Can you fill in the blank: “Eat, Sleep, R___, Repeat”?
While music fans love the hypnotic rave anthem (the missing “R” above), it’s not exactly the prototypical theme music that comes to mind for CBS chief Les Moonves. Perhaps “Eat, Sleep, Ratings, Repeat.”
Nonetheless, Moonves and the king of the music scene, Calvin Harris, came together to go gaming on Thursday night, celebrating the launch of “Fallout 4” with a massive, secret-until-the-last-moment party in downtown Los Angeles
The scene inside the “Fallout 4” bash. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Bethesda)
Halle Berry, Chrissy Teigen, Kaley Cuoco and Wonder Woman icon Lynda Carter were amongst the guests that came to see Harris spin, and celebrate the upcoming arrival of the next game in a franchise that delivers on a Linklater schedule. The first “Fallout” was released in 1988, “Fallout 3” arrived a week before Barack Obama beat John McCain in the presidential election in 2008.
Lynda Carter lays one on Zenimax board member Jerry Bruckheimer. (Rich Polk/Getty Images for Bethesda)
Forbes estimates that when the game is released this coming Tuesday (Nov. 10), that it will haul in somewhere between $839 million and $959 million, based on unit sales of 14-16 million and a $59.99 price tag. That would place it in the top 10 of worldwide theatrical box office grosses for the year.
The bottom line: They could afford Calvin Harris.
Kaley Cuoco, ZeniMax Media Chairman/CEO Robert A. Altman, Chrissy Teigen, and the very much in-the-news Halle Berry on Thursday night. (Rich Polk/Getty Images for Bethesda)
Organizers finally released the secret address for the event the night before, and even warned veteran scenesters to arrive by 8:15 p.m. or risk chilling outside — literally, as it was in the mid 50’s in downtown L.A. on Thursday night. The address was not the only thing embargoed.
“Fallout” producer Bethesda Softworks put an embargo on the gaming press’ reviews, meaning media could not even announce to their audiences when their already embargoed reviews would go live until Friday morning at 10 a.m. PT, per Gawker media gaming site Kotaku.
L Chairman/CEO of ZeniMax Media Robert A. Altman and Zenimax board member and CBS President/CEO Leslie Moonves. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Bethesda)
So where does Moonves fit in to this? Bethesda (who also produce “Skyrim”) is a division of Zenimax. When Robert Altman (not the film director) bought the company, he reached back to traditional media figures, filling a board that includes Moonves, Jerry Bruckheimer, entertainment attorney Ernest Del and baseball star Cal Ripken Jr.
This group is not shy about big bashes. At the Indianapolis Super Bowl in 2012, this party columnist had a neighboring table to this team (Moonves, Bruckheimer, Ripken) at Maxim’s party late on the night before the big game, and that midwest Super Bowl was not even aired on Moonves’ CBS.
Bethesda figured out that getting high profile people to pay attention to a video game is not best in a noisy party. They smartly set up a preview suite at the Chateau earlier this week. Matthew Perry and iJusine came by. At right, Bethesda’s Erin Losi and BWR’s Steve Wilson. (Getty Images)
Steve Wilson and BWR, Ashlee Margolis’ A-List crew, and Zen Freeman were also on hand to hear Harris spin hits like “Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat,” “Outside,” “We Found Love”, “Blame,” and “How Deep is Your Love”.
This big cannon game party could represent an evolution from the time when phone companies were the ones who spent six or seven figures to reach Hollywood influencers in the heady 2000’s — such as when Blackberry would pop up with Drake on Wilshire Boulevard and give every guest a brand new Blackberry, or T-Mobile would take over Bryant Park for Shakira. While gaming is deep-pocketed, don’t rule out the days of Brent Bolthouse and Pantera Sarah phone bashes just yet. It’s a big entertainment marketing swing that’s not dead.
Rachel Hunter nearly makes it a trio with Kelly Rohrbach and Teigen. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Bethesda)
Next week, T-Mobile is previewing this year’s potential Super Bowl Halftime performer Bruno Mars at the Shrine, a private party launching new components of their “Un-Carrier X” program.
Liev Schreiber, Jason Alexander, Gala Co-Chair Haim Saban, Antonio Banderas, Gene Simmons and Nicole Kimpel gather for the Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces Western Region Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. (Tiffany Rose/WireImage)
In fundraising sabremetrics, the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces played “Moneyball” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday night and threw a perfect game.
They raised an average of $25,800 per attendee to bring in $31 million over one night for the philanthropy started by Holocaust survivors.
On the proverbial mound: Haim Saban, who has led the charge for the FIDF. The media mogul and wife, Cheryl, tossed in $5 million themselves, Guess founders Maurice and Paul Marciano anted up with $2.5 million and a rabbi who promotes a fellowship between Christians and Jews (Yechiel Eckstein) topped all with $8.4 million, before David Foster and the Beach Boys played.
Simmons, an IDF soldier, and producer Avi Lerner. (Tiffany Rose/WireImage)
“The mission of FIDF — providing wellbeing and educational programs to IDF soldiers — is invaluable to us as a society that cares for its younger generation and recognizes the soldiers’ sacrifices,” Casey and Laura Wasserman said.
Sports and talent agent Wasserman (who contributed $2.1 million) is currently busy not just with his stable of top tier NBA players kicking off the season, but another international mission: Chairing L.A.’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics.
In between the Hilton and downtown at Robert Evans‘ Woodland Estate in Beverly Hills, documentarians huddled to celebrate Brett Morgen and “Montage of Heck” on Thursday night. The intimate crowd of 25 was dense with doc A-listers: Lauren Greenfield (“Queen of Versailles”), Morgen, Amy Berg (upcoming Janis Joplin doc “Janis”) and Liz Garbus (“Nina Simone”) (above).
In a scene from a movie, Evans had to leave town on short notice, but left a warm welcome note behind in front of a burning fireplace, with plates of cigarettes and an antique revolver on the coffee table.
(Berg)
Amidst this setting and pictures with Evans’ pals like Michael Jackson, Jack Nicholson, Brett Ratner and fellow Paramount studio chiefs like Sumner Redstone and Brad Grey, Morgen surveyed the crowd. “It’s nice to see so many other documentarians here … campaigning for their own films,” he deadpanned. Kirby Dick and Abigail Disney (“Armor of Light”) were also on scene.
Party Report in Pictures: Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Selena Gomez Hit the Town (Updating Photos)
Perry Farrell and wife Etty invited a few pals to dine at Bagatelle on Friday night for their "rulebreaker" dinner, where it was sipping, not shooting, Maestro Dobel Tequila. "There's a lot of things I do different (from EDC founder Pasquale Rotella and Coachella's Paul Tollett)," Farrell told me of his exploding Lollapalooza brand. "I'm turning the entire event in to an interactive playing field."
Vivian Killea/Getty Images
Matt Bomer, Sarah Paulson, and Emma Roberts furnished one of the many star packed tables at amfAR's Inspiration Gala at Milk Studios on Thursday night.
Getty Images
Lady Gaga performed 8 songs (and a costume change) at the amfAR Inspiration Gala at Milk Studios on Thursday night. Steve Tisch was not the opening act.
Getty Images
Zendaya was all over the room, testing her arm muscles against designer Dean Caten, one half of DSquared who threw the official after party at 1 OAK, where owners Ronnie Madra and Darren Dzienciol worked the room.
Getty Images
Despite gridlocked 405 rush hour traffic, the Getty Center was hopping on Monday night. Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, and Kate Hudson made a power trio at the InStyle Awards.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for the InStyle Awards
The man in the middle of the group was the host of InStyle's fashion bash: Editorial Director Ariel Foxman. Another fashionista got cut out of the same pose...
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for the InStyle Awards
Two weeks earlier, the same blonde A-listers struck the same pose, but had Nicole Richie in their grasps at a party for La Mer at Siren Studios.
Two chefs chow down at the Weinsteins' NYC premiere of "Burnt": Bobby Flay and Katie Lee Joel.
Getty Images
PDA is A-OK for J. and J. (Timberlake and Biel) at the GLSEN Respect Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.
Getty Images
Pacific Standard producing partners Bruna Papandrea and Reese Witherspoon are having a good week. On Sunday October 25, Bruna got nods from Australians in Film at their annual gala at the Intercontinental. Five days later, Reese was slated as the honoree for the American Cinematheque Award.
Australians in Film
Caitlyn Jenner spent the night before her birthday supporting pal/transgender model Geena Rocero's trans-themed digital series for Logo, "Beautiful as I Want to Be". Jenner is in the premiere episode.
Logo TV
Earlier in the week, the Paley Center had a tribute to African American Achievements in Television, including Dick Wolf's long track record. The class photo includes: Eamonn Walker, Coco Austin, NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt, Ice-T, Laroyce Hawkins, Yaya DaCosta, mega-producer Wolf and S. Epatha Merkerson.
Matthew Simmons/Getty Images
The Q (Quincy Jones) with Paley Center President Maureen Reidy at the Tribute to African-American Achievements in TV.
The Paley Center for Media
Fresh off "Steve Jobs", Aaron Sorkin and Helen Mirren kicked off the Israel Film Festival (in L.A.) with festival director Meir Fenigstein.
Israel Film Festival
Michelle Rodriguez and non-dad-bod Vin Diesel hit Mr. Chow's in Beverly Hills for "Fast and Furious" co-star Mirtha Michelle's poetry book launch party. Cross hosted the dinner.
The uber-smooth Nick Cannon hosted the event, which champions causes important to "modern men". These included the Water Defense, the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, Eye to Eye, and the foundation of one very popular NY football Giant...
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for GQ
...Victor Cruz. GQ Publisher Howard Mittman successfully propelled the event for its 9th year.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for GQ
Michael Pena and Oscar De La Hoya put up their dukes for Mario Lopez's Casa Mexico Tequila launch party at pal Eva Longoria's Beso.
Getty Images
It was the second night in a row for Lopez and Longoria at Eva's enduring Hollywood Boulevard restaurant and lounge. The night before the Casa Mexico bash, Longoria hosted her Foundation's annual dinner there. David Tutera and crew shot the event for his We TV show "CELEBrations."
Getty Images
Over at Terrine on Beverly, former "Oprah" and current female football series producer Ellen Rakieten (top left) booth'ed up next to pal Katharina Harfs (in red) for Harfs' "Delete Blood Cancer DKMS" dinner. The crowd included Jimmy Choo entertainment marketing director Sara Riff (bottom, 2nd from left) and CAA agent Christian Carino (far right)
Getty Images
Coming soon to a TV near you: Christina Milian (right) slapping co-star John Stamos on "Grandfathered." Milian let the plot point slip at a celebration for Gran Centenario Tequila at the Sunset Tower this week, before hanging with Tara Ink's Tayo Otiti inside.
Getty Images
Meanwhile in NYC, the new "Daily Show" waited until taping the final show before their first week-long hiatus to throw a premiere party. About a month after debuting, writer Tavon Free grasps host Trevor Noah during a party at the Ink 48 hotel in midtown.
Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg and her daughter have a project together, docuseries "According to Alex." Whoopi, daughter Alex Martin Dean, and Leisa Rachal talked it up at the Paley Center in NYC on Tuesday night.
Paley Center for Media
WWE "Tough Enough" host Chris Jericho flexed his ring muscles roughing up a cage containing one of Tori Spelling's kids at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Family event on October 25.
Joel McHale took "The Soup" to Talladega, a major speedway in Alabama. The guy on the right is the one Hollywood needs to know: Joey Logano. The telegenic 25-year old is on a win streak and leading Nascar's playoffs, called "The Chase."
Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, Danica Patrick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined McHale.
Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images
Bubbling performers Lionbabe (Jillian Hervey in the foreground and Lucas Goodman making music in the rear) lit up the Mondrian for an intimate set on Tuesday, October 27. They are currently opening for Disclosure.
Glamour Magazine
One state over, Hollywood has invaded Georgia for the Savannah Film Festival. Hosted by SCAD, the events have included premieres, panels, and Alexander Skarsgard.
The late Jackie Collins' daughters Tiffany Sachs (left) and Rory Green (right) accepted an award from Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles at the group's 60th anniversary celebration at the Beverly Hilton. Kathy Griffin posed with them backstage.
Vince Buccie
The UK and US TV Industries huddled together at the London Hotel in West Hollywood. BAFTA LA CEO Chantal Rickards put the summit together, bringing in Rob Lowe, COO Matthew Wiseman, and British Consul General Chris O'Connor.
Getty Images
Shohreh Aghdashloo and "Quantico's" Anna Khaja embrace at the Asian World Film Festival.
Asian World Film Festival
Scott Foley hit the Canine Companions for Independent Haute Dog event.
Jared Cowan
Giants star Cruz premiered his back-from-injury Showtime doc "I am Giant: Victor Cruz" in NYC with director Gotham Chopra.
Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
MOCA's Awards To Distinguished Women In The Arts drew guests Erin Foster, Camilla Belle, Aubrey Plaza, and Alison Brie at at Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Wednesday morning.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for MOCA
Susan Gersh (fifth from right) was one of MOCA's honorees
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for MOCA
Katie Lowes and "Scandal" Exec Producer Betsy Beers at the Four Seasons for the Media Access Awards.
Getty Images
Josh Duhamel attends an exclusive preview of designer Vince Camuto at the Beverly Hills home of The A LIST exec Ashlee Margolis.
Handout
Oliver Hudson (left), Joe Jonas and Dave Annable attend an exclusive preview of designer Vince Camuto at the Beverly Hills home of The A LIST exec Ashlee Margolis.
Handout
1 of 51
Inside and backstage the best industry bashes of the week with the Party Report’s Mikey Glazer