THE CROWD:

You’ve seen her on HGTV’s No. 1-rated television show “House Hunters,” as well as in guest roles on “Vegas” and on other network television series.

Suzanne Whang will be in Orange County tonight at the Irvine Improv presenting her R-rated one- woman show, which she calls “The Yellow Carpet Club.” Whang is an Ivy League-educated actress and comedienne who pulls no punches in her act, which chronicles her life as a Korean American through wildly acerbic characters who are sure to insult the audience in ways unfathomable.

For Whang it is all designed to make people laugh (actually cry with laughter) as she skewers every aspect of modern life in America. She is indeed a female Korean Lenny Bruce of 2008. Whang has been spotted around the Balboa Bay Club and Fashion Island on previous visits.

If you’re looking for something cutting edge to do tonight, showtime is at 8:30, tickets are $15, and you can call the Improv at (949) 854-5455, or go to www.improv.com for information and reservations.

O.C. baseball star Doug DeCinces once again hosted the Orangewood Classic Golf Tournament on behalf of the abused children cared for and supported by the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

DeCinces has been behind this tournament for 20 years, and this recent event was the final year for the Classic.

Held at Strawberry Farms in Irvine, the tournament was followed by a cocktail reception at dusk and a dinner ceremony for both the men and women participating.

A former major league baseball player, DeCinces was joined by fellow sports stars along with a diverse contingent of Orange County society dedicated to supporting the Orangewood cause.

Dodge College at Chapman University held its 2008 premiere screening of student films this week at the Directors’ Guild of America in Los Angeles.

The very proud faculty called the premiere screening “First Cut,” showcasing the talents of students being called the “Storytellers of Tomorrow.”

The mid-week Hollywood romp at the impressive theatrical complex of the Directors’ Guild on Sunset Boulevard began with an hors d’oeuvres reception followed by the student films’ screening and then a post-screening dessert reception with students, faculty, Chapman benefactors and Hollywood guests.

The evening was the West Coast presentation of the top student films from Dodge College and organizers will present the films to East Coast audiences at the Directors’ Guild in New York City in April 2009.

For more information on Dodge College and the student films, call Shari Nazaroff at Chapman University (714) 628-7266 or e-mail nazaroff@Chapman.edu.

More than $60,000 were raised for Children’s Hospital of Orange County at the recent premiere night of the O.C. Auto Show. Organizers called the event the second annual “First Look for Charity,” which kicked off the massive auto show in Anaheim.

The first peek at the 2009 model cars was attended by some 800 guests including a large contingent of Newport Mesa supporters of CHOC.

The Orange County Automobile Dealers Assn. underwrote the evening, including the lavish display of fine foods and libations enjoyed by the crowd checking out some 500 new models on display.

This Saturday, the Balboa Bay Club and Resort will welcome the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation throwing the “Diamond and Pearl Ball.”

The glamorous black-tie evening will be partially sponsored and underwritten by Neiman Marcus and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The emotional evening is dedicated to celebrating the life and journey of Taylor Carol, a pediatric cancer survivor.

This year’s gala will be chaired by Kirsten Prosser and Jan Salta. Organizers have created a party theme around an “Evening in Africa.” For last minute information, call (949) 955-0099.

Also coming up Saturday evening, SOKA University of America presents its fourth annual Peace Gala. Songwriter Paul Williams is set to be the headliner of the black-tie affair, which will also welcome back actor Patrick Duffy, best known for his role as Bobby Ewing on television’s “Dallas.”

Organizers are creating a party around a Venetian theme. Carnival masks will be de rigeur for many attendees.

Event co-chairwoman Dita Shemke said, “The money our guests and donors provide through this gala will make it possible for many of our students to continue their SOKA education.”

SOKA University, in Aliso Viejo, opened in 2001 and received accreditation in 2005.

The university has graduated four classes with many students continuing on to post graduated studies at such schools as Harvard, Yale, Penn, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Oxford and Cambridge.

For more information or last-minute reservations, please call Kathleen Janson at (949) 654-2512.

The Newport Harbor Educational Foundation held a super successful wine tasting event attracting a sold-out crowd to Richard and Loren Moriarty’s Newport Vineyard and Winery on the Back Bay.

The big Newport-Mesa crowd, paying a minimum of $75 per person, mingled in the vines as the sun set over the water sharing lively conversation, dedicated to a common cause of enriching the lives of their students at the local high school.

Donors included Nancy and Tom Arnold, Nanette and Jeff Grant, Roxanne and Mark Hurwitz, Toni and Aaron Rios, Michele and Baret Yahn, and Meredith and Stuart Frye.

Also supporting the event and members of the 2008 Admirals’ Club were Sheila and Tony Bartolic, Shelly and Dave Clark, Dana and Gary Ritchie, Heidi and Ruben Mendoza, Pamela and Jeffrey Edson, Carol and Mark Franzen, Mary and Michael King, Leslie and Bob Brennan, Nancy and Mark Buchanan, Sarah and Thom McElroy, Joy and Steve Metzger, and Mary Ann and Howard Pickett.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.