Summer is in full swing, and even as Hollywood actors hit the July 12 strike deadline, A-listers are finding reasons to celebrate and keep things lively. While pink is sure to become the color of the season with the premiere of “Barbie” on July 9, Ashley Park and Stephanie Hsu brought “Joy Ride” to theaters this week, Netflix brought its top chefs to cook for Los Angeles and Arnold Schwarzenegger looked set to rule the world of coffee table books.
Premiere of “Joy Ride” in Los Angeles
Regency Village Theatre, Westwood
Arriving at the premiere of “Joy Ride” was quite the trip for comedy lovers in Los Angeles, as Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu brought some of her friends and co-stars to downtown Westwood for some fun. Along with her fellow stars Ashley Park, Sabrina Wu and Sherry Cola, Hsu shared Your thoughts about the profound impact he believes the film will have, saying, “People from all backgrounds will be associated with this film.”
Front and center were two of Hsu’s biggest fans, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the three-time Oscar-winning team behind “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” along with “Joy Ride” creatives Adele Lim, Teresa Hsiao and Seth Rogen. Actors Randall Park, Daveed Diggs and Lori Tan Chinn, whose kicks were the talk of the town, also came out to celebrate.
The after party was a lively Chinese street fair, right on the transformed avenue outside, festooned with neon lights, Chinese signs, and the aromas of delicious delicacies from across China. It was a night of unity, celebration and cultural appreciation filled with fun and food for the Lionsgate film, which hits theaters July 7. – Elias Gil
Los Angeles Premiere of “They Cloned Tyrone”
Post 43 Hollywood Legion Theatre, Hollywood
Hollywood was in an uproar when “They Cloned Tyrone” arrived at the scene of the Post 43 Legion, headlined by stars John Boyega and Teyonah Parris, who arrived driving a sleek, old-school Cadillac convertible that exuded timeless glamor (and is also featured in suspense comedy). His elegant arrival set the stage for an evening full of intrigue and fun, but sadly it was missing Jamie Foxx, who was still recovering from his health issue earlier this year.
Boyega shared his unique perspective on artificial intelligence with the envelope, joking that “I’m not worried about the AI, do you see the CGI in the movies?” The after party sparked more interesting conversations about the film’s underlying meanings and themes, with cloning and other slightly scary “mad scientist” ideas taking center stage. This was a Netflix party that had everyone looking for a Boyega double, but really, there’s only one guy this talented who can play just about anything, including himself over and over again. – Elias Gil
“The Afterparty” Season 2 Premiere
Regency Bruin Theatre, Westwood
Are you ready to party again? In the season 2 premiere of the Apple TV+ mystery-comedy series “The Afterparty,” the star Tiffany Haddish led the red carpet charge, radiating her signature charm and giving us an inside look at the new season. “The cast is different, the circumstances are different,” she revealed. “And the stakes are much higher!”
Much of the talented cast was in attendance, with Zoe Chao and Poppy Liu definitely dressed for the party and John Cho and Ken Jeong rocking the red carpet. sam richardson spoke to TheWrap and expressed his sincere desire to be a part of “Hocus Pocus 3,” telling us, “I would go play that set any day of the week! Just tell me and I’ll be there. But first, it’s still partying!
– Elias Gil
“The Summer I Got Pretty” Season 2 Launch Party
Mr Purple, New York
Whether you’re from #TeamConrad or #TeamJeremiah, fans of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” put their differences aside to celebrate Season 2 of the beloved Prime Video show. With the New York City skyline on the horizon, Mr. Purple’s rooftop was transformed into Cousins Beach.
During the event, guests and cast members got their first look at the official trailer for the new season. “We’ve been working very hard on this,” said series star Gavin Casalegno.
The moment Taylor Swift’s “Back to December” started playing, the show’s breakout star Lola Tung, who made everyone watch the video twice, began to cry. “I didn’t know they were going to play this song!” she whispered to her co-star Rachel Blanchard with a hug. “It’s the first time I’ve seen it with music,” she told TheWrap.
The whole event was like a scene out of the show. Belly and the gang (Casalegno, Christopher Briney, Sean Kaufman, and David Iacono) cavorted on location while “the moms” (Blanchard and Jackie Chung) chatted closely with Season 2 newcomer Kyra Sedgwick. Meanwhile, guests enjoyed signature cocktails and pop-up experiences with Sonicare, Blackbough and Sperry offering exclusive “The Summer I Turned Pretty” items. When the party ended, we all left feeling terribly pretty. –Emily Vogel
Netflix bites into the opening night celebration
Short Stories Hotel, Los Angeles
The writers may be on strike in Hollywood, but the chefs are not, as some of the world’s most famous toques joined forces with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos to bring an exclusive pop-up dinner to the Los Angeles food scene.
Opening night on the patio of the Short Stories Hotel drew some of the most popular chefs from the show “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend,” including Curtis Stone, Dominique Crenn, Ming Tsai and judge Andrew Zimmern.
They each created both appetizers and different entrees for the meals on offer, as did “Chef’s Table” standouts Rodney Scott and Ann Kim, along with dessert experts Nadiya Hussain (“Nadiya Bakes”) and Jacques Torres. (“Nailed It”).
Opening night big hits included Curtis Stone’s rack of lamb appetizer and Dungeness crab curry entrée and Rodney Scott’s whole hog barbecue. Stone, whose catering company is running the pop-up, admitted to TheWrap that being a celebrity chef was never his goal.
“I like my job. I’m the happiest in the kitchen line,” he said with that trademark smile. “But I do think getting to do these things distracts me so much that I always want to go back to the kitchen.”
Barbecue pro Rodney Scott brought his own smoker and had a second pig ready for guests the next day, telling us, “It’s that low, slow process that makes it so good, and we’re happy to show the people that what we do on the screen is real. Here they will be able to see and savor what they have been hearing and seeing on television”.
To sample your favorite Netflix chef’s creations, book reservations here for this limited-time Los Angeles pop-up. However, we hear that it was mostly sold out through August, with the chefs only appearing on the scene on opening night. –JP
The Museum of the Film Academy organizes an evening with Arnold Schwarzenegger
David Geffen Theatre, Academy of Motion Picture Museum, Los Angeles
With 1991’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” written and directed by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger achieved his highest-grossing film to date and established himself as an action icon.
The actor, activist and former Governor of California spoke about that experience and reflected on why it has become an enduring classic of the genre, as part of the Los Angeles launch of his two-volume book published by Taschen, “Arnold”. The centerpiece of the sold-out evening at the Film Academy Museum was an extensive conversation between him and the book’s editor, Dian Hanson, followed by a 3D screening of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”
The talk covered a plethora of topics, from his childhood in post-war Austria to his early bodybuilding days to the obstacles he had to overcome to get started in Hollywood. But the most rowdy moment of the night came when the star recalled his initial reservations about making his Terminator a nice guy, compared to the bloody killer robot he played in the 1984 original.
“I said, ‘What do you mean ‘good’ Terminator?’” Schwarzenegger recalled of his early conversations with Cameron. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” Of course, he has since come.
“It is the genius of Jim Cameron, he is an extraordinary writer and an incredible director,” the actor concluded. – Benjamin Lindsey
Send party and event invitations to Jenny.Peters@TheWrap.com