03/10/2010 5:00 am
Culture
Liz Smith: Party Time on Oscar Night
Also from Our Gossip Girl: Elton John, Vanity Fair … And gossip over the Brad and Angie no-show.
Helen Mirren, Oscars 2010
Image: CC/SteveGarfield/Flickr
And that, believe it or not, was Manhattan’s event planner deluxe Peggy Siegal, stepping into Harvey Weinstein’s annual pre-Oscar bash at Soho House in West Hollywood last Saturday.
Could it be really be true that our Peggy was taken aback by Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Woody Harrelson, Ryan Gosling, Jacqueline Bisset and Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz? I think she was just being polite. She eats these stars for midnight snacks.
Certainly, Peggy got right down to the business of putting people together. Schmoozing with Quentin Tarantino, she got ahold of CBS Early Show’s Harry Smith and introduced the unlikely pair. Tarantino said, "I know who you are! I have my first cup of java with you every morning. Now, while I try to give the other morning shows equal time, yours is my favorite!" (Harry was pleased, but duty bound to be on the air at an ungodly hour, he left the Weinstein party not long after.)
In a corner booth at Soho House, the industry’s top entertainment reporter, Roger Friedman, stayed put. And like Hedda and Louella in days past, allowed the stars to come to him. He got hot news for his "Showbiz 411" column between bites of deviled egg.
Roger pointed out in his Monday column that Farrah Fawcett wasn’t the only one left out of the memoriam segment at the Oscars. Also omitted: composer Maurice Jarre, actors Bea Arthur, Gene Barry, Henry Gibson, Harve Presnell, Pat Hingle, Phil Carey and Mickey Carroll, who was the last surviving Munchkin from the "Wizard of Oz." Let’s not forget Hollywood producer Dominick Dunne, a man who also chronicled Hollywood in his books.
I think Oscar needs to recruit Robert Osborne and his team at Turner Classic Movies to take over such tasks. Mr. Oz and co. could also put together Oscar night montages to remind us of what we’re missing these days – glamour, with a capital G.
***
THE PRINCE and the Pea? At Elton John’s AIDS Foundation party at the Pacific Design Center, the host, Mr. Elton, didn’t like the feel of his assigned chair. Ouch! All of the chairs were the same but Elton rested his sensitive tush on the one next to him. (Let somebody else suffer!)
Later in the night, a more comfy Elton exchanged private info with Jennifer Hudson, each whipping out their cell phones.
Others meandering through Elton’s bash included Victoria Beckham, Simon Cowell, k.d. lang, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Piven and publisher Jason Binn of Niche Media. (Binn and Piven were in deep confab for a while. Was the publisher trying to lure the "Entourage" actor to become a contributing guest columnist for L.A. Confidential magazine?)
***
OVER AT the Vanity Fair party, where everybody eventually turns up – including Elton John! – Jeff Bridges and his Oscar held court until the wee hours of the morning. He was with his "Crazy Heart" co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal and her hubby Peter Sarsgaard. (And the entire good-looking Bridges clan, too.)
The most popular guest at Graydon Carter’s annual fete – now a more intimate affair at the Sunset Tower Hotel – was definitely sexy snowboarder Shaun White. He wore eye-catching stars-and-stripes jeans. Tight!
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As I am TVless at the moment, and didn’t mind until Sunday night…
I was soooo disappointed when I couldn’t get it on live streaming online. Just the red carpet time via Oscar.com who used near amateurs to chat with the stars, their little stage situated at the base of the stairs, just prior to entering the Kodak. It was awful, and I missed the chat fest with Mr Wow online.. so it was a wash all around.
I had looked forward to seeing Steve Martin, who I saw live at the Nokia Theater a few months ago, and Alec Baldwin co-hosting. With all the hype the last several weeks, and those talents, I really thought it would be an over the top fantabulous night. I feel less disappointed after reading column after column about how glum, unglamourous it was… I feel I didn’t miss so much after all.
How could they miss with all that talent in one place?!
Liz, I have to admit I didn’t know nearly half the people you mentioned were there….the coverage on O.com was that bad! Good thing I read your column, love it…
And Mr Wow, I had more fun reading your chat-fest later that night. I won’t miss the next one!
Catie
Oh, my. The possibilities. Maybe they could get Lindsay Lohan to do the opening number. I bet she can’t sing either. But you could dress her up as Cleopatra. Channeling Juliet Prowse. "I’m Cleo, Nympho of the Nile. There wasn’t a man Cleo couldn’t get. That was Cleo’s problem. On or off the set." It probably would have them rolling in the aisles. And then trying to sneak out. Which quite a few probably wanted to. My last vision of the Academy Awards was that "deer in the headlights" look on George Clooney’s face. Something prescient about it. Which is why I turned the television off.
As for these parties, the parties are what ruined it all a long time ago. It’s no longer about Hollywood. It’s about everything but Hollywood. Sorry but the Vanity Fair party is a "mix and mingle" of some of the best of Hollywood and some of the worst of the well-heeled "hangers on" as they are politely called. I will be polite and not say what they’re impolitely called.
It was nice they at least gave Lauren Bacall an Oscar. At a dinner. Months ago. Maybe they should just mail them all next year. And just telecast the Vanity Fair party.
P.S.
I completely agree with the omission of stars for the memoriam.
And Robert Osbourne would be perfect to take on the role of historian for next year. He is a class act, and would do a respectful, and inclusive piece.
I also loved seeing Jeff Bridges enjoying his honors with his wife at his side nearly all the time he was out and about. They have looked beautiful together in so many shots and the videos during these weeks of awards. Nice to see a delightful, mature couple still obviously in love, exuding joy, excitement, and fun, sharing together this whole awards winning experience! I think it was my favorite part of this year’s awards season most of all!
Liz, you talk about Roger Friedman the entertainment industry’s top reporter who pointed out a who’s who, missing from the Memoriam segment of Sunday’s Oscar’s…..for good reason. I have it from "reliable sources" who have a "crack" research team, that Farrah Fawcett, Bea Arthur, Gene Barry, Henry Gibson, Pat Hingle, Phil Carey and Mickey Carroll, all were t.v. actors only, not big screen actors who actually acting in big screen movies. As for Dominick Dunne, he wrote about all these people, the big screen actors (female/male as in SAG actors) but did he himself act in anything on the big screen. The omission by the Academy of these actors, was intentional, only because none of them acted on the BIG SCREEN. Although I never saw Farrah’s dramatic role in the "Burning Bed", she was not a big-screen actor, nor was Bea Arthur like the others mentioned here and elsewhere on this website. The memorium was to acknowledge those actors who act on the….BIG SCREEN. They are the people who get nominated for and often win….Oscars. Those on episodic television, seldom do. The Emmys are for daytime and prime time shows. None of the aforementioned fit into any of these genres.
Aside from all that…I was very happy for Sandra Bullock and her Oscar as best actor in "Blindside" and….Mo’Nique for her outstanding acting in "Precious". I didn’t expect "Hurt Locker" to win even though it was directed by Amy Bigelow, James Cameron’s "ex". At least she was the "first" woman to win for directing a clearly "macho" army movie.
I heard it said that between one nomination for best actor (female/male) best supporting actor (male/female) and the next major nomination for best female/male, was about an hour and a half. For me, that made some of the Oscars, absolutely boring. I’m not interested in Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, I try hard to separate the man’s personal life from his acting. It was curious though, the way Steve Martin intro’ed Alec compared to how Alec introduced Steve Martin. This year’s Oscars was far less boring than previous years and I still don’t understand the need for a long thank-you speech. Short and sweet and sincere….is best.
I *got* Neil Patrick Harris’s number, but the lyrics were simply horrid. I could do better with my eyes closed. Those lyrics were written for industry insiders & not the audience and that’s unforgivable. Okay, this took me about 20 minutes and despite a TV reference, I don’t think I did too badly. Just imagine what I could do for next year’s show given some more time?! And, you know I’d put a smile there but it was soooo miserably disappointing that opening number that I am totally serious. It’s the OSCARS! We are *supposed* to get it.
"Why wouldn’t Crosby give up Hope, Why did Dean Martin love that dope?, Why doesn’t Warren wanna be the Pope? Because no-one wants to do it alone. You won’t find Cinderella without her prince, And all those celebs out doing rehab stints? Simon wouldn’t be Simon without those words not to mince, Because no-one wants to do it alone.
You won’t find Julia Child without some bone she’s pickin’, or Bad Boy Blake without a guitar he’s lickin’, or a nominee’s speech without a clock that’s a’tickin’, "Cause no-one wants to do it alone.
This is why Ginger danced with Fred,It’s why George Burns repeated whatever Gracie said, It’s why John & his Yoko posed in bed, "Cause no-one wants to do it alone.
And, no, no, no one wants to do it alone.
Tonight two hosts take a four-footed leap, they’re doing it together ‘cause they couldn’t get Streep, Steve doesn’t mind playing the buffoon, And Alec said he’d do it if he gets to croon, So, go, go, go, Baldwin and Martin, haven’t seen a better pair since Ms. Dolly Parton, Now, I gotta go because the show is startin’, And I don’t want to do it alone."
Eileen, I agree with you. I don’t know who is responsible for the show this year, but perhaps they could use some of your material? Maybe with Neal (or is it Neil?) Patrick Harris entertaining, George Clooney hosting, and you writing, we’d have a good show next year. And just for fun, let’s have "Bad Boy Blake" do a number. :) Then we’d have Mr. Wow entertaining us as MC of his live forum, and it’s safe to say we’d have no problem staying awake. Party, party, party!! LOL - Put a little tune to your words and maybe Blake would sing it for us. haha
Just curious … do you often write? I’m certainly no expert, but if you don’t, maybe you should think about it.
Re In Memorium. Apparently there is a limit of 30 people for the in Memorium portion for all oscar nights. Personally I think they can cut a lot of the crap out and list everyone who dies that year. That whole tribute bit for the nominated best actor/actress could have been left out, IMHO, which would have left time for all who had died to be memorialized.
For those who complained the show as too much aimed at hollywood and not enough aimed at the audience, the oscars is about hollywood insiders, the industry honouring their own not about the audience, you must be thinking of the people’s choice awards.