HERE’S THE DISH!
They were dining in style at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills the other night as the Jonsson Cancer Center hosted its annual Epicurean Evening. Malibu locals like Kurt Kam joined celebs such as Fran Drescher, and tucked into a first-class feast prepared by some of the country’s leading tastemakers. Three-star Michelin Chef Philippe Legendre of the George V Four Seasons in Paris, Brooke Vosika of Four Seasons in New York City and L.A.’s own Conny Andersson and Donald Wressell were among the gourmet gurus who whipped up everything from caviar and cauliflower belinis to smoked lobster with morel mushrooms and bergamot tea ice cream and warm cherry compote.
The delicious affair raised more than half a million bucks for cancer research. Now that’s what I call digging in for a good cause.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
The Museum of Radio and Television is gearing up for the 2004 presidential race with a new series called “Mr. President: Political Image Making and Television.” It features marathon screenings of “Tanner ’88.” Tanner was written by “Doonesybury” creator Gary Trudeau and directed by Robert Altman.
The politic flick chronicles life on the campaign trial with fictional democratic candidate Jack Tanner, an underdog in the race for the White House. The 11-part mini-series originally aired on HBO back when Bush daddy was in the Oval O. Tanner also takes the top vote as far as Altman is concerned. The celebrated director calls it “the most creative work I’ve ever done.”
The series stars Michael Murphy, Pamela Reed and an up-and-coming HBO star called Cynthia Nixon. It’s also sprinkled with guest appearances by candidate-turned-Viagra pitchman Bob Dole and onetime democratic darling Gary Hart.
Another must-see is “Madison Avenue Goes to Washington: The History of Presidential-Campaign Advertising,” which is narrated by CNN’s Jeff Greenfield. It’s a fascinating look at the way our political picks are packaged and sold to the public like so many bars of soap.
The red, white and blue ballyhoo runs through November.
BONES WITH JONES
It’s a good thing action hero Harrison Ford remains at his hunky best, because he could be a senior citizen by the time “Indiana Jones 4” hits movie theaters. Word has it that producer George Lucas wasn’t happy with the script. Lucas is apparently looking to amp up the final act with an extra dose of action and pizzazz. Ford and mega-director Steven Spielberg have signed on for the project, but Frank Darabont’s script could be headed back to the drawing board. So, Indy fans, sit tight. If you’ve got a Jones jones, you might not get your fix until we’re well on our way to 2006!