It’s a dirty job: Oh, the terrible...

It’s a dirty job: Oh, the terrible price of fame in Hollywood. During an interview at the Golden Globes, actor Brad Pitt was asked his reaction to being the latest cover boy of People magazine (“The Sexiest Man Alive”).

Said Pitt: “I’ll be the Idiot of the Week.”

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We can almost hear F. Lee Bailey applauding: In its affectionate profile of attorney Robert L. Shapiro the other day, the New York Times said Shapiro’s rise to fame has relegated Joel Siegel of ABC’s “Good Morning, America” to “being the second-most famous alumnus of Hamilton High School.”

No argument about Shapiro. But grads of the 63-year-old West L.A. school, depending on their generation, might rate a few other Hamiltonians above Siegel, including:

1. Warren Moon, pro quarterback (now with Minnesota)

2. Gwen Verdon, dancer-singer on Broadway and in movies (“Damn Yankees”)

3. Michele Lee, actress-singer (“Knots Landing”)

4. Sidney Wicks, pro (and UCLA) basketball player of 1960s and 1970s

5. Al Michaels, ABC sportscaster (“Monday Night Football”)

6. Alex Hannum, NBA player and championship coach of the 1950s and 1960s

7. Harry (Peanuts) Lowrey, major leaguer of 1940s and 1950s

8. Mac O’Grady, pro golfer, now on seniors tour

9. Leigh Steinberg, agent of several well-known pro athletes

10. Robert Blake, actor (“In Cold Blood”)

True to his rebellious on-screen persona, by the way, Blake left Hamilton without graduating.

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Dodger Blues: Your Only in L.A. columnist, also a Hamilton grad, could have made the above list if we had become a star with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We came close, too, missing by one letter of the alphabet. We’ve never forgiven Steve Garvey.

A snit happens: David Wentink of L.A., tired of having dogs leave deposits on his front lawn, posted a warning sign, which was photographed by neighbor Daniel Madden. “Not only did it cure the problem,” Madden notes, “but people seem to be walking their dogs on the other side of the street.”

We can understand that precaution. What if your dog had a disagreement with you on a walk and decided to get even?

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It was fine for the 1892 edition, though: Lou Desser points out that the 1992 edition of Compton’s Encyclopedia describes Pasadena as “a winter resort and citrus center. In addition to scientific research, Pasadena’s economy is based on light industry, tourism and citrus crops.”

Yes, Pasadena, Calif.

Desser added facetiously: “Do you suppose these orange and lemon groves will give way one of these days to real estate development?”

Nope. And don’t believe that rumor that they’re going to build freeways through Pasadena, either.

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Word imperfect: One local construction company sent out a press release that began, “How to celebrate the anniversary of the Jan. 17 earthquake: Bolt down your home.”

Somehow, we don’t think celebrate was the proper verb.

miscelLAny Dr. Robert Kotler makes no bones about his profession--he’s a plastic surgeon. For one thing, he has special business cards with photos--before and after shots of selected clients. (Did we say he works in Beverly Hills?) And his latest gimmick, which he sent us, is a T-shirt that says, “If your face is not becoming to you . . . you should be coming to us!” No, we’re not insulted to be on his mailing list.