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.