Stars to Orbit Planet Hollywood’s O.C. Opening

Ask film producer Keith Barish the urgent questions that have been swirling around the Oct. 23 launching of Planet Hollywood at South Coast Plaza Village (What celebs are attending? Who’s invited? What’s the party agenda?) and you get a thoughtful, measured response.

The New Yorker who is Planet Hollywood’s chairman wants to make sure Orange County gets a perfectly calm first impression. No hype allowed.

So, slowly, carefully, Barish reveals that the club’s celebrity owners, Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis “will be there.”

And then, happily, but almost reluctantly, he says television heart-throb Luke Perry--the “Beverly Hills 90210” star who was a Vanity Fair cover boy--”has confirmed.”

“I’d guess about 12 major celebrities will attend the opening,” adds Barish, producer of films such as “Sophie’s Choice,” “Ironweed,” and “Running Man.”

Oh, and, yes, their arrival in Santa Ana will be met with a Hollywood brand of hoopla: Army Archerd will greet the stars a la the Academy Awards. Searchlights will pierce the night. And grandstands will be erected so the public will have a place to gawk. (“When Planet Hollywood opened in New York, tons of people lined the sidewalks,” says an insider.)

As for locals who will be invited, Barish says: “The police chief. The mayor. The Segerstroms. And other area leaders.”

And loads of movie-industry types, say cognoscenti. (Supporters of local charities--Laguna Art Museum, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Orange Coast College Athletics--will benefit from “dress-rehearsal” parties held Oct. 19 through 22).

The opening-night agenda will include the chance for guests to ogle the club’s collection of movie memorabilia. On view: the ice pick sex goddess Sharon Stone wielded in “Basic Instinct,” topiaries from “Edward Scissorhands,” a model of the Enterprise from “Star Trek,” a jacket worn by John Wayne in “The Cowboys,” the motorcycle Mel Gibson rode in “Lethal Weapon 3” and the jukebox featured in “Ghost.”

There has been talk that Bruce Willis will perform at the event. Says Barish: “Sometimes Bruce performs with his band, the Red Devils. But it’s usually a spontaneous kind of thing.”

Also up for party-goers: fare that will include chicken crunch (strips of chicken dusted with Captain Crunch cereal, then deep-fried), blackened shrimp, turkey burgers, pot stickers, pizza, pastas, a salad dubbed Hollywood Bowl and desserts that will include white-chocolate bread pudding, strudel and fruits coated with chocolate. Drinks at Planet Hollywood have names like Die Harder and the Terminator.

“Planet Hollywood is all about us giving people the chance to participate with Hollywood in a personal way,” says Barish, whose new movie, “The Fugitive” (based on the old TV series) will star Harrison Ford. “The movie experience has always been about people sitting in a dark theater. But with Planet Hollywood, people will get to enjoy an atmosphere of Hollywood and activities related to it.” There will be movie premieres, Barish promises. “A big one before the end of the year.” (The movie will be shown at a local theater, and Planet Hollywood will host the party.)

And when celebs visit the club--”we’re encouraging the movie community to participate with the Orange County community,” Barish says--they won’t be stashed in a private room, away from prying eyes. “There will be no back room at Planet Hollywood,” Barish says. “Everybody eats together .”

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Rock around the clock: The Hard Rock Cafe at Newport Center Fashion Island will open with a free, parking-lot concert on Nov. 8 featuring the Neville Brothers. Carnival-like activities will begin at 2 p.m. with Hard Rock-food and souvenirs sold to benefit the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa. “We hope that about 15,000 people will attend,” says Hard Rock spokeswoman Valerie Van Galder. “It’s going to be a stand-up dance party.”

The concert will begin at 6 p.m. After the performance, the restaurant will be open for conducted tours.

Social scoop: Members of the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa and other local social leaders will get the premiere peek of Hard Rock, owned by Peter Morton, on Nov. 7. Guests at the $125-per-person dinner will get the grand tour, Van Galder says. Morton will attend with his wife, Tarlton. And chances are good that Morton’s good pal, actor Rob Lowe, will be there.

Hard Rock has also planned several activities for the remainder of the year. They include: catering a HomeAid benefit on Nov.14 that will take place in the parking lot next to the restaurant; a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless; and a free concert on New Year’s Eve.

“The New Year’s Eve party is a traditional Hard Rock event,” Van Galder says. “There is a great rock band, no cover charge, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Proceeds from the Nov. 8 concert will also benefit Morton’s Mobile Medical Van, used to help underprivileged school-age kids get their medical immunizations. “The van will be there on Nov. 8,” Van Galder says. “Anybody who wants to get their children inoculated should just bring them along.”