The Scene: Monday night’s premiere of “Parenthood,”...

The Scene: Monday night’s premiere of “Parenthood,” the new comedy from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment about the joys of reproduction and multigenerational families. The evening was a benefit for the American Film Institute, and a capacity crowd packed both screening rooms at the Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, and afterward turned out into the lobby for a reception. The theme was a children’s birthday party--with margaritas.

The Buzz: Though many in the crowd talked about how nice it was to see a film geared toward the whole family, celebrity parents wisely hired baby sitters and left their own children at home.

Who Was There: “Parenthood” producer Brian Grazer, director Ron Howard, and stars Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen and Tom Hulce; Tom Selleck; Marlee Matlin; Lou Diamond Phillips; Johnny Depp; Shelley Long; Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen; producers Chuck and Ava Fries; directors Sydney Pollack and John Waters; innumerable agents and publicists; and a 12-foot clown on stilts that would have no doubt terrified any toddler.

Dress Code: Business attire for the guests. The catering staff wore Western outfits.

Fashion Statement: Tom Selleck’s beard, horse patterned necktie and moccasins.

Chow: Picnic food. Roast pork sandwiches, ribs, chili, barbecued chicken, quesadillas made with Brie, guacamole, cookies, and hot fudge sundaes, catered by Along Came Mary.

Entertainment: A country rock band played while guests tried their hands at midway games of skill: wheels of fortune, shooting galleries, and trying to throw softballs into milk jugs.

Favors: Everyone received a “Parenthood” gym bag that could double as a flight bag, or appropriately, a diaper bag. Inside was a T-shirt, cologne, hair products, and a squirt gun.

PQ: (Premiere Quotient): On a scale of 1 to 10, a solid 8. The evening was strongly reminiscent of Universal’s premiere for “The Dream Team”--not coincidentally, also from Imagine Entertainment. Is the studio courting the production company or what?

One Moment in Time: Watching a conversation between John Waters and Ron Howard--the director of “Pink Flamingoes” meets Opie.