TCA 2012: Fox Party Diary

Fox capped off its day at the Television Critics Association’s press tour with its semi-annual All-Star party, complete with stars, a DJ and a fully stocked candy bar.

In years past, the top-rated network has invited the TV press to such locales as the Santa Monica Pier and to Gladstones in Malibu. This time, Fox’s cadre of executives and talent rubbed elbows — and spoke into microphones — at the Soho House in West Hollywood.

From Lea Michele to Zooey Deschanel, here’s a look at who was spotted when:

7:45 p.m.: The Mindy Project’s Mindy Kaling has arrived and is immediately swarmed by reporters and fellow cast members, as well as her handlers. She spends much of the night with a microphone in her face, and then by 9 p.m. she’s gone. Similarly active on the interview circuit is Ben & Kate creator Dana Fox, who had won over critics with stories of her brother, the inspiration for Ben, earlier in the day.

8:05 p.m.: Entertainment chief Kevin Reilly and Family Guy‘s Seth MacFarlane have an animated conversation by the bar. Only fitting after Reilly announced during his panel that he “loved the guy personally and professionally.” It is worth noting that while MacFarlane rarely stays very long, he doesn’t miss a press tour event. Meanwhile, another Fox heavyweight, Gordon Ramsey, has trouble getting to the food spread because he is surrounded by reporters.

8:30 p.m.: A dance party breaks out in one corner of the room; pretty sure they are members of the So You Think You Can Dance crowd. And if they aren’t, they’d like to be. Host Cat Deeley is charming a grouping of critics on the back patio. 

8:45 p.m.: It’s not a Fox event without the cast of Glee. A contingent — Chris Colfer, Chord Overstreet and Michele — has commandeered a seating section by the fire place, while Harry Shum Jr and Darren Criss have found their way to outside patio, alternately mingling and being interviewed. Ditto for the newbies, Dean Geyer and Jacob Artist, who don’t bother hiding their excitement. Matthew Morrison is spotted later, making his way down a narrow hallway with a flock of lady interviewers trailing him. While Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk don’t show, producers Ian Brennan and Dante De Loreto are in attendance — and shmoozing.

8:50 p.m.: Deschanel has found a seat at one of the tables outside, where she is able to keep a slightly lower profile than in press tours’ past. Her executive producers, Liz Meriwether, Brett Baer and Dave Finkel, stick together — and laughed often — on the outside patio. 

9 p.m.: Keifer Sutherland — another Fox party staple — has given Reilly a bear hug and the two talk for a minute before Sutherland breaks to hug a few women standing nearby. Only hours earlier, Reilly had told the press corps that while Touch fell below ratings expectations, it is deserving of an Emmy nom.

9:20 p.m.: Reilly has settled into a booth, where he is flanked by reporters. They are undoubtedly pleased that he was able to give them something to write about today with the news of Mariah Carey joining American Idol. Newly upped Peter Rice is making his rounds as well, and is stopped often to be congratulated.

9:30 p.m.: Anger Management addition Brett Butler is shooting pool by herself at a table by the elevator. Earlier in the night, her showrunner Bruce Helford had been chatting up reporters, though it was hardly the attention he received when he and star Charlie Sheen arrived at January’s tour. Sheen is nowhere to be seen this time around.

9:35 p.m.: In the elevator to the valet, Bones‘ Hart Hanson — who had been holding court on the balcony for much of the night — tells Stephen Nathan to face the front of the elevator. Nathan refuses, saying, “If I turn around, all hell could break loose.” 

10 p.m.: Wilfred producer and star Jason Gann has settled into a booth where he is charming a female reporter.