L.A. TIMES MIA ON PELLICANO

THE Los Angeles Times has never been known for aggressive coverage of Hollywood's dirty laundry, but its out-to-lunch performance in the Anthony Pellicano case has Tinseltown folks scratching their heads. The paper has been scooped regularly in its own back yard by the New York Times. "This is the biggest scandal in the history of the entertainment business, and the L.A. Times has completely dropped the ball," said an insider. "Is it just that they are lame, or have important people leaned on them to lay off?" Private eye Pellicano was arrested in 2002 after FBI agents raided his office and found explosives in his safe. The feds also confiscated a huge cache of illegal wiretaps, which has led to the indictment of 14 others. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have been questioned and may face charges. The N.Y. Times, which has been leaked transcripts of FBI interviews, has detailed Pellicano's relationships with CAA founder Michael Ovitz, lawyers Bert Fields and Dennis Wasser, Paramount boss Brad Grey and Universal chief Ron Meyer. The L.A. Times hasn't broken any stories. There was a rumor the paper was hamstrung because it had a relationship with Pellicano, but a spokesman told us, "The Los Angeles Times has never hired Anthony Pellicano."