And after speaking at his nephew's graduation, Bill Clinton ...

... mingled with the Hollywood film crowd last night as Warren Beatty got a lifetime achievement award at AFI. Here's a (somewhat tart) note from Susan, one of our readers, who was at the event:

Maybe we have [his] nephew to thank for Clinton showing up at the AFI Life Achievement Award for Warren Beatty tonight -- those of us in the audience were surprised to see him.  A frail but very sharp McGovern was there, so were Jerry Brown and a few others. 

Besides of course, Jack and Dyan who raced over from the Lakers' loss.  Faye Dunaway and Elaine May looked like they had the same doctor for cheek implants; makes you appreciate Diane Keaton's natural approach to aging gracefully.

More coverage -- actually about Warren -- from Anne Thompsons excellent "On Hollywood" blog, People, The Gossip Girls (where Hugh Hefner and his posse of blonds take center stage), USA Today, the ever-cranky Fox News (Hollywood Left-fest!) and of course, AP.

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Jim Beaver]

So this is what the L.A. Times has come to? Please tell me there's a special isolated section in the print version for the gossip columns and innuendo blogs filling up the online version these days. At least that way it would be simple to remove the section for wrapping purposes. In the online version, this junk comes up with every search, with no differentiation from actual news. For shame.

[jill]

Several attendees joked about Beatty's interest in doctors and his giving advice to his friends about medical issues and doctors: Someone joked that his version of "How are you?" is "What's your cholesterol?" It's a common joke that for a man who's so good-looking, blessed with good genes and apparent health, he's become so concerned with medical issues and advice. At least one of the speakers admitted availing themselves of his advice, and so this comment seems part of a running joke. It was a warm and humorous evening, and for all the starpower and politicians there, there's always a little bit of a roast to it. Not all of which makes it to the aired version. So lighten up.

[Jim Beaver]

I wasn't talking about the humor of the event. I was talking about the "reporting" of it, quoting a "source" with no last name, stuff about Faye Dunaway's and Elaine May's faces. Not the Times of old. I'm quite "lightened up" sufficiently to enjoy humor and look for it in many places. I don't look to the L.A. Times to have some gossip tell me they don't like someone's face implants.

[jill]

I think the joke was that both those women admitted to using the same doctor referred by their pal Beatty, and it showed... but certainly quoting this one aspect out of context of the whole running joke and evening doesn't give an accurate picture.

These events always inspire a lot of self-deprecating comments about aging, a bunch of colleagues growing old together, a "one foot in the grave award," and there was plenty of that -- but there's always a lot of depth to them. Ultimately, they inspire young people to achieve their dreams so that when they do, inevitably, grow old, it can be with the grace, wit, humor, ability to laugh at themselves (and apparently, lots of tips on medical work) of these elders.

Of course it's the life work and friendships along the way that clearly take center stage -- the Clinton connection was part of a tribute to Beatty's political interests and aspirations, of more than being just another pretty face. (Can't overcome that pretty face and issues about aging, though, not in Hollywood.)

[Terry]

Dude, it's just a blog post. Lighten up.