Chicago Hope

Chicago – Emotions ran high at a recent promotional gathering of the stars in the series "Ally McBeal" Friday night. The furor surrounded two of the actors, Portia DeRossi and Peter MacNicol who portray the attorneys "Nell" and "John" on the hit TV show. The trouble apparently started when MacNicol, during a lull in the evening’s events, allegedly asked DeRossi if she would be interested in joining him for a cocktail after the party. Events transpired quickly thereafter, as witnesses overheard DeRossi laughing uncontrollably and then watched as the she slapped MacNicol's face. MacNicol’s response was not clear, though DeRossi soon became enraged screaming, according to standbys "Just get away from me, get away from me!" After being told of the incident by MacNicol, fellow cast members rallied to the actor’s defense, and there was no shortage of opinions, as DeRossi was hurried away from the scene. "Well, I’m just shocked", said actress Calista Flockhart, star of the show. "That had to be the most rude and inappropriate behavior I’ve ever heard of since I started in this business!", "I mean, what in the world could he have been thinking?!" Jane Krakowski, who plays Elaine, echoed the outrage stating, "How presumptuous and arrogant this man is, to assume a stunning woman like Portia could ever be interested in spending time with him in a private setting!"
  The only actor to befriend McNicol on the set, Greg Germann, though not as emotional, also expressed surprise at the events that took place, quoting,  "I think it was very unfortunate, and I must assume Peter had somehow confused fantasy with reality after the treatment his and Portia’s characters have received lately. I think this is a one of the dangers in Hollywood, when small, timid, spineless odd men are seen to be pursued by gorgeous women who have everything going for them", "I’m sure Peter will realize his mistake, and the show will continue as always"
   In a brief statement later that evening, MacNicol denied having slipped into character. When questioned about his actions, and if it had upset him, he said: "Well of course it was upsetting. I never intended to frighten the young woman, rather I had hoped to engage her in a pleasant thought-provoking interchange. Yes, it was upsetting to me, and it troubles me"