SUPERLATIVES

The best, worst, biggest and silliest of life in and around L.A. in 1993.

Most talked-about piece of evidence: Heidi Fleiss’ nonexistent black book.

Most sought-after piece of evidence: Michael Jackson.

Biggest catering bill run up by a municipal utility: Nearly $800,000 spent on food for Department of Water and Power supervisors during a nine-day workers strike.

Biggest last laugh: At least 50 DWP supervisors who feasted at taxpayers’ expense and were stricken with a gastrointestinal illness.

Best zoning dispute: Rich Beverly Hills guys up in arms over richer Beverly Hills guy’s plan to build an 18-bedroom, 21-bathroom estate.

Biggest plumbing bill: Beverly Hills guy with 21-bathroom house.

Most innovative public financing: Los Angeles County coroner’s office sale of personalized toe tags, beach towels with body outlines, celebrity autopsy reports and T-shirts that say: “Our day begins when your day ends.”

Dumbest political stunt: L.A. mayoral candidate Tom Houston’s underwater news conference, during which he nearly drowned.

Most believable toupee in a local courtroom: Lyle Menendez’s.

Most unbelievable haircut: Bill Clinton’s pricey coif on the LAX Tarmac.

Best building: Refurbished Central Library.

Strangest would-be bedfellows: Central Library and a subsidiary of the Philip Morris tobacco company. City officials considered selling the library to the subsidiary, but the deal went up in smoke.

Biggest City Council turnover: Ernani Bernardi, Joy Picus, Joan Milke Flores and Michael Woo departed. Richard Alarcon, Laura Chick, Jackie Goldberg and Rudy Svorinich Jr. joined the crowd at Los Angeles City Hall.

Most expensive phone call by a public official: Taxpayers may be stuck with paying a share of a $1.2-million judgment awarded in a case in which it was revealed that county Supervisor Mike Antonovich called a judge on behalf of a campaign contributor. Taxpayers also are paying for Antonovich’s appeal.

L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan’s favorite companion (human): Nancy Daly.

L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan’s favorite companion (canine): Albertine.

Perennial candidate most missed: Dancing landmark Eileen Anderson.

Most lamented eatery (tie): Vickman’s Restaurant and Bakery in Downtown (closed after 74 years); Nickodell’s Restaurant on Melrose Avenue (a hangout for Paramount Pictures actors and technicians since the ‘20s.)

Local girl makes good: Dee Dee Myers goes to the White House.

Local boy makes good: Snoop Doggy Dogg of Long Beach goes platinum with “Doggystyle” album. (Unfortunately for him, he’s also facing trial on murder charges.)