NEW YORK (Variety) -- There was no punk-style pogo dancing, but there were definitely heads a-bobbing at United Artists' U.S. premiere of "24 Hour Party People," a mockumentary about the Manchester music scene of the 1970s and '80s.
"Everyone has loads of stories of how mad it all was," said director Michael Winterbottom. "When we were filming, it was great fun. Everyone was pretending they were in a band."
Star Steve Coogan felt an affinity to the project as a Manchester local. "I identified with Tony Wilson and his civic pride. Playing him was quite easy because I felt I had an angle on who he was. And Tony's so theatrical and mannered -- so larger than life."
Although the festivities at the Roxy didn't offer the same pills, thrills and bellyaches one might have found at the famed Hacienda Club, the crowd was treated to the DJ stylings of Moby, and everyone felt a little Mancunian.
About the only ones not enjoying the evening were glum waiters who couldn't move any of the shepherd's pie.
From PageSix.com:
From The Mirror:
Just a month after breaking up with well-groomed Caroline Hickman, 30, the millionaire comic has been chasing the girlies in the Big Apple.
But unfortunately the Alan Partridge star got caught out at the after-show bash for his film, 24-Hour Party People in New York.
Word reaches us that Coogan - who has clearly forgotten his relationship woes - worked his charm and chatted up two lovely ladies at the bash.
After getting their phone numbers, he then separately invited them to the David Bowie and Moby concert. He told both women they were "the most beautiful girl I've ever seen" and called them repeatedly the next morning.
Unknown to Coogan, the ladies in question shared a mutual acquaintance and, after being told he was a cad, gave him the big elbow. Coogan, we hear, wasn't too fussed anyway.
The 38-year-old has been homing in on the ladies since splitting from Caroline, his partner of three years.
Before flying to New York, the comic spent lots of time in lap-dancing joints in London.
And the comic is no stranger to lap-dancers.
Before dating Caroline, a great niece of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, he was linked to Nancy Sorrell, 27. Sorrell, an ex-podium dancer is now engaged to Vic Reeves.