How do you pack a hall at the American Museum of Natural History that’s already dwarfed by the fabled blue whale that hangs from the ceiling? For the “Sex and the City” kickoff, start (late, natch) with “SATC” stars (Sarah Jessica Parker in evening dress, hubby Matthew Broderick in coordinating checked shirt) and assorted significant others, guest stars, alumni (including “Mr. Big” Chris Noth) and inspirations (Darren Star and author Candace Bushnell), add cast members from sister series (“The Sopranos”’ Jamie Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler. Ms. Sigler looked sleek and grownup in a gleaming red cocktail number, and Mr. Iler seemed to be going for a vintage look in an oversized suit and a shirt with its tails out) and stir in cast members from “The Wire” (The Insider practically bowed at the feet of Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Sonja Sohn and Andre Royo; and if she missed anyone, she promises to try harder next time).
Sprinkle liberally with power players ranging from Ms. Oxygen herself, Geraldine Laybourne, to Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger (and his paper’s contingent of a dozen or so), pretty people (from Sheryl Crow to the model Vendela) and the people whose very presence makes a New York party a New York party (including “Live With Regis and Kelly” executive producer Michael Gelman and his wife Laurie Hibberd, who has been hatching an idea for a TV show aimed at the bumper crop of new mothers; and CNN senior executive producer Bruce Perlmutter).
Producers’ Fine New Shingle
Paul and Holly Fine, the husband-wife producers whose names are always uttered as if they were one moniker (and often uttered at best-of-TV ceremonies), have gone independent after five years at ABC News and, before that, 15 years at CBS News. They have started a production company, Fine Films, in Washington, where they got their start at WJLA-TV.
“We want to do things that are important and stylized but that say something,” Ms. Fine told The Insider. Their plans include some Friday specials, in the non-narrative style they use so eloquently, on “Nightline.” But they also have been talking about a series and some stand-alone specials. “We are talking to a couple of networks about some things and some cable places too,” said Ms. Fine.
Bottom line: Two producers who have amassed Emmys and Peabodys will work for someone who shares the vision that led to such memorable work as the 1995 documentary “In the Killing Fields of America.”