New York, October 29, 2007 – Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos told reporters at the G&P Foundation Angel Ball how much they admire the organization’s founder, Denise Rich. “I’m a friend of Denise Rich’s, and she inspires me and I find her to be an amazing woman” Kelly said.  But, we wanted to know, have they been on Rich’s mega-yacht My Lady Joy?  “No, we haven’t,” Mark told us, laughing. 

Star Jones has been on the yacht, where she and Denise share girl talk.  “Denise likes to stay up late and chat all night long.  I can literally tell you that at about 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning – when it’s girls’ weekend – we all finally go to bed”, Jones said early in the evening, before she introduced Patti LaBelle to the crowd during dinner. 

Lonny Ross was delayed shooting an episode of 30 Rock, so he missed LaBelle’s performance, as well as Joss Stone’s.  But he eventually caught up with costar Katrina Bowden and the two danced during the evening’s other acts, John Legend and Chaka Khan.   “I can cut a rug”, Ross admitted, even though he never took dancing lessons.  “I’m a big James Brown fan, and you can’t be a James Brown fan without, like, moving your body somehow”, Ross told us.  He said he really got down when the group Epiphany sang “We Are Family”, and we mentioned that we saw Star’s hubby Al Reynolds tearing up the dance floor to that number too.  “Al Reynolds”, Ross said, nodding sagely.  “If Al Reynolds was dancing you know it’s a song that touches your soul.”