L Word

Liberalism is alive and well in Los Angeles County. In the Nov. 8 election, voters gave majorities to Democrats Michael Dukakis and Leo McCarthy and to more than a score of liberal congressmen, state senators and assemblymen. County voters supported all the progressive propositions and voted against Propositions 101, 102, 104 and 106. In some cases, notably in the case of Proposition 103, it was the vote in Los Angeles County that made the difference between victory and defeat. And, last but not least, Los Angeles city voters voted against oil drilling on Pacific Coast Highway in the heart of the beach area.

President Reagan crisscrossed Ohio today on behalf of George Bush, saying prosperity has caused the middle class to shrink and "America doesn't want to go" where the Democrats want to take the nation. Fifteen times in a 15-minute speech before a Republican rally at Ohio State University, Reagan used what he calls the "L word"--condemning both Michael S. Dukakis and Ohio Democratic Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum, who is seeking a third term in the Senate, as liberals.

So (Sheriff) Sherman Block has said for what he hopes "is the final time" that his department does not discriminate against any group. It's not the last time, not yet (Times, May 11). Until he says publicly that the Sheriff's Department does not discriminate specifically against gays and lesbians, and until he says publicly that he and the department will not tolerate harassment of open lesbians and gays on the force, no one will begin to believe him. He has warned in advance that this would be the case, and, indeed, so far, it has. Rather than prolong the process, Mr. Sheriff, why not just say the G-word and the L-word and prove you mean what you claim to say?

Actress and former model Cobie Smulders has purchased a Los Feliz-area triplex for $991,000. The 1922 Southern Colonial-style property has two town houses and a carriage house with a balcony above the garage. Each unit has two bedrooms, one bathroom and hardwood floors, and they sit behind hedges amid mature trees. Smulders, 27, stars in the romantic comedy "How I Met Your Mother" (2005-present) and has appeared on shows including "The L Word" (2005) and "Smallville" (2004)

Veteran TV producer Bruce Miller has written for "ER," "Medium" and most recently served as the co-show runner for the SyFy series "Eureka. "  He's now the sole show runner for SyFy's "Alphas"  about a group of people with superhuman abilities. The second season premieres Monday. Before "Eureka" had you ever run a show before? No, I'd been a second in command before that. I had worked on lots of shows. I had seen how lots of different show runners ran their shows. I had some really great examples, including Jenny Bicks on "Men in Trees" and John Wells on "ER. " It was great to see those different styles of running a show.

I couldn't write? It was a little death, or maybe not so little. Like early retirement. The golden years? Retirement means taking out the garbage, every day, maybe twice a day. Going to Dutton's Books to browse. To the pet store to talk to the parrots. Looking at TVs wider than our couch. Picket and gossip. It's only 8:30 p.m.? I can't go to bed at this hour. Would it be disloyal to the guild to watch an "all-new" episode of "The L Word?" To think maybe Leno is better without writers?

At Smith College, it is the "L" word that makes campus officials uneasy. Its "identification with homosexuality," as Smith President Mary Maples Dunn put it in a "statement on lesbianism," comes up more often than many people would like. Dunn issued the statement, which proclaims a doctrine of tolerance of all lifestyles, in response to persistent questions on the part of alumnae, applicants, parents, faculty and students at the 116-year-old institution.

Kitty Dukakis told her husband to "smile and show your emotions." Barbara Bush advised the vice president to "be yourself" and run a kinder, gentler campaign. The presidential candidates recounted with fondness the best suggestions they had received from their wives during the grueling campaign for the White House. Neither Massachusetts Gov. Michael S.