It’s high drama for the L’Oreal Legends Gala, benefiting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, held at the opulent American Museum of Natural History in NYC. The event raises $4.3 million to fight the killer through ticket sales and silent auction.

Dapper Pierce Brosnan, who is arm-in-arm with wife Keeley, has a lilting Irish accent and tells a heartwrenching story about how he lost his first wife to ovarian cancer. What does he think of celeb activism?

“If you have a passion and a desire and a want and the willpower of mind to do good things, then you should go out there and do it and not be crushed by anybody who says otherwise,” he says. “There will always be people that will knock you down because you’re an actor or you’re a celebrity, but ultimately if something touches your heart and is crucial to your life force, then speak up.”

What makes Keeley beautiful? “Her kindness, her love, intelligence, humor and grace,” he tells me.

Milla Jovovich is jovial, and gushes about her daughter Ever. What’s their favorite mommy-and-me activity? Well, Europe.

“When we’re in Europe, we like to go and walk around, which is really fun, because in L.A. she gets carsick,” she says. “It’s really hard because you have to get in a car to do stuff, so that’s tricky for us right now. But every time I travel with her abroad, it’s amazing because we can just walk around and she loves to see people. We always go to the park, but we have a beautiful property in L.A. that’s like a park. We invite her little friends, we go to gym class. Just to play with her! I love to just sit in the family room and play with her. I mean, read Russian stories to her. She’ll bring me her book and she’ll plop down and we’ll read together. It’s amazing.”

Here comes Lanvin-wearing Linda Evangelista, who describes her style as “confused” before taking issue with the cameraman, asking how close he’s shooting her. “You look fine,” he assures her. “Do I look fine, or fabulous?” she icily responds, supermodel-style.

And, how does Kerry Washington like to indulge? “I’m a real massage girl,” she says. “I could literally get a massage every night for the rest of my life, and it wouldn’t be enough.”

Andie McDowell introduces me to daughter Rainey. What happened on her first modeling job? “I worked for Women’s Wear Daily. I showed up, and I didn‘t know at all what to do. I didn’t look like a model. I had no makeup on, a t-shirt and jeans because I didn’t have any money. But I worked very, very hard, and by the end of the job, they only used me because I cared so much and worked so hard.”  

The actress wasn’t always living a lush life fit for a fashionista. “I grew up kind of poor in South Carolina, so I didn’t know what was going on. I was not a real fashion savvy child because I wasn’t exposed to that culture. I didn’t know anything about fashion until I was in New York, learning by the seat of my pants.”  

Here’s Harvey Weinstein with his Marchesa-designer wife Georgina Chapman. What makes Georgina beautiful? “That she wears L’Oreal. She likes L’Oreal. What do you think I’m going to say?” Bahdum-bum!

Time for dinner. On the menu tonight is braised beef short ribs and filet duo; horseradish whipped potatoes; and a mélange of fall vegetables. Diane Keaton gives a tribute to an outgoing executive, saying “Life is about moving on.” Smart! The take home gift bag includes L’Oreal goodies – for men and women -- in addition to a silk tie, umbrella and Lord and Taylor gift certificate. Sweet!

This season’s Survivor is redefining survival of the fittest – and frankly playing out more like a Revenge of the Nerds reality show.

To be honest, the only season I’ve watched prior to this one was All-Stars several years ago, and that was only because I went to Panama for the junket and got to know the people and environment a bit – and left Panama with an ever so slight crush on host Jeff Probst.

This season I’m watching intently because as I’ve mentioned, my friend Corinne Kaplan is a contestant. When the season started the split between the Cool Kids and the Geeks (aka Coda and Fang) was more obvious than former Survivor Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s embarrassment the day after the election. It was clear from the get-go who was the strong alliance (Marcus, Charlie, Corinne) and who was just waiting for their time to go (Kenny, Susie, Crystal). Yet, this game has proven as unpredictable as the cliché of the high school dork blossoming into a beautiful swan, quite as Kenny has this season.

Socially inept, athletically challenged Kenny, who hasn’t been with a woman in so long he salivates just being in the presence of the female Survivor contestants – who need I remind you have not showered, shaved or otherwise groomed in more than 27 days at this point- has risen from geek squad to lead the pack – and he knows it.

In the last couple of weeks the strongest, fittest and most seemingly likely to win have been blindsided and kicked out while the less athletic, whining bunch of people who hardly look like they could last a day in the wilds of NYC more or less Africa remain.

That said, I sadly (sorrrrry Corinne), think this game has gone to the geeks, making my friend, who I was sure attributes like her ability to go long periods without food (she mastered this pre-Survivor), compete in the challenges (she’s the spin class queen), entertain her opponents while outwitting them (she’s completely manipulative but also so quick and funny she was once on the NYC comedy club circuit) would obviously take her to the top. I think I may be sadly mistaken because the tribe is certainly stacked against her at this point.

But, if this show has proven anything yet, anything can happen, and it usually does, so maybe the million is within her grasps yet.

 

If you have questions or comments for Corinne, feel free to email me at Jennifer.Birn@okmagazine.com and I’ll be sure she gets them – and possibly/maybe guest blogs her responses ;) xo

After a whirlwind trip to Ireland (sorry, no The Tudors' Jonathan Rhys Meyers sightings!), it was back to the event circuit here in chilly NYC!
 
Newly crowned America's Next Top Model McKey Sullivan stopped by the office to tell me all about her new reign on the catwalk. Check back here Monday for our knockout interview.
 
On Monday at the 2nd Annual Adrienne Shelly Foundation Fundraising Gala, held on the New York University campus, Law & Order's Jeremy Sisto told me that his new TV gig has "been fun, though I’ not sure I’d be a good detective in real life." He then proceeded to find the  after party for a bunch of clueless reporters. Looks like the job is rubbing off on you after all, Det. Lupo. Law & Order airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
 
Beyonce was pretty Sasha Fierce at Gotham magazine’s gala, held in the mammoth space known as, well, Espace, on Tuesday night, and she graciously thanked me when I told her so.
 
Also on hand was The Bachelorette alum Graham Bunn, best known for his volatile relationship with the single-again bachelorette Deanna Pappas, who broke up fiancé Jesse Csincsak earlier this month.
 
Yes, Graham has heard of her split from Jesse. Nope, he's not available to give love a second try with her. “Fortunately for me, I’m dating a wonderful, beautiful woman, [All My Children’s] Chrishell Stause," said, but he wishes Deanna all the best.

He’s also excited for fellow Bachelorette alum Jason Mesnick, who starts his Bachelor reign Jan 5 on ABC. “I supported his decision to take the offer,” said Graham. “From what I know, it’s going very well.”
 
On the red carpet for the World Premiere of 24: Redemption – airing Sunday, Nov 23 at 8 p.m. on Fox – star Kiefer Sutherland clammed up when a reporter tried to ask him about his time in jail.
 
But I hunted him down to ask if Jack Bauer would have a love interest when the show returns for its seventh season Jan 11.
 
"The option is there for that," he quipped.
 
Sly dog!

Until next week, fellow fanatics.

On Ugly Betty last week, Jesse did a smitten Betty wrong by making out with her pretty (petty?) coworker/roomie Amanda. That's so not right!

We know Amanda made amends, but will Betty ever cross paths again with the cutie wannabe rocker?

She sure will! Sources close to the show tell me that Val Emmich, who plays Jesse, will return to series next year. “We’ll definitely be seeing more of him,” the source spills.

 

Yeah, it's kind of difficult to avoid your unrequitted crush when he lives across the hall!

 

In his defense, Val swears to me that Jesse was "completely oblivious to Betty's feelings. He's a very genuine person and that's part of the problem," Val declares. "He says what he feels without thinking. If you're someone like Betty who is looking for hints then his easy-going manner could be taken the wrong way."

New Yorkers got a chance to see the real-life musician in action last night as he played a set from his new album, "Little Daggers," at the Canal Room in New York City.

 

"My intention was to make a smart pop record and to prove that that wasn't a contradiction," he laughs.  Having his music played on the series has also been a plus. "The fact that the show embraced the music makes the experience extra rewarding," he says.

 

Let's hope the rewards for Betty aren't just platonic the next time around.

 

Ugly Betty airs tonight, Thursday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. on ABC.