Gawker: defamer, evacuationwatch

The E!Vacuation: With The Threat Behind Us, It's Time For Healing

Mark — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:56:57 EDT

In the interest of achieving some measure of closure following the scare that necessitated a hasty evacuation of E!'s Wilshire Boulevard headquarters and temporarily brought the celebrity-fellating broadcasting giant to its already-bruised knees, we share the reassuring e-mail note awaiting the network's refugees upon their safe return to their cubicles:

Thank you for your cooperation today. We wanted to provide an update. The network did receive a threat today in the form of a phone call. Since we take every possible security breach seriously, we evacuated and searched the building under LAPD supervision. Once it was determined there was no danger, we invited all E! employees to returned to the building. Thank you again for your participation in helping us to ensure everyone's safety. Enjoy the rest of your day. —Facilities Management

Now that the staff has been assured there's no further danger from an anonymous malefactor obviously bent on one day producing a 101 Most Explosive Entertainment Channel Bomb Scares! countdown show, they can go back to their daily routine of patiently waiting for future evacuations related to the periodic escape of the toxic gases percolating in the ancient tar pits upon which their building stands. Later this afternoon, those who've suffered lasting emotional damage from the ordeal will be encouraged by E!'s human resources department to meet once a year on this date to discuss their lingering feelings about the harrowing, could-have-been tragic events of 3/28.

UPDATE: OK, one last thing, we promise. E!'s official statement, just for the record: "We can confirm that the E! office at 5750 Wilshire received a threat today. The building was evacuated and searched under LAPD supervision. Once it was determined there was no danger, all E! employees returned to the building. All E! programming will air as scheduled."

The Bomb Threat E!Vacuation: First Cameraphone Photo From The Scene!

Mark — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:08:20 EDT

Lost in the multiple earlier reports of Ryan Seacrest's thrilling, Aston Martin-aided escape from the bomb-threatened E! headquarters a little while ago (there is little doubt that the Idol producers would have been happy to see the whole building reduced to smoldering rubble if that meant their host made his rehearsal on time) is the fact that rank-and-file employees were apparently evacuated without incident (and without the benefit of luxurious escape pods). A reader submits this photo of the impromptu refugee camp forming in the office building's courtyard, which we're told will soon form a provisional government that will immediately dispatch foragers to cross Wilshire Boulevard and obtain food from the Koo Koo Roo before they're all forced to result to cannibalism.

UPDATE: Crisis over! Writes an anonymous E! staffer: "As a staffer at E!, I can confirm that the west courtyard building was evacuated. We were all outside for close to two hours before security blew the all clear. No bomb apparently was found, although we did witness a dog peeing on a case of bottled water which was provided by the company to keep us hydrated during our ordeal."

After the jump is an internal e-mail updating some tenants on the status of the threat, should such things excite you:

Good morning; This info is from Wilshire Courtyard Management. The 5700 Wilshire parking garage is temporarily closed at this time due to the bomb threat at the 5750 Wilshire E! Entertainment building. Vehicles are able to exit the garage but incoming traffic is not allowed at this time. We will provide updates on the garage accessibility as they become available. thank you for your patience and understanding.

Hollywood EvacuationWatch: Bomb Scare At E! Building? [Defamer]

Hollywood EvacuationWatch: Bomb Scare At E! Building? UPDATE: Seacrest Flees Scene!

Mark — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:40:23 EDT

A tipster just told us that a bomb threat has cleared out E!'s Wilshire Boulvevard headquarters, a report we've been unable to confirm with anyone on the inside as we suspect they're all currently gathered outside of the building, fretting about the Simple Life footage of Nicole Richie relearning how to eat from fat-campers going unedited as they idle on the sidewalk. Have a clear view of E! HQ from your office? Sitting in your E! cube, scoffing at the inaccuracy of this post? Drop us a line. Details/corrections/developments as they become available...

UPDATE: First evacuation reports are in, including tales of Ryan Seacrest's daring escape from the scene in his Aston Martin! After the jump:

· The entire E! building has been evacuated with police tape strung across the courtyard. Although the parking structure was also closed off, Ryan Seacrest was allowed a last minute escape. Security personnel opened the parking structure so Ryan could race off in his Aston Martin just in time to hopefully boot Sanjaya off the live show.
· I work in the East building of Wilshire Courtyard. Building security just told us over the PA system that they were not allowing anyone in either building, but that we in the East building didn't have to evacuate (they evacuated the West). Scuttlebutt it is the threat was against Ryan Seacrest. That asshole is seriously the bane of my existence. My lunch plans are TOTALLY shot.

· E! Building (5750 wilshire) has been evacuated due to bomb threat. ryan seacrest escaped in his astin martin, but he got special permission, no one else was allowed to leave. 5700 wilshire (variety, indie 103.1) is also being evacuated,

· I work in the building opposite, and they just announced that this is what is going on the loudspeaker in the building. we have been given the option of evacuating, but then were told it wasn't necessary. ryan seacrest apparently escaped in his astin martin, but all other staffers are trapped here and milling about wilshire.

· We're in 5700 Wilshire East, facing the courtyard of 5700 West, aka E headquarters. We can see the yellow tape across E curtyard and swarms of Nicole Richie look-alikes fleeing the building. We've been told that we can evacuate "if we want to, but we're not obligated to." Seacrest, on the other hand was escorted out by handlers and led to the underground garage where he was able to retrieve his Aston Marten and take off.

Developing!