ABC’s upfronts partied downtown at 16th Street and Ninth Avenue, where I’ve never been but Entertainment Weekly has, because they sprang for this party at the Dream Hotel.
Ginnifer Goodwin, Snow White in the Sunday drama “Once Upon a Time,” getting ready for its Season 2: “We shoot 10 months in Vancouver, and I must stay away from sun. I’m getting a house. Last year was a hotel, but I’m from the South and need to cook my mac ’n’ cheese and fried tomatoes. I also bought a Disneyland Club 3 membership. It has a waiting list. I thought I’d be 80 before I got in.”
Since Disney cohabits with ABC, I figured she’s joking. But: “My sister and I are going to Disneyland for my birthday. I love it.”
Snow White also loves her show’s Prince Charming Josh Dallas: “Yes, we’re dating. Love’s exciting, and Vancouver’s fairyland. For the Derby, I took her to my Louisville, Ky., hometown. I bet. Not big. But I’m a winner — $12.50.”
John Legend on “Duets,” premiering May 24 with Robin Thicke and Kelly Clarkson: “We’re star judges and coaches. Pick our own songs, sing every show with the talents then coach them.” Does John watch himself on TV? “Yes. It’s awesome. I’m critical . . . but I’m beautiful.”
Thicke: “We sing with the amateurs who get voted off every week. Calling it clever is a stretch, but what’s unusual is we’re established performers. And I’m busy now trying to save my voice by drinking as much whiskey as I can and smoking as many cigarettes as possible.”
Lacking proper ID, one of Earth’s most known faces (except on 16th and Ninth) was nearly barred from the party. Living a lifetime between the “Today” show and now, Miss Couric’s program “will be very different.”
Disney/ABC president Anne Sweeney, in a stunning white Jason Wu sheath “which I paid for”: “Katie’s interested in many topics. Well read, insanely curious, she’s one of our best minds.”
Also — in Veronica Beard’s short snug number — one of our best bodies. “ ‘Katie’ starts Sept. 10,” said Katie, when she finally made the party. “I’m excited.”
With time trickling out, what’s next for Disney CEO Bob Iger? Long Island born, with a Manhattan apartment, it’s said he’ll run for office. So? So there’s still room in our mayor’s race. So Bob smiled at me, turned to his beautiful Bloomberg TV correspondent wife, Willow, and went for an hors d’oeuvre.
Vanessa Williams’ “666 Park Avenue” finished shooting March 1 and starts Nov. 10: “It’s not ‘Rosemary’s Baby,’ but it’s scary. Faustian. Ghosts, inexplicable unnatural things, spooky place. Our East Side building’s exterior was the West Side’s Ansonia. The owner’s ‘my husband’ Terry O’Quinn, a devil who makes deals with our souls.” Sitting with her, this devil grinned. “It’s one of my fringe benefits.” About her sexy flowered shmatta, Vanessa said: “Designer Carlos Miele on 14th Street. It goes back, but I keep the shoes.”
Reba McEntire, producer/star of November’s new “Malibu Country”: “We did our pilot in LA. Lily Tomlin plays my mother. In it, I move to Malibu from Nashville to restart a singing career, and I’ve written the special song ‘Brand New Me.’ ”
More bodies were squeezed around, but by then it was enough. I went home.
LIL’ Kim on tomorrow’s one-nighter at the Paradise Theater in The Bronx:
“I’m on an hour and 45 minutes. Ten hours rehearsal today until, like, 4 in the morning. And the wardrobe’s sexy. Short, tight, see-through, bright colors.”
Is it true Kim once worked at Bloomingdale’s?
“Yes. My first job. Christmastime. I was 14. You can’t usually work under 16 — but I lied a little. I wanted extra money. I wanted those Gucci bags. And can you imagine, I don’t even get a discount today.”
Having done time on a perjury charge, Kim’s always described as a badass.
“People around me know I do good. Mom lived with me until I went away. She’s now in Delaware. My father had ex-wife troubles. Also health issues. He shakes. Spills coffee and food. We have to cook for him, pour his juice. His sickness wasn’t diagnosed, but it’s a small case of Alzheimer’s. I know about ‘Honor Thy Father and Mother.’ My father and I were estranged, but I’ve taken him in. He lives with me.
“I’m very blessed. I live in New Jersey. Every day I give blessings. I know God’s helping me.
“Nobody gives me a chance. It was difficult when I went away. It’s still difficult. But God’s working on helping to understand me. Someday people will.
“I can’t help people thinking I’m a badass. My lawyer told someone, ‘Kim’s really a superduper megastar.’ And they said, ‘But she’s difficult.’ He said, ‘Not difficult. She just deals from a place of respect. She gets crazy over bullying and people blabbering nasty things about her.’
“I was so young when, with names there like Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, I won awards, and Michael Jackson’s mother came to my trailer. She wanted to meet me. She kissed me. I’m one of those who was with Katherine at Michael’s funeral.
“Look, a girlfriend of mine got pregnant. Her husband’s abusive. So she’s staying with me. I know about respect. I listen to whoever needs. I take care of all my friends to the fullest. It’s a blessing — and a curse.”