About last night 2...

So, I was assigned to cover a President Clinton fundraiser for his very cool Clinton Foundation organization called Millennium Network, encouraging a new generation of 'givers'  and 'doers' and philanthropists.  

It was at an 'old Hollywood' haunt called Hotel Roosevelt, and I say 'haunt' with purpose.  Legend has it, the ghost of Marilyn Monroe still inhabits one of the hotel rooms.   Be that as it may, the event was being held in a small, intimate ballroom called the "Blossom Room" which was the site of the very first Academy Awards ceremony way back in the day...  If those walls could talk... and some say they do.  

Anytime there's a President coming to an event, there's obviously a massive security sweep.  We were asked to be on-location hours before the event actually started.  While waiting out in the hotel parking lot (I know, real glamourous job, eh?) an SUV pulls up and Nicolette Sheridan pops out with a new man, and she was looking mighty fine with way high heels and a way short dress on... What is she 50'-ish??  You'd never know it.  

I see her glancing over, and for a few minutes she just stood there, waiting and waiting.  Finally, we're able to go back into the hotel and I have to walk by her.  I politely said hello, and she said, "I thought that was you over there"  ... sweet.  I asked if she was going to the Clinton event and she said, no, the Star Trek premiere (which is happening literally feet away, around the corner at the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd)... but that she was waiting for her limo to come get them.  She didn't know it was THAT close... Because there were so many fans on the streets, they decided to wait for the ride, anyway.. but she was going to walk over, which would have been a treat for those tourists and fans walking the streets.  I was able to introduce her to my producer and cameraman, and she was wonderful to stand and chat with us for awhile.  She said she would try and stop by the Clinton thing... Would they let her in, she asked??

Back inside, we're waiting and waiting for people to arrive for this event.  They finally begin to trickle in.   Jessica Alba... looking flippin' fantastic, Adrian Grenier minus an "entourage" -- these two young actors were given the honor of introducing President Clinton at this event. And Jess told me she just celebrated her 28th birthday on the 28th of April -- the golden b-day -- with an '80's disco party that her husband threw for her...

Others who came:  Kerry Washington, who just came from a relative's wedding in Mexico -- she was not freaked out, though, about catching the pig flu (however, I held back giving her a kiss, is that wrong?)  A couple of "The Office" dudes, BJ Novak and Ed Helms, and Wil.i.am, who is such a cool dude... he told me he's going to put off doing music for a little while, in order to 'give back' -- and he performed after the President spoke.

So, this was a fairly intimate affair.  The President never walked the red carpet (does he have to? -- I think not).. but what a "life moment" having the opportunity to hear him speak, from the heart, about what his Foundation is doing, with HIV/AIDS, climate change, and so many other initiatives.  

A night to remember.  Oh, p.s. Nicolette  never did make it...