• by Kelly Samardak , September 10, 2009

The Broadroom Premiere Party, Fred's at Barney's, New York
September 9, 2009

Last night was like a scene from The Peach Pit After Dark, but without Dylan, Brandon, and Brenda. I was wrapped in a portfolio of expensive shoes and hair and dropped into a '90s timewarp, where MTV played music videos, Kelly Taylor made it OK to get a nose job, and Heather Locklear's Amanda (the OG of Melrose Place) thumbed her nose at respectable corporate attire. Ladies and gentlemen, grab your Sharpies and steady your flip charts -- I bring you the premiere party for "The Broadroom," written by Ms. Candace Bushnell, produced by Meredith Corporation in association with Co.Op TV, and starring Jennie Garth, Jennifer Esposito, Talia Balsam, Broadway actress Mary McCann, and newcomer Lauren Devereux. Held at Fred's at Barney's, there were no sightings of Dino.

I was 10 minutes early. I took the opportunity to download apps onto my replacement BlackBerry (you know, the important stuff like Facebook, Twitterberry, Pizza Locator) and people-watch at the entrance to Barney's. The people-watching is an event itself. I learned that I don't have enough leather, midsize canines are the new purse dogs, and absolutely if you're taller, hotter, and made of 45% plastic, you can have that taxi over the limping old codger. "We're taping for 'The Broadroom,'" said the videographer to my left to the recently laid off panhandler in front of him. "Sheesh, how offensive," I huffed, thinking that the official videographer should at the very least know the correct name of the Web series premiere he's covering. What a jackass.

Well smack my mouth and call me Holyfield, it isthe Broadroom. Too bad I'm the jackass who had been Twittering about "The Boardroom" all day. When upstairs, while dodging trays of risotto balls with basil and tomato, a meatrain of meatballs nestled in their Italian bread subway car, and truffle-oil-doused cheese in crispy bread squares (grilled cheese for the woman who has it all) I outed myself to the crew. I did the ole "I called you guys jackasses, but I'm the jackass!" shuffle. I also ran into Andrew Hampp from Ad Age, who weirdly was the last picture I saw before I left the office. I flipped by him while choosing photos for yesterday's minute. Weird, right?

I decided to forego the red carpet line because 1, I hate aggressive photographers - you're all taller than me, so there is no reason to elbow me and put your much more expensive, much more girthy camera in my line of sight and 2, I prefer the in-the-party pics. I learned that when you treat people like the humans they are (actors are not animals!) they're more than willing to mug for your sharp shooter. Somehow, I still got screwed when Candace Bushnell, "Sex and The City" novelist and writer of "The Broadroom," was introduced by Lesley Jane Seymour, Editor in Chief, More magazine. I was joking around with one photographer, while standing next to Chase, a photog I've seen around celeb events when Chase knuckle-bumped with a much taller and smarmy fellow who immediately stepped directly and unapologetically in front of me.

It didn't ruin my evening, as everyone else enjoying cocktails named The Madison Mauve, Pinkalicious, Are you Red-dy?, and Caramel Kiss graciously posed for the new MediaPost camera (yay! Now I have to name him). Victims of my shutter were none other than the beautiful Jennie Garth, who didn't think I was creepy when I told her she'd always be old-school Kelly Taylor to me, and Karen "Duff" Duffy who also didn't think I was some sort of methed-out Jawa when I exclaimed "DuffDuffyDuff" when I recognized her. Thank you Duff, for letting me reference you in flashback. I'm fairly certain she's ageless, by the way, which you can see evidence of in the larger photo.

Every woman at the party was straight out of "Sex and The City": sky-high bedazzled and sueded booties and stilettos, gladiator sandals, and even a few wellies clicked from the bar to the settees and were balanced on as we previewed the inaugural episode (ahem, WEBisode) of "The Broadroom." Viewers included Model and actress, Karen "Duff" Duffy; Steve Lacy, President & CEO, Meredith Corporation; Julie Pinkwater, VP & Publisher, Ladies' Home Journal; Kathy Atkinson; Sarah Fargo Talent Agent; Andrew Hampp from Advertising Age; Sara Colleton Executive Producer of "Dexter"; and Charles Askegard, ballet dancer and Candace's #1 dude.

My verdict as someone who watches (and has to flip back and forth between CW and TBS) each late night episode of SATC? Ladies, you will love it. If you loved SATC you will absolutely love The Broadroom . It's all the shine, snark, fashion, and personality, but this time, the girls have real jobs. It's Web candy for us grown folks.

Oh! As a wonderful addendum, as I exited the elevator with one of the stars into the empty and unguarded Barney's marble floor, she gestured to the goodies all around us and said "We could steal some quality sh*t right here." Indeed.

Keep those cards and letters coming: kelly@mediapost.com

See the fullsize party photos on the world wide web!