HBO's upcoming period series "Rome" has gotten a lackluster response from many critics. Those I've talked to agree it's better than ABC's recent "Empire," but that's damning with faint praise (the more episodes of "Rome" I watched, the more interested I was in it, but I found it difficult to distinguish among the many old white male characters in the early going).

Index to Press Tour Journals

Following a wan, unenthusiastic press conference late Friday, critics were whisked to an HBO party for the series that was received better than the show itself. Held on the lawn of the Wadsworth Theatre in Westwood, the party was Roman-themed, complete with some sets that traveled halfway around the world from where the series filmed in Italy.

The stars were in attendance, but after a long day of press conferences and with enthusiasm for the series at a relatively low level, conducting interviews was not a priority for many. And with so much else to do, it became a lesser priority still: Make a necklace! Wear a toga! Shoot arrows! Consult with a psychic!

It was a good time, but it might make you wonder, why do the networks spend so much money on lavish parties when such an outpouring of cash has no impact on critics' reviews (and it really doesn't; my review was in the can two weeks ago)? In Hollywood, that's just the cost of doing business.

Celebrity sightings: Today I shared one elevator ride with Dick Van Dyke (he was humming a pleasant tune) and Luke Perry (he was shorter than I expected, possibly even as short as I am, five-foot-eight-inches).