Mira Sorvino, Peter and Parky Fonda, Dana Delaney, and the Hollywood professional community toasted IMDb founder Col Needham (bottom right) on the 25th birthday of his entertainment website progenitor, IMDb. (Getty Images)
“Straight Outta Compton” star O’Shea Jackson Jr. wasn’t even born when IMDb debuted in 1990, but he helped light up the room at the website’s 25th anniversary party at the Sunset Tower in West Hollywood on Thursday night.
The milestone of 25 years “is something that I think no other Internet company can say,” IMDb founder and CEO Col Needham told a room full of friends and supporters. “What was going on in the Internet in 1990 but IMDb?”
Ebay, Yahoo and even AOL — spamming every mailbox in America with discs offering free hours — were launched five, four and three years into the 1990s, respectively.
“Straight Outta Compton’s” Neil Brown Jr., Ernie Hudson, Amy Aquino, Peter Fonda, Mira Sorvino, IMDb founder and CEO Col Needham, Tommy Davidson, O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Angela Weiss/Getty Images for IMDb)
Needham hosted the birthday bash with “friends” from Amazon Studios, the original content wing of the company that bought IMDb back in 1998.
Amazon Studios VP Roy Price, SVP of Business Development Jeff Blackburn, and agent Michael Yanover (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for IMDb)
On Thursday night, guests surrounded Amazon Studios head Roy Price (he of 12 Emmy nominations) but ceded the floor to Needham, who was online so early that his email address was numbers.
Anne Thompson and Dana Delany. (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for IMDb)
The supporters who have stuck with IMDb over decades of digital developments include on-camera talent (Dana Delaney, Mira Sorvino, Peter Fonda, Ethan Embry, and Tommy Davidson), producers (Dana Brunetti, Ron Yerxa, and reality franchise master Conrad Riggs), filmmakers (James Schamus and Michael Sucsy), industry media captains (TheWrap Founder and CEO Sharon Waxman and Anne Thompson), festival programmers, and a slew of Amazon Studios executives.
Jackson Jr., Davidson, and Neil Brown Jr. (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for IMDb)
Dana Brunetti with Peter Fonda; Demetri Sgourakis and Michael Sucsy (Getty Images)
Needham, left, and right, writer Marianna Palka with Sundance Festival director John Cooper (Getty Images)
Amazon acquired IMDb in April 1998. At the time, Amazon also acquired one of the largest U.K. online booksellers (Bookpages.co.uk) and the German equivalent, Telebook, for a total cost of approximately $55 million, per a 1998 press release. Amazon was starting to expand beyond book sales, and beyond the U.S.
IMDb Pro Chief Brian Carver, Needham, Karen Needham, COO Rob Grady, PR & Talent Relations head Emily Glassman, Senior Film Editor Keith Simanton, and Matt Ellsworth (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for IMDb)
Now, IMDb gets over 250 million unique visitors a month and claims the title as the “#1 Movie Website in the World.” It could also claim the title of the industry’s true “LinkedIn,” the go-to source for those making decisions about other peoples’ careers and journalists wanting to know what year O’Shea Jackson Jr. was born.
“I hope you have all cleared your diaries for October 2040,” Needham joked, before guests went home with a three month free trial to IMDbPro.
Party Report in Pictures: Lady Gaga, Taraji P. Henson, Jane Fonda Paint the Town (Updating Photos)
The promotional artillery for the final "Hunger Games" is gearing up. Jena Malone ("Johanna Mason") opened a "Stand with the Mockingjay" pop-up space in NYC on Thursday night. Inside, guests can strap on the Samsung Gear VR for a 6-minute, 360-degree virtual reality trip through the franchise and also check out a "Mockingjay" app exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. Michelle Pesce (bottom right) stood, and spun, with the Mockingjay. The film arrives on November 20.
Neilson Barnard, Getty Images for Samsung
George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and awesome Halloween party host Mike Meldman threw a London launch party for their Casamigos Tequila on Friday night. Jeremy Piven (who stars in "Mr. Selfridge") and Cindy Crawford (who toasted her book "Becoming") made the scene at the Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair.
Casamigos
"Downton Abbey" Allen Leech hung with one of the "Three Amigos" - Casamigos founders Clooney, Gerber, and Meldman. Other guests included photographer Mario Testino, Lewis Hamilton, and Joel Silver.
Casamigos
Lady Gaga embraces Ryan Murphy at the premiere of "American Horror Story: Hotel" downtown at L.A. Live on Saturday night.
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In Chicago, Taraji P. Henson and "Empire" castmates partied at Studio Paris on Saturday night, with the club seizing the opportunity to bring out a cake despite her birthday coming nearly a month ago. The boss-sized, cheetah-print Moet is welcome in any season.
Onasis Odelmo
Back in L.A. Jane Fonda was the star of the night at the Bacara, picking up the Kirk Douglas award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Fox Searchlight's Steve Gilula, Diana Deriman, Diane Lane and Elizabeth Banks joined the party up north.
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for the Santa Barbara Film Festival
By Sunday morning, Fonda was back in Beverly Hills, supporting the Rape Foundation's Annual Brunch at Ron Burkle's county-sized estate.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images for The Rape Foundation
Latina Magazine's dual purpose release party for both their "30 Under 30" and "Hollywood Hot List" issues drew top diverse talent on Tuesday night. Dania Ramirez, Julissa Bermudez, and Adrienne Bailon were amongst the names at the London in West Hollywood. Fox Broadcasting, BMW, Caress and Unilever sponsored the bash.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for LATINA Magazine
Donald Trump would have a superlative for this celebrity caricature carving, one of the signatures of the "Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns" event. "X-Factor" discovery Ricky Garcia and "Dance Moms'" Chloe Lukasiak went north to the VIP night at Descanso Gardens on Sunday night, as did comic Heather McDonald (bottom left).
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Meanwhile, "Nick at Nite" star Ryan Newman had a creepy carpet escort at the L.A. Haunted Hayride's Black Carpet celeb night on Sunday.
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The festival season is not over. ACL in Austin is only on weekend number one. Highlights included local hero Gary Clark Jr., Run the Jewels (bottom left), and Twenty One Pilots (right).
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Echosmith singer Sydney Sierota and Timothy Simons pulled up to the Samsung Artist House backstage in a golf cart. Samsung leveraged the late festival as an opp to introduce Samsung Pay.
Rick Kern/Getty Images
Ryn Weaver wants to know what Mark Zuckerberg and other tech leaders are betting is the next big thing - VR. She got lost in the Gear VR backstage.
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The scene backstage in Austin.
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On Friday night in L.A., Teen Vogue's "Young Hollywood" party brought out Bethany Mota, Ariel Winter, Mackenzie Foy, Victoria Justice, and Maddie Ziegler (with host/Editor-in-Chief Amy Astley).
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Richard Branson buried a time capsule with a golden shovel and showed his appreciation for "Miss D.C.'s" choice of footwear color -- a direct match with his Virgin red -- while breaking ground on a new Virgin Hotel in NYC.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
In L.A., Silversun Pickups boosted their new album "Better Nature" at the iHeartRadio Theater on Friday night, opening their hour long set with "Nightlight."
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Alt 98.7 personality Harms introduced Silversun lead singer Brian Aubert and interviewed the band in-between songs.
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Lisa Vanderpump, Paula Deen and a definite #DogOfInstagram hit Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills for the EVINE Live event.
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“Effie has consistently worked with filmmakers whose voices are not often heard. I don’t know another producer out there who has more consistently sought out or supported diverse voices: women directors, directors of color, LGBT filmmakers and first time filmmakers,” Film Independent President Josh Welsh said of "Project Greenlight's" Effie Brown while presenting her with an award at LMU School of Film and Television's "Film Outside the Frame" festival on the Paramount lot.
Juan Tallo
The NFL's reach is getting even wider. The league threw an "NFL Style Showdown" in NYC to reveal Super Bowl 50 apparel. The big game is in San Francisco in February.
Stephanie Diani/AP Images for National Football League
NFL fashion ambassadors include Tika Sumpter, Erin Heatherton, Phillip Bloch, Dascha Polanco (in a Superbowl 50 shirt), Jamie Chung and former Jet fullback Tony Richardson.
Stephanie Diani/AP Images for National Football League
Paul McCartney played more than an hour and sang nearly 20 song set for PETA at their 35th birthday party at the Palladium on Wednesday night.
Mikey Glazer
Back together for a moment: Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee at PETA.
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Sir Paul's highlights included a solo "Blackbird," "I've Just Seen a Face" with Beck, "Birthday", and a singalong to "Hey Jude". He even played an encore...at a private. show.
Mikey Glazer
PETA drew from established Hollywood (Rob Zombie, Kesha) and more fringe (Lady Bunny and Courtney Stodden). They have a big tent.
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Multi-generations of Cyrii: Mom Trish Cyrus and sister Noah Cyrus.
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Andie McDowell showed why Channing Tatum and his dance buddies hit the brakes at her house in "Magic Mike XXL". She lounged at the Chairs for Charity event last week.
Faye Sadou/WENN
The Foster sisters from the under-appreciated "Barely Famous" reality mockumentary also supported Chairs for Charity, aimed at Homeless Youth Services.
Faye Sadou/WENN
Shakira came to former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the UN General Assembly on September 24 with the world's largest petition for education, #UpForSchool.
(Robin Marchant/Getty Images for #UpForSchool)
Details Mag is 15. They celebrated in New York on September 24.
(Craig Barritt/Getty Images for DETAILS)
Drew Schutte and Dan Peres lead the mag, and the party for Details.
(Craig Barritt/Getty Images for DETAILS)
On the same night in L.A., fellow Men's publication "Men's Fitness" brought "Game Changers" together at Palihouse. Amongst the list: Lucien Laviscount and "Expendables" star Glen Powell.
(Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for MEN'S FITNESS)
Men's Fitness boss David Zinczenko with "Game Changer" cover star, Miles Teller.
(Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for MEN'S FITNESS)
Parties for Pavarotti, an all-English collaboration for Disclosure, and Sam Smith's L.A. appearance top the party circuit at the start of October.
Tommaso Boddi /Getty Images
James Corden executive produced and directed Disclosure's L.A. concert on Tuesday night, a collaboration for AMEX's "Unstaged" concert series between the fellow Englishmen.
Tommaso Boddi /Getty Images
Sam Smith showed up for the final two songs of the night, "Omen" and breakthrough hit "Latch". Disclosure has been on an L.A. tear, playing events the past few days including Jimmy Iovine's girlfriend's birthday party with Oprah.
Tommaso Boddi /Getty Images
If a keytar shows up on "Carpool Karaoke" soon, we will know why. It was Disclsoure's first full-set show since last Friday's album release.
Tommaso Boddi /Getty Images
Fans filled the L.A. Sports Arena downtown as many more watched AMEX's livestream and on their Unstaged App, where it is still available for streaming.
Tommaso Boddi /Getty Images
Jack Nicholson backstage with Veronica and Andera Bocelli as the Italian tenor performed at a benefit remembering Pavarotti on Friday night, September 25.
Salk Institute
Goldie Hawn (with showbiz vet George Schlatter) chaired the post-concert dinner at the Chandler that raised money for Pancreatic Cancer Research at the Salk Institute. Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer. Ogden Phipps co-chaired the dinner with Goldie and Steve Kaplan.
Salk Institute
Meanwhile down in Miami, Scottie Pippen's 50th birthday party at El Tucan brought out Michael B. Jordan (far left), Dennis Rodman, Diageo's Keenan Towns, NFL villain Ndamukong Suh, Alonzo Mourning, and recent "Drinking With the Stars" guest Terrence J (right, holding cigar). Haute Living co-hosted and Hublot threw the Bull a watch as a gift.
Alex Tamargo/Getty Images.
New Miami Heat player Amar'e Stoudemire got a welcome from the Miami Beach mayor at his first local public appearance, a welcome party at staple The Forge.
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Miami vets Dave Grutman, the man Grutman has made a ton of money for, Fontainebleau President Philip Goldfarb, and perennial party host Jason Binn at the bash on Thursday.
Family Car? Lenny Kravitz rocked a party for the new Volkswagen Passat in Brooklyn on September 21, while daughter Zoe cheered on as Lenny played the hits and kept his pants intact. Note: That is not Constantine Maroulis playing backup.
Vlasta Pilot/Guest of a Guest
The Emmy awards weekend did not end until Monday: Recent Oscar season breakout stars Chiwetel Ejiofor ("12 Years a Slave") and David Oyelowo ("Selma") were the honorees at GEANCO's "Impact Africa" Gala at Sunset Gower on Monday night.
Chris Schmitt
Macy Gray performed and LaToya Jackson appeared at the Face Forward Gala at the Biltmore downtown.
Faye Sadou
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Inside and backstage the best industry bashes of the week with Party Report’s Mikey Glazer