And We Wonder Why People Make Fun of LA

By  TJ SULLIVAN

Updated 4:33 AM PST, Fri, Dec 5, 2008

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Singer Britney Spears, councilwoman Jan Perry and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa light the tree on stage at the 'Light of the Angels' Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at LA Live on December 4, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

 

A year ago, Britney Spears was The Package Los Angeles wished it could exchange, and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was the talk of the town for a dalliance, a denial, a disclosure and a divorce — all in that order. (C'mon, you remember the affair with the Telemundo news anchor.)

Fast forward to Thursday night, Christmas LA style at the official opening of LA Live, where the Mayor joined Spears in throwing the candy-cane switch to start what's expected to be the first of many annual "Light of the Angels" shows to come at the sports, residential and entertainment complex.

Odd as the pairing might seem, perhaps not. After all, Spears and Villaraigosa share the common link of attorney Stacy D. Phillips, who represented Spears in her child-custody battle, and Villaraigosa's former wife in the divorce.

Stranger still is that they were flanked by radio jock Adam Carolla and USC football coach Pete Carroll. With a quartet like that, we couldn't help but imagine we were looking at some sort of bizarre recasting of the Wizard of Oz with Caroll as Scarecrow, Carroll as Tin Man, and Antonio ... oh, you know.

LA City Councilwoman Jan Perry was there too, along with AEG CEO Tim Leiweke.

Copyright NBC Local Media

Comments (7)

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  • LB Resident Friday, Dec 5 at 3:43 PM FLAG COMMENT I agree with most of everyone's sentiments. I came away (from the tv broadcast) thinking, "this is all LA could do?" I thought it was rather pathetic. Adam Corolla was not a good choice for host. He just doesn't seem to care about things and yes, rehearsal would have been nice. That way, he would have known there was a count-down before they lit the metal thing posing as a tree. I don't know why they couldn't have gotten a ... MORE >
  • Jesse Friday, Dec 5 at 3:29 PM FLAG COMMENT Thank goodness this wasn't aired nationally (I don't think, anyway...) ... and what's up with that "tree?" Rockefeller Center, this definitely is NOT
  • Mark Friday, Dec 5 at 2:38 PM FLAG COMMENT The event was not well coordinated nor was Adam Corolla a wise choice to host this milestone event, couldn't they find a more polished Hollywood Celebrity to host the show. Adam Corolla is best left behind the microphone and out of sight. I was embarrassed for the City and the event coordinator. The event was Junior Varsity.
  • Juanita Friday, Dec 5 at 12:29 PM FLAG COMMENT The show was so boring. Natalie Cole sounded great. Britney said five words. She can't sing or talk. I love Pete Carroll of course I'm a Trojan fan. The tree was so ugly and so High Tech. I was disappointed in the whole thing.
  • ALL_AMERICAN_DUDE_XX Friday, Dec 5 at 10:54 AM FLAG COMMENT hmmm...Pete Caroll plays both scarecrow and tin-man??/ wow that's awesome....great article, A will read again!

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