Variety On the Town

Another 'Idol' bash

At most Hollywood bashes, the red carpet is the prelude to the main event. But at Fox's annual party Thursday trumpeting the final 12 contestants on "American Idol," the red carpet is the event.

That's because the dozen finalists don't just walk this media line. They work it, in pairs, for what seems like hours at a time.

No quick grin and twist here. These overnight celebrities come not to schmooze, but to begin the process of campaigning for votes. This is the Iowa caucuses for America's favorite election, only here "ET" and People have replaced CNN and the New York Times. And instead of the snowy climes of Iowa, it's a warm spring night at the Pacific Design Center.

The red carpet scene takes place on an outdoor balcony, with partygoers inside peering at the scene through a glass window. Simon Cowell came early, but we didn't see Paula or Randy (they were supposedly there).

Fox Entertainment prexy Peter Liguouri also made a quick visit, no doubt to ensure the continued good favor of the "Idol" gods who've kept Fox in the hunt for first place. Mark Burnett Prods. exec Roy Bank also stopped by, taking time to bond with Fox reailty guru Mike Darnell over the success of their new hit quizzer "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" And somebody forgot to tell Justin Guarini, who still has the same crazy hair, that it's not 2002.

Because "Idol" is such a huge media event, the bash attracts journos from all the major pubs. USA Today's Bill Keveney, who turns into the Bob Woodward of "Idol" for six months each year, might have been fired had he missed this event.

Nearly three hours after it began, the party is still going strong, but there's still no sign that any of the "Idol" 12 have made it off the red carpet and into the actual party. Doesn't matter. Tonight, the party is just an excuse to justify the red carpet. (J. Adalian)   

Grand Central Design

It takes a lot to catch the attention of New Yorkers during their daily commute, but somehow Bravo managed to do it.

Net hosted a Monday morning launch press party for their latest reality competition series "Top Design" at Grand Central Station's 42nd Street Shuttle platform.

Series features 12 aspiring interior designers competing to create the best looking room. While two trains rolled in and out of the station, series top judge and designer Jonathan Adler introduced 11 of the skein's competitors while simultaneously unveiling three of his interior design vignettes/lounge areas open to the public.

Whether or not commuters will choose to chill in the underground mod sprawls, which include plug-ins for iPods and cell phones, is highly questionable. Adler's designs may be sleek but even the most elegant couch isn't appealing when placed in the rat infested Gotham subway. (A. Morfoot)

Fox Shows Flair

FFox gets the Party of Press Tour award if only because it was the only broadcast net to bother with a bash held somewhere other than the Ritz-Carlton in Pasadena.

Net’s bash, held on the closing night of the semiannual TV Critics Assn. press tour, unfolded at Villa Sorriso in Old Town. In keeping with the Fox press tour theme of Winter Wonderland, there was some very convincing fake snow and a giant ice sculpture.

Kiefer Sutherland showed up a few minutes before the party’s official start, and was predictably mobbed by scoop-seeking scribes.  He confirmed reports that the planned “24” feature film has been pushed back at least a year, something seconded by exec producer Howard Gordon.

“The OC” creator Josh Schwartz joined some of his cast in what will likely be his last ever Fox press tour party. He’s just turned in the script for the series finale, which begins lensing Wednesday, and is in the early stages of casting his new pilots for NBC and the CW.

Also on schmooze patrol: Fox Entertainment prexy Peter Liguori and FX topper John Landgraf. Latter exec, a former partner in Jersey TV, is prepping for the release of the feature film version of Jersey’s “Reno 911!” (J. Adalian)

C-Dub Cocktails

First, there was the “Lady in the Water.” This weekend, the CW gave the nation’s TV critics a (green-haired) lady in... a martini glass.

This month’s round of bashes linked to the semiannual TV Critics Assn. press tour had been decidedly dull, but that changed Friday at the CW’s event. While it still took place at a staid ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, the C-Dub made an effort to entertain the assembled press corp. by paying a model/actress type to spend the night lounging in a giant martini glass at the center of the room.

It was a very Standard Hotel-type move, but it gave reporters something else to talk about other than McG’s press conference earlier in the day. Helmer, there to promote his upcoming Pussycatt Dolls reality skein, started a lively debate with his talk linking the Dolls to a new third wave of feminism.

Stars from CW shows such as “Veronica Mars” and the upcoming “Hidden Palms” mingled with behind the scenes types such as “Smallville” co-creator Al Gough (psyched about the great numbers for Thursday’s well-reviewed “Justice” seg) and “America’s Next Top Model” exec producer Ken Mok. CW Entertainment prexy Dawn Ostroff said she though the CW’s first press tour since launch went well, while Warner Bros. TV Group topper Bruce Rosenblum showed up just hours after getting back from NATPE. (And yes, that was the studio’s communications guru Scott Rowe sporting a full beard). (J. Adalian)

All About ABC

If you want to see stars in their natural environment, you need only drop by a press tour party.

Every January and July, all of the major broadcast nets throw bashes connected to the semiannual TV Critics Assn. press tour. Unlike movie premieres or awards show soirees — where the big names sometimes hide in VIP sections--  the whole point of the press tour party is to connect celebs and execs with ink-stained wretches from the fourth estate.

And so it went Sunday night at Pasadena’s Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa, where ABC held its  not-so-gala event (bringing along talent and execs from sister nets ABC Family, SoapNet and Disney Channel). Braving the near-arctic air outside, Sally Field patiently took questions from gaggles of journos, while her “Brothers & Sisters” castmates — including a no-longer media shy Calista Flockhart — also accepted some grilling from reporters. Later in the night, Flockhart and her new TV pals seemed like a real group of brothers and sisters as they huddled around a small table in the back of a (heated) outdoor tent.

ABC Entertainment prexy Steve McPherson was in an upbeat mood, while boss Anne Sweeney seemed positively giddy — and with good reason. She’d just seen the numbers for Disney Channel musical “Jump In,” and the ratings turned out to be even higher than those for “High School Musical.”

Brian Frons, head of ABC Daytime and SoapNet, was also in a good mood — despite another week of heavy shelling over at “The View,” thanks to the Rosie vs. Donald war. Frons thinks things have settled down, and he’s beyond happy over the strong ratings boost Rosie O’Donnell has brought to “The View.” (J. Adalian)

Foodies Feast on Feats

Judging from the Food Network's cocktail party for new skein "Dinner:
Impossible," no mission for host Robert Irvine -- with regards to food -- is impossible.

In the spirit of the new series, which puts Irvine to weekly culinary tests, the food maestro whipped up twelve plates in the course of five hours for Net execs and media invited to the event.

Trays heaped with herb-crusted lamb with lingonberry dipping sauce; Peking duck enchilada with Asian sauce; salmon mille feuille; and cucumber relish caviar were served throughout the evening at Net's headquarters in Gotham's Chelsea Market. To wash it all down Irvine devised a red concoction he called Aston Martin (gin, Campari and Chartreuse).

"He had us before he chopped his first onion," senior VP of programming Bob Tuschman joked before showing clips from the show. "He worked for the Royal Family, four presidents (both Bush administrations, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton), but all that was preparation for Impossible' because what we make him do in this show, no chef should really have to do."

Irvine quickly responded: " I agree!" (A. Morfoot)

Tots Mosh in Gotham

Not many hipsters could get up at 10:30 a.m. for a rock show on a college campus -- and not many did. Most of the people in the mosh pit Thursday at Gotham’s John Jay College were under the age of five.

The hour-long toddlerpalooza was staged by Nickelodeon's Noggin preschool channel to mark Saturday's debut of the second season of "Jack's Big Music Show" – a show in which guest musicians such as Buddy Guy and Lisa Loeb rock out with a garage band of puppets.

Sharing the stage were violin-hip-hop duo Nuttin But Stringz, pigtailed Brooklyn pop outfit AudraRox and the Laurie Berkner Band. (The latter is considered, along with Dan Zanes and the Wiggles, one of the platinum draws in the burgeoning preschool music scene.) Boldfaced names weren’t exactly the point, though Nickelodeon Preschool chief Brown Johnson and "Jack's" creator David Rudman did take to the stage and mingle with mini-fans.

Johnson knew better than to pontificate to a squirming crowd. "What do you think, guys, do you want to hear them play some music?" she demanded. A loud cheer rang out as several dozen wriggling, hopping kids let off steam in the aisles, on the floor, on laps and especially down front, where the pit recalled a less-pierced version of a Blag Flag set. (D. Hayes)