The legendary Peter Falk — multiple Emmy winner, two-time Oscar nominee (“Pocketful of Miracles,” “Murder Inc.”), and one helluva character actor best known for playing television’s slyly bumbling Lt. Columbo, died today at the age of 83.

Beyond his iconic work on television, Falk’s presence was also memorable on the big screen. From his starring roles in “The In-Laws” (“Serpentine!“) and “Murder By Death,” to his regular place in iconoclastic director John Cassavettes’ ensemble, including the classic “A Woman Under the Influence,” to supporting roles in ”It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,”  ”The Princess Bride” and ”Made.” He wan’t always in good films but he was always good in them. The last thing I saw him in was Nicolas Cage’s messy sc-fi actioner “Next.” If memory serves, Falk had only one scene and it was by far my favorite.

Though I grew up watching “Columbo” (and purely by coincidence, my wife has been watching the reruns on Netflix Streaming all week) it was his role as the suspicious, exasperated gangster Joy Boy in the 1961 Frank Capra film “Pocketful of Miracles” that made me a fan. Capra’s final feature is flawed in many ways, including over-length, but Falk’s every scene is a real standout. The time in-between Falk’s scenes is spent waiting for Joy Boy to return. If I remember correctly, in his auto-biography, Capra had nothing but praise for Falk as an actor and a man. Can’t say the same for the film’s other star, Glenn Ford. 

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Part pit bull, part Columbo whacked out on a pot of espresso, they don’t make investigative journalists like Mark Ebner anymore. And that’s good news if you’re a dirt bag, scum bag, douche bag or any sort of Hollywood low-level, window peeping, carpet crawling, masturbation celebrity want-to-be.

Mr. Ebner is one of the few writers left today willing to get down in the gutter with his subjects just to hear their truth. In his new book Six Degrees of Paris Hilton, Mr. Ebner takes you to the places they never show you on “Access Hollywood,” because if the general public could access the side of Hollywood Mr. Ebner uncovers, that tub of popcorn in your lap at the multiplex would serve only one purpose, that of a barf bucket.

I recently had the chance to ask Mr. Ebner about his new book and what his thoughts on the state of Hollywood are today. (more…)