Hollywood's final goodbye to Bubba
PUSSSYKATT
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SATURDAY night's Hollywood Gala Salute to President William Jefferson Clinton
is the movie folks' final farewell to Bill. That marvel Stan Lee, who created
those marvelous Marvel comic-heroes Spiderman, the X-Men, who knows what other
men, is host. However, this being Hollywood, it's at another man's house. Stan,
whose own palace makes Buckingham look like a rented bungalow, says: "It's
larger." OK?
By the way, Stan Lee, did he know "The X-Men" movie would be so big? "Sure. I
know the appeal of these characters. The average age of our moviegoer has been
25-30. They've lived with these comic-book heroes."
OK.
Back to the gala. The two-part evening is concert, then supper. For food
afterwards, it's $25,000 per couple. However, this being Hollywood, the dress
code for this $25,000 gala with the multimillion-buck VIP list is "Casual." OK?
Cher and Diana (as in Ross), each doing two numbers, perform on the same stage
for the first time. Diana's doing "Mahogany" and Cher "If I Can Turn Back
Time." Stan Lee opens the festivities, followed by Shirley MacLaine, who,
having probably emceed for such figures as Mme. Pompadour and Catherine the
Great in lives gone by, makes the three-minute welcoming speech. Other toasters
- Anjelica Huston, Jimmy Smits, Gregory Peck, Goldie Hawn, Muhammad Ali, who
comes on with Whoopi to hold aloft a glass - one minute each.
No Master of Ceremonies. All voice-over. Patti LaBelle sings "New Attitude,"
Toni Braxton does one number. Producer Gary Smith's two-hour program includes
Sugar Ray, Howie Mandel, Michael Bolton, Paul Anka, Brian McKnight, Melissa
Etheridge, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Red Buttons, a cast of thousands.
Jack Lemmon's doing a special tribute. Something about what President Clinton
meant to them. A sort of poignant farewell celebrating the last eight years.
The concert audience numbers 800. That's $1,000 per seat. Money to Hillary's
Senate campaign. After the musical finale with The First Brother Roger Clinton
and a children's choir, those partaking of Wolfgang Puck's menu will lumber to
a different part of Ken Roberts' vast estate on Mandeville Canyon. A romantic
area around the pool in what laughingly might be called Ken's back yard.
Cocktails 6:30, concert 8:30, eats 10:30. John Travolta specifically requested
speaking at the dinner, not the $24,000-less concert. Co-host Peter Paul and
Aaron Tonken, the geniuses actually making this work, say dinner attendees will
include Bill and Hill, who leave L.A. Monday, may include Barbra Streisand and
Elizabeth Taylor, and do include:
Joan Collins, Angie Dickinson, Michael Douglas, Dylan McDermott, Mary
Steenburgen and Ted Danson, Alfre Woodard, Rosa Parks, Rob Reiner, Tom Arnold,
Carol Alt, Carol Burnett, Danny DeVito, Peter Falk, David Hasselhof, Neve
Campbell, David Brenner, Harvey Korman, Kathy Bates, Brad and Jennifer (and
don't ask me Brad and Jennifer who?). So are Brad and Jennifer actually
unleashing $25,000? Chuckled Mr. Paul: "We can't comment on things like this."
Right.
But what they can comment on is, for those few remaining tickets, the number to
call is (310) 247-1000. Ask for Bretta Nock.
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