Whistle While You Still Have Work

Did you hear Disney’s announcement that it’s laying off 4,000 workers? I’m especially worried about the status of the Seven Dwarfs’ Sleepy.

Come to think of it, Bashful better step it up, too.

PLAYING TO AN EMPTY HOUSE . . . : The Seal Beach Sun’s police log reported that “a man and woman were heard yelling profanity and slamming doors. They said they were actors rehearsing a scene.”

Probably not from “Romeo and Juliet.”

THE L.A. SOMETHINGS: So the new pro basketball team in Memphis wants to be called the Express, having sold the rights to its name to the FedEx Corp. It would be the first team named in honor of a corporation in the four major sports leagues in North America.

I’m surprised the L.A. Dodgers didn’t think of this sooner. Rummaging through my files (see accompanying), I came upon several fine L.A. names that would have fit the team perfectly (even if L.A. Rock is in Ireland).

The team could even hook up with a local peanut company whose name sums up the real feelings that owners and players have for the fans these days.

MOVING ON TO EX-DODGERS: Universal Pictures recently paid $800,000 for a comedy titled, “Go to Hell, Mike Piazza.” It reportedly will star Ben Stiller as a hot dog vendor who blames Piazza for everything that has gone wrong with his life. (Most everything has gone wrong for the Dodgers since they traded Piazza away, but that tear-jerker hasn’t been written yet.) Anyway, the Mets’ slugger told Sports Illustrated that “It’s flattering to have your name out there. It’s kind of like ‘Being John Malkovich.’ ”

He said he might appear in the movie, although “my mom’s kind of upset with the title. If they were to approach me, I’d have to ask for something a little more subtle. I’m a Catholic boy.”

I hope the producers find a spot for Roger Owens, the Dodger Stadium peanut vendor who demonstrated his flair for behind-the-back tosses on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.”

After all, Owens already had a bit role in the Mel Brooks’ movie “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” pitching peanuts to spectators watching the clashes between Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

FREEWAY ADVISORY: The mention here of comic Len Carter, a senior who tells jokes about his driving, brought a note from ex-Timesian Chuck Hillinger:

“Several years ago [photographer] Johnny Malmin and I interviewed one of three people over 100 who still had driver’s licenses in California. The guy was really sharp, living by himself in a well-kept condo. He told of driving to his stockbroker’s office every day on the Ventura Freeway to see how the market was doing.

“When the interview was finished, we went to his carport so Johnny could get a picture of him behind the wheel. The guy started the car, revving it up pedal to the floor. Then he backed out in a jerky manner, stalling a couple of times.

“Then he drove erratically up the street and back to the carport.

“Malmin said afterward, ‘Where and what time does he drive on the Ventura Freeway? I don’t want to be anywhere near him.’ ”

miscelLAny:

Ron Anderson points out that there’s one expression we’ll all have to be careful about using, since it can now be taken figuratively or literally. A Costa Mesa police lieutenant told the Daily Pilot that, in the case of rolling blackouts, “We barely get five minutes notice. We’re pretty much in the dark here.”

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.