It’s been a long time coming, but finally the 100,000 plus members of the Screen Actors Guild have a new contract today. The votes were counted last night on a new two-year deal with the big studio producers, which covers, “…film and digital television programs, motion pictures and new media productions,” according to an announcement on the SAG website.

Around 110,000 ballots went out to SAG members — and about 35 percent were returned. In the final tally, an overwhelming 78 percent voted in favor and only 22 percent against. This contract kicks in immediately. It became effective at 12:01 a.m. this morning and expires June 30, 2011. Also, the new TV/theatrical agreement reportedly includes more than $105 million in wages, pension, and other benefits.

SAG President Alan Rosenberg led the opposition who fought bitterly for a sweeter deal in new media for the actors. Rosenberg accepted the will of the majority, but admitted he’s preparing to launch the fight again in 2011:”The membership has spoken and has decided to work under the terms of this contract … I call upon all SAG members to begin to ready themselves for the battle ahead.”

Although pleased with the ratification vote, SAG interim National Executive Director David White is looking to the future as well: “This decisive vote gets our members back to work with immediate pay raises and puts SAG in a strong position for the future. Preparations for the next round of negotiations begins now.”

The previous contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers expired a year ago this month. The negotiations with the producers dragged on for months with tons of infighting at SAG, power plays, and drama. Oh, and apparently there will be no retroactive checks for the actors. It was not in the final contract. Another reason for the SAG members to look forward to 2011 with an eye toward getting a better deal.

A flip-flop at the weekend Box Office today. Once the Sunday figures were in, it became clear movie ticket sales were higher for the new R-rated comedy, “The Hangover” than the animated adventure “Up.” So there’s a switch at the top of the Box Office.

“The Hangover” is now number one with $45 million. Yesterday, the film’s weekend estimated gross hovered at around $43 million. ”The Hangover” had the third best opening ever for an R-rated comedy.

“Up” was in the top spot on Sunday. Today, it dropped to second place with about $44 million.

The family-friendly animated 3D flick, “Up” appears to have won the fight for number one at the Box Office this weekend. “Up” held onto the top spot for the second week in a row with a take estimated to be $44.2 million, edging out a new contender, “The Hangover.”

The R-rated comedy, with no big name stars, is supposed to be hilarious. It’s about four male friends who go off to Las Vegas for a wild bachelor night out. The next morning, three of them wake up with a hangover, not remembering what happened the night before and missing the groom — who is supposed to be married in a few hours. Audiences really packed the theaters to see this film. ”The Hangover” surpassed expectations and debuted with around $43.2 million.

However, another comedy, ”Land of the Lost,” based on the old 1974 TV series of the same name, did not perform as well. The sci-fi adventure, starring Will Ferrell, earned only about $19.5 million for third place. ”Land of the Lost” may be the first big-budget dud of the summer movie season.

“Night  at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” came in fourth with $14.6 million, and rounding out the top five “Star Trek” with $8.4 million.

Photo: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers Andre Ethier had a slamming good time at Dodger Stadium today. Ethier’s second home run of the game, in the 12th inning, gave the Dodgers the 3-2 victory over Philadelphia. It was the outfielder’s second career walk-off homer. Ethier and Casey Blake are now the team’s lead home run hitters this season with nine each.

Photos: FLLewis/ A Writer’s Groove

The National Fire Service Day celebration in downtown Burbank on May 9, 2009 had a festival flavor. There was food, entertainment, educational booths, along with fire personnel, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles. The Burbank Police Department and several other local agencies took part in the annual event as well.

Photo: Reuters/file — David Carradine holds a plague during the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.

Tragedy in Thailand today where actor David Carradine  was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room. The 72-year-old actor’s body was discovered, by a maid, hanging from a nylon rope in a closet, according to police there. The rope reportedly came from curtains in the hotel room. Carradine was in Bangkok shooting a movie.

Carradine has appeared in numerous stage productions and more than 100 films, but is best known for his role as a Shaolin monk in the television series, “Kung Fu” (1972-1975).  Carradine portrayed the lead character Kwai Chang Caine in a western with mystical overtones. The series was quite progressive for the time and is still entertaining. Also, it made Carradine famous.

More recently, the veteran actor gained new fans as “Bill” in director Quentin Tarantino’s hit films ”Bill Vol.1″ (2003) and “Bill Vol.II” (2004). He was born John Arthur Carradine on December, 8, 1936 into a family of performers. His father was well-known character actor, John Carradine. His brothers Keith, Robert, and Bruce became actors as well.

Also, David Carradine was a musician, composer, author, martial arts expert, and visual artist, according to his website. Fans are leaving comments and messages of condolence on Carradine’s site today.

Although suicide is suspected, an autopsy is being conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Carradine was married five times and is survived by his present wife, Annie Bierman.

The weather turned very freaky today. Those overcast skies this morning did not give way to sunshine as was the case during the past few days. Instead wacky thunderstorms rolled through parts of Southern California this afternoon bringing lightning, thunder, rain, and even some hail in places like the coastal community of Venice.

Two women were reportedly injured by lightning; one victim died in Fontana, the other was hospitalized  near Palm Springs. Some of those lightning strikes sparked a number of minor brush fires. One flared up near the San Dimas golf course and quickly grew to around 35 acres by 6 p.m. Also, there are reports of scattered power outages in the San Gabriel Valley adding to the headaches for motorists traveling on rain-slicked streets.

Here in Burbank, we got some of that strange weather including rumbling thunder and cool temperatures in the 60s. The good news — the stormy weather dumped steady rain on the city late today; and that means there’s no need to turn on the sprinklers for the lawn and yard. Residents can save some valuable water for a drier day. 

This off-the-wall weather is expected to linger through this Friday.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Hall

That discrimination lawsuit filed by five members of the Burbank PD last Thursday, popped up several times at the Burbank City Council meeting last night. First, it was on the written agenda as having been discussed with legal counsel earlier in the afternoon during the council’s closed session. Also seven, yes that’s right,  potential cases against the city were brought up in that behind-closed-doors discussion as well.

The present lawsuit alleges a pattern of discriminatory hiring and promotional practices, harassment, retaliation and other offenses in the Burbank PD. It was brought up or alluded to by several speakers during the public comments. Both City Manager Mike Flad and Councilman Dave Golonski reiterated Burbank’s policy for zero-tolerance when it comes to discrimination. Neither spoke directly about the allegations.

Although the council would not discuss the lawsuit pubicly, it was definitely at the core of a new controversy that flared up at the meeting. The council decided to reconsider its vote of four applicants to fill vacancies on the Burbank Police Commission. A visibly upset Councilman David Gordon was the only  “no” vote out of five, and he called the action  “wrong,” and “a reshuffling of the democratic process.”  Even though none of the applicants were mentioned by name, it was clear during the heated debate who was the target of the re-vote campaign.

The unidentified applicant is apparently on some form of probation from a DUI. The police commission application did not ask about criminal background, so how did this become an issue? Police Chief Tim Stehr admitted at the council meeting that someone in his department brought it to his attention. Stehr passed on the information to the city staff and the city attorney then informed council members.

Chief Stehr is one of the defendants specifically named in that Burbank Police discrimination lawsuit. The unidentified applicant reportedly has stellar credentials for fighting racism — one of the main accusations in that suit. You gotta wonder, if Stehr and his sources in the police department came up with that DUI information in an attempt to get the unidentified applicant removed from the police commission.

Councilman Gordon was clearly uncomfortable with the timing of the DUI revelation and how the information came to the council. However, other council members appeared to be more concerned with creating a police commission with a certain image, during what they frequently referred to as this “sensitive” time. By the way, Mayor/City Council member Gary Bric has disclosed in the past and did so again at last night’s meeting, that he got a DUI, 13 years ago.  

So who would the proponents of the re-vote campaign like to see on the police commission? Well, probably Joe Gunn, the chairman of the police commission, who did not get a seat on the panel during the first vote. Gunn wrote that infamous e-mail to fellow police commissioners dated May 13, 2009.

In the e-mail, Gunn asked police commissioners not to talk to certain city officials about, “…a major investigation going on within the Burbank Police Department.” Also, Gunn wrote: “Please refrain from asking city council members and the city manager about this investigation. They also do not have all the facts at this time and repeated requests for information keeps stirring the controversy and gives ammunition to those who wish to do the Department harm.”

This Gunn e-mail outraged some locals who feel the police commission’s job is to provide oversight for the police department and to be first and foremost, looking out for the best interest of the residents of Burbank. I agree with that, but believe the police commission’s effectiveness in carrying out its duties is now hampered by its own controversy.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters

A controversial lawsuit filed by a Burbank police Lieutenant and four officers last Thursday is the talk of the town. In fact, the story is still getting a lot of exposure across the Internet and in the media. Today, the lead lawyer, whose firm filed the lawsuit, reiterated the allegations of widespread discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other misconduct in the Burbank PD at a news conference. 

Attorney Solomon E. Gresen accused the Burbank PD of giving preferential treatment to white males and utilizing flawed hiring practices, “…. all minority officers must be quote, unquote white enough to be hired.” On KNX 1070 newsradio today, Burbank City Attorney, Dennis Barlow, responded to the suit by saying in an interview: “… we don’t like to try our cases in the press. We like to try them in the courtroom.”

Well, Attorney Barlow may be looking forward to taking this case to trial, but that’s not what some Burbank residents want to hear. If the allegations are true, some feel the city should settle now, rather than go through a long drawn out trial. No doubt a settlement will be expensive now, but a court decision that favors the defendants could be even more so later. Also, the way I see it,  when you weigh the damage to the image of city, the morale of the Burbank PD, and public confidence, a quick settlement makes better sense than a lengthy court battle.

The lawsuit was filed by Burbank Lieutenant Omar Rodriguez, police officers Jamal Childs, Elfego Rodriguez, Steve Karagiosian, and Cindy Guillen-Gomez.

Los Angeles County has its first H1N1 flu related death. Today L.A. County Health Official Dr. Jonathan Fielding announced a middle-aged woman with respiratory problems had died of the so-called swine flu last week. At this point, they don’t know how the woman contracted this new strain of the flu.

Dr. Fielding says there are other cases of H1N1 in the county: “…to date we have 102 confirmed … and 19 probable cases…” A few of the victims are sick enough to be hospitalized. This type of influenza popped up last April and has spread to a number of countries. There are more than 10,000 reported cases and at least 17 deaths from the HIN1 flu in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.