Publicists basking in spotlight

DreamWorks topper presents award, laughs

By DAVE MCNARY

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Sherry Lansing presents Michael Douglas with his award.

 

HOLLYWOOD -- A day after criticizing contract demands of Hollywood's writers, DreamWorks topper Jeffrey Katzenberg was in a far lighter mood Friday as he and partner David Geffen worked the crowd of roughly 1,000 PR honchos at the 38th annual Publicists Guild of America Awards at the Beverly Hilton.

The execs, presenting the org's Showmanship Award to DreamWorks film chiefs Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, drew laughs by poking fun at Katzenberg's battles with Michael Eisner and his lack of height and hair.

Katzenberg then graciously concluded by saying to the husband-wife team, "Thank you for being the 'works' in DreamWorks."

The biggest applause came for Michael Douglas' acknowledgment of father Kirk Douglas on saying, "Dad, if I'm getting a Lifetime Achievement Award, you're immortal."

Biggest laughs came for Chris Rock, who presented a Showmanship Award to HBO's Chris Albrecht.

Fox's "X-Men" and CBS' "Survivor" won the Maxwell Weinberg trophies for best promo campaigns and Warner photo editor Jess Garcia won the org's Les Mason kudo as outstanding member.