Variety On the Town

Sedaka is still Mr. Song

Neil Sedaka’s still got it going on. Yes, that’s right; Neil Sedaka can still hold an audience. American Idol’s less than stellar finale had most wishing our aging pop superstar population remained healthy, vital and mercifully off stage, but Sedaka’s set at Thursday night’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation gala proved some oldies remain goodies. Sedaka closed the foundations evening at the Beverly Hilton quipping, “Songs of the ‘50s and ‘60s may be a little naive but you can understand all the lyrics” and asking the audience to let him know if they remembered any of his songs. They did and JDRF supporters including Sidney and Joanna Poitier, Jacqueline Bisset, Kirk Douglas, Dominck Dunne and designer Taryn Rose joined in clapping and singing along to “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and “Calendar Girl.” It was a cheerful easy going ending to a night where Larry and Shawn King had feted Annette Bening and Warren Beatty with the org’s Stem Cell Champions nod and touted the political barriers stem cell research was breaching. Polio surviving producer George Schlatter received the Angel Award and compared the possibilities stem cell research offered to the invention of the polio vaccine. Kinko’s founder Paul Orfalea and his wife, Natalie, were honored with the Caregiver nod. (L. Repstad)

New Yorkers love 'Chicago 10'

The Sundance version of “Chicago 10” made its first and last screening in Gotham on Wednesday at the Guggenheim Museum.

“When it is released it will have a slightly different edit,” doc’s helmer Brett Morgen (“The Kid Stays in the Picture”) said at the pre-screening cocktail hour. “Nothing too significant but it will be a little tighter.”
Helmer, who captures the theatrics of the infamous 1968 trial via animation and archival footage, also explained his decision to use animation.

“At some point I was reading about the trial and Jerry Rubin made a comment that the it was like a cartoon show and bells went off. I was like that’s it – animate! It became a means for us to visualize that which we didn’t have and also to give the film a more reverent, youthful hook.”

Following the screening, guests made the long trek downtown for an intimate after-party at the Beatrice Inn where DJs Spencer Sweeney and Andrew W.K. entertained crowds. (A. Morfoot)

Colorful 'Yellow' premiere

Saturday evening, Jonathan Pryce was among the cast drinking in fans’ adulation at the Disneyland bow of the third “Pirates of the Caribbean.” He played a far bigger role in “Yellow Face,” yet the British thesp was nowhere to be seen at Sunday afternoon’s opening perf at the Taper.

Pryce inadvertently set David Henry Hwang’s play into motion when he was cast as a Eurasian for the Broadway version of “Miss Saigon.” Hwang uses his own protests as a jumping off point for a highly personal meditation on race and the arts, quoting a series of press accounts (including one from Daily Variety) to propel the narrative. The cast channels a series of media and arts figures, including B.D. Wong, Jane Krakowksi and Sony homevid’s Fritz Friedman; they too were absent.

Afterward, the crowd mingled at a Dorothy Chandler pavilion fete, where “Lost” co-star Daniel Dae Kim and “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star Tsai Chin were among the revelers. The chow? Distinctly American: mini-roast beef sandwiches piled high with fried onions, chicken fingers and crudités. (D. Garrett)

"Pirates" throws big party

Keith Richards in a Disney movie?

It seems as out of place as Jerry Lewis in a Merchant Ivory opus.

I grew up a happy, innocent lad intoxicated with all things Disney. Then I grew up some more and became a surly, confused teen and transferred my allegiance to Keith, who was intoxicated.

And a lot more than that, sure. Forget about Mick, the pros will tell you that Keef was/is the heart and soul of the Stones, all that cigarette and bar chord swagger, all that forbidden stuff that seems the polar opposite to the innocently magical gospels of Uncle Walt.

But it’s all good, as the kids say. Compartmentalized passions; any right-thinking adult can enjoy both worlds.

And then they collide: The man who in 1973 famously (and allegedly) had his narco-steeped blood replaced like an oil change, among so many other non-alleged wicked deeds, appears in a Disney movie.

Now bear in mind, in the tender reaches of my 43-year-old brain, “Disney movie” translates to things like “Jungle Book,” “The Love Bug,” “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.” Young Kurt Russell, middle-aged Dean Jones, mush mouthed Buddy Hackett; these were the kinds of people who appeared in Disney movies.

Of course, Keith as a pirate in “At World’s End” makes perfect sense. He plays an aging, weathered veteran of life, a renegade, a survivor. Himself. Depp patterned his own “Pirates” character after him, and Depp is a man of taste, he knows what’s good—he’s 43 too, for God’s sake.

Then there’s the world premiere of the thing, and there’s Keith. Live and in person. At Disneyland. Mickey Mouse wanders around within feet of him, babies are in strollers, cotton candy is for sale.

And Keith?

No smoldering butt hangs from his lower lip, no battered Telecaster dangles from his skeletal frame like weapon, no half-empty fifth of Rebel Yell is gripped in his hand. In fact, he’s sucking on a bottle of water, and has a weird, trimmed, incoming mustache that makes him look like an ancient grocer.

But really, he’s still Keith. Artfully removing himself from his high canvas MTV interview chair, he still moves like a marionette with one string cut, and, at 63, he’s a grandfather who recently mentioned that he snorted his own father’s ashes, causing timbers to be shivered mightily in Mouse exec circles.
Disney is still Disney.

I stand there watching Keith Richards and his handlers trundle down the red carpet toward Adventureland, and it all makes sense. (P. Gilstrap)

Lily Allen Talks and then Rocks

Kicking back in her dressing room with a cigarette after a sound check for her Tuesday night concert at the Wiltern Theater, Lily Allen proudly asserts: she’s no spice girl. Having left school at 15 to pursue her vocal career, Allen spent six years pounding the pavement and penning songs before being signed by a label. “I’m not into manufactured pop stars," Allen tells On the Town. "Music is an art form. It’s like cookery. You don’t decide you’ll be a chef one day, open a restaurant and charge people $100 a head.” she said.

The songstress adds that shows like the U.K.’s “Pop Idol” and “American Idol,“ "have nothing to do with music. They’re TV programs. If the contestants had to sit down and write songs, I’d watch them, but it’s like going to a karaoke bar.”

In terms of flaunting one’s stage personality, some of the “Idol” contestants could take note from Allen: at Tuesday’s show she was clearly unabashed to smoke throughout her set and down jagermeister shots. That finesse, coupled with her forward personality and heartbroken boppy ballads, has clicked with fans. As a responsibility to connect with her listeners, Allen keeps a consistent blog; one in which she makes no bones about letting a stiff upper lip down.

Looking back at her recent success, Allen deflates, “But then I’m a hypocrite in a way because I’m signed with a major record label.” Except, Lily, you actually sing with a live band. You don’t lip synch to a backtrack. (A. D’Alessandro)

Scorsese's Garden Party

Not all of Hollywood's heavy hitters were in Cannes or at a network Upfront party Tuesday night. A very impressive crowd mingled in MoMA's Sculpture Garden in Gotham for a soiree honoring Leon and Debra Black and Martin Scorsese. The director, has donated some of his most famous films such as "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas" to the museum's collection, and has been closely involved in many of MoMA's film conservation initiatives over the past two decades. This was not your average garden party with the black tie affair raising $3.8 million for the Annual Fund of the Museum. Guests included Michael Ovitz, Edgar Bronfman, Barry Diller and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

- posted by Mia Sulpor

Katzenberg to the Rescue

At the Gotham preem for "Shrek The Third" Tuesday night, SKG’s Jeffrey Katzenberg did double duty as producer and… babysitter. Katzenberg was hard at work on the green carpet making sure all the tots were taken care of and able to see their favorite celebrity. He rushed up and down, zoomed through the crowd and talked to security. The kids in tow, which included the brood of Kelly Ripa, James Gandolfini and Camryn Manheim, screamed for their favorite stars. “I wanna see Cameron Diaz!” “Where’s Mike Myers?” Katzenberg did not disappoint. As Myers was about to make the final push and head into the theater, the DreamWorks topper broke security protocol and led the funnyman to the children where Myers took his sweet time signing autographs and chatting. Kids score, Katzenberg looks good and everybody’s happy.  (J.Clarke Jr.)

Romano Rallies For the Kids

What do you get when you bring together an eclectic group that includes Sean Hayes, Rick Shroder, Kathie Lee Gifford, Jean Smart, Miss America, Doris Roberts, Kathy Ireland, and HRH The Prince Edward Earl of Wessex? Well, for starters, 1 million dollars, which is the amount the crew raised at a benefit honoring Sam and Mary Haskell for the Viewpoint School in Calabasas, CA on Saturday.

The event, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, featured stand-up comedy by Ray Romano, who joked, "I always felt this need to raise money for rich kids." Later, during the night's live auction, Romano put his money where his mouth was, forking over $24,000 for a Yankees package which included a day with manager Joe Torres. He then jokingly asked if he could possibly make the check out to Campbell Hall — the school where his kids go — because he feared going home to his wife and telling her he spent $24,000 on another school.

- posted by Mia Sulpor

Warren Zevon Rocks On

The late LA-based singer-songwriter Warren Zevon would have liked last week's book and album release party in Gotham. Then again, in his cowboy days, there weren't many parties he didn't like. But this was almost a family affair celebrating his gritty biography "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," by ex-wife Crystal Zevon, and an album of previously unreleased recordings by son Jordan Zevon. For most of the night, Jordan held court at one end of a townhouse while Crystal took the other side. A book editor explained there might be tension between the two because Jordan did not want Crystal to publish Zevon's sordid tales. But Zevon made her promise to tell the whole ugly truth. "Warren created these scenes and dramas so he could live them and write about them," she said of Zevon, who died of cancer in 2003. "Writing this book was cathartic." At evening's end, Jordan finally walked over to Crystal and whispered something. She kissed him and touched his face before both said goodbye. "Did you see that?" asked HarperCollins editor David Hirshey, who worked on Zevon's book and CIA director George Tenet's controversial tell-all. "That was a moment. They must have made up." He then added, "I am sure wherever Warren is — and given the life he lived, I trust the weather is warm — he's probably waving a fifth of vodka in Crystal's honor, turning those speakers up full blast and playing all night long."  (J. Clarke Jr.)

Delta Farce's Funny Mix

With a tagline like "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Iraq" auds can only imagine what follows in Lionsgate's new comedy “Delta Farce,” starring Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and DJ Qualls. The trio of thesps play National Guardsmen who are bound for Iraq but unbeknownst to them, accidentally get dropped off in a Mexican village.

At the pic's launch on Thursday at the Fine Arts producer Alan Blomquist, who was on hand with director C.B. Harding, helped explain what movie-goers can expect. “The film’s a mix of the Three Stooges, ‘Three Amigos’ and ‘Stripes,’ ” joked Blomquist, “but not as brainy.” (B. Higgins)

Wine Time for Bernhard

It was no surprise that one of the auction items offered at the Disney Hall Wine Aficionado Dinner Thursday night was a private screening of Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming 3-D  pic “Beowulf,” since producer Jack Rapke’s wife Sandra is the one of the movers and shakers behind the wine-soaked affair. But this crowd of wine lovers was even more interested in the lots of rare wines or dinner with Will Ferrell and some fine burgundies.

Dubbed Que Syrah Syrah for its selection of Rhone varietals from around the world, the event raised $360,000 for the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program. Sandra Bernhard kicked off the Joachim Splichal-catered affair with a few pro-Democratic jokes — which didn’t go over so big with the well-heeled group of oenophiles. And CAA literary agent Robert Bookman offered up a dinner at his house with Valerie Plame Wilson, which was eagerly snapped up. Should make for interesting dinner conversation. (P. Saperstein)

Wilsons Welcome 'Wendell'

Brotherly love was in the air at the "The Wendell Baker Story" preem on Thursday night at the Writer's Guild Theater in Beverly Hills where brothers, Andrew, Owen and Luke Wilson came out to promote their new pic. The film in which con man Wendell Baker (Luke) gets his first legit job in an old folks home and teams up with local residents (Seymour Cassel and Harry Dean Stanton) to try to win back his girlfriend (Eva Mendes), also stars Owen and was directed by Luke and Andrew. Although the project allowed the Wilson bros a chance to work together again, while doing interviews for the film, Luke said reuniting with veteran actor Cassell was something he was really excited to do.

"I’ve worked with Seymour Cassel on Rushmore and he kind of lookslike your grandfather and he’s like, ‘Let’s go out. It’s half priced drinks Ladies night at Sharkeys.’ And you’re like, ‘Huh? We have to be up at six, Seymour.’ ‘Yeah, I know, I know. We gotta get going now.’"

posted by Mia Sulpor

Saturns Ring Genre Belles

"I'm proud to be here with all you outcasts like me," said "Masters of Horror" showrunner Mick Garris to the aud at the 33rd annual Saturn Awards Thursday night. "If you were on the football team, you're not here tonight." The crowd at the Universal Hilton was certainly peppered with self-identified geeks (Geek Monthly mag was a sponsor of the after-party.) but also included "Heroes'" Masi Oka, "Battlestar Galactica's Edward James Olmost and Katee Sackhoff, original Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson and such behind-the-camera luminaries as Richard Donner, Tom Mankiewicz and Bryan Singer.

Before the show, in front of an array of replica robots including Gort, Robby and the ECR from "Lost in Space," Olmos said that the next season of "Battlestar Galactica" (honored by the Saturns as top cable/syndication show) will be the last. "I find it to be the best usage of television I've ever been a part of" Olmos told Variety, saluting the show's writers. Meanwhile Sackhoff said she had grown up a big fan of the original "Star Trek," especially William Shatner's Captain James Tiberius Kirk. "He was so hot," said Sackhoff. (D. Cohen)

'Simpsons' Under Your Control

“There’s a lot of emphasis in today’s world about quality, but quantity is what we’re after,” quipped “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening about the different mediums his characters will be seen in this year. One is the new Electronic Arts videogame, which Groening discussed at Tuesday night's 400th Episode Block Party on the Fox lot. In regards to the game title being the same as the show, Groening joked, “We thought long and hard about what we were going to call this thing.”

The sneak peak of the new “Simpsons” videogame, which ships this fall, took place at Moe’s Tavern and in addition to Groening, Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart), the game producers and the team of Emmy-award winning writers behind the vidgame, TV show and summer movie, were all on hand for the unveiling.

“We’ve been working on the show for 18 years. It’s fun to finally do a videogame that is as ambitious and worthy of ‘The Simpsons’ because what we tried to do on the show is take the medium of animation, take a half hour TV show and push it as far as we can and make it as funny as we can," said Groening. "This videogame is the videogame equivalent of the show.” (J. Marks)

Lohan's Gotham Whirlwind

Lindsay Lohan's been on a tight schedule the last 48 hours in Gotham. On Monday night she hit up the MET Costume Institute Benefit Gala. On Tuesday afternoon she appeared on MTV's “TRL” followed by the premiere of “Georgia Rule,” that night, where she strutted down the red carpet with her co-stars Jane Fonda and Felicity Huffman. Last July, Lohan's punctuality was criticized when "Georgia" producer, Morgan Creek topper James G. Robinson, reprimanded Lohan in a letter for her late arrivals to the set. Film’s director, Garry Marshall, said he thought it was a necessary step and went on to joke “I have worked with them all. My expertise is 18 to 22 years-olds. It’s always about the same subject - the boyfriends. That’s all we talk about. But I do have to ask, 'What did the boyfriend do, that you had to lose a days work?'” (A. Morfoot)

Dratch Dabbles in Advertising

Any veteran red carpet trotter knows that premiere parties over the past few years are as much about sponsors as celebs. Perusing paparazzi pics of stars and execs usually means spying some logo or other in the background, peering over their heads like another player in a pic. So after the preem of Tribeca entry “My Best Friend” last week in Gotham, funnywoman Rachel Dratch had some laughs with the concept, chumming up to a poster for sponsor RoC in a way the skincare line might’ve not quite imagined in its marketing materials. (I. Mohr)

Gotham welcomes 'The Tourists'

L.A. packed into Gotham hotspot, The Box, Monday night to celebrate Jeff Hobbs’ frosh novel “The Tourists.”  Aaron Eckhart strafed the darkened bordello-style club as the crushed crowd sipped Leblon Capirinhas, a rum drink most agreed was just shy of paint thinner. Piper Perabo supposedly swept through (sadly, not performing any bar top “Coyote Ugly” moves). Brass from New Line, HBO and Miramax were all well represented, as was the seemingly full roster of Gersh agents. Hobbs and producer wife Rebecca of Cattle Productions, who live in L.A., soaked up the scene along with lit hipster Jonathon Franzen. We asked Hobbs about having Bret Easton Ellis act as quasi editor on his book. “He sort of treated it as any editor would,” Hobbs said. “I tend to overwrite everything so he trimmed it down. He’s about as sharp as they come and I was lucky to work with him.” (J. Clarke Jr.)

Fonda Gets Funky

Rapper Big Boi, half of the hip-hop duo OutKast, and music producer Dallas Austin gave Jane Fonda a little lesson in how to earn street cred at a screening of Fonda's "Georgia Rule" at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday night. The rapper, a proud Atlanta native, and Fonda were joined by Felicity Huffman and Ted Turner for an evening benefitting G-Capp — The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention — an organization which Fonda firmly stands behind. She recently spoke on why she became involved with the org during a stop on Larry King Live:

"It's been such an issue for me, sex, sexuality, gender, lack of self esteem and respect for my body. I want to help young boys and girls not have to wait as long as I did to learn to respect themselves, learn how to say no, learn how to see a future for themselves."

- posted by Mia Sulpor

Myers' Imaginary Friends

Sometimes being a green ogre can be a bit lonely. At least according to Mike Myers aka Shrek who spoke on the subject while promoting "Shrek 3."

"It's an odd experience, because you are in this booth. So, it’s kind of like being a goal judge in hockey and in the witness protection program. You don’t really get a lot of feedback. You see the people in the booth and occasionally they go, ‘Let’s try another one.’ So, I have developed imaginary friends. I have this imaginary eagle that sits with me and I talk to her. And if it’s a particularly good take she goes ‘Ka!’ And if it’s a great take it does three ‘Ka’s.’ And I go, ‘What’s that? I was pretty good in that one?’"

But Myers had plenty of company at the "Shrek 3" premiere on Sunday in Westwood where he was joined by costars Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Justin Timberlake and Antonio Banderas as well as hundreds of screaming fans who lined the streets in hope of getting a glimpse of the stars.

- posted by Mia Sulpor

Bling for Baby Spelling

Baby bling is still the thing as evidenced over the weekend at the 4th Annual Silver Spoon Dog & Baby Buffet held at the Wattles Mansion in Hollywood. Tori Spelling picked up two jewel-encrusted pacifiers for son Liam at the Aristabrat table. These fancy pacis retail for $120 and have names like Elitist and Dynasty. However they come with a disclaimer: Aristabrat products are novelty items for display only and are not intended for use by infants, toddlers or children of any age. Mind you a normal paci can be gotten at Target for $3 and can actually be used by your fussy infant. Dogs in attendance had their tarot cards read, picked up their own jewel encrusted bling and lounged on luxury custom-made chaises. IzzyBitzy merged the doggy and baby worlds by offering onsies and bibs emblazoned with “Drool Barrymore” and “Harry Colic Jr.” as well as canine bandanas reading “Sarah Jessica Barker” and “Hilary Ruff.” (K. Wilder)

Fisher Catches Kudos

It's no Oscar, but thesps Isla Fisher, Emilie De Ravin and helmer Greg McLean took home the Golden Boomerang at the Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards held at the Beverly Hills' Avalon Hotel on Thursday. "I'm going to put this on my mantelpiece in front of Sacha's Golden Globe," Fisher joked referring to fiancé Sacha Baron Cohen's recent trophy for "Borat." Also on hand was Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin who presented Fisher, her "Definitely, Maybe" costar, with the award. Fisher got her start on the Aussie soap "Home and Away" and has admitted that when auditioning for her role as Gloria in "Wedding Crashers," her accent was a bit of a concern for her.

"It was definitely nerve-racking because obviously you go into the room with an American accent and then you pray that they don't start talking to you because you prepared the lines in the accent. But then when it comes to something about your personal life or what the weather was like or where you came from today, then it's a little more difficult. But it went really well and I did the scene and got out."

- posted by Mia Sulpor

Spears' Show - Blink and You'll Miss it

Britney Spears proved that her 15 minutes of fame weren't up Thursday night at the Hollywood House of Blues when she performed a 15 minute set complete with all that has been buzzed about in her recent Socal gigs: the lip-synching, the pink bra and the sloppy brunette wig. In fact Spears’ opener, Latin crooner Frankie J., played a longer set — a whole 30 minutes. The most intoxicating part of the night was Spears' belly dancer moves; evidence that she hasn't lost it after two kids and three years offstage. Leading up to the show, some Spears’ impersonators in the balcony were busy having their 15 minutes.  Spellbound fans in the mosh pit below pointed to the sky, exclaiming “That’s her! That’s her!”  The evening’s doppelganger mood lasted for a few seconds into the performance when the spotlight shined on what appeared to be four blonde Britneys. Alas, it was just the diva’s back-up dancers who bore an uncanny resemblance to her. One fan in the balcony who wasn’t impersonating Spears was Lindsay Lohan. Sneaking out a back gate onto Sunset Blvd. after the show, Lohan exclaimed, “Britney was great!” (A. D'Alessandro)

Hats Off To You

Ladies who lunch did just that on Wednesday at the Central Park Conservatory Garden in Gotham for the annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards luncheon. The event lures the whos who of Park Ave to help raise money for Central Park restoration but really, who can focus on anything but the objects on each attendees head? Nicknamed the "Hat Luncheon" it appears the women, including Katie Couric, tried awfully hard to out do each other with the most outrageous looking hat. My vote in the category of 'Is that thing on your head still alive?' goes to designer Mary McFaden (photo on the left) but writer Amy Fine Collins (photo on the right) is a close second. Well, at least it's for a good cause.

  - posted by Mia Sulpor

A Bit of Motherly Advice

Two years ago Donna Rosenstein, casting director, had an “aha moment” when trying to order 25 burgers for her child’s classroom at a fast-food drive in. She begged, pleaded and cried to get her bulk order placed as she watched others walk in, pick up large orders and walk out. The “other mothers” knew the secret: order the day before and the burgers will be ready and waiting. At that moment Rosenstein decided to write her first book “What the Other Mothers Know.”

Tuesday night, Rosenstein along with co-authors Michele Gendelman and Ilene Graff, hosted a launch party for their new book at Spago in BevHills. All three mothers gathered information from friends, colleagues and focus groups to come up with the 320-page humorous guide to parenting. And the trio agreed, there was plenty of advice for a sequel. (K. Wilder)

Mr. Broadway Dons His Crown

In the tradition of the annual Rialto strip-for-charity fundraiser “Broadway Bares,” seven chorus boys competed in a male beauty contest for the title of Mr. Broadway 2007. Sure, there was a talent portion and an interview segment, but extra points were awarded for taking off your shirt. And really, everyone in the audience showed up for the swimsuit competish. (Mr. “Curtains,” Ward Billeisen, sported a speedo jerry-rigged with curtains that opened to reveal his backside.) Winner of the evening was Mr. “Mamma Mia!” Frankie James Grande, who won over the crowd with an odd mash-up of “You’re the One That I Want” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Money raised went to the five-year-old Ali Forney Center, which provides housing and support for homeless LGBT youth. (G. Cox)

Kudos Keep Rollin' in for Mirren

On Monday night the Geffen Playhouse gave Helen Mirren the latest award she’s received this season, bringing her grand total to probably a couple of thousand. But before the actual award was given, a collection of thesps and playwrights spoke of backstage moments that could have been disasters.

Neil LaBute talked of meeting his hero, Harold Pinter, in a London theater. “He asked me if I knew where the toilets were.” David Mamet gave three one-liners including how “Down in the Valley they are making a reality program about the writers’ strike.” But Dick Van Dyke brought the house down by recalling a perf for “Same Time Next Year” with Carol Burnett. There was one evening when the performance seemed to be going really well. The audience was even laughing during the sad final act. That was when Burnett told him his fly was open. “I’ve done comedy ever since," he quipped. (S. Dore)

Book Bash for Gore Vidal

New York literary heavyweights came out to honor Gore Vidal with the Inaugural Pen/Borders Literary Service Award at the American Museum of Natural History Monday night. Surrounded by well-wishers both young and old, (but mostly old) Mr. Vidal held both court and his wine glass while sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of the room. Surrounded by kneeling well-wishers for the entire reception, it was virtually impossible to get either near him, or around him. Drinking and mingling about were: Paul Auster, Kurt Anderson, Harold Evans and Tina Brown and many others both downtown and mid-list. The Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda cleared quickly as they announced that dinner would be served. Lingering behind though and the very last person into that dinner was publishing legend Gay Talese who used the moment to lament about what he felt going forward would be tough times for comedians and humorists in light of Don Imus' recent and probable career-ending racial slur. But maybe as if to show he hasn't lost his sense of humor, Mr. Talese, before walking off, looked up at the the 40 foot Barosaurus Dinosaur in the middle of the room and quipped, "Hey, look, Tommy Tune is here."  (R.Schwartz)