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LA Times Pisses Me the F@%k Off With Their Hit Piece on Ben Lyons

I wasn't gonna write anything about this, but it's been gnawing at me since yesterday morning when I brought the Calendar section of the LA Times to the dogpark.

Big hit piece on Ben Lyons. I know! Our buddy Ben from the internets and all, the E! movie guy, the son of Jeffrey, the Daily 10 movie location feature guy.

Of course, Ben is now also one of the two people sitting in those At the Movies chairs in syndication, with Ben Mankiewicz, the Turner Classic Movie guy who very quickly came and went (fortunately for his career) from the TMZ TV format during its early weeks.

I'm not gonna link to Chris Lee's article. The gist of it is that Lyons is way too lightweight to be reviewing movies on the venerable show, that he's somehow not worthy and that he favors big studio films and their stars and that he's too chummy with movie celebs.

And there's more, like a guy devoting a portion of his life to a nasty anti-Lyons website and pics that make Ben look like a chummy fratboy type that lucked into the job of his dreams because he has a familiar name and is reasonably attractive.

First of all, Ben isn't getting anywhere on his good looks. I know from attractive men and Ben is just okay. Sorry Ben, it needed to be said.

Second, I was pretty surprised when Ben and Ben got the At the Movies gig too, but they did. Disney said "I want those two." They must have their reasons.

In the same vein, would you really want to listen to Carrie Rickey and Manohla Dargis spend a half hour every week telling you why they don't like the movies you love? Uh no, I didn't think you did.

(Another thing, I betcha there are few movie stars that would want their picture taken with Mahohla Dargis.)

At the Movies is not a weekly half hour televised course in film criticism. Never was meant to be. That Gene and Roger were really scholarly guys in their columns in the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times (Roger of course still working for the latter) was secondary to that they had a relationship that came across during the TV show called At the Movies.

Because, film community, ultimately At the Movies is indeed a TV show first. People like to turn on the TV and hear that they aren't morons for enjoying "that movie." And it's not even like Ben and Ben spend 22 minutes placating people. This past week, for example, both of them didn't like their share of films.

Also, the relationship Gene and Roger had on screen came from their long time personal relationship, you can't cast that.

Now, about the chummy with movie stars allegation, you gotta remember that Lyons and also Mank have other jobs where they interact with people who star in movies. And fans going to the E! website wanna see pics of Ben with Russell Brand and Kristen Bell from the Forgetting Sarah Marshall junket because they like those people. They sell ads on that website. I'm basically saying that it's part of the job for Ben to be there online with them.

So, what's the big fucking deal.

If scholarly film types want a TV series where serious films are seriously reviewed, they can pitch their ideas to Ovation or IFC or Sundance or wherever they want. I'm sure about 80,000 people nationwide will be interested in tuning in, which is fine until you have to pay for the show's production costs with the money you make from selling the commercials that will air to only 80,000 people.

For Chris Lee to pitch this slam job to his LA Times editor, for that editor to approve the goofy-smiling pic of Lyons to go with the piece, and for a guy to spend as much time as I spend on this blog on one of his own with the expressed purpose of getting a 27-year-old guy fired from his job -- well, you would think they would all have something better to do.

And btw, after some initial trouble with the new format, I think the show is great these days. I watch it weekly.

And Chris Lee can bite me.

New At The Movies Hosts Ben Lyons, Ben Mankiewicz Have Both Visited This Blog

So, we approve of their being hired, obviously.

Mankiewicz had visited a while back after I had something to say about him working on the TMZ TV show. And, honestly, he wasn't a good fit for the show, he's smart and interested in more than what Lindsay and Samantha are doing.

And as TMZ is stupid and only interested in what Lindsay and Samantha are doing, this is a much much better gig for him.

And Ben Lyons? Well, he's a legacy, and actually will be competing with his dad, Jeffrey, and Alison Bailes in the market, as they host ReelTalk, another syndie movie show.

You know Ben of course from E!, hopefully he'll have time to do both, and he has an upcoming cameo role (as a limbo dancer, no less) in the Anna Farris Playboy bunny themed movie, The House Bunny.

Ben has said about this blog:

Congrats on creating one of the most passionate and in-depth sites on the net! Very cool.

This gives the Disney-ABC syndie show two young, interesting guys that can hang with the show for a good long time, if they so choose.

Good deal. Congrats, guys. I'll definitely watch.

Monitoring Regis and Kelly for a Hilary Duff Announcement

And I'm doing it for you, 90210 fans (and Ben Lyons).

Because the reports are that she's been offered the lead in the CW Network's 90210 remake, and here's the particulars from Ben's colleague Kristin Dos Santos at E!:

No word yet on whether she is interested in the role, and at press time, we have not received comment from reps for the CW or Hilary.

According to sources, Hilary's potential character is that of Annie Mills. As I reported last month, Annie is a Beverly Hills High student who is into theater acting, just like her predecessor. But instead of Color Me Badd, she’s listening to emo bands. She yearns to fit in with the alternative crowd and leans a lot on her adopted brother, Dixon, too.

Nothing from Regis, Kelly or Hilary. They've moved onto Carly Smithson, who gets to sing and know that he was more talented than almost all of her Idol opponents.

Our TV Pal Ben Lyons Gets a Sports Talk Radio Gig With Jerry Ferrara, Entourage's Turtle

I just got this press release from our local ESPN radio outlet (710ESPN.com) with this:

This Sunday night immediately following the Red Sox/Yankees game on 710AM ESPN Radio in Los Angeles, and online at 710ESPN.com, Ben Lyons from The E! Network and actor Jerry Ferrara from HBO's "Entourage" are hosting the premiere episode of their new sports talk radio show called, "The Final Cut."

The show airs from the conclusion of the game until 11pm on 710AM. Feel free to call in at any time, 877-552-ESPN, or listen on 710ESPN.com

This week, NBA All-Star and MVP candidate Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets drops by the show, as well as ESPN's own JA Adande, and www.ibeatyou.com founder Cash Warren.

Listen on your radio in Southern California or listen online from anywhere in the world.

Ben's blog at E! is at this link. Tell him Joe said hi.

And just because I can, after the jump you can watch Ben hula dance with Leaving Sarah Marshall stars fanboy fave Kristen Bell and That 70s Show's Mila Kunis.

90210 Spinoff Secrets Reveal New Family and the Changing Face of Beverly Hills

Since it looks like this is really gonna happen now, I think we should start taking it all a little more seriously.

For instance, who's gonna write the second episode cameo for Ben Lyons? I think he should play a young, idealistic teacher who gets in trouble from both sides for how he teaches the Israeli-Palestinian debate.

Speaking of which, remember how there was no one of Middle Eastern descent on the originial 90210? They plan to correct that this time around. In actuality, there are many Iranians, including the current mayor, Jimmy Delshad.

According to the piece referenced below, 40% of Beverly Hills HS students are Iranian.

From Nellie Andreeva at the Hollywood Reporter:

A detailed breakdown for the pilot released Monday night sheds more light on the plot and the characters of the untitled show, which is being written by Rob Thomas.

Like the original "90210," the spinoff revolves around a family with two teen kids the same age -- a boy and a girl -- who recently moved from the Midwest to Beverly Hills. But this time, the dad, Harry Mills, is a Beverly Hills High alum who moved after graduation and settled in East St. Louis. He is forced to come back when his 1970s movie star mother's alcohol problem gets out of control. Joining him are his wife, Celia, a former Olympic medalist; biological daughter Annie; and adopted son Dixon.

More after the jump.

OMG, a 90210 Spinoff on The CW? Ben Lyons Must Have a Chubby!

Ben, I know someone's sending you this, and you must have known that I couldn't resist, so you're gonna just have to forgive me and enjoy the very small, limited, additional notoriety you will get as the top celeb journalist/90210 fan.

(BTW, isn't it rude that some person on the web cut Andrea -- On-Dree-A -- off the right side of this pic? It wasn't me, that's all I want you to know.)

Hollywood Reporter:

The CW is developing a contemporary spinoff of Aaron Spelling's seminal 1990s teen soap "Beverly Hills, 90210."

"Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas is in talks to pen the project, which has been put on the fast track by the network.

Details about the spinoff -- including which if any of the characters on the original series will make the transition to the new show -- remain sketchy. CW is expected to make a decision whether to order a pilot by the end of the month.

You gotta know there will be clippage, Brenda finds out about Kelly and Dylan, after the jump.

Oscar Predix From Big Ben Lyons

Okay Ben, whaddaya got?

Part one here, part two after the jump.

LINK

All Bow to Ben Lyons, He Does Indeed Have Game

Then again, it's always easier when you're out of town. I haven't seen it all yet, because I'm on the left coast, but that clip on The Daily 10 was enough. Ben Lyons displays his skills on the BAFTA red carpet tonight with Keira Knightley.

And of course, while towering over The Seacrest. (Catt Sadler must be reading this blog because she used said phrase in reference to the diminutive star of the cable net just moments ago.

And sure, Keira's attached and all (attached? She should be attached to heavy weights to keep her from flying away in a high wind, the woman should eat something) , but that's not the point. We know we're not gonna hear anything earthshaking in a celebrity interview, so we wanna see a little patter, flirtier the better.

(Take that to the nth degree and you have NGTV.com.)

It's all in fun.

Until it's creepy and then it's really not. Like if your Uncle Lou was doing the flirting.

Keira's Atonement dress is still up for auction. Click here for more.

BAFTA Awards Sunday, Red Carpet From E!, Ceremony from BBC America

The BAFTA Awards, where you might see someone you don't always see, as in every day on your teevee. That's why I tune in, because I like to keep up on what's going on across the pond.

And, the red carpet will actually air a day after the awards on E!

Ben Lyons is taking his little friend, TV's Ryan Seacrest, to London (actually they have already arrived) to work the crowd ahead of time, but because E! already has the Grammy red carpet on Sunday they will postpone till the next day after your nightly does of news on The Daily 10.

Ben Lyons Goes to Egypt, Rachel Bilson Flirts, But ...

... big Ben can't come up with anything but more 90210 rap!

Did you see it? Did you see this on The Daily 10?

Dude, they are called skills. Get some. And only because we consider you a "friend of the blog" are we calling you out on this.

And talkin' about Rachel's Vuitton boots is gonna get you nothing but questions and possibly a knowing glance from Robbie Laughlin (hey Robbie, great smile).

After the jump, I have video of the last time Ben successfully stalked some BH90210 stars at the Sundance Film Fest.