The talk of the press tour today is Friday's Fox party, a crowded-even-for-Fox affair that took place in Dolce, a West Hollywood bar/restaurant that happens to be partly owned by Ashton Kutcher.

Maybe I gave Ashton -- who wasn't there -- too much credit for his press conference appearance earlier in the day, because the venue certainly looked like quid pro quo: Not only was it about four times too small for the assembled crowd -- which included such Fox stars as Kiefer Sutherland ("24") and most of the cast of "The O.C." -- but a wall of gas fire behind the bar reminded several of us rather uncomfortably of a number of tragic club fires.

While many of us left early, figuring we'd be needed to write the obituaries of those who remained, I'm told that our departures improved the situation for those who stayed behind, giving them not only room to breathe, but an opportunity to interview the talent.

Hey, I live to serve.