Idol, Marilyn and the Griffith

It happened at the last minute - I got studio tickets to see American Idol! Thanks to Jen Melanson at LIFE 100.3. (She is very resourcesful!)

Idol is held at CBS Television City, in Hollywood. Wait - isn't this a FOX-TV show? Uh...ok. Inside, after 30 minutes of sound checks with the audience, the show began. There were no second takes - everything rolled out just as you see it on TV. Being in the audience was cool, but I didn't see anything behind the scenes - like singer soundchecks or re-takes or flubs. Nothing. During the commercial breaks, Ryan Seacrest visited Randy, Jennifer and Steven. Four bodyguards surrounded the judges table.

I wish I had photos as a souvenir but we weren't allowed to take photos - so all I have is a ticket stub as a souvenir. The really odd thing is that "American Idol, live!" was actually recorded. It was live to tape, but played back on TV the following night. Hmm!

American Idol has been on my "bucket list" for a few years, never thinking it would happen. Also on the bucket list, for 30 years, has been a visit to Marilyn Monroes grave/crypt. She died in 1962 so the closest I can get, is near the grave. She is buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Westwood, west of Los Angeles. It cost $140 to taxi around, trying to find it, going to the wrong place, driving in circles, etc. That's what happens when you try to do your own tour, instead of hooking up with a professional tour.

After visiting the crypt, I went to her house, just two miles away, where she was found dead. Couldn't see much because the gates conceal the property. It's small, in a residential section of Brentwood. The woman across the street I spoke with knew it "was Marilyn Monroe's house".

One thing is for sure - Hollywood is for movie stars and Marilyn Monroe still rules Hollywood. Everywhere you look.

Another thing off the bucket list!

Lastly, a trip to the Griffith Observatory, in the Hollywood Hills, just east of the famous Hollywood sign. We ran out of time during the day, so we taxied up at night. Most people probably go to see "science stuff" - like moon rocks, and asteriods, etc. Me- ? I went to see the location for the fight scene in "Rebel Without A Cause", starring James Dean.

The location wasn't hard to find. Well - I've seen the movie enough to know. It was cool and a bit haunting to be on the exact spot of a famous movie scene.

The other stuff in L.A. - the Whisky a Go Go, Venice Beach, KIIS-FM - it was all a bonus to Idol, Marilyn and the Griffith!