Gerry Byrne

Ed Rollins Talks Presidential Politics; The 1 Percent Toasts the Good Life - Posted March 14, 2012
We've gotten so used to the celebrity circus that has dominated Michael's lately that we did a double take when we found the dining room populated mostly by suits, well-heeled ladies and dandies who prefer to let their bank accounts (not publicists) do the talking. Aside from the usual boldface names... [FishbowlLA]

A Party for Emily Blunt & Ewan McGregor; Katie Couric Holds Court - Posted March 7, 2012
It's been a pretty wild winter at Michael's. Far from suffering from the seasonal doldrums, the place has been operating on full tilt every Wednesday with a fresh array of A-listers that always make for some pretty good people watching. Today was no exception. Besides the jam packed dining room filled with... [FishbowlLA]

Katie Couric, Star Jones & the Fashion Week Flock - Posted February 15, 2012
The media A-list has decided that winter is over (did it ever start?) and came out of hibernation in a major way at Michael's today. Every square inch of the dining room was occupied by boldface names of every description from social swans (Amy Fine Collins... [FishbowlLA]

Katie Couric, Star Jones & the Fashion Week Flock - Posted February 15, 2012
The media A-list has decided that winter is over (did it ever start?) and came out of hibernation in a major way at Michael's today. Every square inch of the dining room was occupied by boldface names of every description from social swans (Amy Fine Collins... [FishbowlNY]

Manhattan's A-List Turns Out for Harvey Weinstein's Giants Pep Rally - Posted February 1, 2012
I've been covering Wednesday's at Michael's for five years and have never seen anything like the head-spinning scene that unfolded there today. Harvey Weinstein and Stev... [FishbowlLA]

Henry Kravis, John Huey & Kim Kardashian's BFF - Posted December 7, 2011
The usual suspects were (mostly) present and accounted for at Michael's today. The people watching parade included the money men (Henry Kravis), entertainment moguls (Richard... [FishbowlLA]

Henry Kravis, John Huey & Kim Kardashian's BFF - Posted December 7, 2011
The usual suspects were (mostly) present and accounted for at Michael's today. The people watching parade included the money men (Henry Kravis), entertainment moguls (Richard... [FishbowlNY]

Real Housewife Melissa Gorga Dishes on Her Sister-in-Law From Hell - Posted November 30, 2011
Slow moving holiday tourists and presidential motorcades be damned. Nothing could keep the faithful away from Michael's today. With the place decked out in its holiday finery, the mood was like a swanky office party on steroids. While the usual suspects and a cool visitor from California (producer/composer ... [FishbowlLA]

Tom Brokaw, Vernon Jordan and the Shy Divorcee - Posted November 16, 2011
It was SRO at Michael's today. The dining room was so jam packed every sqaure inch was occupied by a mogul (Mel Karmazin!), media heavyweight (Tom Brokaw, ... [FishbowlLA]

Tom Brokaw, Vernon Jordan and the Shy Divorcee - Posted November 16, 2011
It was SRO at Michael's today. The dining room was so jam packed every sqaure inch was occupied by a mogul (Mel Karmazin!), media heavyweight (Tom Brokaw, ... [FishbowlNY]

Roger Ailes, Barry Diller & The Squawk Box Super Heroes - Posted October 26, 2011
Hail! Hail! The Wednesday gang is all here. The lunch scene at Michael's was firing on all cylinders today as moguls (Barry Diller! Roger Ailes!), high-profile edito... [FishbowlLA]

Roger Ailes, Barry Diller & The Squawk Box Super Heroes - Posted October 26, 2011
Hail! Hail! The Wednesday gang is all here. The lunch scene at Michael's was firing on all cylinders today as moguls (Barry Diller! Roger Ailes!), high-profile edito... [FishbowlNY]

Barbara Walters, Harold Ford, Jr. and Bravo's Chris March - Posted October 5, 2011
We could barely keep up with the steady stream of A-listers who poured into Michael's today. When we arrived a little before noon, there was a handful of power brokers quietly hunkering down to business over their Cobb salads in the back of the room. By the time Bravo's latest star,... [FishbowlLA]

Barbara Walters, Harold Ford, Jr. and Bravo's Chris March - Posted October 5, 2011
We could barely keep up with the steady stream of A-listers who poured into Michael's today. When we arrived a little before noon, there was a handful of power brokers quietly hunkering down to business over their Cobb salads in the back of the room. By the time Bravo's latest star,... [FishbowlNY]

All in the Family with Joe Kernen & A Dark Shadows Star is Reborn - Posted August 10, 2011
It was a bustling scene at Michael's today as the power lunch crowd crammed in some last minute networking before their late summer vacations. In the mix: talking heads (Joe Kernen, ... [FishbowlLA]

Bob Schieffer, Carl Bernstein and The Shopaholic Squadron - Posted July 27, 2011
It was a tasty mix of media mavens and fab fashionistas at Michael's today as the town car set dined and dished before jetting off to their summer cottages. While Rupert Murdoch was still topic A for plenty of regulars, talk of the stalemate ... [FishbowlLA]

Bob Schieffer, Carl Bernstein and The Shopaholic Squadron - Posted July 27, 2011
It was a tasty mix of media mavens and fab fashionistas at Michael's today as the town car set dined and dished before jetting off to their summer cottages. While Rupert Murdoch was still topic A for plenty of regulars, talk of the stalemate ... [FishbowlNY]

Melania Trump, Charles Grodin and Princess Di's Wedding Designer - Posted July 20, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE The oppressive heat didn't keep the faithful away from Michael's today. The joint was jumping with media mavens of every stripe, including one editor who is clearly having a moment (David Zinczenko), high-profile publish... [FishbowlNY]

Matt Lauer, Harold Ford Jr. & Neil Sedaka - Posted July 13, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE If the scene at Michael's today is any indication, summer vacations are so 2010. The place was full of magazine honchos (the cafeteria at Hearst must have been empty), media mavens (Does Jason Binn... [FishbowlLA]

Glenn Close and Damages Cast Celebrate Season Four - Posted June 29, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Before dashing off to their summer cottages in the Hamptons for the long holiday weekend, the media mavens and moguls were at their regular perches at Michael's today for a bit of last minute networking. It was SRO at the bar and the dining room was jam pa... [SocialTimes.com]

Glenn Close and Damages Cast Celebrate Season Four - Posted June 29, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Before dashing off to their summer cottages in the Hamptons for the long holiday weekend, the media mavens and moguls were at their regular perches at Michael's today for a bit of last minute networking. It was SRO at the bar and the dining room was jam pa... [FishbowlNY]

Rick Fox, Arianna Huffington and a Real Housewife of New York City - Posted June 8, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE It was SRO at Michael's today with movers and shakers jammed into every corner. I was so glad I got there early and was able to chat with Rick Fox and his girlfriend ... [FishbowlNY]

Tom Brokaw, Trudie Styler, Joan Rivers & Happy Birthday, Jon Meacham! - Posted May 18, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE If you were wondering why the streets of midtown seemed a bit quiet today it was because everyone -- well, almost everyone -- was at Michael's today. I could barely keep up as the A-listers filed in one after another (Tom Brokaw... [AllTwitter]

Joan Collins, Dennis Basso And The Media Mob - Posted May 4, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE The biblical rain didn't keep the crowds away from Michael's today. The media mavens were networking at warp speed (Bonnie Fuller, we mean you) while the social swans and style set enjoyed their us... [FishbowlLA]

Eliot Spitzer on Working for CNN: 'I'm having a barrel of fun!' - Posted April 27, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Although it might not seem like it given the sheer numbers of journalists reporting from England this week, there are plenty of media folk and fashion mavens who aren't headed out of town to cover that little get-together at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The dining room at Michael's was... [SocialTimes.com]

Eliot Spitzer on Working for CNN: 'I'm having a barrel of fun!' - Posted April 27, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Although it might not seem like it given the sheer numbers of journalists reporting from England this week, there are plenty of media folk and fashion mavens who aren't headed out of town to cover that little get-together at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The dining room at Michael's was... [FishbowlNY]

Charlie Rose, Bonnie Fuller And The Ex-Mr. Star Jones - Posted March 9, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE We're a bit spoiled by the back-to-back A-list sightings of the last two weeks (Cate Blanchett! Blake Lively!), ... [FishbowlNY]

Renee Fleming, Harold Ford Jr & The Social Swells - Posted September 22, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Michael's was jammed packed this afternoon with plenty of suits, swells and the requisite random boldface names (Renee Fleming! Harold Ford Jr... [FishbowlNY]

David Carey, Linda Wells & The Power Lunch Diehards - Posted August 11, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE A little birdie told us we missed Wyclef Jean by a day. Then, on Monday night, we hear the joint was jumping at Miramax's party for The Tillman Story with ... [FishbowlNY]

Cindi Leive, Larry Hackett & David Zinczenko: Editors Unleashed! - Posted August 4, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It must be all that good news about ad pages for the September issues being way up from last year that brought out the media mavens today at Michael's. The place was packed with editors and journos all doing their best to boost Gotham's perilous economy. The expense account... [FishbowlNY]

Richard Belzer, Deborah Norville & the Real Ari Gold! - Posted July 21, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE The dog days have arrived. Just ask Richard Belzer, who showed up in the Michael's dining room today with his pooch tucked under his arm. (No word on what Fido ordered.) The rest of the crowd barely noticed as the usual... [FishbowlNY]

Does Sopranos Creator David Chase Ever Smile? - Posted June 16, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE We missed Michael Douglas by a day. Oh well, there was enough going on with the usual suspects in the Michael's dining room that we barely had time to eat. After making the rounds to check in with the regulars, I saw t... [FishbowlNY]

Jimmy Buffett, Dr. Ruth and the Usual Suspects - Posted June 9, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Those corporate bean counters that put a crimp in expense accounts all over town must be loosening up a bit, because it was SRO today at Michael's. A slew of magazine folks (See, print isn't dead after all!), media mavens and the requisite flock of social swans were packed... [FishbowlNY]

Liz Lange & Cindi Leive Take a Bite out of the Home Shopping Market - Posted June 2, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Evidently, you're nobody these days unless you're hawking something on one of those hypnotic home shopping networks. Come on, confess: Who hasn't bought something that just happened to catch their eye while flipping through the channels looking for Bravo's wacky Housewives? I chatted with no les... [FishbowlNY]

Deborah Norville, Cindi Leive & A Slew of Fashionable Folks - Posted May 26, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Sometimes it seems like all roads lead to Michael's, and today was no exception. Everyone in the place seemed connected by less than six degrees of separation, as we observed plenty of old friends and former colleagues exchanging air kisses before dining and dishing. Then there was the completely... [FishbowlNY]

Ralph Lauren, Jenna Bush, and the Media Mob - Posted May 19, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It was good to be back at my regular perch at Michael's today after a nasty bug kept me home last week. I returned to a scene buzzing with a head-spinning mix of fashion designers, famous faces, and the requisite media moguls. Don't these people ever take a day... [FishbowlNY]

John Sykes, Jared Kushner & Moguls on the Make - Posted May 5, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Sometimes it's the random celebrity sighting like recent visitors Michael Douglas and ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Tina Brown, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Media Mavens Galore! - Posted April 21, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE They were dining and dishing like it was 2006 today at Michael's. When I mentioned to one of the regulars that I hadn't seen the dining room jam packed with so many power lunchers in a long time, he summed up the scene this way: "People are tired of... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Tim Gunn Talks 'Age Appropriate Fashion' with Grace Mirabella - Posted March 24, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE If we'd come by on Monday, we would have run into Tyra Banks at breakfast and Harold Ford, Jr. at lunch. Oh, well. Michael's was still br... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Glenn Close Talks Fatal Attraction - Posted March 10, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE I love when the stars align just right on a Wednesday at Michael's, and I get to chat with a star I've always admired. I hit the jackpot today when I spotted Glenn Close in the dining room. Just l... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Happy Birthday Donna Hanover & Paula Zahn - Posted February 24, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE If it's Wednesday, it's party time at Michael's. We're still recovering from the head spinning spectacle of last week's A-list lunch for James Cameron. This week, the celebration was a tad more ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: James Cameron's Oscar Campaign Comes to Michael's - Posted February 17, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It was Hollywood on the Hudson at Michael's today as Peggy Siegal hosted one of her legendary lunches right smack in the middle of the dining room. Today's guest of honor was ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: 'Bag Lady' & Madoff Victim Alexandra Penney: 'Writing Well is the Best Revenge!' - Posted January 27, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Things must be looking up in the journalism biz, because Michael's dining room was jam packed with media folks of every stripe. While CEOs and spinmeisters held court from their usual perches, writers and editors were shoehorned in all over the place. I was glad I got there earl... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Special Evening Edition as Michael's Celebrates 20 Years - Posted November 5, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE As much as we enjoy observing the social customs of the various media tribes during our Wednesday lunches at Michael's, we jumped at the chance to mingle with the natives last night as they roamed free from the pecking order in the dining room. ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Charlie Rose, Dan Abrams & The Rain-Soaked Usual Suspects - Posted October 28, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The biblical rain kept most of the moguls and media mavens away today. So, rather than people watch, I passed the time by flipping through the latest issue of Avenue featur... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: The Usual Suspects Today -- But Sarah Palin Was Here Last Night! - Posted August 5, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE Michael's was packed with plenty of familiar faces this afternoon. Seems the gang was out in force before disappearing for the true dog days of August. The real side show in the dining room took place last night, when none other than ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: The Lo-Cal Edition with Ron Perelman - Posted July 8, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE Now that summer is in full swing, the usual mix of movers and shakers at Michael's was a bit on the light side today. But Ron Perelman was there, proving this is no time to slack off if you're a ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Cindi Leive, Harold Ford, Jr. & The Gang - Posted June 10, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE We heard we missed quite a scene yesterday when the dining room was filled with the likes of dirty joke diva Sarah Silverman, ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: A Heaping Helping of the Usual Suspects - Posted May 27, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE We've been spoiled by the steady stream of A-listers we've come to meet during our weekly Wednesday visits. So you can imagine our disappointment when we heard we missed Gabriel Byrne, who was i... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Dishing With The Usual Suspects - Posted March 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The regulars were out in force today at Michael's as media mavens, moguls and social types were deep in conversation around the jam-packed dining room. Everyone, it seems, had plenty to talk about, including the terrible news of ... [FishbowlNY]

Larry Kramer Tells Laurel at Michael's: 'We Need a New Generation of Storytellers' - Watch the Video! - Posted February 19, 2009
<img alt="ltlunch.jpg" src="/fishbowlny/files/original/ltlunch.jpg" width="400" height="255" Pictured above, Jack Rotherham of Metacafe. Watch now: mediabistro.com founder Laurel Touby t... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Special Fashion Week Edition - Posted February 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE These days, you just never know who you're going to meet on Wednesdays at Michael's. If we'd come yesterday, we would have been able to chat with Willem Dafoe. Oh well. This being New York Fashio... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Andre Leon Talley -- Media Star! - Posted February 11, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE We missed Blythe Danner by a day. Too bad, I would have loved to have asked her what she thinks of her daughter's goofy -- but strangely compelling -- Web site, ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Musical Chairs With Sir Paul McCartney - Posted January 14, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE So you think you've got problems? Paul McCartney (that's Sir Paul to you) arrived at Michael's today shortly before noon to scope out a table for a quiet lunch with ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Why So Glum, Anna Wintour & Ralph Lauren? - Posted December 10, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE It was standing room only at Michael's today with a head-spinning assortment of movers and mavens doing some serious table-hopping between bites. We were brightened to see there was a dash of celebrating between all the intense conversations that were going on all around. It's t... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Joy Behar, Star Jones & Another Sarah Palin Doppelganger - Posted October 8, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE What recession? The joint was jumping at Michael's today. Media mavens, television types and fashionistas were still trying to digest the week's head spinning events but, in true New York style, weren't letting a worldwide tanking economy get in the way of a good time. There was... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Les Moonves, Barry Diller & Kathleen Turner - Posted September 3, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE Forget the lazy days of summer. Class is back in session as the cool kids returned to the cafeteria today in force. The scene at Michael's was a tasty stew of moguls and media mavens with a side order of the random celebrity sighting -- ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Charlie Rose, Joe Scarborough, and the Summer Die-Hards - Posted August 6, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE With the dog days of summer upon us, the usual suspects at Michael's are soldiering on over their Cobb salads until it's time to take off those last few weeks of the month to the Hamptons, Nantucket or some other sun-filled spot ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Hillary—Obama Smackdown! - Posted May 28, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE Bill Clinton isn't the only one who is getting a little testy about the endlessly long and increasingly tabloid-y battle for the democratic nomination. At today's lunch, politics were on the menu... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Anna Wintour & Coming Soon — The Rolling Stones! - Posted March 26, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE We're guessing that spring break with the kiddies kept more than a few bold face names we've become accustomed to seeing away from 55th and Fifth today. Luckily, some of our favorite regulars were on hand — along with the first ever (at least since I've been at my... [FishbowlNY]

Morning Reading List, 02.29.08 - Posted February 29, 2008
Happy Leap Day Washington. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES You think Brit Hume... [FishbowlDC]

Lunch At Michael's: Barry Diller, Bob Iger & The Literary Lioness Club - Posted September 19, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE For those who like their cobb salads served up with a side order of adrenaline, 55th & Fifth was the place to be today. Media moguls and literary lionesses convened their cliques for some lively conversation that kept the dining room buzzing. Esther Newberg an... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Presidential Politics & Brian Grazer - Posted September 12, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE The media mavens, captains of industry and money men were out in full force today where a heaping helping of presidential politics were on the menu. Mayor Joe Armstrong, fresh off his latest trip to Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp hosted ... [FishbowlNY]

Quill Awards Announced - Posted September 10, 2007
Changing things up this year, the Quills have announced their awards a solid month and a half before the actual ceremony, which will take place on October 22 at Jazz @ Lincoln Center and hosted by Ann Curry and Al Roker. For the first time in its three-year history, The... [GalleyCat]

Lunch at Michael's: Ken Sunshine: Lindsay's Woes Are 'Beyond PR Issues' - Posted July 25, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE We've truly hit the dog days of summer when there isn't one Fiji water sipping-celeb in sight come high noon at 55th & Fifth. Luckily, that didn't mean there was a shortage of Tinseltown talk in the dining room. The topic du jour — what else? — Lindsay Lohan'... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Al & Meredith Talk Skateboarding - Posted May 30, 2007
On the menu today: a tasty stew of media moguls and television titans with a dash of talking heads to spice things up. After making the rounds and checking in with some of our favorite regulars, we were thrilled to chat with our good pals Today's Meredith ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Blood! Explosions! Dueling Weathermen! - Posted May 9, 2007
Perhaps it was the nice weather. Or maybe a hangover from the Time 100 party last night. Today's media lunch at 55th & Fifth was relatively full, but lacked the star power of lunches past (no heads of state nor ... [FishbowlNY]

The Quills Gets a Serious Revamp - Posted May 4, 2007
After last year's overlong, incredibly boring ceremony where hardly any winners bothered to show up to the Museum of Natural History to accept prizes, the Quills is changing things in a big way. AP's Hillel Italie reports that instead of all the categories being voted on by ... [GalleyCat]

Lunch at Michael's: 'We're Off To Prison' - Posted April 18, 2007
For the boldface names and media mavens who flock to 55th & Fifth on a regular basis, the dining room is like a high school cafeteria without the adolescent angst. The richest and coolest kids in the class spend lots of time table hopping and there's plenty of gossip on... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Brokaw & Burns Break Bread - Posted March 28, 2007
The scene at 55th & Fifth was bustling as always thanks to one iconic newsman (we always sit up a little straighter when Tom Brokaw is in the room), a mix of movie moguls and the usual roundup of public relations pitchmen and women. Peggy Siegal... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Is Dave Zinczenko Ready For Prime Time? - Posted February 28, 2007
Magazine moguls kept things interesting today at 55th and Fifth. Without the usual intriguing mix of celebrities (who were, undoubtedly still recovering from Oscar overload) to observe, we spent the afternoon wondering what the editors and behind-the-scenes execs were plo... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Teddy, Liz & The Gang - Posted February 21, 2007
The dining room at Michael's was buzzing today with moguls and media mavens who did more than the usual amount of table-hopping between bites — standing-room only in the bustling lounge as the regulars and requisite movers and shakers were out in force. (Liz! Lesley! T... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Gay Talese, John Huey and The Guys - Posted January 17, 2007
The scene at 55th and Fifth resembled something of a men's club today where the power suits -- and ties -- ruled. Media machers including Time Inc.'s editor-in-chief John Huey, ad man Jerry Della Femina and the sartorially splendid Ga... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: A Kareem Dream - Posted January 10, 2007
It's official — the holidays are over! It's back to business, people! Now that the weather has finally turned cold (it is January, after all), things are heating up once again at Michael's. The dining room was abuzz with the usual mix of movers and shakers, mo... [FishbowlNY]