An Animated Jetsons Party

Imagine, lunch at the Biltmore, celebrating the 25th anniversary of George and Jane Jetson (with all the semi-fuzzy humanoids like the Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo and Huckleberry Hound showing up).

Also Corbin Bernsen. That’s right, the slick divorce attorney-star of “L.A. Law” is the country’s most loyal fan of the 25-year-old cartoon series. His reason is simple--he believes the Jetsons promote (get ready for this one) “the family unit.”

“No matter how hard we try to pull it apart, the family unit survives,” Bernsen explained as Scooby Doo walked up to catch an earful of cartoon philosophy.

Bernsen, who in recent months has raised a few eyebrows with his eligible bachelor’s comments about what his perfect wife would be like, said that he was not devoted to either Jane Jetson or Wilma Flintstone because they were stay-at-home wives.

In another interesting turn, Bernsen confessed that indeed his college thesis, a play, was based on the Jetsons. See the things one learns at even the most obvious of press events.

One also learns that the downtown traffic to the Biltmore provided more a prehistoric than a Space Age hurdle as those arriving complained that it took 20 minutes to make it the last couple of blocks to this refurbished grand hotel.

Among those attending--the still adorable Penny Singleton, the voice of Jane Jetson, and still looking very much like the Blondie she portrayed on television. “It’s much easier in outer space than it is to drive down here,” the perky Singleton complained. It was traffic-stopping inside the hotel as well as registering guests were greeted by Scooby and other costumed characters Fred and Yogi strolling down the hall.

Hanna Barbera’s Bill Hanna said that the idea for the Jetsons came from flipping the Flintstones from Stone Age to Space Age. He explained that although the Jetsons seem to have been a constant fixture of TV life for the past 25 years, only 29 half-hour episodes were made originally. Recently another 30-some episodes were made and two Jetson specials are scheduled for the winter season.

Too bad the little humanoids couldn’t chow down on the white chocolate mousse monster cake the Biltmore created in the shape of the Jetsons’ Sky-Park Apartments and Spacely Sprocket, where George worked.

OK, OK, so it’s not high society. But believe me, few couples in this town make it for 25 years and we should all stand up and cheer. Even Corbin Bernsen.

ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING--Just when you thought there wasn’t another honor (except maybe the Nobel Peace Prize) that could be awarded to Dr. Armand Hammer, here comes a salute by the West Coast Friends of Bar-Ilan University. Frank Sinatra entertains, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel speaks at the dinner at the Century Plaza. All proceeds go toward research on cancer and AIDs . . .

The Board of the American Indian Clinic holds its White Buffalo Award Banquet Dec. 2 at the Hollywood Roosevelt, with Jerry Buss and Bill Welsh as honorary dinner chairs. Honorary dinner co-chairs include a wide range of personas, like Los Angeles County Supervisor Deane Dana and Native American activist Russell Means. (Yes, on the same invitation.) . . .

The Opera Guild of Southern California hosts its annual Holiday Luncheon Dec. 5 at the Beverly Wilshire with Carl Princi as the emcee and Los Angeles Music Center Opera general director Peter Hemmings as the guest of honor.

FIRST TIME--Saturday, when the ’87 Essence Awards are presented at the Biltmore, seven Black Women of Achievement will be in the spotlight. The honorees--Oprah Winfrey, actress Marla Gibbs, National Council of Negro Women president Dorothy Height, Amateur Athletic Foundation president Anita DeFrantz, singer Valerie Capers, Atlanta’s Rev. Barbara King and Boston anti-drug activist Georgette Watson. Jayne Kennedy-Overton and Richard Lawson are the co-hosts--and the proceeds from the evening benefit the Black Women’s Forum Building Fund.

WHAT A THRILL--Imagine, a note from Clint Eastwood--and on the Carmel mayor’s own stationery too. What a disappointment, though. Instead of Clint asking me for lunch, he was asking me to Sunday’s 12th annual All Star Party honoring Joan Collins and benefiting Variety Clubs Children’s Hospitals.

Of course, it’s a great cause--and it was a great party last year honoring Eastwood. The bash at NBC’s Burbank Studios (with the network picking up the tab for the privilege of showing an hour of the evening later on TV) even includes a dinner catered by Chasen’s. OK, Clint. But the next time, make my day and make it lunch a deux.