living:
the scene
Election special: long time coming
The 2008 holiday season marked the close
of a year where America was the ultimate reality television show
star, report Elyse Glickman and Leyla Messian
Expanded from issue
27 of Lucire
TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT was another
year in Hollywood for the books, with its mix of the good, bad and
unwatchable in all sectors of the media. Then reality caught up
to us, not only making us rethink industry festivities, but also
what was truly importantlike holding on to our jobs and paying
the bills. However, by midsummer, even with the MTV
VMAs and Emmy Awards on our calendar, it was the election
and recession coverage that had us on the edge of our seats. Given
all the drama that was affecting us directly, it was no surprise
that many night-time dramas (save for Law & Order, now
in its 20th year) just didnt do it for us. It is also no surprise
that Saturday Night Live came back to life with some of its
most inspired and hilarious material in years.
And yet, all things must pass, as the late George
Harrison mused. And the passing of this American election was as
momentous as its build-up.
Campaign buzzed
Ultimat Vodka, in its bid to win election for best new ultra-premium
vodka among tastemaker consumers, made its formal début in
Los Angeles in front of A-list Hollywood delegates at the the Kress,
recently elected the citys new it gathering spot.
With the grooves of DJ AM playing
in the background, there was enough action for some stargazers to
actually be distracted from what many of us this side of the pond
consider the most important election in US
history. Kim Kardashian, sans boyfriend Reggie Bush, refused
all interviews and posed for only one photo putting her ongoing
media campaign on hold. Also putting their fame campaigns on hiatus
were Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt. However, as soon as the cameras
stopped rolling, the couple changed moods, making out, laughing
and drinking cocktails until the last call.
John Paul DeJoria, Patron Spirits Co. and Paul
Mitchell Systems mogul, was on hand to personally greet Peter
Fonda, Cheech Marin, and ZZ Tops
Billy Gibbons. After the last cocktail had been consumed, Peter
Fonda tried to sneak out the back door of the Kress. However, he
was bombarded by paparazzi. When asked whom he was voting for, Fonda
proudly exclaimed, Obama, of course! Its either
Obama or Im moving out of the country!
Based on the outcome of the real election in the
real America, Fonda will be staying for a while. McCain supporter
Montag, meanwhile, would probably be in less of a party mood come
November 5.
Election night: happy new world
Why was this election night different from all other nights? Rather
than ask the four questions some of us ask every Passover, there
was a simple answer applicable to everybody: history would be made,
no matter the outcome. For this reason, ambitious viewing parties
were organized in Chicago (Obamas home town), New York, Washington
and from coast to coast. In downtown Los Angeles, one very fitting
place to be was the Edison, where Causecast (www.causecast.org)
staged an I Voted party that multitasked as a fund-raiser
for charities Invisible Children, Farm Sanctuary, and the Hip-Hop
Summit Action Network.
The party was designated as a non-partisan event,
and all guests (including scheduled-to-attend Mathew Modine, Lucas
Haas, Adrien Grenier and Sarah Carter) wearing their I Voted
sticker got a cocktail of their choice. However, at approximately
8.04 P.M.
PST, like a bolt out of the blue,
results from the western states were announced, pushing Obama well
over the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Obamas majority
ruled the night, with a collective, controlled yet ecstatic chaos
that rivalled the typical New Years Eve party or sports team
championship victory.
As the reality of Obamas electoral college
landslide sunk in, Causecast revellers feasted on the Edisons
updated classic American finger-foods (teriyaki wings, sweet potato
fries, truffled mac and cheese, and tomato soup) as flat screens
projected alternating images of the celebration at Chicagos
Grant Park, Obamas victory speech, Oprah beaming with pride,
veteran activistpolitician Jesse Jackson (who ran in 1984)
moved to tears. It was also quite a sight to see those in Grant
Park carrying themselves with the same dignity as the president-elect,
as it was to see his rival at the Arizona Biltmore in Phnix
concede with grace.
The election happens only four years, and
typically what happens is people celebrate alone at home or go to
a local bar and are not connecting with a large group of people,
notes Causecasts Levi Felix. We figured that as we all
have the right as citizens to vote, lets go out and celebrate
that no matter what party you belong to. When you get people together
in one space, celebrate everybodys right to vote and watch
the returns come in, particularly in a year that is so importantsome
say the most important election of all timethe idea is to
bring 600 people together, have them contribute a $5 donation going
to one of three charities and enjoy a free drink, this is truly
the right way to usher in the arrival of change in an amazing place
like the Edison.
Felix also notes that another popular LA
restaurant, Pitfire Pizza, teamed up with the organization and Toms
Shoes (the unique, charity-driven canvas fashion shoe company),
and you could get a commemorative Jones soda with bottles bearing
Obamas or McCains likeness, or a beer. Not surprisingly,
turnout at Pitfire was impressive, and the Obama bottles were gone
long before the end of the lunch rush. •
Elyse Glickman is US west coast editor of Lucire.
Leyla Messian is west coast correspondent for Lucire.
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The author with fellow celebrants and a cardboard cut-out of the
president-elect. The speech bubble reads, Its great
to be president.
Food at the Edison.
Causecasts Levi Felix and Sloane Berrent.
The money shot: President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-president-elect
Joe Biden on television.
Peter
Fonda tried to sneak out the back door of the Kress. However, he
was bombarded by paparazzi. When asked whom he was voting for, Fonda
proudly exclaimed, Obama, of course! Its either
Obama or Im moving out of the country!
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