Socko 'Sicko' premiere

Moore documentary bows in NY

By ADDIE MORFOOT

'Sicko' helmer Michael Moore gets aid from members of the N.Y. State Nurses Assn. at the film's NY premiere.

Fran Drescher makes a fashion statement at the 'Sicko' screening.

Actresss Kathleen Turner on the red carpet.

Barry Levinson settle sdown during Monday's premiere.

When Michael Moore has a premiere, more than just the paparazzi show up.

A cadre of about 100 demonstrators flanking Moore could be heard outside of the Ziegfeld Theater prior to the Gotham preem of the helmer's latest doc "Sicko" on Monday night.

Chanting anti-insurance industry slogans, members of the New York States Nurses Association brandished "Sicko" signs and repeated "hey-hey, ho-ho, private insurance has to go" at the same time that notable names from Harvey Weinstein to Kathleen Turner hit the red carpet.

Once inside, Weinstein reminisced with the audience about his initial reaction to pic's concept.

"When Michael says I want to do health care, boy does that sound sexy," Weinstein joked. "We were like, 'lets get Robert Rodriguez back in for another meeting.' "

Moore, with the slew of nurses standing behind him, revealed that the doc got off to a rough start.

"For the first five months we couldn't get started (on this project) because we couldn't get insurance for (the film) because it was a movie about insurance," said Moore. "It had a pre-existing condition -- me."