Variety On the Town

Lansing Gets the Last Laugh

Luckily, Sherry Lansing can laugh at herself or Tuesday’s Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards would have been a bit awkward. When “The Devil Wears Prada” producer Karen Rosenfelt took the stage to present Lansing with the Paltrow Mentorship Award, she admitted that when first asked to hand over the kudo her response was, “not happening.” It wasn’t until she learned that one of the night’s sponsors, Maxmara, would provide her with a dress for the evening, that she changed her mind. Then, instead of gushing to the crowd about how wonderful Lansing was to work with, Rosenfelt said, “as I tell you about working with and for Sherry Lansing for 15 years, just remember that only three letters T.O.R. separate the word mentor from tormentor.” She then recalled how Lansing called her after seeing “The Devil Wears Prada” for the first time. “She told me how Meryl Streep’s superior acting and David Frankel’s astute direction prevented the character of Miranda from being too farcical because no one has a boss like Miranda Priestly. I then reminded Sherry of the staff meetings she would routinely call on Friday afternoons of three day weekends and of the Christmas Eve staff meeting.”  But later, Rosenfelt followed award presenting protocol by praising the woman she calls “her mentor” saying, “do you think it was easy to work for someone who returned every phone call promptly? Handled intensely difficult meetings with utmost poise and who could be laser specific with creative solutions for troubled screenplays and cuts of films? During the course of every day I find myself asking how would Sherry handle this situation?” For this particular situation, a laughing Lansing took the stage graciously. “I was going to say thank you Karen for your kind words. But now I think I am just going to say thank you for your incredible insightful and funny introduction.”

Hayek Thanks Tough Times

If it wasn’t for adversity, Salma Hayek may have been at Promises in Malibu instead of the Beverly Hilton Tuesday night where she was honored by the Women in Film. When accepting the evening's Lucy Award, the actor-producer spoke about how extremely difficult it was for her to find work as a thesp when she first moved to the U.S. but says she is now grateful for the many obstacles she encountered.

“I want to thank adversity among everything because if I had been white and beautiful and funny and smart, but not too smart, and talented, I would have just been an actress getting one role after another and I would have made a lot of money and probably gotten into drugs and been very, very miserable. Instead, I couldn’t get a job to save my life. I had to learn how to write, produce and look outside the box for a way to express my creativity.”

Choice Words for Warren

Warren Beatty's close friends spilled secrets about the star when he was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award. Words such as legend, teacher, hypochondriac and ghetto superstar were used to describe him at the four hour, yes four hour, awards ceremony that took place Thursday at the Kodak Theater. Below are some highlights.

Jane Fonda recalled doing their first screen test together saying, "It was a love scene and we kissed and I don't remember anything about it because I was so nervous. I mean, it was Shirley MacLaine's brother. We became friends and nothing more. I thought he was gay. He was so cute and all his men friends were gay. He had a way of collecting really brilliant gay men friends and he liked to play piano in a piano bar, what were the odds that he was straight."

Quentin Tarantino on "Bonnie and Clyde" - "It was Warren who read that script and realized what he had. As much as he loved what it was I think he adored what it wasn't. It was a gangster movie without the cliches. It was the Hollywood movie with out the cliches."

Dustin Hoffman on "Ishtar" - "It is ironic that they asked me to speak at the film that bombed part of the evening. 'Ishtar' shall rise again." On Warren getting the AFI Life Achievement Award: "When a friend of over 40 years gets a one foot in the grave awar, otherwise known as the lifetime achievement award, we as actors understand the subtext of the award."

Bill Clinton: "I saw 'Bonnie and Clyde' and it made me feel grateful  that I had found a less lethal way to escape rural poverty and obscurity. I later learned it was only slightly less lethal."

Diane Keaton on "Reds" - "Seeing it again brings a flood of very intense feelings for me. I guess because it dealt with a subject that I have always been compelled yet  terrified of and that is love. Love with all its risk taking enchantment. Love with its ultimate promise of loss."

Elaine May on "Heaven Can Wait" -  "When he tells you about a project he is going to do, he manages to make it sound as crazy as possible. So when I first met him and he wanted me to do 'Heaven Can Wait' he said it is a remake and I am not going to be in it but I am putting this together as a staring vehicle for Muhammad Ali and it is about a boxer who dies and goes to heaven but its a mistake so they bring him back but they put him in the body of a CEO...  it's a love story."

Barry Levinson on "Bugsy" - "I told Warren he had to meet Annette saying she was really smart, great sense of humor, really understands the role of Virginia Hill, I think you should meet her right away. He called me the next day and he said, 'she is really terrific, I am going to marry her.' That is really what he said. People always ask me over the years didn't you know the two were in love while you were making the movie and to be honest I just thought it was good screen chemistry. I had no idea. When I heard they were in the trailer, I thought they were rehearsing and were just really dedicated."

Halle Berry on "Bulworth" - "Watching Warren rap was one of the moments in my career that I will never forget."

Jack Nicholson, who arrived after the Lakers game at the Staples Center to honor his friend, said "He has received eight times as many awards as he has made pictures."

Photo: Annette Benning and Warren Beatty/ FilmMagic

The Talk at the TV Land Awards

An eclectic mix of stars gathered at the TV Land Awards on Sunday as everyone from Justin Timberlake to The Golden Girls arrived at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica.  Below, a few show sound-bites:

“Forget about surviving 40 years of the music business, just surviving 27 years of Nicole Richie is enough.  I stand here as a survivor,” Lionel Richie said as he accepted the 2008 TV Land Icon Award.

“Nobody questioned Batman and Robin’s relationship just like no one questions Ben Silverman and Ryan Seacrest,” said presenter Kathy Griffin.

“I just found out I’m on the short list for Vice President of the United States," said presenter Steve Carell.

“Thank you for giving me a chance and not making me change my accent and thank you for giving me a life,” Penny Marshall as she presented Gary Marshall with the Legend Award.

The sixth annual TV Land Awards are scheduled to air June 15 on the cable network.

Photos credit: WireImage

Madonna's World of Wonder

Calling all Madonna fans: Variety's Michael Williams brings you this report from Hollywood's new exhibit, Dial M for Madonna, which runs through June 23 at the World of Wonder Gallery.

The World of Wonder Gallery celebrated its Dial M for Madonna group art exhibit with champagne, Kabbalah water and eye candy galore. Curated by World of Wonder Prods.’ Steven Corfe and James St. James, the May 23 opening coincided with the release of Madonna’s “Hard Candy” album with a cadre of Madge impersonators in all shapes and sizes. The exhibit features more than 40 artists’ photos, paintings, sculptures and video tributes to the Queen of Pop.

At the opening, storefront mannequins were adorned in candy-coated outfits inspired by Madonna’s ever-changing looks, including a “Like a Virgin” wedding dress made of white Lifesavers and a geisha-inspired number from the “Nothing Really Matters” video made of red gumballs and licorice.

Dial M joins the WOW Gallery’s growing list of popular and twisted pop culture-driven exhibits that include “Warhol: Dead at 21,” a celebration of the 21st anniversary of Andy Warhol’s death; the Britney Spears-inspired show “Just Britney;” “Golden Girls” tribute “Golden Gals Gone Wild;” and “depARTed,” an homage to celebrities who died before their time. More info: worldofwonder.net

Sex Returns to the City

"I want to congratulate you all on getting the hottest ticket in town tonight," New Line's Toby Emmerich told the aud at Tuesday's Gotham premiere of "Sex and the City."

Judging by the thousands of screaming fans outside Radio City Music Hall and the hour-long will call line, he wasn't joking. Even a sudden downpour as stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon arrived, didn't damper anyone's spirits as Manhattan's favorite foursome caused a flashbulb frenzy.

Once inside the theater, the excitement continued as ticket holders such as Jerry Seinfeld, Katie Couric and Donald Trump took their seats. But no one caused more excitement than the belle of the ball, SJP, as guests actually rose to their feet and applauded her entrance into the building.

Pic's writer-director Michael Patrick King introduced the cast and the film saying, "sex is back where it belongs, New York City."

After the screening, guests walked a few blocks to the Museum of Modern Art for the chic soiree packed with cosmos and Manolo Blahniks. None of the guests played it cool and instead were snapping photos of the stars any chance they got. One female fan even asked Time Warner topper Jeffrey Bewkes if he would mind taking her photo with Chris Noth aka Mr. Big, while singer Fergie took out her camera for a shot with Parker.

Later in the evening, the museum's downstairs section turned into the men's club as Noth chatted with Willie Garson (Stanford) and David Eigenberg (Steve). While upstairs Parker and husband, Matthew Broderick, held court with the Seinfelds.

As for the chance of more sex with a second pic, producer Darren Star would only say, "anything is possible."

(pictured: Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall: Startaks/ Jason Lewis, Jennifer Hudson and Michael Patrick King: WireImage)

Spitzer Steps Out

A smiling Silda Wall Spitzer definitely looked different than the last time we saw her as she arrived at the 8th annual "The Art of Giving" benefit Wednesday in Gotham. Silda, otherwise known as the sad looking wife who stood next to her husband, former N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer, as he resigned from his post thanks to his admiration for call girls, made her first public appearance at the Christie's gala. The event was hosted by the charity she founded Children for Children, which is a non-profit org that works to foster community involvement and social responsibility in young people. Mr. Spitzer was not in attendance.

NYC Ballet Soiree

It was an evening of dinner and dancing at the Metropolitan Opera House in Gotham Monday as stars such as Kelly Ripa, Donald Trump and "Gossip Girl's" Taylor Momsen stepped out for the American Ballet Theater’s 68th annual Spring Gala. Folks forked over $1,500 for a ticket to the event, which featured ABT dancers performing highlights from the season's upcoming repertoire followed by a lavish black tie dinner.

(pictured: Taylor Momsen/ Kelly Ripa with Mark Consuelos  - Filmmagic)

'Sex and the City' lands in london

The "Sex and the City" gals arrived in London Monday for the pic's European premiere. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis were greeted by hundreds of screaming fans (many had camped out over night) as they walked the red carpet in Leicester Square. "This is a miraculous and simply unforgettable night for all of us," Parker told the BBC.  Parker, who wore an eye-catching green dress by Alexander McQueen and a unusual headpiece by Philip Treacy, added that the preem was "an incredible way to kick off this adventure".  Click here to watch live coverage of the premiere.

McCain, Murdoch and more at the Time Mag bash

Everyone from Judd Apatow to John McCain attended Time Magazine's "The World's Most Influential People" party at the Lincoln Center in New York Thursday. Others celebrating their importance included newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Jeffrey Bewkes, Rupert Murdoch, Lorne Michaels and Harvey Weinstein just to name a few. In Time's issue Garry Shandling writes a piece on Apatow and recalls when Apatow was a writer on The Larry Sanders Show.  "I can still his hear his upbeat voice, 'o.k., let's write some jokes!' " Shandling writes. Read the full article here. 

Below: Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey/ SNL's Fred Armisen points to Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng/ John McCain and Judd Apatow (WireImage)