'Game of Thrones' Season 3 Premiere: HBO Stars, Irish Politicians, Total Fandemonium

2:34 AM PDT 3/19/2013 by Bill Higgins

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Michelle Fairley

"It's like a brush fire," says Michelle Fairley. "You don’t expect a show to have that kind of worldwide following."

Given a choice between attending the Oscars, Prince’s show at SXSW, their own wedding or the premiere of Games of Thrones’ third season, fans of HBO’s hit series would choose in a heartbeat being at Grauman’s on Monday to learn what’s new with the Barratheons, Lannisters and the exquisite Daenerys’ fledgling dragons.

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"It’s the Lord of the Rings of cable TV," said guest Jay Roach. "The epic range of light and darkness is on that level."

Aside from the cheering fans who lined Hollywood Boulevard's south side, there were other touches of fandom, like Glee’s Kevin McHale wearing a T-shirt with the words House of McHale written in Thrones script. "It’s like a brush fire," said Michelle Fairley, or as fans would call her, Lady Stark. "You don’t expect a show to have that kind of worldwide following."

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HBO is not shy about expressing its naches over the show. CEO Richard Plepler called it "modern-day Shakespeare. It re-imagines all the archetypes of our most memorable literature." Programming president Michael Lombardo said Thrones is "a testament to what inspired producers working at the top of their game can do."

Maybe as a Hollywood first, the premiere drew two of Northern Ireland’s top political figures. First Minister Peter Robinson said the show’s being shot there has given Ulster "a base for creative industries. HBO has provided the foundation." On his way to the black SUV that was taking him to a Washington-bound flight, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said it's been "an incredible vote of confidence in the Northern Ireland peace process."

The afterparty was at the Hollywood Roosevelt, though sadly it had to go on without Emilia Clarke (the dragon-mothering Daenerys), who left early for New York where she’s got the Holly Golightly role in the new stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

For those not able to attend either the screening or the afterparty and are concerned about how the tide of battle for the Iron Throne is turning, season three of Game of Thrones launches March 31.