George Plimpton: Party Animal

The Paper Lion shakes his booty. JAMES WOLCOTT fantasizes

WE kids at Vanity Fair think George Plimpton is the coolest. America knows and loves him as the stork with the patrician chuckle who wore shoulder pads in Paper Lion, edits The Paris Review, and each summer glues on snow-white whiskers and tours the country in Mark Twain Tonight! But we kittens at Vanity' Fair know Plimpton best as a man who loves to push the furniture against the wall, kick off his loafers, and get the sock hop going. Area, Palladium, the Dew Drop Inn—these are only a few of the places we have caught Mr. Plimpton grooving and frugging, surrounded by finger-popping young people. "These kids today, God love 'em, they keep me young with their crazy dances and nutty lingo." Plimpton is no longer content to call every disco his rec room. In a surprise announcement, Plimpton has unveiled plans to launch his own TV dance show. "First there was Dick Clark's American Bandstand, ' ' Plimpton told a press conference at Sardi's. "Then there was Don Cornelius's Soul Train. Then there was Dance Fever, with what's his name with the funny hair. And now there is.. .George Plimpton's Platter Par-tay." "Party?" we asked. "No, Par-tay," Plimpton corrected. "I prefer the Prince pronunciation: 'Git down and partay.' " Ignoring the shocked silence of the assembled, Plimpton elaborated: "Each week I will spin the latest discs and insert the latest videos and watch these crazy kids do their thing. The show will allow me to groove to all the new sounds and yet remain stationary." Lifting at his trouser legs, Plimpton explained:

''These old bean poles ain't what they used to be. "

"Will you still be touring in Mark Twain Tonight!!'' we asked, and everyone bolted for the buffet to throw sandwiches.

George Plimpton s Platter Par-tay. Be there or be square.