'The Hill': Facing Some Political Realities

Rep. Robert Wexler and his staff, the stars of the Sundance Channel's reality series "The Hill." (Heidi Guttman)

Before the lights went down at Monday's reception-screening of new docu-series "The Hill," Rep. Robert Wexler broached the question on everyone's minds: Why would any self-respecting congressman let reality-TV cameras into his offices?

"Will my peers vote me the most absurd, naive, God-knows-what-adjective legislator in Washington?" he mused.

But the Florida Dem admitted later that he had ulterior motives when he agreed to let director/former Hill staffer Ivy Meeropol observe the inner workings of his office, circa '04-'05. "I just thought it would be hilarious to watch my staff on TV," he told us. "A whole lot of stuff goes on and I'm not there." Indeed, the silver-haired fifth-termer -- a leading talk-show yakker during the 2000 recount -- is but a supporting player in the six-part series (airing on the Sundance Channel starting Aug. 23) to his vivid young staffers who could not be more TV-ready if they all lived together in a fantasy group house:

Chief of staff Eric Johnson , a former Young Republican given to witty confessionals -- explains he had an easier time coming out gay than coming out Democrat and is shown telling a school group that at 33, he's "past my prime" on the Hill.

Press secretary Lale Mamaux , as glam as a grown-up Olsen twin in golden ringlets and stylish empire-waist gown ( Who are you wearing tonight? "Free People"). She tells the camera, "I love the fight" and madly scribbles talking points for the boss when he's on phone interviews.

Legislative aide Halie Soifer , who breaks up with her GOP sweetie during the '04 race. "There are some nice Democrats out there," she voice-overs hopefully.

And legislative director Jonathan Katz , who, uh, doesn't get a lot of camera time in Episode 1.

"I think Ivy really captured the dynamics of our office -- the nuts and bolts of what we do, the long hours we work," Mamaux said after the screening. Only Johnson had any quibble with how he came out on camera: "I realized I look fat and angry. Before, I just thought I looked angry. Film really does add the pounds!"

Christie Brinkley's Less-Than-Model Love

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As if garden-variety adultery isn't bad enough, 47-year-old architect Peter Cook added insult to injury by allegedly taking up with 19-year-old Diana Bianchi, who -- face it -- probably never heard of his '80s supermodel wife, Christie Brinkley. Now that Cook and Brinkley are separated, Bianchi is telling all, and there's yet another entry in the 52-year-old Brinkley's bustling personal timeline:

1954: Christie born

1973: Marries artist Jean-Francois Allaux

1979-1981: Appears on three consecutive annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue covers; divorces Allaux in '81.