WEAKEND PLANNER SAYS
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD

Hard to believe, kids, but everything's actually up and running at the new office—we even somehow managed to publish an issue of the print mag this week, and Robert must’ve known where to plug in stuff, cuz we’re totally online too. The eighth-floor vantage from our temporary space for the next coupla months (until we move up to our “permanent” joint, Suite 910, which faces west) is breathtaking, especially on a cloudy-clear day like today. Being a bunch of clinically diagnosed manic depressives, we didn't expect it, but there is definitely an energizing force at work here, just being in the middle of old Hollywood, just a block from Hollywood & Vine. Who knew we'd be pumped? But give us a couple of weeks, till the meds wear off.

CALENDAR
Friday, May 6
5:00 p.m.
Bulls at Wizards: After nearly blowing a 22-point lead, Gilbert Arenas rescued his club by hitting a game winning shot at the buzzer and has his team poised to finish off the Baby Bulls at home tonight.

7:00 p.m.
Shaun of the Dead: Billed as, “a romantic comedy. With zombies.” Had no desire to see it initially & ended up loving it. I’m not usually into the zombie thing either. Not that there’s anything wrong with the zombie thing. This U.K. film nails the spoof thing. It’s shot super-cool and is way, way funny. Rent it! Oh and watch the extras. Especially the Coldplay thing.

7:30 p.m.
FLIGHT 001: Shop for Your Trip: You feel like you’re in a plane when you shop in their stores. (NY, San Fran and L.A,. just opened at 8235 W.3^rd St), or just shop online for all of your in-flight needs. For those not in the know, the shop’s named after Pan Am’s much-traveled Flight 101…the flight that, “ruled all westbound air travel for almost 40 years.”

8:00 p.m.
Lewis Black @ The Comedy & Magic Club: Like his rants on The Daily Show? In the mood for some anger? Get down to Hermosa Beach, dude. Rezzies required (1018 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach., 310-372-1193).

9:00 p.m.
H is Orange and Allrise @ the Viper Room. Two really good bands at a really cool venue.

Saturday, May 7
8:00 a.m.
Revlon Run/Walk for Women @ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Celebrity opening ceremonies @ 8, 5k run starts at 8:45, 5k walk at 9, with plenty of finishing line festivities. Participate or donate in support of Revlon’s 12^th annual event to fight against women’s cancers. www.revlonrunwalk.com

2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Pre-Mother's Day Chocolate Tasting: Head on over to Balducci’s (155 W 66th St.,) for some free chocolate, and even get tips from John Down, the Chief Chocolate Officer of Christopher Norman Chocolates, on how to break into the biz.

9:00 p.m.
Moby @ The Wiltern LG: Moby time! Go hang with the cool kids. B.Y.O. vegan snack.

11:30 p.m.
Saturday Night Live: Johnny Knoxville hosts; System of a Down is the musical guest (wonder what they’ll do about all the F-bombs in new single “B.Y.O.B.”?). I’ll always be optimistic about SNL. And they will always have sketches that are too long or just bad. However, there will always be at least one or two moments that make me really, really happy. So I keep watching. You should, too.

Sunday, May 8
11:00 a.m.
Mother’s Day: Take her to brunch. Bring her flowers. Don’t be a dick. Can we write that? We’re in Hollywood now. We don’t care. That’s how we roll.

5:00 p.m.
Marix for margaritas & fajitas: The best in WeHo, om both counts. Always jammed packed w/lots of the WeHo crew. Navigating the crowds is well worth it once you’ve got a pitcher (try the Kick Ass). If you can’t get there today, go on Taco Tuesdays & look for Jennifer Aniston, a regular there. But not so much a regular in Brad’s bed. Ouch. (1108 N. Flores St., just north of Santa Monica Blvd.)

7:00 p.m.
Pieces of The Kathy & Mo Show: If you haven’t seen their shows onstage or on HBO in the past, you definitely should. They both have such strong characters and make for an amazing comedy team. This onetime-only performance benefits the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center @ The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theater (1125 N. McCadden Pl., 323-860-7300). There’s a 3 p.m. show today, too. $35, also $75 VIP tickets for 7 p.m. show.

7:00 p.m.
Caroline Rhea @ The Ice House: Want to yell at her for hosting The Biggest Loser? Corner her after her set. @ 24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 577-1894.

Upcoming:
Tuesday, May 10
10:00 p.m.
MotoStar @ The C-Note, which we hear is NYC's best local live music dive (157 Ave. C (at 10th St.)

Wednesday, May 11
8:00 p.m.
Great Comedy @ The Hollywood Improv: Jill’s up, so go (8162 Melrose Ave.). Email for $5 flyer: [email protected]

JE-C’S MUSIC TO LOOK OUT FOR
In a society where it’s hard enough just to be gay, Ari Gold is not only gay but is trying to be a pop star at the same time. The catch with Ari, though, is he is upfront with the fact that he’s gay, which is rare these days. This has caused him to be turned down by many major labels, big producers and executives because they didn’t want him to be out. Ari just returned from being on tour in Europe, and he will be playing May 7 at The Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Festival, which takes place at the Brooklyn Academy. Ari has also been working with Sirius Satellite Radio on his upcoming live album and is in the process of working on a documentary, which has the working title The Making of a Gay Pop Star. Ari is proud of being gay and has been promoting his music through the gay market and gay press, along with iTunes and Amazon. He’ll also be releasing the single “Love Will Take Over,” along with a bunch of remixes and possibly a video. Ari will play PRIDE festivals across the country to help promote his music. Check out www.arigold.com for more info on this amazing artist.

JE-C’S NEW MOVIE RUNDOWN
Kingdom of Heaven
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson and Edward Norton
Synopsis: Bailian, a young French blacksmith, is mourning the loss of his wife and son when he's confronted by his estranged father, Godfrey of Ibelin, the baron to the king of Jerusalem and a man committed to keeping peace in the holy land despite the increasing possibility of war.
Thoughts: I really want to see this movie. I’m a huge fan of Ridley Scott and loved Gladiator, and I’m hoping his new historical epic will be just as good as the last one.

House of Wax
Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Van Holt, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki, Jon Abrahams and Robert Ri'chard
Synopsis: Carly, Paige, and their buddies camp out for a night while traveling to a college football game. After an unpleasant run-in with a mysterious trucker, they awake to find their car disabled and have to hike to a nearby town. Soon, the crew is stalked by a killer, forcing them to take refuge in a museum called Trudy's House of Wax.
Thoughts: You know, I’m on the fence with this movie. I saw Amityville Horror last week, and it was really good, but for some reason this movie looks stupid. I never saw the original, and although I do like to see remakes, a movie starring Paris Hilton only leads me to believe it’s a stinker.

Crash
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito and Thandie Newton
Synopsis: Set in Los Angeles shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, this ensemble drama tracks the intersecting lives of a Brentwood housewife and her attorney husband, a Persian store owner, two police detectives who are also lovers, an African-American television director and his wife, a Mexican locksmith, two carjackers, a rookie cop and a middle-aged Korean couple.
Thoughts: With an incredible cast and a very interesting story, this movie has definitely shot up to the top of my must-see list. I think Crash could be one of those sleeper movies—it hasn’t had much press and it has sort of just snuck into theaters. If you weren’t aware of it, you are now.

Coming up: Imax Corp. and Warner Bros Pictures announced earlier this week that the next Harry Potter movie will be simultaneously released as an IMAX film. The next installment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, opens in November.

HOLLY’S CORNER
Bruce Springsteen, Devils & Dust: It's not the ghost of The Ghost of Tom Joad, though no doubt drive-by exposure will evoke the Steinbeck-invoking album of lost souls high and dry on the faded edges of the American Dream. Instead Devils & Dirt is a blood-coursing meditation on desire and fear, falling and the potential for flying. "All the Way Home," "All I'm Thinking About" and "Maria's Bed" are as rife with want as anything since "Rosalita”—and even when it's about desires beyond the flesh, songs like "Long Time Comin'" elevate our wants from acquisitive to inherent of the human condition. Gently raw, utterly organic, it's the hushed places of Springsteen's mind where the prayer of life gets spun—and we can all understand how to recover from the falter, find compassion for the not-quites and understanding for the way desolation turns people so many ways. "Jesus Was an Only Son," indeed.