Styles & Scenes

TV Guide's historic Emmy party plans

Social Hollywood, the hottest party spot in town – a two-level, multi-roomed venue on Sunset Boulevard - will host TV Guide's 4th annual Emmy party on August 27th.

“We are delighted to be back again this year on Emmy night to salute the best and brightest in television,” boasts the mag's editor-in-chief Ian Birch.  “We couldn't think of a better place to celebrate the small screen’s biggest night than at the landmark Social Hollywood, where the very first Emmy broadcast took place.”

Wow. Bet there was an Emmy party bidding war for this historic spot.

Formerly called the Hollywood Athletic Club, the venue will host Emmy nominees, presenters and key industry players who will mix and mingle in the club’s Green room, Velvet room, Moroccan Room, and Barrymore Ballroom. What, no Casting Couch?

Last year’s TV Guide bash was held on Sept 18 at the Hollywood Roosevelt, then a super hot party venue that has now cooled with the In Crowd.

But the 2005 party definitely got a good celeb turnout: “Entourage” star Jeremy Piven, Jessica Simpson, Marcia Cross, Jesse Metcalf, Mandy Moore, Mira Sorvino, Sandra Oh, Jessica Capshaw, Wilmer Valderrama, Zach Braff, and natch, Joan and Melissa Rivers.

It just wouldn’t be a TV Guide party without that mother/daughter act.

No word on this year's entertainment yet. But last year Missy Elliot performed and DJ AM worked the party. And the HBO “Entourage” post premiere party was held at Hollywood Social last month and featured acts like drag queen bingo, belly dancing, burlesque and roller derby waitresses in the ballroom.

Just a guess, but considering the venue’s history and current popularity, I’m betting the 2006 TV Guide Emmy bash will be way more exciting than the actual awards show.

Photo Credits:  A befuddled Wilmer Valderrama is consoled by Mandy Moore at the 2005 TV Guide Emmy party. Moore was then dating Zach Braff. Now she's single. Hey, try again at this year's bash, Wilmer.
WireImage/John Shearer

Keira Knightley takes the plunge

One of Oscar nominee Keira Knightley’s fave British designers - Jenny Packham - will have a special fashion show in Los Angeles in October, just in time for  2007 award season shopping. The show will be sponsored by BAFTA/LA.

Packham, who usually parades her wears on London and Paris runways, has been dubbed "the first lady of partywear" by British Vogue, who certainly should know.

No doubt a few of her fervent fans like Nicole Kidman, Mandy Moore, Kate Moss, Mena Suvari, Brittany Murphy, Heidi Klum and Scarlett Johansson, who just wrapped the new Woody Allen film "Scoop" in London, will show up for Packham's show.

Knightley and Packham just worked together on a photo to aid Fresh2o, a campaign to promote WaterAid, which provides African and Asian communities safe domestic water supplies. In this eerie underwater shot by aquatic photographer Candice, Knightly (gulp) manages to hold her breath beautifully in a frothy cream Packham gown.

Just so you know, Knightley, who walked the red carpet wearing white Chanel at Saturday's premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" at Disneyland, flew back to jolly old England the very next day to keep filming Ian McEwan’s “Atonement,” which has, to say the least, an impressive female cast.

On the "Atonement" roster: Emily Watson, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave, Kristin Scott Thomas and... Betty White.

Yes, that Betty White, best known for playing sexually voracious Sue Ann Nivens on the '70s TV series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and for her loveable ditzy Rose on the early ‘90s  hit series, “Golden Girls.” Who knew?

Photo Credits: Keira is a bathing beauty for charity in a Jenny Packham gown.
Courtesy of WaterAid.

Rating the hottest Globe bashes

Who cares about the awards show. Let's talk about the post parties!

Film studios and TV networks spend beaucoup bucks on the food, décor, booze and service staff for their official Globe after-parties. But that’s just smoke, black velvet and mirrors. The true test of a party’s hotness is the star power. The after-bash with the hottest gals, coolest dudes, cutest couples and award-clutching stars wins.

Here’s a quick rundown of who-got-who-and-where.

Host: In Style/Warner Bros.

Where: The Oasis, formerly Palm Court. Think a cavernous blue-lit disco space with spiky Giger-esque red glass tumor-lights over an enormous bar, big dance floor and outdoor smoking area.

Difficulty factor: Piece of cake. The best arrival viewing party and a chance for fans to scream at stars, ask for autographs and take photos. Stars DO stop to sign when they come and go. But once inside, good luck getting through the throng of tuxes and gowns to find them. Tip: head for the small outdoor smoking areas. Or try the dance floor, where Bill Macy and his Globe-winner wife Felicity Huffman were rocking out like teenagers at their high school prom.

Star count: George Clooney and Charlize Theron. Need we say more? OK, George was with his publicist, she was with her boyfriend, Stuart Townsend. Other hot couples: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, "OC" cuties Rachel Bilson and Mischa Barton, hardly desperate Nicollette Sheridan with Michael Bolton (creepy), Seal with Heidi Klum (creepier).

This was definitely THE hot babe bash: Jessica Biel, Jenna Elfman, Natasha Henstridge, Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Virginia Madsen and Rose McGowan, Melanie Griffiths’ daughter, Dakota Johnson. And Adrien Brody.

Host: Universal/Focus Features/NBC

Where: An elevator ride up to the hotel’s garage rooftop.

Difficulty factor: From a 10 minute to half hour wait to get in. No one wanted nasty fire marshals to shut it down, which they’d do if the body count went over 800. Linger outside the big tent to catch red carpet action: Keira Knightley, Ang Lee and Rachel Weisz clutching their awards and talking about how surprised/nervous/happy they are.

Star count: Second place for celeb sizzle. Major points for “King Kong” director Peter Jackson.

Hot couples: Former Hobbit Dominic Monaghan and his "Lost" costar-squeeze Evangeline Lily, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Zach Braff with Mandy Moore.

Hot dudes: Eric Bana, Cillian Murphy and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Hugh Laurie, Matt Dillon, Luke Wilson, Patrick Dempsey. Oh, and Adrien Brody.

Memorable moment: Keira Knightley dancing up a storm, spinning around and giggling, while holding a glass of champagne. That’s what we call multitasking.

More parties…

Photo: Hot couple Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend definitely add some sizzle to the Warner Bros./In Style official Golden Globes after-party.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

Hollywood's fashion junkies hit the Globes

There’s a new drug in Hollywood. And some of the hottest young actresses are into it.

Nicole Richie’s been seen with it at A-list parties and night clubs. Mischa Barton, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, Mandy Moore, Heidi Klum and Joy Bryant may even bring it to the Golden Globe Awards.

It’s Yves St. Laurent designer clothing. YSL for short. And super-stylist Rachel Zoe is solely responsible for the current YSL wave sweeping Hollywood. She’s been dressing all of the above actresses in slinky, sexy vintage and modern YSL for the past two years.

But she isn’t just a pusher. She’s also a user.

“It’s really my addiction,” she admitted at the recent bash for M.A.C Beauty Icon and fellow YSL addict Catherine Deneuve at the Chateau Marmont. It’s said that if there are just two addicts in a room, it still qualifies as an twelve step recovery meeting. Perhaps Zoe and Deneuve should have opened the penthouse party with a Style Serenity Prayer.

“I can't stop myself. I'm like a junkie. If there was a YSL rehab, my husband would have had me admitted years ago,” said Zoe, wearing a YSL blouse and slacks with a sculpted black Christian LaCroix jacket that she found in Paris. ”But I tell him that it’s better than doing drugs.”

Zoe will be dressing Knightley, Beckinsale, Moore, Barton and Klum for the Golden Globes and admits that she's little fried from all the fashion frenzy.

“It’s a love/hate relationship,” she said of the awards season with back-to-back galas and parties. “It’s manic and crazy but it’s what I do and what I love. It’s like dressing Cinderella for the ball. And all  the girls are so beautiful. I’m really lucky to get to work with that much beauty.”

So what will they be wearing Monday night? Silly question. The answer would spoil the red carpet surprise. But if you're the betting kind, put some serious money on vintage YSL.

“All the girls have very distinct styles. Some of them will look feminine and classic and some will be more edgy,” whispered Zoe. “But call me Monday after 3:30 and I’ll give you all the details.”

Photo Credit: Mischa Barton is hopelessly hooked on YSL, seen here at GQ's 2005 Man of the Year bash at Mr. Chow's in Beverly Hills. But will she wear it to the Golden Globes?
(John Sciulli/WireImage)