Forget the red carpet; the real buzz this Golden Globes weekend started bright and early! SiriusXM threw a morning bash for its podcast nominees, and the location was the place to be: Max & Helen's, the hottest new diner in Los Angeles. Co-owned by 'Everybody Loves Raymond' creator and food enthusiast Phil Rosenthal, this spot has quickly become legendary, with reports of 8-hour weekend waits for a table since its November launch. That's right, potentially the longest wait in LA dining history!
SiriusXM managed to snag the coveted spot for its 'Before The Buzz' event on Saturday morning. The guest list? Absolutely star-studded. We're talking about the likes of Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman from the 'SmartLess' podcast, Alex Cooper of 'Call Her Daddy' fame, Mel Robbins, Conan O’Brien, Ted Danson, music mogul Irving Azoff, and Dax Shepherd, just to name a few.
The party was also graced by the presence of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, 'Pod Save America' hosts Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, Tig Notaro, Alex Edelman, Sway Calloway, and Tom Papa. Even SiriusXM's president and chief content officer, Scott Greenstein, got in on the action, helping serve guests behind the counter.
But here's where it gets controversial... While Saturday night was awash with extravagant parties, an insider revealed that SiriusXM aimed for a different vibe. They wanted their stars and VIPs to 'mix with stars in a cool, easy vibe at the hottest place in town with the nicest people running it who you just love supporting.'
And this is the part most people miss... Do Rosenthal and his partner, Nancy Silverton, of Mozza fame, really need the support? Rosenthal even shared that Steven Spielberg gave him a heads-up two days in advance just to try and get a table for two at his 40-seat restaurant! Other key SiriusXM figures, like CEO Jennifer Witz, were also in attendance.
Guests enjoyed the diner's signature dishes, including the viral sensation waffle with maple butter, the New York breakfast sandwich, and Lily Rosenthal's famous Lily's Hot Chocolate. Adding to the morning's magic, Josh Beckerman, aka the Foodie Magician, provided entertainment.
As the podcast nominees were toasted, Conan O’Brien humorously requested a thank-you for making the trek from the Westside.
It's the inaugural year for the Golden Globes to include a best podcast category. The nominees included 'Smartless,' 'Call Her Daddy,' 'The Mel Robbins Podcast,' Shepherd’s 'Armchair Expert,' Amy Poehler’s 'Good Hang,' and NPR’s 'Up First.'
What do you think? Do you agree with SiriusXM's choice of venue? Let us know in the comments! Do you think the Golden Globes podcast category is a good idea, or is it just a money grab?
