A mentor and friend moves on...

This has been one crazy week between Outfest and the TV Critics Assn Press Tour. My dance card has been impossibly full. But on Friday, I set it all aside to be in the newsroom at the Daily News for the last day on the job of our managing editor, Melissa Lalum.

I've been in the biz for morethan 20 years now and editors have come into my life and gone out of my life. But none had ever been like Melissa.

I was very fortunate to have her as my direct editor for the past two years as I went from being a reporter covering the entertainment industry to a blogger and columnist. She was always my champion but also never afraid to tell me what she really thought and welcomed my opinions even if they were different from hers. We had some terrific and spirited debates over column items and I always knew - even from the beginning - that it was a rare and special time in our professional lives. I will always cherish it.

So, life goes on and Melissa has decided to leave the tumultuous newspaper business but she has not forsaken journalism. She is joining the faculity of the journalism department at Cal State University Northridge where she will be advisor to the student newspaper and teach classes among other things. Those students are incredibly lucky to have her as their mentor - as was I.

Here are some pictures from the going-away bash we held for Melissa at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas on Friday night. So many faces from the past were there, so many, many people in general and all had that same lump in the throat that I felt all day. But I know Melissa will still be reading Out In Hollywood which she and our former editor Ron Kaye (standing to my left on the top photo) gave me unflinching support of - always.

Thanks for everything Melissa!