Not just another Tuesday in La La Land

Being the left coast correspondent for Basket of Kisses certainly has its perks “ especially if it leads to this. Or it results in an invite to shindigs like “A Night on the Town with Mad Men,” which took place this past Tuesday at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles. Sponsored by Lionsgate, Chivas Regal, and Brooks Brothers, “A Night on the Town” was a 1960s-style Las Vegas revue featuring some of our favorite Mad Men co-stars cheekily sending-up their characters by way of swanky lounge music. Behind-the-scenes regulars David Carbonara and Janie Bryant also had a hand in the production, providing musical direction and costumes for the event, which was a fundraiser for the Los Angeles chapter of The Recording Academy’s music education and development programs.

Imagine a stately old movie theater that’s been converted to a nightclub, which is swathed in red velvet and illuminated by chandeliers. Okay, so maybe that sounds like a bordello “ but what could be more alluring? Add a ton of free booze, lots of beautiful people, as well as the multifaceted talents of Robert Morse, Bryan Batt, Joel Murray, Michael Gladis, Maggie Siff, Mark Moses, Patrick Fischler, Melinda McGraw, Colin Hanks, Alison Brie, Crista Flanagan, and Donielle Artese, and you have to admit that’s better than sitting at home watching “Dancing with the Stars.” And when you spot Christina Hendricks, Aaron Staton, Edin Gali, Darby Stanchfield, Robin Veith, Scott Hornbacher, and Matthew Weiner chilling in the audience? You know it’s not just another Tuesday in La La Land.

I arrived at the theater a few minutes early and was perfectly content to hang with the press, snarking with E! Online’s Jennifer Godwin, and flirting with the photographer who wielded a really long lens. I loves me some gear “ especially when seen in the shadow of my own rooty poot equipment, which looked like a Fisher Price toy in comparisonsighAnyway, I was standing around, minding my own business, when up rushed Matthew Weiner, who grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures of me as if I were one of Maxim’s Hot 100. That pretty much got me the title of queen for a day, and suddenly I was a VIP to everyone — a lifestyle I could learn to like.

The limos arrived, and the parade of celebrities began down the red carpet, which is just another form of theater, much like the night’s performance itself. It’s always about the show when you live in L.A. People arrive when they arrive “ but the carpet has to be choreographed so as to generate anticipation, and to ensure that the really big fanfares are reserved for all the right people. The handlers were in overdrive, lining up people, and escorting folks according to their rank or popularity or how they’d feature in the night’s entertainment. First came the evening’s non-performing MadMen, and wow, Darby Stanchfield (Helen Bishop), Edin Gali (Kurt), and Aaron Staton (Cosgrove) are even more attractive in person than they are on screen. Behind the scenes stalwarts, Michael Uppendahl (director, “Six Month Leave”), Robin Veith, Janie Bryant, David Carbonara, and Scott Hornbacher stroll down the carpet next, followed by some of the evening’s non-MadMen performers, musicians Dar Williams and Inara George, and fan dancer Rima Yazbeck.

Then there’s a rush of excitement as Robert Morse, Bryan Batt, Joel Murray, Michael Gladis, Maggie Siff, Mark Moses, Patrick Fischler, Melinda McGraw, Colin Hanks, Alison Brie, Crista Flanagan, and Donielle Artese (Paul’s girlfriend, Sheila) arrive at the same time, looking glamorous and swank. Janie Bryant outfitted the women in these gorgeous costumes, while the men were decked in period specific tuxedos.

These people are seriously pretty. True, they’re gorgeous on the show, but they’re extremely attractive IRL. Yes, they were professionally made-up for the evening, but you could tell that it was just an enhancement of who they are naturally. Bryan Batt is even better looking in person than he is on the show. How is that possible? And the ladies? Wow. Sizzling. Every single one of them. But my favorite (other than Robert Morse, because, you know, he’s ROBERT MORSE)? Seriously? Joel Murray. No joke. I found him to be one of the most charismatic, inconspicuously sexy men I’ve ever met. I was actually flustered just standing near him. And I’m never like that. EVER. He just exuded cool. Not in an over-the-top, pretentious, hipper than thou kind of way. But like an old-school jazz man “ maybe even Sinatra, but understated, very subtle, and not so much with the ring-a-ding-ding, even though as the evening’s emcee, that’s largely who he was portraying. I wonder if he’s some crazy method actor who becomes a character and chooses to remain with it until he’s done with the role, or if that’s actually a part of who he is? In any case, his presence is potentplus he has really nice eyes.

After that commotion, it was finally time for Christina Hendricks and Matthew Weiner to get their their carpet glory, despite having arrived at least ten minutes earlier. But this was their moment, which ultimately sealed the deal, and meant we could all go in and enjoy the show.

Inside, I grab a drink, and discover I am seated with Leah Krantzler of the Lippin Group, the company that handles PR for Lionsgate, and two women from HBO “ development executives from Playtone, the organization responsible for John Adams, and, incidentally, Tom Hanks’ production company. I can’t believe how much restraint I practiced. I was actually good, and didn’t do the total L.A. thing by trying to pitch them a story. Yeah, I’m sure they get that all the time. But still, you know I totally had oneDang. I’m sure I’ll be kicking myself next year over that, and probably the next year, and the year after that, as well. Too much home training, I supposeand not enough nerve. Sigh.

So the show starts with David Carbonara playing a swing version of “A Beautiful Mine,” followed by the introduction of Joel Murray, channeling his inner Rat Pack as the evening’s emcee. He’s got a couple jokes, afterwhich he gives us some “Scotch and Soda” — the musical variety, not the potable one. He’s got a good voice. And his lounge lizard is far smoother than brother Bill’s.

Next up is Mark Moses who sings “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head“, and I begin to notice a theme. Suddenly a light bulb appears above my head, and I begin to rummage through my bag to see if I have the tools to make it work. While Inara George does “I’ll Take Manhattan,” I finally locate what I’ve been looking for and decide to run with it.

Hopefully, I won’t get in trouble for this, buthere are exclusive sound recordings of this event. So they’re not Dolbyokay, they’re not even lousy AM radio, but I guarantee you no one else has them:

Michael Gladis singing “Don’t Think Twice.”

Alison Brie singing “Daddy.”

Robert Morse singing “Brotherhood of Man“, and then again as he blows kisses to Matthew Weiner with “I Believe in You.”

Maggie Siff singing “Black Coffee.”

Crista Flanagan singing “Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee.”

Bryan Batt singing and cha cha-ing with Donielle Artese to “Sway.”

Colin Hanks singing “Early in the Morning.”

Obviously this is what happens when there’s too much free flowing liquor in the place. I only wish the sound quality was better, but you can’t have everything. Also, the voice you hear laughing and clapping really loudly is NOT me. Yet another annoyance. Again, it’s the risk you take when you try to record a concert using a pocket digital recorder. Unfortunately, I didn’t get Mark Moses, Joel Murray, or a clear enough recording of Melinda McGraw, which is too bad because they were all really fun.