On Saturday night, "So You Think You Can Dance" producer Nigel Lythgoe appeared to give a sarcastic review of compatriot Danny Boyle’s mixed-bag London Olympics opening ceremony:
“We all lovvvved that,” he said, drawing laughter from dinner VIPs, following his Dizzy Feet Foundation’s Celebration of Dance Gala.
The remarks came while thanking two Brits — his partners in a new dance show on the Ovation network — for choosing his L.A. fund-raising show and party over the opening ceremonies back home.
Known for his sincerity, Lythgoe wears his projects on his sleeves … and his wheels. He tweets under the name “@DizzyFeet” and sports a vanity plate on his Bentley convertible trumpeting his Fox summer mainstay, “SYTYCD."
Also read: 'So You Think You Can Dance' Revamp Planned After Fox Cancels Results Show
Inside the dance conclave at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” villain Abby Lee Miller — a sizeable and frequent Joel McHale punching bag — proved she doesn’t just have a large presence on TV. During intermission, the short-tempered tyrant of tween dancers was the most-requested photo subject.
Lythgoe, Adam Shankman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Katie Holmes chair the organization. Holmes had been scheduled to make her first post-split appearance but pulled out the day before the event.
Organizers correctly predicted that the night’s message about supporting dance education and providing scholarships would be hijacked by a Holmes media frenzy, and there were suggestions that Holmes agreed with the calculation. She diverged from her usual active engagement and face time with supporters who shelled out $400 and more on the night.
And the 2012 “glasnost” of Shirley MacLaine continues. After her AFI Lifetime achievement award last month and press tour for her upcoming arc on “Downton Abbey” during the TCA’s, Debbie Allen presented Maclaine with a Dizzy Feet Inspiration Award.
MacLaine (right, with Lythgoe and Shankman) sourced her career to medically-induced dance lessons, her mother’s chosen remedy for weak ankles.
Shankman continued shoehorning in promotion for the film “Step Up Revolution” (released Friday). Shankman had his cast close the show, that had included Emmy nominee Stacey Tookey, Derek Hough, Mary Murphy, and Tyce Diorio.
Also read: Scene and Heard at Shirley MacLaine's Party of a Lifetime
One audience member probably not too impressed with “Step Up’s” $11.8 million opening: “The Avengers” director Joss Whedon.
Earlier on Saturday, FXPpresident John Landgraf (left) claimed the only non-Olympics-related trending topic on Twitter during his media-friendly TCA session.
In addition to a barefoot Russell Brand, Landgraf topped former Twitter champ Charlie Sheen. (Above, in the Sheen-scrum.)
On Sunday, “Vegas” came to the Beverly Hilton in the form of Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis bookending Les Moonves at CBS’ TCA cocktail party.
Meanwhile, Luicy Liu and Jonny Lee Miller (both on this fall’s “Elementary”) caught up with Nina Tassler (top right).
After a long day inside, fresh air. CW President Mark Pedowitz at the post-panels soiree with new CW faces Mamie Gummer, Stephen Amell and Katie Cassidy.
Dance photos by Charley Gallay/Wireimage. FX Photos by Frank Micellotta/Wireimage. CBS photos by Cliff Lipson/CBS. Pedowitz and talent by CW.