Algonquin Round Table

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What Fresh PR Initiative Is This?: Literary Greats on the Current Attempt to Reengineer the Algonquin Round Table

“This hotel is exactly how I would have imagined the Algonquin transforming itself in the 21st century,” announced Penguin Books CEO David Shanks to an attentive crowd last week.

A single person clapped and, realizing they were all alone, stopped.

Mr. Shanks continued, “It exudes the grandeur of Gotham and the dazzle of the iconic Mad Men design gone modern.” Mr. Shanks cleared his throat. “It’s really amazing.”

Last Monday, a group (of “top hotel and publishing executives as well as media industry influencers,” per a press release) was gathered at a private party to celebrate the grand reopening of the gut-renovated hotel and the launch of its new partnership with Penguin Books. Read More

The Eight-Day Week

Rachel Dratch (Getty Images)

To Do Sunday: Dratch Entertainment

Sure, going out on a winter Sunday is a drag—but who wants to watch 60 Minutes when Rachel Dratch is saluting the writer of Hugo? Tonight’s Writers Guild of America Awards are simultaneously going on at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles (fancy!) and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City (sure!). Ms. Read More

Mango Pickle! Former SNL-er Chris Kattan Debuts in Mumbai Miniseries

IFC’s miniseries Bollywood Hero premiered on Tuesday, August 4, at the Rubin Art Museum. SNL alum Chris Kattan plays the leading man in this (surprisingly) funny new show, co-starring Miss India USA Pooja Kumar and real-life Bollywood starlet Neha Dhupia.
 
Edward Norton walked around outside the screening room, looking at artist Pablo Bartholomew’s vibrant Read More

Meet Four-Eyed New Sex Symbol, ‘Weekend Update’ Anchor Tina Fey

Shortly after it was announced that Saturday Night Live head writer Tina Fey would take over as co-host of the “Weekend Update” news segment this season with Jimmy Fallon, fellow writer Paula Pell cornered Ms. Fey in the labyrinthine NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center.

“Paula pushed me up against the wall and threatened to Read More