TV critics had a rare night off last night -- no network events, no petting zoos -- and some decided it was time to throw a small party of our own in the suite the hotel sets aside for the Television Critics Association (whose chief use is for screening tapes and DVDs during press tour).

I'd spent the early part of the evening over at Television City at "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" -- and can now report that the in-person Minnie Driver is very, very tall, at least from my 5-foot-2 perspective -- and was having a late dinner in the hotel bar with a friend when we ran into "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker.

Zuiker, who keeps a suite at the Universal City Hilton, complained that "someone" was having a loud party in the rooms next to his.

We quickly 'fessed up that we not only know the someones, we were headed up to join them, and invited the always convivial Zuiker to join the party.

He showed up about a half-hour later and stayed -- well, he was still up there when I left shortly before 1 a.m.