Just a few days after Crystal the monkey, Sarah Palin and Matthew Perry partied at the pool for NBC with a raft of admirers, it was the Disney-ABC television group’s turn to celebrate its new and returning shows.
Pamela Anderson was there, but the cast of “Modern Family” wasn’t (due to their since resolved contract dispute), leaving it to showrunner Steve Levitan to work the crowd at the All-Star cocktail reception at the Beverly Hilton for TCA’s summer press tour.
The bash in the Beverly Hills ballroom was the network’s second night in a row of partying. The evening before, in honor of its shows “Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23” and “Happy Endings, ” it was a food truck frenzy in the parking lot of Bar 210. Media members mingled with talent and net execs and tucked into fare like fusion tacos from Komodo and LudoTruck’s guerilla fried chicken, along with heaps of truffled fries.
At the bar, a specialty drink called Whore’s Bath put a gin-tinged patina to the proceedings.
The hooker thing was obviously a theme for the network as the next night, the cocktails included Hooker’s Toothbrush, Who’s Your Baby Daddy, Last Resort Submariner and Nashville Rising Star, in honor of the new show featuring Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere and Powers Booth.
Among the revelers, Elizabeth Perkins, Terry O’Quinn, Vanessa Williams, Dana Delany, Leah Remini, Brad Garrett, Scott Speedman, Lily Tomlin, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Reba– star of the upcoming “Malibu Country,” not to be confused with “Nashville” starring Britton and Panettiere–and ABC entertainment group president Paul Lee.
Emmy host-to-be Jimmy Kimmel had appeared earlier in the day in a panel discussion on the upcoming 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, but wasn’t able to stay for the party. Something about having a show to do. We’re sure he’ll be celebrating after the telecast on September 23.
