What began as pleasantly predictable black-tie benefit morphed unexpectedly into an evening of improvisation and hilarity at the St. Regis for the Museum of the Moving Image. The men and women who
create media magic gathered to honor Matthew C. Blank, CEO of Showtime Networks, and James Schamus, CEO of Focus Features, for their positive and lasting contributions to the cable and motion-picture industries. In the mix was Ron Meyer, Leslie Moonves, Francine LeFrak
and Rick Friedberg, Jeff Zucker, David Pecker, Vicki and Stuart Match Suna, Barbara Taylor Bradford, and boisterous boxing promoter Don King (who arrived waving a small American flag and talking loudly on his iPhone).

Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee unexpectedly turned his tribute to James Schamus into a roast when technical difficulties prevented the planned video presentation. Eschewing his usual demure persona in favor of a more candid, light-hearted air, Lee joked, “I really don’t know what
James does, and I don’t care.” Lee and Schamus have worked together on many feature films, including Brokeback Mountain and Lust. When Schamus took the stage, he returned the quip: “I started working with Ang when he couldn’t speak English. It was easier then.”

Blank’s Showtime family turned out to celebrate the executive’s talent in bringing the 31-year-old cable network unprecedented success through shows like Soul Food, Weeds, Queer as Folk, Dexter, The Tutors and The L Word. Tracey Ullman of the network’s new hit, Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union, and Michael C. Hall of Dexter joined Blank’s real-life family and friends, including Edie Falco and NPR’s Ira Glass.

With so many creative minds gathered in one place, the Museum of the Moving Image stayed true to its mission of advancing the public appreciation of the art and history of film and television. That mission will
continue in larger spaces when the Museum’s major expansion and renovation is completed in 2009, a project made possible thanks to nights like this one, where the laughs were as big as the names.