Michael Bezjian/WireImage.comRSVPs: Nicollette Sheridan, Milla Jovovich, Joey Fatone,
Bai Ling…
When: Apr. 12 & 14
Where: Chateau Marmont & the Playboy Mansion
It's not every night you share a bed with a supermodel. But that's exactly what happens at the Launch Party of Jovovich-Hawk for MNG Collection. My tush gets to be not even a foot from the incredibly toned buns of Milla Jovovich.
Maybe I should back up a little. This spring, in addition to being the face of MNG by Mango, Milla has created a limited collection for the Spanish-based label with her design partner, Carmen Hawk. The pieces will soon be available in MNG stores nationwide, and that's a perfect excuse for a party. The bash is being held in the penthouse at Chateau Marmont—you know, the legendary castle-looking hotel where Lindsay Lohan resided for about a year.
Adrian Grenier is one of the first to arrive, but he only stays long enough to say hi to Milla and dance to a few '80s tunes. Fellow Entourage looker Emmanuelle Chriqui also stops by. But I am most excited to see Ginnifer Goodwin, with whom I fell in love at Sundance. And she’s still just as sweet, on and off the set of Big Love. “I think people are a little disappointed on photo shoots that there’s no slugging,” Ginnifer says of the relationship with the show's other wives. “You’ve never seen such an expression of love.” It is, you could say, big.
And love is all around tonight, with Milla and Nicollette Sheridan catching up on old times. In addition to dating Nicollette's half-brother, Jovovich had attended Nic’s first wedding to Harry Hamlin. Now, it looks like the tables might be turned.
"We've talked about some things casually,” she says of her wedding plans with fiancée Paul W.S. Anderson. (And, yes, this is when I sit on the bed with her, as she wants to speak in private since the party is so loud.) “I have a good girlfriend in Italy who's part of this very ancient Italian family. And they have this castle over there, so…" she adds with a smile and looks down at her old engagement ring (three diamonds vertically set on her right ring finger) and her new one (three diamonds horizontally set across her left).
Despite the two rings and six rocks, Jovovich is actually pretty low-key. She says the only reason she asked for another ring was because she couldn’t wear the extravagant piece of jewelry while she was training. Plus, she's wearing one of her new MNG dresses, which costs only 44 euros. Even with the weak dollar, that’s still under 60 bucks. Beautiful, fashionable and thrifty? This girl is just too perfect.
Two days later, I'm striving to cultivate my inner Milla—and it seems to be working. A couple of friends and I are in a Bentley about to arrive at the Playboy Mansion! As we’re driven through the security gates, the “Brake for Animals” sign reminds me of the last time I hung with the Bunnies and the Girls Next Door. Tonight, I’m partying for a good cause. It’s Sammy Sideout's 3rd Annual Alzheimer's Benefit, a charity event supporting the national philanthropy of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.
The poolside area of the Mansion has been transformed into a silent-auction haven, with hundreds of bidding options, including diamonds, trips to Africa and a Kobe Bryant-signed Lakers jersey. “I just bid on a pair of $1,800 custom shoes,” I overhear a man say. Wanna buy Hollywood Party Girl a little something-something?
While viewing the items, I realize Hugh Hefner and his Girls are nowhere to be found. I try to ask a Bunny about the absence, but she doesn’t know if she’s allowed to speak to me. “We have a chaperone, so you’d have to ask her,” the busty blonde squeaks. Jeez, I haven’t had a chaperone since the eighth grade. Finally, I find out Hef is sleeping. It’s beyond me how anyone can sleep with 700 people partying at his house, but I guess Holly, Bridget and Kendra can really wear out an 81-year-old man.
A server walks by with a parrot on his arm, which leads to some monkeying around with Brian Baumgarter. “They’re my favorite thing about the Playboy Mansion,” The Office's Kevin says of the wildlife. Bai Ling agrees. “I like the animals and, how do you say, the Jacuzzi?” Playboy's June 2005 cover girl seems to be referring to the infamous Grotto, but as we all know, that's a different kind of wildlife altogether.
I peek inside the cozy private cave tucked into the back of the pool where Jason Wahler from The Hills is getting his feet wet. I certainly can’t think of a better way to celebrate a fourth arrest, can you?
Inside the tent adjacent to the pool area, Joey Fatone kindly makes sure his parents are comfortably seated at a table. The Dancing with the Stars contender looks skinnier than ever, having lost more than 20 pounds since he began training. “These pants used to fit a little snug, but now I can actually fit my hand inside them,” he tells me while, yes, sticking his arm down his trousers. I totally would’ve taken his word for it.
The live auction is about to begin, so while billion-heir Brandon Davis roams the bar area, I take a seat at his brother Jason’s table. Signed guitars and packaged vacations fly off the stage and into the hands of big-walleted revelers. But when an Andy Warhol-signed lithograph of Marilyn Monroe pops up, Jason decides he simply must have it. “Six thousand to the guy in the Chrome Heart glasses,” the auctioneer yells, and the rich kid wins. Major pop-art fan? No, just a smart business move. “I’m flippin’ that s--t Monday,” he says, hoping to profit from his purchase. How charitable!
At the next table, Randy Spelling is enjoying fried shrimp and mini grilled-cheese sandwiches. He says the great food is the best part about the Mansion. Sure, and the busty gals have nothing to do with why Aaron Spelling’s son has been frequenting Hef’s palace since he was 16.
“We grew up coming here,” Randy’s manager and Sons of Hollywood costar David Weintraub tells me. “We feel at home. It’s a very special place. I even met my first girlfriend here.” Considering his girl later became a Playmate, I’m betting most boys are pretty jealous of the “real Ari Gold.”
After a big-baller drops $7 million on a house in Maui, the auction’s over, and Three 6 Mafia takes the stage. Akon was originally supposed to perform, but I would say an Oscar-winning group is a darned good replacement. I’m just surprised Kendra isn’t sneaking out of bed to join the party. She loves DJ Paul and Juicy J. Must be that whole curfew thing.
The rappers close, the silent auction ends...but the party continues, as more stars arrive, like Ugly Betty’s Eric Mabius. I have to follow my self-imposed curfew and hop in a limo, because it’s time to meet Answer B!tch for her 100th-episode celebration. Having made a Vine cameo as the B!tchling's substitute for a couple of weeks, I know this group can get as crazy as Bai Ling’s fashion choices. But don’t take my word for it, check it out yourself on the embedded player at right.