CBS News Special 'Vanity Fair's Hollywood' takes viewers inside planning for 20th anniversary of biggest bash of season

CBS News takes a sharp look at the glitz and glamour, heartaches and successes of the entertainment world in the special "Vanity Fair's Hollywood," to be broadcast Monday, Feb. 23 (10 p.m.), on the CBS Television Network.

The hour-long special brings viewers behind the scenes for the planning of the 20th anniversary of Vanity Fair magazine's exclusive party - an event where even the stars get starstruck - including first-hand stories from Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, Halle Berry, Emma Stone, Kerry Washington and more. "Vanity Fair's Hollywood" features an inside look at Bruce Weber's massive photo shoot with entertainment legends, among them Kirk and Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Richard Gere and newly minted headliners including Bradley Cooper and Selena Gomez.

In addition, the special also shines a spotlight on the elusive, media-shy producer, Megan Ellison, the daughter of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who has used her wealth to become one of Hollywood's most important financiers. She produced "Zero Dark Thirty," which is nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. There's also a moving portrait of fallen entertainment mogul Merv Adelson, who made Lorimar a driving force in TV production ("Dallas," "Knots Landing" and "The Waltons") and was worth $300 million before losing everything.

At the heart of the special is Vanity Fair's party, the exclusive annual gathering of superstars, newsmakers and powerbrokers to celebrate Hollywood's biggest night.

"If you get to the Vanity Fair party, you've pretty much, you know, arrived in this town," Halle Berry says. "This is what a real Hollywood party is all about." Adds Hanks: "Every one of the Vanity Fair Oscar parties is memorable if only you keep a tally of the people you saw and met, which eventually is all the stars in the firmament."

"Vanity Fair's Hollywood" also tells the story behind Quentin Tarantino's groundbreaking film "Pulp Fiction" - a film about murder and redemption that changed the movie landscape forever - through emotional stories from John Travolta and Harvey Keitel on how the film altered their lives.

"I wasn't the hot ticket at that moment, so he really had to fight for me so much that he finally, according to the story anyway, that he said, 'Listen, we either go with John or I'm not going to do the movie,'" Travolta tells "Vanity Fair's Hollywood." "I had never heard anybody take that kind of defense for me. And so I thought, I better deliver for this guy, because he means business and he's so sweet to believe in me so much."

"Vanity Fair's Hollywood" brings to life the pages of Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood issue. The special is narrated by an Academy Award-winning actor and also includes interviews with Kathryn Bigelow, Jason Clarke, Bo Derek, Greta Gerwig, Jack Huston, Jane Fonda, Ewan McGregor, Olivia Munn and more. The special features the writers and editors of Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue.

"Vanity Fair's Hollywood" is produced by James Stolz, Paul LaRosa and Liza Finley. Lauren Clark, Ryan Smith and Taigi Smith are the field producers. Josh Gelman is the supervising producer. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Susan Zirinsky is the senior executive producer.

For Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter is the editor. Beth Kseniak is executive director, public relations. Chris Garrett is the managing editor. Jane Sarkin is the features editor. Susan White is the photography director. Sara Marks is the director of special projects. Krista Smith is the senior West Coast editor. Matt Ullian is deputy director of special projects. David Friend is the editor, creative development.