It wasn’t your typical house party April 16 when Hollywood’s elite gathered to roast public relations guru Michael Levine for his 55th birthday. Political pundit Susan Estrich hosted the event at her Brentwood home, where 160 guests, including former Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden, former Fox News anchor Suzanne Sena, soap star Nadia Bjorlin and “Early Show” correspondent Hattie Kauffman, mingled over cake and champagne.
Roasters, including movie producer Mike Medavoy, high-profile attorney Gloria Allred, prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Bob Kotler and KNX-AM (1070) radio personality Frank Mottek, teased Levine, founder of Levine Communications Office Inc., about his numerous interns and habit of dating younger women.
“I knew there was a lot of pent-up desire to roast me,” said Levine, who was visibly squeamish during the affair. “I thought it was funny.”
Guests also laughed at messages prerecorded by Peter Bart, Variety vice president and editorial director; Hollywood executive Sherry Lansing; and comedian Jason Stuart.
So, what did Levine make of the affair?
“I’m still angry at Sherry Lansing for not having one mean thing to stay about me,” he said.
Perhaps others won’t be as forgiving this week when Levine is roasted again. This time, the soiree is being hosted by publisher Judith Regan.
Good Influence?
Local insurance executive Stanley Zax was surprised to see his name pop up on a recent list of California power brokers, alongside such local business luminaries as Eli Broad, Jerry Perenchio and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
The list, published this month by the Sacramento online newsletter Capitol Weekly, ranked the top 100 “influence peddlers and power brokers” in California. Former Univision chief Perenchio ranked second, behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s chief of staff, Susan Kennedy. Broad placed No. 5, Johnson ranked No. 30 and Zax came in at 49.
“I chuckled when I saw that list,” said Zax, who is chairman of Woodland Hills workers’ compensation insurance carrier Zenith National Insurance Corp. “I don’t have any influence, and I’m not a power broker.”
He added that if he were able to exert any real influence, it would have shown up when he served earlier this decade on the Little Hoover Commission, which recommends state government reforms.
“Nobody in state government listened to me when I was vice chair of that commission,” Zax said. “It would appear that the more I disassociate myself from those who say they can solve the state’s problems, the better it will be for everyone. That’s the degree of my influence.”
Staff reporters Alexa Hyland and Howard Fine contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].
