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.

Occasionally, while daydreaming at work, I ponder life’s important questions, such as “what would my super-power be?” or “why are soaps so popular?” On the latter, I think daytime television’s popularity has something to do with the long, in-depth storylines that can take place over the years. We watch characters grow up, find themselves, then age, all on camera, at the same rate we do in real life. That’s a little bit of Hollywood magic for ya.

What’s shocking is that some of these shows have been on for decades. This April, The Young and the Restless is reaching its 35th anniversary. That’s staggering, I’m not even that old, not in Hollywood years at least. (We count differently here; however old you actually are, subtract enough to put your age between 25 and 30.) And like with any good anniversary, Y&R is celebrating!

Lucky for you, dear reader, you too can join them. Sony is working with Operation Mom to give away the ultimate experience in daytime television fantasy. All you have to do to enter to win is visit either www.opmom.com or www.sonypictures.com/win and submit some details of your favorite Y&R episode. The grand prize is a roundtrip for two to Los Angeles, a two-night stay in a luxury hotel (guess which one…), and an exclusive invitation to the Y&R 35th Anniversary Retrospective Event at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. As they say, you’ll have a chance to see and be seen with the stars of the show – a real hoot for true fans.

Once again, I wouldn’t normally just be plugging for a TV show, especially one that doesn’t shoot at our property, but as part of this giveaway, the lucky winners get put up in one of our luxury rooms here at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel (just in case you missed my monster hint). So go watch the show, sign up online, and see Y&R up close and personal!

And by the way, my super-power would be laser beams from my eyes. That’s right. Laser beams.

This is Bruce, signing off.

I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time: I finally get to talk about the new Spa Luce that’s opening in 2008. We broke ground right after last year’s Oscars (I give the edge to No Country for Old Men over last year’s winner, The Departed, but not by much) and ever since, we’ve been developing this place.

I mention this because we just gave our first tour of the premises to the media. And this wasn’t just any reporter or journalist; this was Liz Mazurski of Spa Magazine. Now, I know very little about the spa industry, but some little bird told me, and I quote, “She’s is the industry. She’s royalty. Why don’t you know this, Bruce? We told you this five times already.” Why people abuse my good name I don’t know, but apparently Liz is important.

Anyway, Liz came out and got a full-on Hardhat Tour of Spa Luce. It was pretty fabulous. We got to see all the elegant treatment rooms, the excellent showers, the post-treatment Tea Rooms… We only call it the Tea Room to please Helen Storer, our Spa Director; she’s English and she just insists on it. Doesn’t she know that we drink coffee here in America? Oh, I’m being told I’m wrong, that people going to spas like tea. Am I expected to know this?

Here are some spa details: At over 5700 square feet, Spa Luce will have seven distinct treatment rooms; much of the spa will be lit entirely by natural light (thank you, SoCal); and will feature at least two signature massage treatments, the Japan Ritual and the Hammam Ritual. Through these personally customized treatments, Spa Luce will offer a level of celebrity-inspired pampering all Renaissance guests deserve.

After the Hardhat Tour, we took Liz to Twist and we got to sample the tasty little morsels that will make up the spa menu. Everything was delicious, healthy, light – perfect for a little post-spa nibble.

Liz plans to include our spa in the May issue of Spa Magazine, so look for it on newstands. Time to wrap this up, preferably with this tasty Ahi Spring Roll. Yes, I will have another… Delicious.

This is Bruce, signing off.

I would like to tell you about a special man in my life. He is a classic, very much desired and the work it takes to get him may take years! His name is Oscar, the golden man of the Academy Awards. This year all 50 stautees that will be awarded to the stars at the 80th Academy Awards can be found on display at Hollywood and Highland until February 23. Not only can you see Oscar but you can take a picture with him!This opportunity will only be here a few more days, so prepare your acceptance speech and see you on the red carpet! Admission:“Meet the Oscars” is free and open to the public. Hours:Friday & Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. (Saturday, February 23 from noon to 5 p.m.)Sunday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m.Location:4th level of the Hollywood & Highland Center, located on Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive.Hollywood & Highland Center6801 Hollywood Boulevard, 4th LevelHollywood, CA 90028