Larry Thompson

The invitation is engraved on nine-ply paper, the approximate thickness of cardboard and presumably three plies thicker than the paper used by the Queen of England. At top and center is the host's personal gold seal: an arrangement of coiled film, a phonograph record, the scales of justice, and Michelangelo's hands of God and man from the painting in the Sistine Chapel--along with the words "For love of God, family, law and the arts."

Larry A. Thompson has long been fascinated with celebrity couples who "fly so close to the sun. " Sonny and Cher, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are duos featured in several television movies developed by the veteran producer. For years, he's wanted to create a movie around one of Hollywood's most famous and scandalous couples, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. He contends - and who could argue? - that the volcanic emotions fueling the courtship, marriages and breakups of the on- and off-screen couple gave birth to the obsessive celebrity culture that blossomed into the tsunami of today's tabloids, paparazzi and gossip websites: "They were the first Brangelina.

Only morons and Californians call it "deregulation" when the retail cost of power is kept dramatically and artificially low by state law. LARRY THOMPSON Los Angeles

Veteran producer and talent manager Larry Thompson was captivated by the true story of the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pa., that somehow managed to forgive a gunman who killed five girls in a 2006 schoolhouse shooting. Thompson believed the story would make for an inspiring TV movie about the power of faith and forgiveness, but he knew the dark subject matter would be a tough sell in Hollywood. In fact, the Lifetime Movie Network initially passed on the story, though it eventually agreed to broadcast the film.

The youngest lawyer working at Capitol Records during the 1960s, Larry Thompson negotiated separate contracts for each Beatle during the group's breakup. On his own during the '70s, he represented Sonny Bono in his divorce with Cher (later producing a movie of the week about the couple). Today the talent manager and independent producer guides the comedy career of William Shatner, who hosts "Iron Chef USA: Showdown in Las Vegas" Nov. 16. The master plan?

Veteran producer and talent manager Larry Thompson was captivated by the true story of the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pa., that somehow managed to forgive a gunman who killed five girls in a 2006 schoolhouse shooting. Thompson believed the story would make for an inspiring TV movie about the power of faith and forgiveness, but he knew the dark subject matter would be a tough sell in Hollywood. In fact, the Lifetime Movie Network initially passed on the story, though it eventually agreed to broadcast the film.

Larry A. Thompson has long been fascinated with celebrity couples who "fly so close to the sun. " Sonny and Cher, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are duos featured in several television movies developed by the veteran producer. For years, he's wanted to create a movie around one of Hollywood's most famous and scandalous couples, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. He contends - and who could argue? - that the volcanic emotions fueling the courtship, marriages and breakups of the on- and off-screen couple gave birth to the obsessive celebrity culture that blossomed into the tsunami of today's tabloids, paparazzi and gossip websites: "They were the first Brangelina.

Pierre David was named executive vice president of the Larry A. Thompson Organization, Los Angeles.

The youngest lawyer working at Capitol Records during the 1960s, Larry Thompson negotiated separate contracts for each Beatle during the group's breakup. On his own during the '70s, he represented Sonny Bono in his divorce with Cher (later producing a movie of the week about the couple). Today the talent manager and independent producer guides the comedy career of William Shatner, who hosts "Iron Chef USA: Showdown in Las Vegas" Nov. 16. The master plan?

Only morons and Californians call it "deregulation" when the retail cost of power is kept dramatically and artificially low by state law. LARRY THOMPSON Los Angeles

The invitation is engraved on nine-ply paper, the approximate thickness of cardboard and presumably three plies thicker than the paper used by the Queen of England. At top and center is the host's personal gold seal: an arrangement of coiled film, a phonograph record, the scales of justice, and Michelangelo's hands of God and man from the painting in the Sistine Chapel--along with the words "For love of God, family, law and the arts."

OXFORD, Ohio - He can rouse large crowds to giddiness, ascend private jets two steps at a time, and catch a baseball with one hand, sign it, and throw it back to an adoring fan. Can Paul D. Ryan leap tall buildings in a single bound? Not yet, though his swarms of adoring fans might find it plausible. It was only a week ago that Ryan was a congressman from a district of 700,000, known - if he was known at all - for his controversial budget plan. Now, he drives in motorcades that close down miles of highway and can't walk down a street in Iowa without being cheered.