From the Editor

By Peter Allen
     
      Senior Editor Martin Lasden admits that one of the pleasures of reporting this month's cover story was getting to hear gossip about celebrities-some of which is mentioned in his story, "The Pellicano Effect," page 24. "Celebrity gossip is not something I normally pay attention to," Lasden says. "But when I hear it, it's fun. Celebrities become part of our families whether we like it or not, and hearing about them is like hearing gossip about distant cousins. The most interesting part, though, is the breathtaking hypocrisy: the huge gap between how celebrities portray themselves to us and the reality of their lives. It generates a lot of cynicism among those who work with them."
      In reporting how the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping scandal has cast a spotlight on private investigators and those who hire them, Lasden talked to entertainment and business lawyers and spent a lot of time with two colorful private investigators, John Nazarian and Paul Barresi. Why did he focus on the more flamboyant PIs instead of the everyday gumshoes? "The flashy PIs reflect the culture they work in," Lasden says. "Everything in Hollywood is heightened, including all the venal things about human beings. It's not just about money and greed. It's also about fame. Celebrities live in an environment in which they are worshipped, so the regular rules don't seem to apply to them. When things go wrong, they want their lawyers to make their problems disappear, and the lawyers turn to private investigators to find the kind of information that will make those problems go away."
      The sleuths he talked to sometimes have the same primal drive for fame as their celebrity clients. In fact, one source, John Nazarian, was annoyed when he learned that his photo wouldn't be on the cover of the magazine. "When I called him recently," says Lasden, "he said, 'How's my former friend?' He told me he was disappointed. 'You knew from the very beginning that I wouldn't be on the cover, didn't you?' he asked. I told him, truthfully, that I hadn't known what or who would be on the cover. 'John,' I said, 'you're such a cynical person, I'm not going to get you to believe me.'
      " 'Yeah,' he said. 'Don't waste your breath.' "
     
      We regret to announce that noted Los Angeles civil rights lawyer and longtime Editorial Advisory Board member Melanie Lomax passed away on September 10, 2006.
     

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