This last week we had the pleasure of having Michael Ausiello – the man, the legend, the flying trapeze artist* - of TV Guide’s popular and highly esteemed The Ausiello Report in our lobby and delivering his weekly sermon on entertainment industry news and gossip.

Michael was in town for the week-long Paley Festival, a big-time movie/TV to-do, if you know what I mean, covering such high-profile TV series such as Gossip Girl and the big Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reunion. His special wrap-up podcast for the PaleyFest can be seen here.

At first we thought he might be moving in to the hotel permanently, so that he could hunt his Hollywood prey in their natural habitat. After all, there are few places better to spot a TV star rambling about their super-monologue on CSI-Green Gables than the lobby of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.

Here’s a shot from the Cocktail Culture Shoot with TV Guide. In the picture is Michael, second from the right, with a few of our staff members: Carlo DeQuina, Twist & Lobby Bar Manager, Nicole Buehrer, cocktail waitress, and Jose Gongora, bartender.

Sadly for both me and for our staff, Michael decided to return to New York, where he will recover strength and regain agility for his next trip to the Western Portal of Culture (aka Los Angeles).

While he was here though, our Twist bartenders concocted a little something in honor of Michael’s stay: the Ausholetini, our Cocktail of the Day:

The Ausholetini Martini
1. Vodka
2. Sweet
3. Shake well and pour over ice, adding fresh seasonal berries.

So, Michael Ausiello is back in New York. We’ll miss him, but you can check out his column for TV Guide here.

*No, really. Ask him.

This is Bruce, signing off.

We see a lot of stars here at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa, from music to movies. But if you watch television – and let’s be honest, why would you not? – chances are you have at some point wondered, “how can I meet with the creators and stars of my favorite shows?” Or as my mother so sweetly refers to as her “stories.”

Well, other than running into these people at your local Coffee Bean, the options are limited, unless of course you’re in Hollywood over the next week or so. The whole town is abuzz over the 25th annual Paley Festival, held from March 14th to the 27th, celebrating some of TV’s most popular shows by putting fans in the same room as the creators and stars.

This year, the festival will include a Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reunion (Browncoats, beware!), a 40th Anniversary Celebration of Elvis’ ’68 Comeback Special, and an Evening with Judd Apatow & Friends as well as the casts and creators of Chuck, Damages, Dancing with the Stars, Dirty Sexy Money, Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, and Pushing Daisies. See a complete schedule here.

Most people, however, don’t have the spare time to travel to LA on a whim to see what Serena is doing on the next Gossip Girl but, fortunately, there is an easier way.

TV Guide has weeklong coverage of the whole event, with blogs, insider articles, and exclusive videos going up every day. Michael Ausiello, whose eponymous weekly vodcast The Ausiello Report premieres each Tuesday on TV Guide with the latest TV scoops and spoilers, will be on-hand for tons of red carpet coverage as well as answers to viewers’ most burning questions.

And where would the esteemed Ausiello Report and TV Guide be making its base camp for the festival coverage? A little place called the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Yes, that one. See The Ausiello Report, as well as his weekly wrap-up show covering the whole festival, here.

Ah, TV Guide. What would my mother do without you?

This is Bruce, signing off.