)

The show’s expert impressionist Bill Hader has also announced that he’ll be leaving SNL after this season, and he’s moving out here to Los Angeles. It’s a return home — Hader was first scouted by SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels at an L.A. comedy show.

Hader tells the New York Times that, along with seeing some of his friends leave the show, his decision comes from a desire to move his family to L.A. His wife is a filmmaker, and Hader’s been working in both live-action and animated films.

Hader first appeared on SNL in 2005 in an “impression-off” with fellow new castmember Andy Samberg:

In any case, we’re all going to be upset if Hader doesn’t deliver one epic Stefon performance. It’s also appropriate timing — the first appearance of the Stefon character was in a sketch with Affleck back in 2008.

Of course, Stefon is best known for his “Weekend Update” appearances. Here he is giving some summer New York City tourist advice last year:

“Weekend Update” host Seth Meyers has also been announced to take over Jimmy Fallon’s late night hosting spot in 2014 as Fallon moves an hour earlier to host “The Tonight Show,” though Meyers is scheduled to return for at least the beginning of SNL’s 39th season this fall. Also, while Fallon is packing up “The Tonight Show” and moving it from Burbank to New York, there are no plans to send Meyers west, so NBC isn’t going to have a late night West Coast representative anymore.

No, “Last Call with Carson Daly” doesn’t really count.

Fred Armisen and Jason Sudeikis may also be leaving the show; Lorne Michaels confirmed the rumors to the New York Times.

The Dunder-Mifflin 'Office' closes shop: Show producer on remaking Scranton in LA

Take Two — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:43:35 -0700

The original cast of "The Office."; Credit: NBC

Tonight, after eight years, the hit NBC show "The Office" is finally coming to an end.

Dwight, Pam, Jim, Andy, Kevin, Creed, Darryl, and the rest of the show's motley cast will come together one last time in tonight's finale, airing at 8 p.m. PST. The show is set at the Dunder-Mifflin paper company, located in Scranton, Penn., even though much of the series was shot right here in Southern California.

For what it was like turning a huge sunny city like L.A. into a small, former coal-mining community more than 2,300 miles away, Take Two spoke with one of The Office's producers, Steve Burgess.

Interview Highlights:

How did you make Southern California look like Scranton?
"Strangely enough it doesn't really look like Scranton. Scranton is actually fairly beautiful and has a lot of really nice architecture. We shot a lot around Los Angeles, and what we tried to do is find parts of Los Angeles that didn't have palm trees, that had not really Southern California looking architecture, like red tile roofs and stucco buildings. There are a lot of beautifully landscapes areas that look a lot like Pennsylvania if they don't have palm trees."

But isn't it hard to avoid palm trees in LA?
"It is we actually electronically removed palm trees when we did see them, so our visual effects department removed palm trees almost every week.

Where is the Dunder-MIfflin warehouse located?
The building and the warehouse are actually on a soundstage in Van Nuys. Chandler Valley studios has been our home for the last eight years, the first year they shot in an actual office in Culver City. For the last eight years, this is finishing the 9th season. Its an actual soundstage where we built an entire office and warehouse on."

How did you maintain a northeast feel given our weather here?
"It becomes difficult to shoot in the rain, but any time during the winter when it is raining in California we try to shoot in the rain, to try to give that northeastern part of the country feel to it. We've also for all of our Christmas episodes we have snowed in our parking lot, I know a lot of the fans have seen snowdrifts and things in the parking lot, which really is in California. We bring in tons of ice and an ice chipper and they spray shaved ice all over our parking lot. We try to beat the heat, one of our Christmas episodes was shot when it was 100 degrees out and we had our cast in overcoats. As soon as we hit the pavement with the ice it would melt, but we kept putting more ice down and eventually it looks pretty snowed it."

Can you tell us about some Scranton-specific details in the show?
"The most famous of the Scranton detail is the Froggy 101 sticker that was on Dwight's desk, which is a real country station in Scranton. Basically, when the show was set in Scranton, the Chamber of Commerce and the Scranton businesses have been such a great help to The Office and they send us real business knick-knacks. So all the stuff on the desks, all the magnets on the refrigerator in the kitchen, are all from real Scranton businesses and they've been nice enough to help us out in allowing us to use their names when we mention a steakhouse names Carl Von Lugers, there's a real Carl Von Luger's in Scranton"

What did the city of Scranton think about having "The Office" set in their city?
"I think in the beginning, Scranton was nervous we were going to make fun of the town and they were a little bit leery of helping us to portray Scranton, but then as they found throughout the years that we really didn't make fun of Scranton, one of our story lines was the Jim and Pam storyline of Jim moving to Philly and Pam not wanting to leave Scranton and last week we found out that Jim moved back to Scranton and loves it there. So we actually portrayed Scranton as a pretty cool place to be. It seems that Scranton was happy to have us set there."

What was your favorite episode?
"One of my favorite episodes was Jim and Pam's wedding in Niagara. It was mostly shot on location here around Southern California...It was a challenge to make it look like Niagara Falls, but what we did is we sent John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer with a small crew to Niagara Falls because we actually shot the ceremony on the Maid of the Mistic boat as it traveled under the falls."

Beckham bends it to retirement — will retire from soccer at end of season (photos)

Rob Harris | AP — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:06:00 -0700

Last year, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamos to win their second MLS Cup in a row, ending Beckham's record in the US with another title.; Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

David Beckham is retiring from soccer, ending a career in which he became a global superstar who transcended the sport.

The 38-year-old Beckham, who recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain, said Thursday he will retire after the season.

"I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," the former England captain said in a statement.

Beckham, whose forays into fashion and marriage to a pop-star wife have made him a riveting international celebrity, has two more matches left at PSG. He has been giving his salary to a children's charity.

He started his career with Manchester United and also played for Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning titles with all those clubs.

"If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy. I'm fortunate to have realized those dreams," Beckham said.

On the international stage, Beckham made 115 appearances for England's national team — a record for a player other than a goalkeeper.

"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country," Beckham said. "I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country. I'm honored to represent England both on and off the pitch."

With United between 1992 and 2003, Beckham won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup. Beckham left United in 2003 shortly after manager Alex Ferguson accidentally struck Beckham's eye with a football boot.

Beckham spent four years in Madrid — winning the 2007 Spanish title before making the surprise move to Major League Soccer, where he won the title twice.

There were highs and lows in Beckham's international career. He was blamed for England's elimination from the 1998 World Cup for his petulant red card against Argentina, but scored the winning goal against the same team at the World Cup four years later.

Beckham responded to jeering at the 2000 European Championship with an obscene hand gesture to England fans, but was lauded by the same supporters a little more than a year later when his last-minute free kick against Greece secured a place at the 2002 World Cup.

England dropped Beckham in 2006 in an effort to renew the team with younger players after a quarterfinal exit at that year's World Cup. Coach Steve McClaren recalled him the following year after a run of stuttering form, and he returned for the remainder of England's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

His last England appearance came against Belarus in October 2009. He missed the 2010 World Cup because of an Achilles injury, but went to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello's backroom staff.

"I want to thank all my teammates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from," Beckham said. "I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed."

Beckham had already started planning for his post-playing career earlier in the season, becoming an ambassador for Chinese soccer.

"Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead," Beckham said. "I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back."

This story has been updated.

Catholic lay ministers: An alternative to a shortage of priests

Paige Brettingen | USC Annenberg Knight Program on Media and Religion — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:34:54 -0700

Alexander Garoutte, a senior at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, is one of a new breed of Catholic lay ministers.; Credit: Paige Brettingen, Knight Program on Media and Religion

Alexander Garoutte says he's grateful his parents were so supportive of the major he ended up choosing.

"It must be hard to send your child off to school so he can major in theology," he said. "You can't really be sure what that's going to look like after graduation."

Garoutte, a 21-year-old senior at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, was raised Catholic. He attended public school but became involved in the Church as an altar server and later as an active member of the youth group. The more involved he got, the more he realized he wanted to "talk about God all the time."

But he knew the priesthood wasn't for him, as he preferred to keep his options open for marriage and a family. So he chose a degree in theology with aspirations of working in Church ministry — a growing trend among Catholics who seek a more prominent role in the Church when priesthood isn't an option. In the face of a priest shortage, the profession is proving vital for the Church.

Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles is one of 29 programs in the country that offer theological degrees with an emphasis in lay ministry, according to the Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry. LMU's program started with 30 students in 1995, says Michael Horan, a professor of theological studies at the university. This year, there are 100.

As far as Garoutte's job prospects when he graduates, the demand for his future profession hasn't let up. A study released in 2011 by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University estimates that the Church is adding about 790 new lay ministers to parish ministry staffs in the U.S. each year (you can see the full document below). The average parish needs about nine full-time ministerial staff, including a pastor and a deacon, according to Christopher Anderson, executive director of the National Association for Lay Ministry.

Allowing laity to have a more active role was first initiated by Vatican II in the 1960s and later solidified in 2005 with a pastoral letter from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord." The letter was considered a "sign of hope" by Horan in affirming how critical lay ministry is to the future of the Church.

"The U.S. bishops' statement spoke about the phenomenon of lay leaders and their influence in making parishes hum," said Horan. "It shows how lay leaders and ordained leaders could work together to understand their vocations."

It also provides guidelines for U.S. parishes to follow when hiring and supporting lay ministers as church staff. Roles the lay ministers take on include leading the youth ministry programs, directing the music ministry and even running an entire parish in the absence of a pastor.

Part of the growth in lay ministry is attributed to fewer priests available to serve U.S. parishes. As older priests near retirement, the number of men being ordained isn't keeping pace with needs for the estimated 110 million Catholics in the U.S. by 2050, according to the CARA study.

It also notes the current U.S. Catholic population of about 78 million is about 75 percent more than it was 40 years ago. However, it is served by the same number of parishes as there were in 1965. Although Mass attendance has declined since the 1950s, there hasn't been a recent decline or increase over the last decade. If attendance stays the same, demands on parishes and parish staff will only increase.

Lay people want a bigger role

The other reason for growth in lay ministry, says Anderson, is that lay people genuinely want a bigger role, especially those who saw Vatican II firsthand — the most significant overhaul of the Catholic Church in centuries.

That presents another challenge. The first round of lay ministers after Vatican II mostly included former seminarians or religious sisters with strong theological training. As they retire, those replacing them aren't coming from the seminary or sisterhood, says Anderson, which makes lay ministry programs at the graduate level crucial.

While the clergy's response to lay ministers has been very positive, Anderson says some reproach comes from liberal Catholic groups who feel lay ministry competes with their campaigns for married clergy or female priests.

"The strongest criticism we get is from the left because there is a commitment for any lay minister to work within Church structures as they are now, and while we want the Church to be all it can be, we're committed to those structures," said Anderson.

Neither Married Priests USA nor Roman Catholic Women Priests said they are against lay ministry, calling it a necessary vocation for Catholics to live out their baptismal call. However, both groups are doubtful an increase of lay ministers will alleviate the Church's priest shortage.

"There is such a crisis of leadership in the Church. The Church doesn't see the [priest shortage] problem, and they're doing nothing about it," said Archbishop Peter Paul Brennan of Married Priests USA, who became an ordained married priest by a Catholic church independent of the Vatican. "The Vatican thinks the Holy Spirit is going to create a miracle and give them an answer instead of them doing something."

If married clergy were allowed, Garoutte said he wouldn't hesitate entering the seminary. The reason he doesn't join groups that advocate for married clergy is because he feels his education may be the best tool for now.

"I've learned you need to get a Ph.D. in order for the Church to respect you, and then from that, you can use it as your platform," he said. "But if priests could be married, I would do it in a second."

This story is one in an occasional series of reports by students taking part in a class of the USC Annenberg Knight Program on Media and Religion, headed by Diane Winston. Thanks to a grant from the Luce Foundation, Annenberg students have covered global religion, culture and politics for the past four years. This year's journalism class is headed to Ireland and Northern Ireland for 10 days in March and, in preparation, its students are covering Los Angeles' Catholic communities. The nine students are a mix of undergraduates, second year grad students and mid-career professionals.

The ‘Supersizing’ the U.S. Catholic Parish Life

Popular psychologist Joyce Brothers dead at 85 (videos)

AP — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:51:25 -0700

In this Sept. 1, 1987 file photo, Dr. Joyce Brothers takes a break from a busy schedule in Los Angeles to talk about her upcoming television series, "The Psychology Behind the News." Brothers died Monday, May 13, 2013, in New York City, according to publicist Sanford Brokaw. She was 85.
; Credit: AP Photo/Nick Ut

Joyce Brothers, the pop psychologist who pioneered the television advice show in the 1950s and enjoyed a long and prolific career as a syndicated columnist, author, and television and film personality, has died. She was 85.

Brothers died Monday of respiratory failure in New York City, according to her longtime Los Angeles-based publicist, Sanford Brokaw.

Brothers first gained fame on a game show and went on to publish 15 books and make cameo appearances on popular shows including "Happy Days" and "The Simpsons." She visited Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" nearly 100 times.

The way Brothers liked to tell it, her multimedia career came about "because we were hungry."

It was 1955. Her husband, Milton Brothers, was still in medical school and Brothers had just given up her teaching positions at Hunter College and Columbia University to be home with her newborn, firmly believing a child's development depended on it.

But the young family found itself struggling on her husband's residency income. So Brothers came up with the idea of entering a television quiz show as a contestant.

"The $64,000 Question" quizzed contestants in their chosen area of expertise. She memorized 20 volumes of a boxing encyclopedia — and, with that as her subject, became the only woman and the second person to ever win the show's top prize.

Brothers tried her luck again on the superseding "$64,000 Challenge," answering each question correctly and earning the dubious distinction as one of the biggest winners in the history of television quiz shows. She later denied any knowledge of cheating, and during a 1959 hearing in the quiz show scandal, a producer exonerated her of involvement.

Her celebrity opened up doors. In 1956, she became co-host of "Sports Showcast" and frequently appeared on talk shows.

Two years later, NBC offered her a trial on an afternoon television program in which she advised

on love, marriage, sex and child-rearing. Its success led to a nationally telecast program, and subsequent late-night shows that addressed such taboo subjects as menopause, frigidity, impotence and sexual enjoyment.

She also dispensed advice on several phone-in radio programs, sometimes going live. She was criticized by some for giving out advice without knowing her callers' histories. But Brothers responded that she was not practicing therapy on the air and that she advised callers to seek professional help when needed.

Despite criticism of the format, the call-in show took off, and by 1985, the Association of Media Psychologists was created to monitor for abuses.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, who has offered his medical expertise in radio and television formats first pioneered by Brothers, was among those sharing reaction to her death Monday.

"Knew nothing about her history on the $64,000 question, but I did know Joyce Brothers," he wrote on Twitter. "She was a pioneer and very knowledgable."

Other celebrities, including Paris Hilton, rapper Common and motivational guru Tony Robbins, posted bits of Brothers' advice on Twitter, such as: "The best proof of love is trust."

For almost four decades, Brothers was a columnist for Good Housekeeping. She also wrote a daily syndicated advice column that appeared in more than 350 newspapers. Briefly, in 1961, she was host of her own television program.

Later, Brothers branched out into film, playing herself in more than a dozen movies, including "Analyze That" (2002), "Beethoven's 4th" (2001), "Lover's Knot" (1996) and "Dear God" (1996).

She was also an advocate for women. In the 1970s, Brothers called for changing textbooks to remove sexist bias, noting that nonsexist cultures tend to be less warlike.

The quiz show scandal of 1958-59 was one of the biggest scandals in the history of television. It erupted in 1958 when it was revealed that quiz show producers had been rigging the outcome of some shows, including "The $64,000 Question," by giving favored contestants the answers in advance.

Brothers was one of a number of big winners who told an Associated Press survey in November 1959 that they knew nothing of any cheating.

At a House hearing that month, associate producer Mort Koplin also said Brothers was among those not involved in cheating. But he also described how contestants, who were carefully interviewed in advance, could be affected unknowingly as producers tried to manipulate the outcome of shows by tailoring questions to benefit favored ones and oust less-favored ones.

According to the testimony, Brothers applied to be a "64,000 Question" contestant as an expert in home economics and psychology. The producers, looking for an audience-pleasing oddity, suggested the pretty young woman try boxing as her specialty. She learned the subject so well, Koplin said, she kept on winning even after the producers "threw the book" at her with tough questions aimed at eliminating her.

Born Joyce Diane Bauer in New York, Brothers earned her bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia.

She wrote numerous advice books, including "Ten Days To A Successful Memory" (1964), "Positive Plus: The Practical Plan for Liking Yourself Better" (1995) and "Widowed" (1992), a guide to dealing with grief written after the death of her husband in 1990.

Brothers is survived by sister Elaine Goldsmith, daughter Lisa Brothers Arbisser, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Natural History Museum celebrates 100th birthday on June 9, and you're invited

Robert Garrova — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:26 -0700

Photo from 1937: "Room where the bones from the La Brea Tar Pits are assembled for exhibition in the L.A. County Museum of Natural History."

On Sunday, June 9, the Natural History Museum will celebrate its 100th birthday. There will be plenty to do during the day, but you don’t have to go home once the sun goes down.

After dark, Adam Steltzner of JPL will talk about the Mars Curiosity rover and the museum will put on a “spectacle of light and sound” in the brand new Otis Booth Pavilion, which houses the bones of a 63-foot fin whale.

You can roam the museum gardens and listen to DJs in the Mammal Halls, too. And if all that's not enough, you can also catch a live performance from DEVO.

Tickets are $25 for non-members and can be purchased through the Natural History Museum’s website.

Seth Myers named host of NBC's 'Late Night'

Krishnadev Calamur | NPR — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:43:52 -0700

Seth Myers attends the 29th Annual Fashion Group International Night Of Stars at Cipriani Wall Street on October 25, 2012 in New York City. ; Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Comedian Seth Myers will replace Jimmy Fallon on NBC's Late Night, the network announced Sunday.

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Myers, the longtime SNL cast member who anchors the show's "Weekend Update" segment, will take the 12:35 a.m. segment from Fallon, who's replacing Jay Leno as host of the Tonight show.

The New York Times reports:

"NBC made the appointment, which had been widely expected, one day before Mr. Meyers was to be introduced to advertisers at NBC's presentation of its new programming lineup at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.

"The assignment will keep Mr. Meyers under the production leadership of Lorne Michaels, who will continue to serve as executive producer of Late Night as well as serving in the same position on Mr. Fallon's Tonight Show as it moves to New York. (And of course, he will remain in charge of SNL.)"

Myers acknowledged the appointment announced on Mother's Day, by thanking Lorne Michaels and his own mom.

So, next year I'm going to do this nytimes.com/2013/05/13/bus… Thanks to NBC, Lorne, but especially Mom
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) May 12, 2013

'Sesame Street' gets new Hispanic character

AP — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:05:57 -0700

This April 2013 photo released by Sesame Workshop shows Puerto Rican actor Ismael Cruz Cordova, 26, of "Sesame Street," posing with muppet Rosita in New York. Cruz plays Mando, a young Latino writer who interacts with the puppets and also loves technology. (AP Photo/Sesame Workshop, Gil Vaknin); Credit: Gil Vaknin/AP

As a child in Puerto Rico, Ismael Cruz was delighted by the colorful characters in "Sesame Street," who not only entertained and educated him, but helped him learn "inglés." He could not have imagined that two decades later he would be playing with them in front of the cameras.

Cruz is the newest Hispanic addition to popular children series' cast, playing Armando, or "Mando."

"'Sesame Street' is a magical place. It doesn't matter if you are working there or just visiting, or if you're watching on TV, that magic is always there," Cruz, 26, told The Associated Press. "I grew up watching the show, and for me it was a place that really existed and to which as a child I aspired to go, a place so diverse that I could see myself in the faces of the people that were there. Being on the set now is that, but with cameras."

Cruz's character is a Hispanic writer from Brooklyn who writes everything from short stories to essays and movie scripts. He also loves technology and social media.

The addition expands a cast of Hispanic characters that includes Maria (Sonia Manzano) and Luis (Emilio Delgado), who debuted on "Sesame Street" in 1971 as human characters, as well as Rosita, the charming turquoise monster who joined in 1993 with Mexican puppeteer Carmen Osbahr, who also voices Ovejita.

The show wants to reflect the population changes in the U.S., where Hispanics are the fastest growing minority. It also features African-American, Asian and American Indian characters.

"It's a show that's always cutting edge, that is always aware of what's going on with the population, so by including a character that is young, with new perspectives, Latino, and that bring that new generation, it is carrying on with that message," Cruz said.

Cruz grew up poor in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, and his mother tuned in to "Sesame Street" so his son would learn English. Cruz studied music and dreamed of being an actor, eventually attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Before "Sesame Street," he appeared on "The Good Wife" and in films "In The Blood," ''White Alligator" and "Chaser."

The casting call for a new Hispanic character on "Sesame Street" attracted hundreds of bilingual actors last August.

"I hadn't seen it, (but) many people who knew me and read the description of what they were looking for sent me messages through Facebook, email and phone telling me, 'You have to do this audition, this is perfect for you.' And that's how I began this process," he said.

"Mando" will make his debut on the 44th season of "Sesame Street," which starts airing on September 16. Carol-Lynn Parente, executive producer of "Sesame Street," said she and her team knew immediately that Ismael was the perfect addition.

"He has a passion for creative expression and a warmth that comes right through the camera," Parente said in a statement.

Just in time for Mother's Day: Echo Park Craft Fair is this Saturday and Sunday

Robert Garrova — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:35:35 -0700

All the great handmade stuff you could ever want will be at the Echo Park Craft Fair this Saturday and Sunday. Just in time to get something cool for mom, too. Like textiles from Counterpane, jewelry from Annie Costello Brown and artisan brittles from Morning Glory Confections.

But beware, even though it's called the Echo Park Craft Fair, it's actually taking place in downtown LA at 821 East 3rd St., 90013. Check it out Saturday, May 11, 12pm-7pm; and Sunday, May 12, 12pm-6pm. Free to attend. More info here.

LA Catholic Archiocese grooming next generation of elementary school leaders

Paresh Dave | USC Annenberg Knight Program on Media and Religion — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:49:45 -0700

Angelica Izquierdo graduated from the PLACE program and teaches second graders at St. John Chrysostom.; Credit: Paresh Dave

Tech-savvy and a skilled fundraiser, Jae Kim is exactly the type of leader the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles wants for its schools.

Last July, Kim became the first person other than a nun to be principal of St. John Chrysostom School in Inglewood. He's outfitted the 85-year-old school with Wi-Fi, developed a financial plan that includes a rainy day fund and instructed teachers to post grades online.

Kim is part of a new generation of leaders whom the archdiocese is grooming. They're being cultivated at a critical time for a Church eager to attract and hold onto the next generation.

After three decades of declining enrollment, Catholic elementary schools in Los Angeles are heartened by two straight years of growth. But archdiocese policymakers say stronger leadership and innovation are needed to keep the momentum going and to position its schools as attractive and affordable alternatives to other educational options.

"We have a vision that we can grow as other archdioceses around the country close their schools," said elementary schools superintendent Kevin Baxter. "That potential for growth rests on two pillars: leadership and stewardship and then innovation in the classroom."

While Kim's already fulfilling that charge, the district's ongoing challenge will be to produce more leaders like him. The archdiocese recently revised its leadership formation program to emphasize Baxter's two pillars.

Earlier this month, about 115 teachers recommended for bigger roles gathered to discuss how they could start assuming more responsibilities. They'll continue to meet in the coming months at forums with campus administrators such as Kim who have expertise in different subjects, from technology to finance.

Learning to make websites

At Kim's school, fifth graders learn more about making websites than most current college seniors know. Baxter said emerging leaders are being told that children need to be engaged at school in the same way they engage with the outside world.

"We can't educate them in a fifth-century classroom," he said. "Technology is a tool, not some fancy, flashy thing."

The financial challenge at every school is often vastly different. One common thread, though, is that the growth Baxter speaks of is largely a product of more Latino students, a community with a greater likelihood of needing scholarships to enroll at Catholic schools. Funding those scholarships isn't easy, but it can be done, Baxter said. He wants schools to rely on development more than fundraising, meaning that schools hold golf tournaments and walkathons to attract alumni rather than bake sales and car washes to earn pennies.

"The job of a principal is already time-demanding enough without adding in the marketing and PR, but they can enlist the help of parents and alumni to produce a more mature development program," Baxter said.

Graduate studies programs such as Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education at Loyola Marymount University have been key in developing leaders.

Barbara Curtis, a regional outreach coordinator for the archdiocese and a principal at St. Raphael School, has worked with a handful of alumni from the program. She called them bearers of compassion who raise the standards at the schools where they work because care for students is so central to their education. With the help of a PLACE alum, Curtis added digital whiteboards and upgraded her school's Internet service.

Natural candidates for leadership

At Kim's school, "PLACErs" hold down the second, third and fourth-grade classrooms. He said he's worked with 10 in total, all of whom are natural candidates for leadership spots because of their energy and willingness to go the extra mile.

"I wouldn't mind a school full of PLACE people," he said.

Of the 254 people admitted to PLACE in its 13 years, 10 have become principals. The program's tough entry requirements attract high-quality students.

"You have to go through a whole lot more hoops than just applying to any other graduate program," said program director Diana Murphy.

Despite a weak market for teachers, Murphy and Kim said graduates of PLACE and its sister programs elsewhere in the country are always in demand.

"What we're doing is giving a little bit of a boost to the faculty of the schools," Murphy said. "Some look to at us like a placement agency for teachers, but we're more like an incubator for developing leaders in Catholic education."

At St. John Chrysostom School, a small wooden crucifix hangs above white boards in classrooms. A Virgin Mary statue sits perched on a ledge in one corner. And a large LCD screen serves as a reminder of the primacy of digital technology in a '60s-era building.

Kim still wants to build a gym, put a laptop on the desk of every student and invest in a high-speed Internet connection. He also said he would love to see enrollment rise from 270 students to 290 students next year. That'll take some more marketing in what amounts to an unstable environment. The K-8 school receives no subsidy from the Archdiocese, and basic cost increases push tuition up about $100 each year. Last year's cost was $3,800.

As Kim sorts through his goals, the teachers he's eyeing as potential leaders will be right next to him for now, learning a few lessons about flexibility and problem-solving along the way.

"I'd love to keep them," Kim said. "I can't be selfish though."

US Marines launch campaign to recruit Asian Americans

Michelle Lanz and Tess Vigeland | Take Two — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:21:30 -0700

Marine Corps Recruiting Command released its latest advertising campaign, 'A Warriors' Education,' today on the command's official Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages. The campaign was created to align with Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month and will run from May 8 to June 7. ; Credit: Staff Sgt. Randy Kirby

The US Marines are looking for a few more good men and women. And in particular, a few good Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The Corps launched a new ad campaign this week called "A Warrior's Education," featuring Asian-American officers speaking about the importance of values like discipline and respect. The ads were created to align with Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, May 8 to June 7.

"It makes sense that the Marines are attempting to recruit Asian Americans, because we have to remember that the military is a business, and this is a market that's not been completely tapped," said Tracy Lachica Buenavista, who teaches Asian American Studies at Cal State Northridge. "Further, there's still a very strong military presence in Asian and Pacific Islander nation states, so it's really strategic to hire APIs that can provide linguistic and cultural translation for military operations and projects."

In this clip from one of the videos, First Lieutenant David Pham talks about how important respect was in his upbringing:

In another video, Pham speaks about the importance of discipline:

"These ads are really grounded in the stereotype of Asian-Pacific Islanders in the US as these model minorities that have hyper-disciplinary practices within their families," said Buenavista. "Not only does it essentialize API individuals, but it really obscures our diversity, and it also inadvertently assumes that other people of color don't possess these same characteristics."

Enlistment of Asian Americans has risen dramatically in recent years. In 2009, Los Angeles alone saw an 80 percent increase in Asian American recruits, but overall Asian Americans account for just 2.41 percent of the Marine Corps, and Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, .65 percent. Whites make up 68.86 percent, followed by Latinos at 13.46 percent and African Americans at 10.13 percent.

"The uptick has really been a result of these racialized recruitment strategies, where they're coming up with programs that make it more desireable for certain communities to enlist," said Buenavista. "I think the thing all branches of the military should do in terms of the recruitment strategies is really be honest in regards to what service actually looks like, what it looks like after war, where the implications during war."

8 Mother's Day activities in LA that have nothing to do with brunch

Lisa Brenner — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:05:19 -0700

; Credit: Photo by OliBac via Flickr Creative Commons

1. PING PONG TOURNAMENT

Count on Machine Project — a nonprofit community space and informal educational outfit — to come through with a retro rec-room flashback, served with spin.

Honor your mothers at the Machine Project storefront on Sunday, May 12th at 2pm by attending an event that combines a ping pong tournament with improvised sound. Each player will be teamed up with a musician who will be using direct output generated from gameplay, and as the tournament progresses, improvised duets will arise. [MORE]

2. INDOOR SKYDIVING

Throw momma from the plane. But indoors. And into a cylinder. No aircraft required.

Whether this is your way of telling the ma to take a flying leap, or whether you're simply looking for an extreme way to say "THANK YOU!," the folks at iFLY Indoor Skydiving encourage you to surprise the lady of honor with the gift of wind. Not convinced? Maybe this video will help. [MORE]

3. RE-CREATE FAMILY PHOTOS

Here are some good examples of what this trend is all about. Go forth and regress.

4. "MOM" TATTOO

Skull, robin, dagger, Deco, and ruffled potato chip are but a few of the variations on the "Mom" tattoo theme. Buzzfeed has photos of 17 beauties to assist in your brainstorming, artist-finding holiday plans.

(Plan B, the removable NPR version.)

5. BRA FITTING

It's fitting, so to speak, et al.

Brunch then Bra fitting? Or Bra fitting then Brunch? You choose. Extended hours for Mother's Day! 12-6 - eepurl.com/zf0U5
— jenette goldstein (@jenettebras) May 8, 2013

6. VISIT A GARDEN IN ASIA (IN PASADENA)

The Pacific Asia Museum is free and open to the public on Mother's Day Sunday, May 12, from 12-4 p.m.

Enjoy a flower-filled day of performances, crafts and more as we celebrate the garden traditions of Asia...The exhibition focuses on the idea of the garden as a creative space, both intellectually and artistically, but also the respite that nature, encapsulated in gardens, offers in daily life...visitors are encouraged to spend time in Pacific Asia Museum’s renowned courtyard garden for a complete experience. [MORE]

7. TOM JONES AT THE TROUBADOUR

The concentration of age-inappropriate sheer blouses will be at an all time high on Sunday at the Troubadour during the conclusion of Tom Jones' two-night stand in West Hollywood. Adjust control garments accordingly.

It's Delilah's night off! The legendary Tom Jones presents a performance of blues, gospel, american roots and contemporary classics, taken from his universally acclaimed albums Spirit In The Room and Praise & Blame. Accompanying the singer on this 'potent collection' (Mojo) of songs—along with a few delectable surprises, is a specially assembled of 4-piece band of Nashville players. [TICKETS]

8. "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" ON THE BIG SCREEN

No baronesses allowed. American Cinematheque presents the 20th Century Fox classic at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica on Sunday, May 12 at 5 p.m.

MOTHER’S DAY FAVORITE | THE SOUND OF MUSIC, 1965, 20th Century Fox, 172 min.

The irresistible musical tale of a nun (Julie Andrews) who becomes the nanny for the seven children of the widowed Austrian Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), winning their hearts and eventually their father's as well. As the Nazis take control of their homeland, the family finds comfort in each other and in such classic songs as "The Sound of Music" and "My Favorite Things." An Oscar winner for Best Picture and Robert Wise's flawless direction.

BONUS ROUND

And finally, for the mom whose heart is set on symbolically destroying (and devouring) the stork that brought you here, Hooters has free wings.

What are you doing with mom this Sunday? Share your best ideas with us in the comments below.

Jeanne Cooper, CBS soap star of 'Young and the Restless,' dead at 84 (videos)

AP — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:43:24 -0700

In this June 27, 2010 file photo, actress Jeanne Cooper arrives at the 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Las Vegas.; Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

CBS says Jeanne Cooper, soap opera star of the network's "The Young and the Restless" for nearly 40 years, has died at the age of 84. Her son, "L.A. Law" actor Corbin Bernsen, also reported the death on his Twitter account.

Mom passed this morning. She was in peace and without fear. U all have been incredible in your love. In her name share it 2 day with others.
— Corbin Bernsen (@corbinbernsen) May 8, 2013

Cooper played the unforgettable grande dame Katherine Chancellor since 1973.

In April, Bernsen tweeted about his mother's undisclosed illness, calling her fight an "uphill battle." Later he wrote of gradual improvement, saying she'd been taken off breathing equipment.

Cooper's role on "The Young and the Restless" earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2008. Over the years she was nominated multiple times.

Flowers will be placed on Cooper's Hollywood Walk of Fame star Wednesday afternoon at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.

Cooper will be remembered "as a daytime television legend and as a friend who will truly be missed by all of us here at the network," said Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, adding that the actress brought "indelible charm, class and talent to every episode."

Cooper joined the daytime serial six months after its March 1973 debut, staking claim to the title of longest-tenured cast member. The role earned her 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and a trophy for best actress in a drama series in 2008.

"God knows it's claimed a big part of my life," she told The Associated Press in March as CBS' "Young and the Restless" celebrated its milestone 40th anniversary.

As the years passed, Cooper brushed aside thoughts of saying goodbye to the show and its fictional Wisconsin town of Genoa City.

"What would I do? I'm no good at crocheting. My fingers would bleed," she told the AP as she turned 83.

Cooper, born in the California town of Taft in 1928, attended the College of the Pacific and performed in local theater productions before her professional career began with the 1953 film "The Redhead from Wyoming" starring Maureen O'Hara. Other film credits include 1968's "The Boston Strangler" with Tony Curtis and 1967's "Tony Rome" with Frank Sinatra.

She had a parallel career in TV, with shows including "The Adventures of Kit Carson" in 1953 and "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse" in 1954 and "Bracken's World" in 1969-70.

In a recurring role on "L.A. Law," she played the mother to Bersen's character, Arnie, and received a 1987 Emmy nomination for best guest actress in a drama. Bernsen later joined his mother on her series, making several appearances as a priest, Father Todd.

But it was her role on "The Young and the Restless" that made her a TV star intimately familiar to viewers.

In 1984, Coooper's real-life facelift was televised on the show as her character underwent the surgery at the same time, and had no regrets about it.

"It opened up reconstructive surgery for so many people, youngsters getting things done," she said. "To this day, people will come up to me and say, 'Thank you so much for doing that. My mom or I had something done, and not just cosmetic surgery.' That was an incredible experience in my life."

"The Young and the Restless" has topped the daytime serial ratings for more than 24 years, in part because of the continuity provided by Cooper and its other long-time stars including Eric Braeden. It held its ground as the genre diminished in popularity and the majority of soaps vanished.

Cooper's 30-year marriage to Harry Bernsen ended in divorce. The couple have three children, Corbin, Caren and Collin, and eight grandchildren.

Netflix takes the 'Arrested Development' banana stand on a world tour to hype series (photos, video)

Mike Roe — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:08:02 -0700

Arrested Development Bluth's Original Frozen Banana Stand reopens for business ahead of Arrested Development premiering on Netflix on May 26, 2013 - Potters Fields, London, United Kingdom.; Credit: Richard Chambury/Richfoto.com

Netflix has slowly tried to reposition itself as an online HBO instead of an online Blockbuster Video, and the next puzzle piece in that is every TV nerd’s favorite thing, “Arrested Development” — 15 brand spanking new episodes, coming May 26.

They’re taking the hype for the new episodes of the much-loved, not-watched-enough show on the road, starting Wednesday. The Bluth’s Original Frozen Banana Stand Worldwide Tour kicks off in London (pay no attention to the fact the banana stand burned down — this must be the reopened one), and is appearing in several London locations on May 8, 9, 15 and 21 before eventually coming Stateside — including to Los Angeles. You can follow where the banana stand is appearing on the @ArrestedDev Twitter account.

Netflix also notes that surprise “Bluth family and friends” will appear at the banana stand. I’m rooting for appearances by Ann, so that we can all take photos with her and act surprised that there’s someone else in the photo.

The #bananastand is back in business! Follow @arresteddev to hear about upcoming visits in London, NY and LA. twitter.com/arresteddev/st…
— Arrested Development (@arresteddev) May 8, 2013

It's a homecoming of sorts — the banana stand scenes take place on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, and they were filmed at Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey.

The various frozen bananas available at the stand are all available for less than 2 bucks, with an original frozen banana only costing you a dollar. The authenticity may be slightly hurt by the barrel with a big “Netflix” logo out front, but everything else delivers on the “Arrested Development” vibe.

The return of “Arrested Development” has been a hot topic for years, with whispers of a movie leading to hushed talks of a few new episodes before ending with out-and-out conversation about a full brand spanking new season. It’s nice to know that, along with all the blog posts and magazine covers, there’s still a real life element to promoting the thing that’s designed to get any Netflix holdouts to fork over their money.

The banana stand’s been a part of the promotion everywhere, from the afterparty following the L.A. premiere of the new season last month at the Roosevelt Hotel, all the way back to when they were first promoting the show a decade ago (you can see photos of that in the slideshow above).

And because I haven’t said it yet — yes, I know that there’s always money in the banana stand.

Rare Hawaiian surfing book expected to fetch $40K (videos)

AP — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:39:50 -0700

; Credit: Screenshot via thevintagesurfauction.com

A book about surfers in the early 1900s is expected to sell for about $40,000 in Orange County

A copy of "The Surf Riders of Hawaii" will go before bidders Saturday at the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction. The auction will include more than 60 vintage surfboards and other items.

The book is one of eight made by hand by A.R. Gurrey Jr. between 1911 and 1915. Gurrey is considered the father of surf photography. The book helped spread surfing's appeal from Hawaii to the mainland.

It is composed of six leaves of heavy brown woven paper, with eight mounted gelatin-silver photographs of native Hawaiians surfing Waikiki. Among them is Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic medalist swimmer who helped popularize the sport.

WATCH: Videos about the book, below

There are three pages of text featuring eight black-and-white silver prints and the poem "Childe Harold" by Lord Byron.

Gurrey initially made the books to sell in his local art shop on what was then a desolate Waikiki Beach. This copy of the book was found by Gurrey's family in his personal belongings. A copy of the book sold at Sotheby's for $37,500 last year.

This auction will be presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Organizers hope to raise about $200,000 for the Surfing Heritage & Cultural Center in San Clemente.

"This museum is working very hard to keep the culture and history of surfing alive and well," said Peter Mel, director of marketing for the Quiksilver Waterman Collection. He is also the 2013 Mavericks Invitational champion and the Big Wave World Tour champion.

"This auction is one of the first of its kind in California," he added. "They've done it in Hawaii. It allows collectors in California to be here and not travel all the way to Hawaii."

Bidders can also participate online at thevintagesurfauction.com.