The 'Boner' we wish Rosie'd been referring to at yesterday's Matrix Awards

During a break in the pre-Matrix action yesterday, we poked our heads into the Waldorf Astoria ballroom where recipients of the New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship winners were lined up in ready to rehearse their introduction to the A-list crowd. In a clever departure from years past, when the anonymous group would silently enter and exit en masse, the aspiring media mavens each walked up to the microphone this year, introducing themselves and proclaiming themselves to be "the next [insert female media maven here]" When their turn in the spotlight came, the crowd had varying reactions to their proclaimed role models. No less than three of the young women expressed a desire to helm Cosmopolitan (the one who exclaimed she was "the next Kate White" drew the loudest round of applause), the one intrepid soul who dared admit she wanted to be "the next Bonnie Fuller" got a less than enthusiastic reaction while another hopeful who said she fancied herself Atoosa Rubenstein's Eve Harrington rendered the crowd all but silent.

Since we were told neither Hillary Clinton nor Rosie O'Donnell would be making an appearance before the lunch, goings-on in the press room were largely uneventful. An event organizer tipped us off that the two Mrs. Giulianis — past (Donna Hanover) and present (Judith 'Future Cabinet Member' Nathan) — were both in attendance. We held our breath for a great tabloid moments but alas, both ladies carefully kept a watchful distance from one another.

Other faces in the crowd: Harper's Bazaar Glenda Bailey, Allure's Linda Wells, Bride's Millie Martini Bratten, 60 Minutes' Leslie Stahl, Gail Sheehy (who perched at the press table towards the event's end), Peggy Siegal, Myrna Blyth, Deborah Roberts and a late-arriving Liz Smith.

Minutes before the luncheon was scheduled to begin, winners and their presenters lined up grade school-style by the stage for their introductions. The only one who applauded for anyone else was Susan Lyne. Rosie arrived at 12:40PM — seconds before her scheduled introduction — with handler Cindy Berger in tow. She was introduced by AOL's senior vice president of marketing, Lisa Judson, as "the wildly gifted" Rosie O'Donnell. The comedian wasted no time fanning the flames of her over-exposed and, by now, completely played out feud with Donald Trump: "I've been dieting for two weeks, ever since Donald Trump said he found me fat. It's been my goal for many years to give a bald billionaire a boner. Come 'ere buddy, eat me!" She was only just getting started.

Check back soon for news of the new one Rosie ripped Rupert ...

--Diane Clehane

FishbowlNY Coverage of Matrix 2007: