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Larry Mendte admits hacking his co-anchor’s e-mail

August 22nd, 2008 by Scott Marks

Larry Mendte & Alycia Lane star in a dinner theatre production of “You’ve Got Mail”

Those of us living in Chicago between 1991 to 1995 will never forget the on-screen antics of news anchor/investigative reporter/scivosa Larry Mendte, 51, or as Steve Dahl affectionately called him, “Larry Mental.”

What a muckraking sleazeball this guy is. Larry spearheaded WBBM-TV’s switch to tabloid journalism and there wasn’t a better man for the job. In April 1992, the Chicago River burst through a utility tunnel causing 250 gallons of water to flood the Chicago Loop. Forget about the built-in drama, Mendte exploited the disaster for everything it’s worth by directing the prop department at Ch. 2 to construct an enormous flood diorama for him to deliver his nightly panic reports. Prefabricated mayhem has seldom been as funny.

In spite of his pandering ways (or is it on account of them) Mendte eventually landed on a couple of high profile infotainment shows (Hard Copy and Access Hollywood) before settling in as anchor at Philadelphia’s KYW-TV. In March 2008, The Philadelphia Enquirer reported that Mendte was being investigated by the FBI for hacking into his 36-year-old co-anchor Alycia Lane’s personal e-mail account. Larry was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. Before the FBI delivered its findings, the CBS affiliate conducted it own internal investigation and released Larry from his contract.

According to Wikipedia, “On Monday July 21, 2008, the U.S. Attorney’s office of Philadelphia charged Mendte with one felony count of intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization, as he continually logged into Lane’s Yahoo Mail and .Mac accounts not only from the station, but from his computers at home and at the private Union League of Philadelphia, with 537 log-ins between January and May 29, 2008. A conviction could bring a six-month prison term under federal sentencing guidelines.”

Questions arose as to why Larry felt the need to spy on his co-anchor. Ms. Lane’s attorneys speculated that Mendte was eager to discredit her because Ms. Lane was drawing a higher salary than he was after she signed a new contract in April 2006. (She was making $780,000 a year while poor Larry raked in only $700,000.)

At a press conference today, Larry fessed up to his wrongdoings stating that his actions grew out of a feud with Lane that began after he ended what he said was a flirtatious and improper relationship with her, including long dinners and late nights out together. Larry is married to his former WBBM co-anchor Dawn Stensland.

Mendte will be sentenced on November 24. He faces a maximum sentence of five years, but more than likely they’ll go easy on him. Let’s hope that we’ll all get a front row seat on Court TV to see Larry’s best performance.

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May 20th, 2007 by Scott Marks

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Emulsion Compulsion is an electronic altar built at the feet of the Great Gods Cinema. You will find many full length and blurb reviews of new films as well as classic DVD releases. Featuring a collection of tens of thousands of pictures, posters, books, magazines, tchotchkes and many other sorts of movie collectibles that will be regularly post for your enjoyment and edification.Scott Marks regularly deliver reviews on San Diego’s KPBS-Radio.

I must admit that even though I see upwards of 200 new releases each year, for all intents and purposes Hollywood abandoned making films for adults somewhere around the time of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. (Needless to say, spielberg and lucas are neither spoken or welcome here.) With the exception of the 15 or 20 films a year I find praiseworthy, if you’re looking for someone to back up your disappointment and disgust over a current release, I’m your man.

Enjoy the site and by all means drop a line if you have a comment, criticism or a request

Scott Marks is available for radio, TV & print interviews, to add his unique perspective on movies and popular culture.

emulsioncompulsion@gmail.com

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Scott Marks was born and raised in some of Chicago’s finest single-screen theatres. He credits getting his start as a cineholic when his parents allowed their 9-year-old son to stay up till all hours of the morning watching Marx Bros. and W. C. Fields movies on The Late, Late Show.

It was love at first site. Every movie theatre in town became his home the day Scott obtained his driver’s license. It wasn’t long before he was a regular at both Northwestern Universities’ Film Society as well as the University of Chicago’s legendary Doc Films, to which Scott was the first civilian to have a set of keys to the film vault.

Scott wrote criticism for the Illinois Entertainer, managed the Parkway Theatre when it was a revival house that changed double-bills daily, and eventually taught film history and aesthetics electives for 11 years at Columbia College.

In the late 90s, Scott was brought on board to oversee the Woodfield 5 - 9, Cineplex Odeons’ valiant effort to bring art films to suburbia. While in Chicago, the greatest gift he gave movie lovers was the rebirth of the LaSalle Bank Theatre which, he is proud to say, continues to draw big crowds even to this day.

In 2000, Scott answered the call West to curate the Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) inaugural film program in San Diego. For five years Scott booked and programmed a wide variety of film series in MoPA’ state-of-the-art Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theatre. He also hosted and introduced the screenings which ranged from esoteric items like Japanese stylist Yasujiro Ozu and master documentarian Chris Marker to a hugely successful annual summer series of offbeat favorites that featured the work of such cultists as schlock-meister Ed Wood and Russ Meyer, King of Bosomania!

Scott currently co-hosts The KPBS-Radio Film Club of the Air. In addition to teaching film classes as UCSD and SDSU, Scott also ventured into television with a stint as Fox 6 in the Morning’s film critic as well as a televised version of the KPBS Film Club of the Air.Late in 2006, San Diego’s North Park Theatre called upon Scott to lend his talent and expertise where he programs and hosts classic film screenings in the magnificently refurbished picture palace. Given the venue and the sterling bookings, it’s no wonder that San Diegans are turning out in droves.

Emulsion Compulsion affords Scott a platform to spout his unique, at times caustic and always refreshing opinions on cinema & popular culture. Scott cautions, “If you’re looking for puff ball pieces, glorified plot synopses instead of criticism, or someone who embraces theme park rides that pass for movies, feel free to check out the competition.”According to Scott, “Many so-called discerning contemporary viewers turn their noses up at genre films or anything released before last week.

Just because I worship Welles and Renoir doesn’t mean that I don’t have a soft spot in my heart (and head) for “Hot Rods to Hell” and “The Oscar,” two unintentional comedies that are funnier than any of the ones ever produced by SNL. Who cares why you’re laughing just so you are!”

Scott stands fearless in the face of all cinema. For him, there’s no such thing as a bad genre, only bad storytellers. You never know where or when you’re going to find a great (or grate) movie and Scott refuses to stop trying.

Scott Marks is available for radio, TV & print interviews, to add his unique perspective on movies and popular culture.

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email: emulsioncompulsion@gmail.com


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