Hello? You’re Breaking Up!
A Word From Our Sponsor: “We don’t really do a lot of these things,” announces diminutive ‘80s new wave siren Pat Benatar, preemptively justifying her appearance at such a blatantly promotional shindig. “But we heard it was a lot of fun.” True enough. Last year, Motorola’s strategy of showering the entertainment industry with its products attracted Leonardo, several “Friends” cast members and other celebs of note when David Pinsky (the company’s Tinseltown ambassador) called in the chits. Back then, though, they gave StarTACs out at the door (to the celebs--less-fabulous guests got chocolate ones).
“What about this year? No?” asks Antonio Sabato Jr., who’s not particularly dejected. “They gave me free stuff,” he says, demonstrating how he programmed the LED readout on his phone to refer to him as Batman. While getting together to use and talk about your personal communication gadgetry is pretty much standard party behavior these days, the likes of actresses Breckin Meyer, Tori Spelling and Denise Richards doing the gushing makes this experience not unlike eating, dancing and schmoozing through an actual commercial--with a live Pat Benatar soundtrack. Thus, to hear “Moesha” Shar Jackson brag, “Nobody knew I was coming. I just flashed my Two-Way at the door and got in,” well, it helps to understand the context.
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They Belong to the Night: “I’m a huge Pat Benatar fan,” says Tiffani-Amber Thiessen with her date, “Two Guys’ ” Richard Ruccolo. “She was like a rock chick--the epitome of a chick who’s cool.” Thiessen does pass the name-a-Pat-Benatar-song quiz. “NYPD Blue’s” Garcelle Beauvais, who agrees that Benatar is “cool,” melodiously flunks the quiz by singing the chorus to “You Give Love a Bad Name”--a Bon Jovi tune (same period and talent-to-cheese ratio, though). The performance area does get crowded during the set and the fire marshals actually have to keep people from entering. On the other hand, it might be another product placement ploy, because just as the audience cheerily chimes in with a mass a capella “heartbreaker, dreammaker, love-taker . . . .” Beverley Mitchell, stranded on the patio, reaches for her you-know-which-brand thingamajig. “I’m actually trying to get hold of my friend inside, because we can’t get in,” says the “7th Heaven” starlet, her fingers working the tiny keypad. “I just paged her. It’ll vibrate.”
Whats the Score?
Celeb Quotient
Less star power the second time around.
Did the A-list defect to Nokia?
Wow Factor
Engaging motif includes a go-go dancer peep show booth, a comfy “waterbench,” and tubular bar. Benatar’s marathon set features a poignantly acoustic “Love Is a Battlefield.”
Food
Cool martinis; Fred (of Vida & Fred 62) serves filling but forgettable fare, though the tropical fruit sticks are a nice touch.
