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JOHN BURTON
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PRESS CLUBS
THE LA PRESS CLUB

The Cannes Press Club

continued from page 6

MIPCannes
by Dr. Susan Block
IN 11 PAGES
1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 I 10 I 11

Havana Bananas

MTV's Stripperella or FOX TV's Bill O'Reilly? YOU DECIDE

"If people are just staring at a little box four hours a day, it has a big impact on democracy."
Former American Vice President Al Gore

MTV emptied out, and we piled into Frederic's beloved 1972 Citröen, and cruised down the Croisette to Havana, another tent connected to a club by Résidence Le Forville for a late-night soirée being thrown by 3DD, C21 and The In Good Company in association with IE Music of the UK in celebration of Robbie Williams "biggest ever concert" Live at Knebworth: A Night of Mass Distraction (sponsored by SMART).

Cruising up the Croisette to Havana ... PHOTOS: MAX

Almost as bad as last night's crush around the Carlton Beach for the Opening Cocktail, the area leading to Havana's entrance was crawling with MIPcomers, Cannites and Opera Rats, some brandishing invitations and some not, some on the List and some not, all desperate to get into that tent. This place looked tougher to crack than the real Havana. Because we'd done our homework, we had our invitations and we were on the List, though we still had to do a bit of faire le forcing and "charming of the guards" since Frederic had left his invite in his other pair of pants..

Boogying at Havana with all the international television business professionals PHOTOS: MAX

Once we wriggled past the PR people and the Agent Smith replicas in their slick hair and supersonic hearing aids, we were surrounded by tightly packed layer upon layer of champagne-swigging, deal-making international television business professionals. As soon as our senses adjusted to the din, whom did we bump into but MIPCOM/Reed-Midem Press Accreditation Manager Peggy Refford, looking très elegante in a long black evening gown and beige shawl, fresh from the MIPCOM 2003 "Personality of the Year" Dinner honoring Peter Chernin, President and COO of News Corp. and Chairman and CEO of Fox Group. We missed that dinner (having not been accredited for it), but that was all right with us (for now). We'd take MTV's "Stripperella" over Fox's "O'Reilly Factor " any day.

With MIPCOM/Reed-Midem Press Accreditation Manager Peggy Refford at Havana. PHOTO: MAX

On our way to the bar, we ran into another Reed-Midem powerbroker, US Administration Exhibitors Director Michele Contegni, that adorable dynamo we'd met behind the MIPCOM registration desk, in charge of registering all the wayward Americans. We'd always liked Michele, who manages to combine a serious administrative style with the "human element" in a way that eludes some MIPCOM staffers. But at MIPCOM 2003, we discovered that not only does Michele dance as well as she administrates, she's not afraid to express her refreshing political views.

Mipcom Bon Vivant Franco Giovanni Borghino and CAD Media Research Analyst Susan Tillou share a laugh under the tent; Hanging with MIPCOM/Reed-Midem's US Administration Exhibitors Director Michele Contegni at Havana ... PHOTOS: MAX