TV screens keep getting lighter and so does William Wang. Since September the CEO of Irvine-based flat TV seller Vizio has shed 47 pounds, dropping to 195 on his 5-foot-8-inch frame, the lightest he’s been as an adult. He trains under Rich Croissant and has eliminated two favorites from his diet, carbs and alcohol. Besides reducing the calories, not drinking “makes my typical business dinner boring and therefore shorter and so I eat less.” Wang, who has guided Vizio to the top spot in LCD TV sales, calls the weight loss “one of my proudest achievements within the last year. Wish me luck as I have more weight to drop!” … Robin McMonigle’s breakup from OC luxury real estate agent John McMonigle is being handled by divorce lawyer Gerald Phillips’ firm, Phillips, Whisnant, Gazin & Gorczyca in Newport Center. Partner Gary Gorczyca is taking the lead. The firm has represented many notables, including Broadcom cofounder Henry Nicholas’ ex Stacey and former Angels star Chuck Finley. Robin is seeking full custody of their four kids with visitation rights for John, who recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy … Todd Spitzer has released a long list of business endorsements for his 2012 county supe run. Supporters include Tony Moiso, Milan Panic, Gary Hunt, Dick Marconi, Mario Rodriguez, Lucy Dunn, Don Crevier, Paul Musco, Dale Dykema, Roger Hobbs, Pat Dirk, Tony Thompson, Robert Bein, Bobby McDonald and Irvine Company exec Paul Hernandez. Opponent Chuck DeVore says he’ll release a “significant list” of business backers later … Bill Lobdell shakes it up. A couple of years ago he went from religion writer to atheist and wrote a book about it, “Losing My Religion.” Last year he joined fraudster-turned-investor watchdog Barry Minkow in a stock-shorting operation (Fraud Discovery Institute, iBusinessReporting.) The relationship was short-lived, and Minkow recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud for spreading lies about homebuilder (and major OC presence) Lennar: “Like many people, including FBI agents, SEC officials and the crew of ‘60 Minutes,’ I fell for the Minkow redemption story.” Now Lobdell is leading a public relations offensive by the city of Costa Mesa as it makes a case for controversial budget cuts; his $3,000-a-week retainer has been fodder in the debate. Lobdell also is helping convict-turned-entrepreneur Michael Lynch, a Huntington Beach native, promote “Cops vs. Cons,” mixed martial arts battles that pit a cop, soldier or other hero-type against an ex-felon. The first matches are May 21 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena … Noted resort architect Jerry Allison, the A in Irvine architectural firm WATG, died at his Newport Beach home after a battle with gastric melanoma. He was 78. Allison’s list of international projects included Hotel Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Tanjong Jara Resort in Malaysia, the Sheraton Maui, The Mansion at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Disney’s Grand Floridian in Orlando, the Disneyland Hotel in Paris and, locally, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.
