LAT Hires Russo From NYO, Moves Chocano To Film
It looks like LA is finally reversing NY's talent-sucking tractor beam, as the LAT has nabbed the New York Observer's Maria Russo for the new position of "assistant entertainment editor for criticism." [Ed. note—You can't see us, but we're nodding and pretending we understand what that means.] According to LA Observed, The LAT is also sliding TV critic Carina Chocano (pictured at left) across into a film critic chair to replace Manohla Dargis, whom the NYT kidnapped in the middle of the night like a millionaire's baby.
LA Observed also has the memo announcing the LAT moves (including columnist Paul Brownfield taking over the TV crit job), which they describe as "first in a series of initiatives designed to take our already strong entertainment coverage to even higher levels as the summer progresses," which almost makes us believe they wanted the NYT to steal all their pretty children.
[Full disclosure: We normally ignore this internal LAT stuff, but years ago we developed a crush on Chocano's cariacature on Salon. Maybe the LAT can commission one! Oh, yeah, she's also a pretty good writer.]
