Last night’s Game Change premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre brought a class of guest rather different from the usual screening habitues–or so it seemed, at first, when we saw New York‘s John Heilemann and Time‘s Mark Halperin (the co-writers of the book Game Change) walking the carpet–Mr. Heilemann starting before the carpet even opened and staying until the bitter end. Mr. Halperin seemed less excited. “I’d like to pretend it’s a fish out of water scenario,” he told us, “but this isn’t my first premiere. It’s not turning my head.”
Had Messrs. Heilemann and Halperin been involved in the choice of Julianne Moore–who snuck past red carpet reporters quickly, pausing only to share a hug with the young actress who’d played Bristol–to play Sarah Palin? Said Mr. Heilemann: “Apart from applauding? No.”
We wondered, too, if there had been any pushback from Game Change sources–who this weekend would see the gossip they’d shared with the reporters on TV, acted out. “The only pushback is people saying–why couldn’t I bring more guests to the premiere?” said Mr. Halperin.
CBS This Morning host Gayle King made the scene in an electric orange dress and black-and-white oxford pumps. “I love the afterparty!” she told us. “It’s where you talk with everyone about what you just saw.” Sadly, Ms. King was leaving immediately at the film’s conclusion–which itself would be past her 8:02 bedtime. “You know! Those two minutes make a huge difference.”
As famous spouse Rita Wilson embraced Arianna Huffington and told her “Tom’s asking for you,” Game Change co-star Sarah Paulson, who plays McCain operative Nicolle Wallace, described herself as not much of a news junkie. “I watch CNN–but not at the gym! I watch it at my house, between episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, New York, Atlanta, and D.C.–which isn’t on anymore.” We asked her her favorite. “I liked Bethenny, but Bethenny’s her own thing now. I did love Jill, but she did some things I didn’t agree with.”
