Here at Mediaite, we spend our days and nights chronicling what truly has become a fractured media environment. There are, of course, the many conflicts you see on air. And there are also the ones happening behind-the-scenes — as networks, digital outlets, and big-ticket independent personalities all do battle to secure their place in an uncertain landscape.
And so in that context, it was really surprising — and, in fact, refreshing — to be at an event where rivalries were set aside in favor of great food and fun. No, it wasn’t a Mediaite Most Influential party, it was the opening of Danny’s NYC — a new American wine bistro located in the heart of New York’s Flatiron district. The proprietor — none other than Mediaite founder Dan Abrams — spent much of the night at the front of the house, greeting a who’s who of the media business as they made their way inside the cozy dining room.
All three cable news networks were well represented. Fox’s Bill Hemmer held court at the bar, while chowing down on some perfectly spiced tuna tartare. MSNBC’s Molly Jong-Fast and Ari Melber were in the house — as was Melber’s fellow cable news legal ace Elie Honig of CNN. Honig’s CNN colleagues Abby Phillip and Sara Sidner were on hand — and so too was John Berman, who sat with his former co-host Alisyn Camerota.
But it wasn’t just cable news stars either. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and his wife Ali Wentworth dined with Peter Lattman and Isabel Gillies. Stephanopoulos’s ABC cohort, Linsey Davis, was sitting right near NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas, and CBS News meteorologist Rob Marciano and anchor Adriana Diaz. And NY1’s Pat Kiernan added some local flavor to the affair.
And it wasn’t just on camera talent taking part in the festivities. A plethora of behind-the-scenes media power players also swung by. ABC’s Debra O’Connell — the president of news group and networks — made an appearance at the swanky gathering, along with ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic. And the executive producers of two network morning shows — Good Morning America’s Simone Swink and CBS Mornings EP Shawna Thomas fought off early bedtimes to spend their evening at Danny’s NYC.
And then there were the industry legends. Bryant Gumbel had a booth in the corner — along with his wife, Hillary Gumbel. And Bill O’Reilly patronized the new restaurant for a table for three as well.
And perhaps no interaction better defined the evening than an encounter between O’Reilly and former CNN anchor Don Lemon. For 5 minutes, the two men — ideological foes, to be sure — were all smiles as they swapped stories in convivial fashion. And for a bistro that proudly boasts an all-American wine list complete with selections from red and blue states, what could be more fitting, or maybe even encouraging.
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