Big Deals on Wheels
Invited to: “A Roller Disco--Moroccan Style” party debuting Skechers’ 4 Wheelers skates at the Hollywood Palladium.
Let the good times roll:”They told me to wear these,” says first-time skater Christina Ricci, indicating the special Tracey Ross-designed calf-high buckskin skates that match her “cheapo fake suede” skirt nicely. To celebrate the release of Skechers’ new sneakers on wheels, the company turned the Palladium into a giant Roll-a-Rama and issued free skates to all comers (though only celebrity females receive the deluxe buckskin variety). The bash draws the likes of ‘90s It girls Daphne Zuniga and Tia Carrere, cute rock-brat couple Sean Lennon and Bijou Phillips, models Ivana Milicevic and Molly Sims, plus musical acts O-Town and Usher, all of whom join in the four-wheel fun. Even Limp Bizkit lead man Fred Durst does his laps, pronouncing the experience “smooth.” Of course, there’s always somebody who thinks he’s too cool for school--in this case, Vincent Gallo, who hangs around the rink’s perimeter but militantly refuses to roll. “Would Elvis roller-skate?” he asks rhetorically. “No. Would the Fonz roller-skate? No.” Note to Vince: Not only did the Fonz roller-skate, Henry Winkler referred to the episode (“Fonzie’s Hero”) as one of his favorites. So there.
Act your age and your shoe size: “I’m gonna leave if I can’t find skates my size,” pouts Gina Gershon, dressed a la Joan Jett (her co-star in the soon-to-be-released film “Prey For Rock and Roll”) in black jeans and tee. But she is soon snugly roller-shod and spends the rest of the evening happily cruising around the hall. Taking a break in the comfy Moroccan-themed lounge is Daryl Hannah, who has discovered that her skates are too large. Hannah is also trying to score one of those clasp-on flashing lights everyone seems to be wearing. “It’s a cool thing to wear to warn people that you’re coming,” she says. Although in her case, that’s hardly necessary since she’s in formidable shape (spending nine hours a day practicing martial arts for the upcoming Tarantino opus, “Kill Bill”) and attracting everybody’s attention anyway. Not that accidents can’t happen. “I almost went down on someone’s vodka; that was really lame,” says Danny Masterson of “That ‘70s Show.” Indeed, one of the night’s most spectacular spills occurs courtesy of Skechers president Robert Greenberg. As the old maxim goes, those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. And those who can’t teach, apparently, supply the product.
Celeb Quotient: ** Lots of familiar names whirling around, though distinctions between soap stars and movie stars, not to mention has-beens and will-bes, are easily blurred.
Wow Factor: *** Free skates. Wheeee!
Grazing Level: ** Mini hot dogs and PB&J; give it the roller disco touch, while hummus and shish kebabs add the Moroccan flavor. Not quite a pasha’s feast, but certainly not rinky-dink.
Rating Scale: * = ho-hum; **** = yowza
