BEVERLY HILLS, CA–Who has the highest Q score in television? The Q score measures the popularity of entertainers. In the past, big names like Tom Hanks and Oprah have been at the top of the list, but the new champion, according to longtime CBS chief reseach whiz David Poltrack, is none other than–drum roll please–Pauley Perrette from NCIS. The pig-tailed pixie–a natural blond who dyes her locks jet black for the role as NCIS‘s punky forensic specialist–was not aware that she was the most popular character on television when she made the scene Wednesday night at the CBS press tour party.
“I was in my pyjamas sitting on my couch when the car arrived to take me here,” says Perrett, who is among network TV’s busiest Tweeters. “People here starting asking me all about my Q score–I didn’t know what they were talking about.”
Poltrack suggests the Top-5 Q score celebs all hail not just from CBS but from one show, NCIS. Even David McCallum, the original Ilya Kuryakin from The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and NCIS‘s top forensic man, made the list.
Didn’t spot him at the party but there were plenty of other CBS stars there. CBS made it easy for reporters to get there, holding it on the roof of the parking lot across from the TCA hotel. Stars from CBS shows new and old walked the red carpet. LL Cool J was in the house and very approachable at the party, suggesting the NCIS: Los Angeles season gets off with a bang putting several main characters in jeopardy.
Dave Foley, Kevin Dillon, Mary Lynn Rajskub and several other actors from the new series How to Be a Gentleman were there, as were 2 Broke Girls Kate Dennings and Beth Behrs, easy to spot in a backless head-turner. CBS “It” girl Whitney Cummings (Whitney) made the scene, as did SNL original Garett Morris, co-starring this season on 2 Broke Girls. Morris, who recently ran into his old pal Dan Aykroyd, began to tell the story of who gave him his big break in show business by asking if I had ever heard of Harry Belafonte. Belafonte, who was at press tour last week, hired Morris as a singer in 1958!
The executive producers of Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Michael Naidus and late night legend Peter Lassally, also attended the CBS shindig. Naidus said Craigy had a blast re-visiting his old stomping grounds in Paris, shooting his talk show on the fly on benches and chairs set up in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and other European landmarks. You can catch the last two road shows from France tonight and tomorrow night at 12:35.
CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and wife Julie Chen were stick-around hosts.
Not at the party was Flashpoint sniper Hugh Dillon, although somebody thought they spotted him on a nearby rooftop.
