Comedy Central roasted the elections with a huge bash at Roseland Ballroom. The theme: political hell. Tara Donnelly, the cable channel's director of event marketing, told us the idea was that all politicians go to hell, so the network invited advertisers to "Come see who sells his soul to win."
Guests waded through lots of fog and draped fabric to get to the main ballroom, which was filled with red couches and other devilish touches by decor company Susan Edgar Design. See Factor Industries added dramatic lighting, and the tables of food (catered by Matthew Kenney Catering & Events) were topped with red tablecloths, dead tree branches and tombstones of presidents.
Upstairs, the balcony was decorated as heaven, with lots of large candles, flowing white fabric and white tables and chairs--even cocktail waitresses dressed as angels (with not-so-angelic short dresses).
Daily Show host Jon Stewart and candidate-cum-correspondent Bob Dole stopped by the party after their live broadcast, and guests could also pose for photographs with cardboard cutouts of Clinton and other presidents. When we visited late in the evening, the crowd had thinned to a group of twentysomethings; many watched results coming in on a huge TV screen while dancing to upbeat music from DJ Chris Santos.
--Chad Kaydo