The new Disney 3D movie “Up” soared to the top of the Box Office this weekend, raking in an estimated $68.2 million. This animated adventure features the voices of Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer and it easily won the ranking as the number one movie in the U.S.

“Up” left its rivals far, far behind.  In second place, another family-friendly film, “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” with $25.5 million. Last week, this sequel was perched in the number one spot. “Night at the Museum II” lost a little steam, but had enough gusto to clear the $100 million domestic mark this week.

The new horror flick, “Drag Me to Hell” scared up around $16.6 million for third. The futuristic sci-fi action picture, “Terminator Salvation” followed in fourth with about $16.1 million; and rounding out the top five, “Star Trek” with $12.8 million.  

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank police vehicle

Like a ticking time bomb, folks in the know have been waiting for an explosion of bad news and legal trouble to hit the city of Burbank. It happened on Thursday, May 28, but the bomb, in the form of a lawsuit, came from a surprising source — several members of the city’s own police force.

Late Thursday, Burbank’s top city officials were shaken up over the filing of the suit by Lieutenant Omar Rodriguez, along with officers Jamal Childs, Cindy Guillen-Gomez, Steve Karagiosian, and Elfego Rodriguez. On Friday, a slew of e-mails about the suit and its content landed in my in-box. Last night, I got a copy of the lawsuit as well. Also, stories broke in the media, including the Burbank Leader and the Daily News.

The lawsuit allegations are alarming and claim a rampant pattern of discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation in the Burbank Police Department. In the 50-plus page complaint there are numerous charges from the plaintiffs of witnessing or being subjected to offensive language based on color, race, gender or sexual orientation; examples, “fags,” “dykes,” “wetbacks,” “taco venders,” “beaners,” “spics,” “towel heads,” “Armos,” “Julios,”  ”niggers,” and  ”Malcolm X.”

Also, the suit questioned promotional practices on the force citing the example that “…no African-American employee in the entire history of the Burbank PD has ever been promoted above the title of ‘police officer.’” According to the suit, there are currently five black officers out of approximately 165 officers on the Burbank PD.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr

 As I reported here on this blog, at the May 12 city council meeting I had a brief conversation with Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr about the problems in his department and the discontent among some officers. Stehr admitted, “… there are some issues…” but insisted “… (we will ) work together to fix them.” Apparently, the chief’s efforts were not enough to stop the filing this lawsuit, which some media reports say could cost the city as much as $25 million dollars.

I’m a long time tax paying Burbank resident. Also, I’m an African American female. The allegations in this lawsuit are shocking and disturbing to me.  My confidence in the Burbank police department has been shattered. City officials need to move swiftly to either prove these allegations false or admit the failings of the police department and immediately come up with a plan to correct the problems with strong decisive actions.

Photo: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers Matt Kemp hit a home run against the Chicago Cubs yesterday. The homer at Wrigley Field broke the Dodgers’ four game homeless streak. Still, the Dodgers got beat by the Cubs 2-1.

Photo: NBC

After 17 years, Jay Leno hosted his last official ”Tonight Show” taping this evening with laughs, gags, memories, and some favorite guests. Some of the entertainer’s fans in the audience had spent hours in line to make sure they got a chance to watch the taping of Leno’s finale.

Leno is not heading off into the sunset for retirement, at least not yet anyway. Actually, Leno and his crew are moving into new digs on the NBC lot in Burbank and will soon be gearing up for a new program. “The Jay Leno Show” is a five-nights a week prime time variety program scheduled to get underway this fall. Oh, Conan O’Brien is taking over the “Tonight Show” hosting job.

 This fall when both shows are on the air, we’ll see who delivers the best program with the highest ratings. You know, a little healthy competition might be good for both shows. 

A Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge threw the book at convicted murderer and music legend, Phil Spector, today. Judge Larry Paul Fidler sentenced the 69-year-old Spector to 19 years-to-life, the maximum term. Last month, a jury convicted the eccentric music producer of second-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Lana Clarkson.

The B-Movie actress of such films as “Barbarian Queen” (1985) was found shot to death in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion in 2003. Spector’s first trial ended in a mistrial when the jurors were not able to reach a verdict, after deadlocking 10-to-2 in favor of conviction.

Spector will not be eligible for parole until age 88. During today’s hearing, Spector’s lawyers reportedly gave Clarkson’s mother a check for $17,000 to pay for the actress’ funeral, which was part of the sentence. A sad end for all concerned. Clarkson’s life was cut short by an act of senseless violence; Spector’s fame and image forever tarnished by the crime.

Back in the 1960s, Spector created the landmark recording technique of layering multi-instrumental tracks to produce what has come to be known as the ”wall of sound” effect. Spector used it on such rock hits as “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes and “You’ve Lost that Loving Feelin’” by the Righteous Brothers. Spector was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Photo (1980): Lisa Jack — from the Los Angeles Times

In 1980, Occidental College student Lisa Jack got very, very lucky. A bright handsome freshman named Barry Obama agreed to a photo session for one of Jack’s class assignments. The session produced 36 shots of a cool, youthful Obama. The photo above shows Obama wearing a bomber-style jacket with swirls of smoke from his cigarette floating around him. Years later, President Barack Obama apparently has dumped the smoking thing; ah, no matter, he’s still pretty cool without it. Obama spent his first two years of college at Occidental, which is in the nearby Los Angeles community of Eagle Rock, before moving on to Columbia University in New York.

Jack, who is now a college professor and therapist, saved the negatives from that long-ago photo shoot. Many of the images from that session are part of a new exhibit called, “Barack Obama: The Freshman,” which will open tomorrow evening at the M & B gallery, 612 North Almont Drive in West Hollywood. The exhibit is free and runs through July 18, 2009. Here’s the gallery website www.mbfala.com, but the overwhelming interest in the exhibit crashed the site this morning.

Photo: Leila Navidi/Las Vegas Sun — Senator Harry Reid & President Obama at Vegas fundraiser last night.

Meanwhile, President Obama jetted into the Southland from Las Vegas today. Last night, the president spoke before a sell-out fundraiser at Caesars Palace. The event raised nearly $2 million for the re-election campaign of Nevada Senator/Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, according to the Las Vegas Sun.  

Tonight, the president is speaking at another Democratic fundraiser at the Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills. I got an invite to this affair, but the ticket prices were much too high for my budget. KNX 1070 newsradio reports some folks shelled out between a thousand and $30,000 for tickets. Hopefully, the next time the president speaks at a local gathering, the ticket prices will be more affordable. 

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

The battle over same-sex marriage has been long and contentious in California. Today the state supreme court ruled the ban on gay marriage, Proposition 8, is constitutional, but that doesn’t appear to settle the debate. That’s because the high court’s ruling allows 18,000 gay marriages, that occurred before the proposition was approved by the voters, to stand. It’s a partial victory for both sides, but not a clear cut ruling on the issue.

Last November, the controversial ban on gay marriage passed on a 52 percent vote. Proposition 8 amends the state constitution to allow marriage only between a man and a woman. The ballot measure overturned a ruling by the state supreme court last spring, which legalized same-sex marriage.

Several states have wrangled with this issue. Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, and Maine have legalized same-sex marriage. More than likely, voters in California will be faced with a new ballot measure on gay rights and the definition of marriage very soon. 

The way I see it, the issue could easily be settled if those who believe in traditional marriage exchange wedding vows with someone of the opposite sex; and those who believe in same-sex marriages, well, they should tie-the-knot with someone of their own gender. That’s a live and let live solution, which would resolve all this controversy. Too bad it’s not that easy.  So get ready for more protests, election campaigns, and probably court cases involving the issue.