Morning Report - News from Oct. 10, 2002

ART

Viewing Platform for Siqueiros Mural OKd

A long-time effort to put Mexican painter David Alfaro Siqueiros’ Olvera Street mural, “America Tropical,” on public view has finally moved forward.

El Pueblo Commission, the eight-member board that oversees El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles, on Tuesday approved plans for a viewing platform, shelter and interpretive center. Construction is expected to take about a year.

Siqueiros painted the mural in 1932, but part of its subject matter--a crucified Indian peon with an American eagle perched on the cross--was deemed offensive and the artwork was whitewashed. Conservation work already has been done by the Getty Conservation Institute, which has provided major funding for the $4.5-million project.

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THEATER

Fire Destroys L.A.’s Lost Studio on La Brea

The Lost Studio, a 72-seat theater and acting studio at 130 S. La Brea Ave. in L.A., was destroyed by fire Monday morning. It was run for the last 14 years by Cinda Jackson, who said she hopes to find temporary quarters and then rebuild at the same site.

The theater was known as the Loft Studio during the 17 years when it was run by the late Peggy Feury and Bill Traylor, whose students included Lily Tomlin, Sean Penn and other Hollywood celebrities.

More recently, the studio was the home of Circus Minimus, a teaching and producing company that Jackson ran with playwright John Steppling and Mick Collins in the early ‘90s. In the last two years, Jackson produced a series of Harold Pinter plays and Donald Freed’s “How Shall We Be Saved?” at the Lost Studio.

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TELEVISION

Iran Bans CNN Reporter Amanpour

CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, who is not allowed into Iraq, now can add Iran to the list of places where she isn’t welcome. On Wednesday, Iran barred her from accompanying British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is visiting the region. She had to get off the plane in Kuwait.

Iran Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Amanpour was banned in retaliation for U.S. treatment of Iranians who want to visit the United States.

“Some Iranian journalists and artists, including film director Abbas Kiarostami, were either denied U.S. visas or left waiting for months for a decision. We, of course, take this into account,” Kharrazi told reporters.

NBC’s ‘Just Shoot Me’ Hits a Ratings Low

NBC’s “Just Shoot Me” didn’t pack much firepower in its new time period Tuesday, attracting less than half the audience that watched ABC’s “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” or CBS’ “JAG.”

Based on Nielsen Media Research estimates, “Just Shoot Me” opened its seventh season with the show’s lowest rating for a new episode, attracting 6.6 million viewers versus nearly 15 million for “8 Simple Rules.” The comedy aired on Thursdays last season.

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QUICK TAKES

ABC has given a full-season order to its freshman comedy “Less Than Perfect”.... Aileen Wuornos, the convicted killer who was executed in Florida on Wednesday, and who has been the subject of two movies, three books and an opera, will be the focus of another film, “Monster,” starring Charlize Theron, the Hollywood Reporter says. Production is due to begin in January.