Karen Ocamb is now a leading LGBTQ journalist in LA, but decades ago she was a cranky teenager on the East Coast, who was very gently reproved by Paul Newman over some freshly caught fish. When Newman died, Ocamb filed a loving commentary on her two encounters with the star.

Then, since Newman won the Academy's Jean Hersholt award at the Oscars in 1994, another distinguished journalist, Hollywood historian Alex Ben Block, goes to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to tell us who Jean Hersholt was and why he's beloved in the Industry.

Both of these pieces originally aired in October of 2008.

Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

I start this week's podcast with a piece of audio I was instructed never to play again. Ever. It's Tom Jones adapting his mega-hit "She's a Lady," so it goes "He's a Rabe, whoah whoah whoah he's a Rabe..."

The person who told me not ever to run it again was Rico Gagliano, who was just jealous. I mean, the best he could ever get is Gerardo.

We originally aired this interview on KPCC in December of 2008, when Sir Tom released the album, "24 Hours."

Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

Silverlake's Loch Ness Monster?; Gary Owens Tells All; Mayor of Hollywood?; Gary Owen's Secret Power; Throat Singing, Inuit Style; Playing with the Kronos Quartet; Pow! Wham! and Sake!; A Tale of Two Ballparks; In Living Color; On Politics and Pruning; California Video; Freeway Flowers

My Teacher Alma; Dressing a Historic Landmark; The Chemosphere; Hammer Happening; The Ninth Old Man Rests In Peace; I Can Garden; The Soloist Hits the Shelves; Johnie's Broiler Rises Like a Phoenix; Tag This Wall; Sex on the Beach; Letters

The Voice of an Angel; On Set with the Late Charlton Heston; Song: Margerine Melodie by Stereolab; Bob Baker's Marionette Theater; Arboretum Welcomes Thumbs of all Colors; Angel Gets her Wings; Song: "Faithless" by Kieran McGee; Starving Poet No More; A Down-to-Earth Angel; Acres of Retail; Burmese Feast; Fore!

This Week on Off-Ramp; Underground Woman; Underground Woman - Part 2; Underground Woman - Part 3; What's Up Doc-san?; New Model for Health Care?; Hand over the money, please...; Fresh 'n' Easy; Crowd Pleaser; Roses and Lemon; The Fields Are Alive with Flowers; Letters

Star Shooter; Lilo and Stitch in It's a Small World?; Caspian Rain; Sold!; Benson, on Exposing Recluses; My Wife and the Cabana Boy; Zankou Chicken Murders; The Public Health Hero; The Coliseum sees Blue and Red; All You Gotta Do is Act Naturally; California Dems Weigh-In on the Presidential Elections

Love Stories; New Law Aims At School Shootings; Shot In the Heart; Creating Vintage Photos; Told You So; Newspaper Reunion; Sculpting Junk; Hollywood Star; The Iraq War Five Years In; John McCain Mix

Blinky the Friendly Hen; A Way With Words; Drought Crusade; Affirmative Action President; The Liberal Cabal; BBQ King R.I.P.; Watercress on the River; Xeriscape Dentist; Prison Parolees and Those Who Rehabilitate Them; The Gay Cheers; Mateo Stoneman Revisited

Sushi Zen; Sushi 101; Hot Ramen; I Eat Ramen, Here Me Roar!; Would You Eat Granny; Urban Survivalist; El Pollo Chino; Some botanas, por favor; Umami=Yummy; The Best Milkshake in Riverside; Too Fresh Fish; Sushi Delicacies; Your Own Sushi Chef; Sushi Wrap-Up