New York, December 1, 2008 – New York City woke up from its Thanksgiving holiday stupor on Monday when everyone came out for the premiere of Cadillac Records.  It was bedlam at the AMC Loews 19th Street Theater where reporters were jammed five-deep on the red carpet, and famous folks kept streaming through the doors. 

There was Ne-Yo running on in to snag a seat, Akon followed soon after, and Diddy showed up in fur trim and sunglasses – his eyes are sensitive, he says.  Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos came at the invitation of director Darnell Martin – their kids go to the same school! 

Jay-Z slipped in, trying not to steal the limelight from his wife, Beyonce, who stars in the movie.  And the cast alone accounted for a whole lotta star power: the brilliant Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Gabrielle Union, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Mos Def and Eamonn Walker were all at the premiere.  Cedric the Entertainer was late, and he seemed to have a cold when we chatted with him.  But Cedric felt well enough to party late into the night with the whole cast at Marquee Nightclub.