HOTTER IN HOLLYWOOD

T.R. Knight to Present at the 3rd Annual HOT IN HOLLYWOODHot in Hollywood Benefit by Michael Medico

We're so psyched to announce that Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight will be making an appearance at this year's HOT IN HOLLYWOOD benefit on August 16 at Avalon in Hollywood!

Stay tuned for more updates!

A Knight to the Rescue Hot Interviews by Michael Medico

About a month and a half ago my friend from Boston U, Krista Vernoff, called me to ask if it was okay to give T.R. Knight my phone # to discuss putting together a benefit. (Krista has been a die hard supporter of Hot in Hollywood and she knows it almost kills me every year!) T.R. and I sat down at Susina Bakery (on Beverly) to discuss this benefit he wanted to do to support the out of work crews of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice (due to the strike). Well, I thought I was good pulling together the first HIH in 5 months... TR and his team did it in UNDER 2 MONTHS!!! It's called Good Medicine and is this Friday, February 29th at Royce Hall at UCLA.
Tickets are $85.00 and can be bought at 213-365-3500 -- or at ticketmaster.com

Here's what T.R. has to say now that the show is only a day away...

MM: So TR, what inspired you to put together this benefit?
TR: This has definitely been a joint effort on behalf of Tony Phelan and Krista Vernoff (who are writers on GREY'S), Marti Noxon (a writer from PRIVATE PRACTICE), Betsy Beers and Shonda Rhimes (producer and creator, respectively) and myself. It all started as an idea for Shonda's birthday that morphed, once the strike was underway, into a benefit to help our family. The crew works the hardest, the longest hours and they have been hit hard by this strike.

MM: Where is the money going?
TR: All the money raised goes into the Solidarity Fund set up by the WGA. Any crew members in need can access this fund. My hope is we will raise so much money that it will benefit even more than just our two crews!

MM: Have you ever sung on stage before?
TR: 14 years ago in a college production of CAMELOT. I was Squire Dap. I had to sing in the jousting number. I didn't want to though, 'cause I was Lancelot's squire, why would I be wishing for his demise? When I questioned the director, I was told to sing it "sarcastically." I still don't understand that.

MM: Make sure you don't put yourself after Audra MacDonald or HIH alum Sara Ramirez.
TR: I am following Sara. Someone had to, and no one would, so I threw myself under the bus. If you haven't guessed yet, I'm not that bright.

MM: Who is MORE nervous than you about performing?
TR: If it is possible for someone to be more nervous than I am, show me. I keep saying to myself, "Self... this ain't about you, it's for the crew." My mantra. It helps. Sometimes.

MM: Your doing a great thing with your time off. Congrats! How soon do you go back to work?
TR: I put on the scrubs again March 16th to film 5 episodes to complete our fourth season.

MM: Who or what do you think is Hot in Hollywood?
TR: My boyfriend.

MM: And the most important question... m&ms: plain or peanut?
TR: Peanut, please (I like the red ones best).

GREY'S ANATOMY & PRIVATE PRACTICE LIVE ON STAGE!! Hot Help by Michael Medico

My buds Krista Vernoff and T.R. Knight have brought together the casts of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice for an amazing, once in a lifetime evening of music and fun to benefit WGA's solidarity fund, which has been established to help below the line crew members who are in financial trouble from the strike. Performing that night are: HIH Alum Sara Ramirez & Audra McDonald (both Tony Winners), Ms. Loretta Devine, T.R. Knight & Tim Daly. Special appearances: by Katherine Heigl, Sandra Oh, Eric Dane, Justin Chambers & Taye Diggs. This is an evening you don't want to miss!!!
Tell everyone you know.

Friday, February 29th at Royce Hall at UCLA.
Tickets are $85.00 and can be bought at 213-365-3500 -- or at ticketmaster.com

Point- On Point Hot Help by Michael Medico

While Corey was at the Fred Claus premier on Saturday night- Emily Deschanel and I went to "Point Honors... the Arts" for the Point Foundation (after we stopped by an art opening at the Karen Kimmel Gallery in Atwater). It was a fantastic night at the Jim Henson Studios. Point, under the excellent leadership of Jorge Valencia, was honoring ABC for their strong portrayals of the LGBT community (they showed a clip of all of ABC LGBT story lines and it made them look gayer than LOGO!)

Brittany Snow was on hand to give the next honor to Hairspray director Adam Shankman- who was hysterical hopped up in Vicodin from his arm injury.

Highlights were when Host Michael Urie and Ugly Betty co-star Ana Ortiz auctioned off a lunch at the Ivy with Becki Newton and Michael that was neck and neck between two guys so they decided to make it two lunches and sold it to the one guy for his last bid of $9,500 and the other guy for $10,000!!! Also Jenifer Lewis sang the shit outta 'I know where I been" from Hairspray backed by the "New Dimensions". And I'm always geeked when I see Judith Light- who is on the Advisory board of Point. How is it she is always so poised, well spoken, passionate, talented and gorgeous!?

P.S.- T.R. was there, natch.

The Emmysby Hot Tube by Michael Medico

Michael Medico & Holland Taylor

So I just got back from the 2007 Prime Time Emmys. I went with the lovely and talented (2007 nominee and former winner) Holland Taylor of "Two and a Half Men". I have to say the most exciting part of the night was being in the bathroom and peeing next to Ed Asner. I had the best seat in the house in the front row right behind the microphone for optimal face time on camera (within 5 seats of me were Kanye West, Tony Bennett and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I got to see all my Hot in Hollywood Benefit friends: Jaime Pressly and America Ferrera (congrats to both Emmy winners!!!!), as well as, during the commercial break, I ran over to the Heroes section to say "hi" to Jack Coleman, Milo Ventimiglia, James Kyson Lee and Zachary Quinto, and even found time to air kiss Rex Lee.

Jaime Pressly & America Ferrera

I have to say that the theatre-in-the-round thing was very confusing as an audience member. The most nerve wracking part of the night was Sally Field "going up on her lines" in the middle of her speech. The part that was not aired was her saying " If Mother's ruled the world, there would be no God Damned war!" I also got to reconnect with Amy Van Nostrand , nominee Tim Daily's wife, who I worked with at the Shakespeare Theatre in DC 13 years ago!!

Katherine Heigl & Terry O'Quinn

At the Governer's Ball I got so see BU schoolmate and 2006 Emmy Nominee (for writing Grey's Anatomy), Krista Vernoff, and our New York friend Geraldine Hughes (who was the female lead of Rocky Balboa, and just booked "Pump Girl' at Manhattan Theatre Club). Just as we were about to leave, Holland and I were thrilled to catch Tony Bennett as he did a 4 song set including "I Left my Heart in San Francisco". The most exciting person I met there was Elaine Stritch. I have always loved her on stage and Holland mentioned she was... well, let's say, a little uncomfortable that Stanley Tucci missed rehearsal and so we were on the edge of our seat to see how she would handle the sitch. Well, that whole schtick about her not being able to follow the telepromter was just an act and a brilliant one! Afterwards, she and Holland were teasing about how much Elaine hates LA and that she was only here 4 days before she started to consider having "work done"! Hi-larry-us! Luckily she had to jump on a plane immediately (to be at Betty Comden's memorial in New York) before she had a chance to call a plastic surgeon!

Holland Taylor, Michael Medico & America Ferrera

We shortly thereafter went to the ET/People party at the Disney Concert Hall. It was stunning and soon I was talking with Judith Light, Michael Urie and Becki Newton, as well as Sara Ramirez, Kate Flannery, T. R. Knight and (from "Kiss the Bride" ) Tori and Dean. And there is where Duran Duran played- they were awesome and in a super small space so you could get up so close! However, oddly enough, out of all the HUGE stars there, the person I got most geeked about was Sabra from "So You Think You Can Dance" . I mean, what she does... I mean, THAT is something I can not do!!

Steppin' Out - Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera

Now let's talk about the gift bag.... it was downright heavy. (i can not believe it is under the $600 tax code) Just some of the goodies were: the cookbook "Every Night Italian" by Giuliano Hazan, the sixth season of "I Love Lucy" on DVD, Sarah Jessica Parker's perfume "Covet", makeup by Maybelline, a passport holder by Toss and some candles and room fragrance by Trapp (not the mention the fantastic bag itself from Cole Haan.

All in all a really great time!

+ And The Winners ARE