Indiana Jones and the Temple of Celebrity

It was hotter than the Sumatran jungle in Woodley Park for yesterday's unveiling of the National Zoo's latest animal exhibit.

Two hundred dignitaries waited, fanning and mopping themselves, as the creature approached. It cocked its head and looked warily at the spectators, revealing its silver mane and the scar beneath its mouth. It sat on its haunches, and its eyes darted as the cameras flashed. Then it put on reading glasses and it spoke.

"Thank you very much," the familiar, manly monotone of Harrison Ford pronounced. The "Indiana Jones" star held forth for all of a minute and 20 seconds. "Distinguished guests," he concluded, "I thank you for your commitment to tigers."

There were real tigers there, too, of course. Melati and Maharani were lured by their keepers into the morning heat by what looked to be buckets of frozen blood. But at this event, Ford was the great cat all had come to see.

Even Bo Derek, who at age 51 and perspiring still rated about a 9.5, was agog at the rare citing of Panthera tigris Harrisonae. "He never does this! It's fabulous," the actress gushed. Derek does her own charity appearances for conservation and disabled veterans, but "I'm not Harrison Ford," she explained, dabbing herself with a purple handkerchief. "How do you get better than that?"

It has long been observed that Washington is Hollywood for ugly people. In this town, even a B-list movie actor is a big deal -- as evidenced by the annual hullabaloo at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. So having the attention of a star such as Ford is bound to make Washingtonians weak in the knees.

World Bank President Bob Zoellick, whose mustache makes him look more catfish than tiger, was in a name-dropping mood as he introduced the bank's Tiger Conservation Initiative in front of 10 television cameras, a Cabinet officer, a congressman, conservation leaders, and celebrities such as Robert Duvall, Derek and Ilia Lagutenko, lead singer of the Russian rock band Mumiy Troll.

"I'm especially pleased to welcome Harrison Ford, Bo Derek and Ilia Lagutenko," he announced. "Mr. Ford's environmental work may not be his best-known work, but it could be some of his most important projects. Even though he's been very busy with his latest film, he's graciously taken time to be with us." In case anybody missed the first name-drop, Zoellick added another for "my friend Bo Derek."

Zoo director John Berry did Zoellick one better, singling out "Bo Derek, who is a great friend."

But even among friends, any attempt at Hollywood on the Potomac is bound to produce its awkward moments -- as when Derek cheerfully introduced herself to the woman sitting in front of her.

"Bo Derek. How do you do?"

"Who?"