jay roach

RSVIP: Schmuck-Free Dinner for "Dinner for Schmucks"

Filed under: Events

A welcome blast of air conditioning from an open door at the Ralph Lauren Rugby store on Main Street in East Hampton cooled an abbreviated red carpet at the East Hampton UA theater during arrivals for the Vanity Fair and Cinema Society screening of "Dinner for Schmucks" on July 17.

On his way inside, James Lipton, of the Actors Studio, with his scruffy black goat beard, mentioned that he has likely been the schmuck at a dinner party or two. "I suspect that people who had dinner with me felt they were having dinner with a schmuck," he offered in a modulated monotone. A "good seat" is what an excellent dinner partner is called in heady social circles. "But I think I suck," said Lipton. "I am not very good at it. My wife is superb. Everyone wants to know about the actors I've met, but that's the last thing I want to talk about."

Meanwhile, at the head of the red carpet, "SNL"'s Lorne Michaels glad handed Howard Stern, who wore fatigues with cargo pockets and a shirt that read "Star USA" on the back. Broad faced beauties Christie Brinkley and Candice Bergen Cheshire cat-smiled down the carpet. Lucy Punch, who plays Paul Rudd's crazy, sex-obsessed ex-girlfriend in the film, wore a dress by Christian Cota and Sergio Rossi shoes. "I've had a lot of dates with schmucks," she said. "They go on and on, complete disasters. Moronic. I think I attract these idiots."

Has Paul Rudd, wearing a suit by Marc Jacobs though the event was in part sponsored by Hugo Boss, dined with schmucks? "I'm sure somewhere along the way. . . . ," he admits after hemming and hawing politely. "I'd say yes."

Tags: ahn duong, dinner for schmucks, howard stern, james lipton, jay roach, katie couric, kyle maclachlan, paul rudd, rsvip, ShoshannaLonstein