I’ll Be There (for a Second)

Sightings of singer Michael Jackson are rare, something he apparently carries over to commercials.

Earlier this month, sneaker maker L.A. Gear sued the reclusive pop star, alleging that he failed to live up to a lucrative 1989 endorsement agreement.

The court papers include an allegation that on the same day the Los Angeles company paid $260,000 for sets Jackson needed to film a commercial, the singer’s lawyers proposed that Jackson’s face appear on screen for only a “brief flash.” How long is that? “One second,” according to the lawsuit.

L.A. Gear eventually agreed to a new contract under which the singer barely budged on the face issue. According to the lawsuit, under the new agreement “Jackson’s face would appear on screen in the commercial for no more than three seconds.”

Jackson spokesman Lee Solters said the singer’s lawyers are withholding comment on L.A. Gear’s allegations until they finish reviewing the suit.

Is He on a Stamp Yet?

“S&Lvis;” sightings are becoming nearly as common as ones of the King himself.

Two years ago, staff members at the hotel workers union in Los Angeles hatched the idea of having an Elvis Presley impersonator portray S&Lvis; at a rally to draw attention to the King-size savings and loan mess.

As with the real King, S&Lvis; spawned a batch of imitators. Union spokesman David Koff says a dozen people have performed as S&Lvis; across the country.

Now, Peter Muny, a Silverlake cabinet maker and woodwork designer, has been tapped to perform the first official S&Lvis; concert next month in Oakland during a meeting of the Financial Democracy Campaign public interest group.

So far, the S&Lvis; repertoire includes “Bailout Rock,” “You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Junk Bond,” “Loan Me Tender” and “Pay Now Or Never.” Future possibilities, Koff says, include “Can’t Help Falling in Debt” and “Are You Loaning Tonight.”

Checking Out of This List

As if earthquakes, riots and the Dodgers weren’t bad enough for Southern California’s tourism and leisure industry, now people are dumping on our best hotels.

The annual Institutional Investor ranking of the world’s 75 top hotels includes just one in the area, the Hotel Bel-Air. It ranks second to Hong Kong’s Regent. Missing from this year’s list are two regulars from years past: the Regent Beverly Wilshire and the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Briefly . . .

Who needs Perot? A Connecticut commercial real estate broker is promoting a write-in movement to elect retiring Chrysler Chairman Lee A. Iacocca as President, while recommending President Bush for secretary of state . . . Sports memorabilia shops report no big increase in demand for Wayne Gretzky items despite speculation that the Los Angeles Kings star’s hockey career could be threatened by back problems . . . Home Bank in Signal Hill is trying to sell 18,000 pairs of athletic shoes it owns that had been collateral for a loan.