Copious Notes

If you miss the fact that the Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, maybe you just aren’t watching enough NBC and its universe of networks.

Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel, daughter of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, will be part of Bravo

This week, the Peacock is proving that while healthy advertising budgets are nice, nothing beats having a whole bunch of networks on which you can air tied-in programming. And that is why, as Sharon Thompson alerts us, Bravo will be live from Churchill Downs at the Oaks at 5 p.m. Friday. Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby will look at Derby food, fashion and celebrities with Bob Costas, Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell, The Real Housewives of New York City’s Bethenny Frankel (daughter of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel), and Tiki Barber, who will be in the infield with the last two winners of Top Chef.

The 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. segment of the Today show — the portion of the show Saturday Night Live just loves — will also look at Derby fashion today, and Friday, it’s Derby cooking.

Meanwhile, financial network CNBC is looking at the monetary side  of the event with Run for the Roses: The Kentucky Derby and the Business of Horse Racing hosted by The Call’s Melissa Francis at 9 tonight, and repeating several times through Saturday.

With Paris Hilton on the guest list, you can bet the paparazzi will be out in force, and NBC’s own Access Hollywood will be in town for bashes like the Barnstable-Brown Gala and providing red carpet coverage at Churchill Downs with O’Dell and Barber during the Derby broadcast from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

According to the Courier-Journal, the formal release of the guest list for the Barnstable-Brown Derby Eve Gala adds a couple of names to the lineup we reported yesterday morning.

Brooke Shields. Photo by Jon Ragel | NBC.

Chief among the additions is Brooke Shields, a 1980s teen film star whose recent roles have included NBC’s Lipstick Jungle and playing Hannah Montana’s mom on the Disney Channel hit. Also added are some old B-B party friends: original Supremes member Mary Wilson, Darryl McDaniels (D.M.C. of Run D.M.C.), Taylor Dayne, and country star Lee Ann Womack.

They will join a guest list topped by paparazzi magnet Paris Hilton, bad boy rocker Kid Rock and self-proclaimed redneck woman Gretchen Wilson.

As best we can Google and Nexis, this will be Shields’ first Barnstable-Brown Gala since 1994. At the race, Saturday, Shields will wear a hat custom-made for her by designer Rachel Roy. After the race, it will be auctioned off by the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation with proceeds going to benefit the Barnstable-Brown Foundation, which supports diabetes research at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. The party is also a benefit for the foundation. The hat benefit is sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka, which last year paired Kentucky-native Molly Sims with designer Eric Javits.

Kid Rock, shown here at the 2007 Barnstable-Brown Gala, will be back this year. Photo by Angela Baldridge.

Derby mode got a little delayed this year at Copious Notes because it seems like every arts group in Lexington decided to have an event in the last couple of weeks. But here we are at the big week, and I am having a hard time resisting cheering for the Chocolate horse, which is not surprising.

But our first order of business is to see which celebs are coming to the Derby and the Derby Eve parties.

Paris Hilton. AP Photo | H. Rumph Jr.

Topping the list — and in terms of being a paparazzi magnet and all that, she will be hard to top — is Paris Hilton, who is a confirmed Barnstable-Brown Gala guest with her boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, and will also host an  after party at the Sports and Social Club on Louisville’s Fourth Street.

Barnstable-Brown spokesman Corky Coryell said a formal announcement will be out Wednesday, but did confirm Woody Harrelson, Gretchen Wilson, Kid Rock, Bobby Flay, Joey Fatone, Nick Lachey, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Travis Tritt, En Vogue and Boys 2 Men.

Other bashes, have announced their guest lists including the Mint Jubilee, which will welcome CSI star Marg Helgenberger, former One Day at a Time star and current Jenny Craig pitchwoman Valarie Bertinelli and Desperate Housewives star Kathryn Joosten.

Mekhi Phifer. KRT photo | Lionel Hahn.

The event at the Galt House Hotel also lists some dudes, including under-appreciated actor Mekhi Phifer (always makes me think of that line from Lose Yourself), comedians Damon Wayans and Joe Piscipo and a bunch of athletes including former Heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield. Maybe the coup for the Mint is getting both of the Bluegrass State’s Misses: Miss Kentucky America Emily Cox and Miss Kentucky USA Maria Montgomery.

The Grand Gala always waits until Derby night to throw down. It’s guest list is topped by Idris Elba who stars opposite Beyonce in last weekend’s No. 1 movie Obsessed, Rush Hour star Chris Tucker and NBA legend and Derby perennial Michael Jordan.

Kim Kardashian. AP Photo | Dan Steinberg.

Also announced is radio host Tom Joyner and Cosby Show star and one of Tyler Perry’s go-to actors Keshia Knight Pulliam. Entertaining at the event will be ’80s R&B star Teena Marie.

Kim Kardashian, who’s kind of in the famous-for-being famous group with Hilton, is hosting a Derby Eve bash at Louisville’s Glassworks.

So that is the confirmed guest list thus far. There are rumors out there, and there are always last-minute announcements. Stay tuned.

We will, as always, be at the Barnstable-Brown Gala Friday night, and between now and then, will be on the look out for other Derby fun.

Quark was a 1978 NBC comedy series that was supposed to capitalize on the sci-fi craze that had
launched the year before with the release of Star Wars.

Richard Benjamin played Adam Quark, captain of a United Galactic Sanitation Patrol Ship, in the sitcom from Get Smart co-creator Buck Henry. Members of his crew included Gene/Jean, a “transmute” with male and female characteristics, a plant-man named Ficus and Betty and Betty, a woman and her clone played by none other than Louisville’s Patricia and Cyb Barnstable. The pair argued regularly about who was the clone and who was the human.

The Barnstables are also known as the Doublemint Twins from the Wrigleys gum commercials and for their annual Derby Eve Gala at Patricia Barnstable Brown’s Louisville home, which attracts an all-star crowd and raises millions of dollars for diabetes research at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

Well everyone can get a fresh look at the Barnstables’ past with the DVD release of Quark. All eight episodes of the short-lived series are coming out on Oct. 14. The packaging prominently features the twins in their intergalactic glory.

Above: One of the unique aspects of the Barnstable Brown Gala is seeing stars such as the Supremes Mary Wilson give impromptu performances. By Angela Baldridge. Below: Party regular Bo Derek, looking a very classy 10 at 51. By David Perry. The photos are copyrighted by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

You do have to hope that the Barnstable Brown Gala is not becoming something like the Ichthus Festival.

Ichthus, for those not in that loop, is a Christian music festival in Wilmore that for years was plagued by rain and worse. For the second year in a row, the Barnstable Derby Eve party had to contend with the elements — an added glitter was lights reflecting off wet pavement.

Among Derby Eve events, it is uniquely vulnerable to the weather because it is mostly held outdoors, albeit mostly under a massive tent. When it’s a beautiful 60-something degree night, it can be magical.

When thunderstorms surround, you wish they’d magically disappear.

For most of the 2008 edition, the storms did just surround, lifting enough for the stars to make their grand entrances and walks up the Barnstable driveway to the awaiting party.

Patricia Barnstable Brown and her twin sister Cyb Barnstable were
making their ways down that long, winding driveway and ran
into celebrity chef Bobby Flay and his wife, actress Stephanie March.

“It’s a fabulous party, and you made the rain stop,” Flay said, beaming.

Brown replied, “This is what happens every year. It rains, and then, just in time for the party, it stops.”

And then the stars come out.

This party has been happening for 20 years at 1700 Spring Street in Louisville.

This
year’s guest list included regulars such as singer Michael McDonald,
photographer turned celebrity dad Larry Birkhead, Olympic skier Bode
Miller and newcomers such as talk show host Carson Daly and Playboy
magazine founder Hugh Hefner, who brought his reality show The Girls Next Door to the party.

Murray native Molly Sims marveled at the throng of photographers quietly snapping her picture.

“You all are so polite,” the former Las Vegas star said. “This is the nicest paparazzi I’ve ever seen.”

Daly
invoked Hefner in his opinion of Louisville and the party: “People at
home think this is the Playboy Mansion of Louisville. But it’s not.
It’s a real home in a real, lovely neighborhood.”

We could go on, but the things that tell the story best are David Perry and Angela Baldridge’s photos and David Stephenson’s video of the evening at the Herald-Leader photo site.

Check back here later today for Copious Notes’ live Derby blog. I’m looking out the window trying to decide whether I need to ditch the seersucker for today.

Michael McDonald, shown here at last year’s Barnstable Brown Gala, will be back to party and entertain tonight. Copyrighted Herald-Leader photo by David Perry.

UPDATED, BELOW

The Barnstable Brown Gala clocks in as the last of the big Derby bashes to announce its guest list, releasing it less than 24 hours before the first attendees arrive.

Tricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable put together a list, as reported by Louisville’s Courier-Journal, that includes music, film, TV and sports stars.

Edward Norton, soon to be in a theater near you as The Incredible Hulk,
leads the list of screen stars on this, the opening day of summer
blockbuster season — I can’t get this Black Sabbath tune out of my
head for some reason.

We’ve also got a Kentuckian coming home in Murray-native Molly Sims of NBC’s Las Vegas fame. Also on their ways are Jerry O’Connell and the 10, Bo Derek.

“Reality” TV has been a bigger and bigger deal at Derby events in recent years, and Hugh Hefner will be the marquee attraction this year bringing his Girls Next Door series to the gala. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt of MTV’s The Hills will also be in the house. Also from TV land are chef Bobby Flay and FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly.

Joey Fatone of ‘N Sync and Dancing with the Stars fame will be there. Will he sing, dance, or both?

One of the big questions is always who will be playing with the band and there are, of course, some old friends in the lineup, including Michael McDonald, Taylor Dayne, Smokey Robinson and Travis Tritt. They can show some newcomers, including Anastasia Brown, Lee Ann Womack, and Darryl McDaniels (the D.M.C. in Run-D.M.C.) how it’s done in Louisville.

Rounding out the musical guest list are Supremes singer Frances Mary Wilson, Nick and Drew Lachey, Eddie Money, and his daughter Jesse Money.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has become a regular, and he’ll be there along with fellow Patriots such as Randy Moss and Teddy Bruschi. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens, who makes more headlines than corduroy pillows, will also be at the bash. If you like golf, you have Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger and ski fans can look forward to Bode Miller.

The twins, former University of Kentucky cheerleaders, will also show some love to their alma mater, bringing in the University of Kentucky Dance Team to perform. The party benefits Barnstable Brown Diabetes Research Labs at UK and the University of Louisville.

Of course, last year’s marquee star was Louisville’s Larry Birkhead, fresh from winning the custody battle for Dannielynn, his and the late Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter. Birkhead and Smith met at the 2004 Barnstable Brown Gala, re-emphasizing the point that you never know what will happen on Spring Street on Derby Eve.

UPDATE:

Those crazy Hills kids, Heidi and Spencer, don’t seem to be too interested in sleep while they’re in L’ville. Post race, they’re hosting an invite only soirée sponsored by Puglisi Racing at the Raw Sushi Lounge on South Fourth Street. Their guest list will include Kid Rock, Tara Conner, Kevin Federline, Jenny McCarthy, Birkhead and others.

Jamie Gumbrecht, left, Angela Baldridge, and I try to piece together our canopy before the Barnstable Party. Copyrighted photo by David Perry.

Whenever I go shopping to get prepared for the Barnstable Brown Party, I always find myself in the camping section. That’s sort of what covering the party for the Herald-Leader is like: camping, in formal wear.

We have some unique challenges covering Derby Eve’s  biggest celebrity magnet. We have no home office in Louisville, but unlike most of the other print media there, we are on deadline. Photos, copy, and now video have to be flowing to Lexington. So, we have to have an office. Hence, I’ve turned in receipts over the years for things like a canopy tent, lanterns and fold-up chairs. Oh, and a tuxedo.

Some years, we’ve just set up a table and a few chairs for a work station under the stars. This year, we needed every bit of the hardware and then some. That’s why I was in Wal Mart buying tarps — I’ll be sending you the bill, Uncle Herald — for last night’s soiree. And that paid off when an aggressive and extended storm blew into L’ville at about 6:30 last night.

We had a five person crew last night: Photographers David Perry and Angela Baldridge, videographer David Stephenson and writers Jamie Gumbrecht and myself. Angela gets an MVP award for figuring out how our canopy should be assembled, despite the fact the instructions were somewhere in my garage, where they weren’t doing us a lot of good. If it hadn’t been for Angela’s ingenuity, we may have been standing there with an unfinished frame when the rains came.

The canopy still had a nice coat of dust on it from last year’s Ichthus Festival. Yes, the gear does come in handy for an event that is more like camping camping. Since my first Barnstable party, things have changed quite a bit technologically. Where we used to have to get the phone company to set up a line outside the Barnstables for us to send stories and images, now we’re all on  mobile wireless cards, and the information flows a lot faster.

And we keep it flowing. Usually, while one reporter and photographer are up front talking to the stars and snapping photos, the other is in the back filing images or quotes with the newsroom in Lexington. Then we hand off, sending the other scribe or shooter back to file.

The Barnstable Party also used to be a little local media get together, but now, we have to elbow for room along with places like Access Hollywood and People Magazine. Click here for more on that.

Sometimes, when we are trying to squeeze our ways through the party to get from the front to our work station out back or trying to piece together a tent frame, we have to remind ourselves this is a “glamorous” gig. But really, I keep asking for the Barnstable assignment because it’s the only place to be Derby Eve.

And I keep visiting the camping section.