Cable Show L.A. Side Trips: Studios, Casino, Mission

By Kent Gibbons , Mark Robichaux and Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 4/5/2010 1:32:26 AM

Cable’s big convention takes place next month in the transformed downtown area of Los Angeles near “L.A. Live” with optional side trips to Universal Studios Hollywood, to a rescue mission in another part of downtown and to a youth services organization in South Central L.A.

NBC Universal — you may have heard it is planning to merge with top cable operator Comcast — is hosting a party in conjunction with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association on Wednesday night (May 12) at the entertainment complex. The party is open to all attendees, who can sample such attractions as the Revenge of the Mummy and Jurassic Park rides for free and groove to the sounds of rockers Maroon 5. Transportation will be provided.

Earlier, on Monday night (May 10), before the Cable Show opens at the convention center the next day, friends and co-workers have organized a benefi t for the family of Will Flannery, the Fox Cable Networks executive who died of a sudden illness last September at age 38. Because Flannery loved to play poker, organizers have planned a casino night at the new JW Marriott Hotel downtown. The entry fee is $100 to $150, according to an invitation, and tax-deductible proceeds go to a scholarship fund for Will and Kristin Flannery’s daughters, Sarah and Norah. Gaming, prizes, an auction and celebrity appearances are planned. Sponsorships and auction donations are being sought. For more information, email FlanneryCasino- Night@foxcable.com.

Sportsman Channel’s annual Hunt.Fish.Feed event also takes place Monday night, at the Union Rescue Mission at 545 S. San Pedro St. Volunteers are needed to help prepare a dinner to be served to 1,000 men, women and children, from 4-7:30 p.m. This initiative is part of an 11-city tour helping to feed the homeless. CableCares will provide transportation.

The CableCares volunteer outing will be Tuesday morning (May 11), at A Place Called Home, a Los Angeles youthservices organization, located at 2830 South Central Ave. Volunteers will assemble at the convention center at about 7 a.m. and will be returned to the convention center at 12:30 p.m., in time for the opening general session. Th e time at APCH will be well spent, painting walls and murals, building planter boxes and benches, and working on other valuable projects.

Tuesday night sees the return of Battle of the Bands, the annual CableCares fundraiser featuring bands assembled from cable executives. Eight bands will perform this time, before celebrity judges to be named soon. Th en comes a performance by Band From TV, featuring network TV stars Greg Grunberg and Adrian Pasdar (NBC’s Heroes), James Denton (ABC’s Desperate Housewives), Bob Guiney (GSN’s GSN Live), Jesse Spencer (Fox’s House) and Scott Grimes (NBC’s ER and Fox’s American Dad). It takes place at Club Nokia downtown and benefits A Place Called Home. Thecableshow.com has links for ticket purchases, sponsorships and the band lineups.