Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts - 'The Hill': Facing Some Political Realities

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'The Hill': Facing Some Political Realities

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, July 19, 2006; C03

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

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.

1985: Marries singer Billy Joel ; daughter Alexa Ray born

1987: Diana Bianchi born

1994: Divorces Joel; marries developer Richard Taubman

1995: Son Jack Paris born; divorces Taubman

1996: Marries Cook

1998: Daughter Sailor Lee born

2004: Cook meets Bianchi, a clerk at a Southampton toy store

2005: Cook hires Bianchi at his firm

2006: Bianchi ends affair; Brinkley finds out, kicks Cook to curb

Love, Etc.

· Hitching: The on-again, off-again, on-again romance of centerfold/actress Pamela Anderson and rap singer Kid Rock is back on in a big way -- they're getting married, report the glossy mags. The wedding is scheduled for next week in Saint-Tropez; no word if her ex, Tommy Lee , is on the guest list.

· Splitting : Centerfold/actress Carmen Electra and guitarist Dave Navarro are calling it quits after three years of wedded reality-style bliss, says her rep; their 2003 nuptials were documented on MTV's " 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave." This was her second and his third marriage.

Surreal Estate

Buyers: Michael Kinsley and Patty Stonesifer

Price: $1.395 million

Details: A sprawling 2,200-square-foot condo in the heart of Kalorama (one fireplace, two bedrooms, three baths) is the new home-away-from-home for this Seattle-based power couple. Why? Because the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which Stonesifer runs, has its East Coast office in the District, and as a syndicated columnist, Kinsley has lots of reasons to hang out here. Kinsley left D.C. a decade ago to start Slate.com for Microsoft, and you can bet he wishes he'd returned sooner: In 2003 they could have bought the condo for $790K.