TITANIC TRIBUTE
Malibu mega-director James Cameron was the man of the hour at the fourth annual Tom Arnold Celebrity Roast in Beverly Hills. Several hundred friends and fans gathered in all their glitz and glory for this Titanic-sized bash. The evening kicked off with a splashy cocktail do. It was followed by dinner and a live auction featuring big-ticket items like a trip to the ritzy Palmilla Resort in Los Cobos with a private jet, a jaunt to Vegas in your very own Gulfstream IV and passes to see Tiger Woods tee off at the Sherwood Country Club. The auction raised more than $40,000 to help at-risk kids at the Kayne-Eras Center in Culver City.
Arnold took on the role of ringmaster at this raucous gathering, and let’s just say the host of “The Best Damn Sports Show Period” wasn’t going after a G-rated audience. It was enough to make Mrs. C, Suzy Amis, blush.
Cameron pals-including Jon Landau, Judy Tenuta, Brody Stevens, Ralphie May, Bob Zany and Craig Shoemaker-provided plenty of ribbing as well as colorful language. JC was roasted until well-done. Although there were plenty of digs at his expense, the Academy Award-winning King of the World had the last laugh, saying “It’s good to be king!”
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
Another longtime local has made the honor roll. Surfing sitcom star Ray Romano was the toast of the Museum of Television and Radio’s annual gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Legendary producer Carl Reiner hosted the black-tie bash, which also honored ABC news vet Barbara Walters. Ms. Walters was celebrated as a ground-breaking role model for female journalists everywhere, not to mention more than three decades of hard-to-snag A-list interviews.
Walters and Romano join a prestigious roster of previous honorees including Alan Alda, Julie Andrews, Steven Bochco, Kevin S. Bright, David Brinkley, Tom Brokaw, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Marcy Carsey, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, David E. Kelley, Mary Tyler Moore, Jack Paar, Dan Rather, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, Martin Sheen, Tom Werner and Dick Wolf.
Romano has been starring as sports writer Ray Barone on the hit sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” since 1996. With one of TV’s longest running shows on his resume, Ray is ready to branch out into the big screen. Look for him as Maurice the meat salesman in the upcoming comedy “Grilled.”