John Legend, the much accomplished pop star singer-songwriter, loves “Homeland.” He played several songs last night at Showtime’s elegant, unexpectedly cozy pre-Emmy party at Sunset Towers before a star studded audience that included “Homeland” stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. When Legend spotted some “Homeland” cast members standing near his piano last night, he said, between songs, “I know I’m not supposed to show favorites, but I love Homeland. Good luck tomorrow night!”
The Showtime party was sort of the anti-HBO party–HBO gives the big, elemental HBO gala tonight at the Pacific Design Center. They have the most Emmy nominations, the biggest shows, and the most stars. Showtime, under Matthew Blank, is the little cable network that could. But it looked pretty good last night, with the “Homeland” stars, and Eddie Falco of “Nurse Jackie,” and Stephen Mangan of “Episodes,” and Michael C. Hall of “Dexter” fame.
Is this a spoiler or news? Hall told me that Dexter will have one more season beyond the one that’s just about to start. So at least we know that Dexter’s sister doesn’t turn him in for being a crazed serial killer. You can count on family!
Meantime, it turns out–we Americans know nothing–that “Homeland” star Damian Lewis is married for a long time to accomplished British actress Helen McCrory, well known here to “Harry Potter” audiences. She has a small role in the new James Bond film, “Skyfall,” but can’t say a word about it. “It’s very small,” she concluded.
Best line of the night went to the very pregnant Claire Danes, who came with actor star husband, Hugh Dancy. When someone congratulated her — on her probable win tonight as Best Actress in “Homeland,” she thought it was about the pregnancy and the new size of her bosom.
“Thanks!” she said. “I get to pretend to be someone with big breasts for now!”
PS John Legend was a knockout, with “Here Comes the Sun” and his own “Ordinary People” among others. And it was grand to meet Stephen Mangan, of “Episodes.” I am obsessed with that show. Unfortunately, everyone at Showtime — where “Episodes” is shooting a third season–wishes the creators would make more, well, episodes. “They’re so rich from previous hits” — like “Friends” — that they won’t do more than 8 or 10,” said one Showtime insider. Pity!
