It was obvious that the visiting “Today”...

It was obvious that the visiting “Today” show cast was determined to unveil the real L.A. to the rest of the country Wednesday morning.

Always-impeccably-dressed Bryant wore a polo shirt and baseball cap. Willard donned green sunglasses. Culotte-clad Deborah demonstrated her skill on roller skates.

Really, you’d have never guessed that the laid-back trio was from the East.

The show, in town for next week’s Academy Awards, also featured segments on Venice’s One-Man Band, the Muscle Beach weightlifters, the chefs of L.A. (they forgot the short-order cook at the Kosher Burrito) and the philosophical dispute over whether beach fashions are “fad or style?”

What’s left?

On Friday, the “Today” team visits Olvera Street.

By the way, Deborah: What’s your sombrero size?

The Civic Center has lost some of its color since the disappearance of the religious zealot who balanced a paper cup on his head and the retirement of the bikini-clad woman who danced on a street corner every afternoon.

But the visit of Johnny Marijuanaseed changed all that for a few minutes Wednesday.

Johnny, who is campaigning for the relaxation of anti-pot laws, punctuated his speech by sprinkling marijuana seeds on the lawn of the federal courthouse at Temple and Spring streets. Also known as Floyd Lambrath, he wasn’t arrested, not even for littering.

His group needs 500,000 signatures to qualify a pro-marijuana initiative that would appear on the ballot in November.

Just in time for a harvest festival on the federal lawn.

Joe Brewster, the 43-year-old TV engineer who recently offered to trade 160 acres of Arizona land for a speaking role in a movie, is a celebrity. He doesn’t have a part yet, but celebrity-hood makes no such demand in Hollywood.

Since making the offer in a Times classified ad, Brewster, a Tucson resident, appeared on the “Hard Copy” TV show, was interviewed by Premiere Magazine and has become a weekly phone-in guest on L.A. radio station KPWR-FM.

He has also met twice with producers in Southern California, the last time to discuss a role as a salesman of weird party supplies in a projected sitcom, “Love Thy Neighbor.”

After “Hard Copy” posted his phone number on the screen, Brewster’s phone rang nonstop for the next eight hours. In all, he has received about 500 calls. “Some of them were real weirdos,” Brewster said. “I haven’t parted with my land yet.”

Updating the adage about carrying coals to Newscastle:

The L.A. Chamber of Commerce received a letter, bearing a Newcastle, Wyo. , postmark, with a special request.

“Send 350,000 people to Newcastle to live,” the note said. “It’s a pretty town and I want to see it grow. . . . Send 180,000 beautiful women to Newcastle. . . . Newcastle is a pretty town. . . . Peach trees have been grown in Newcastle.”

The writer also asked: “Keep this letter secret.”

Does “Hard Copy” know about this?