Arianna Huffington has said she's really, really sorry to her readers and promises to never run unattributed quotes on her HuffingtonPost blog site again.

But she's never apologized to George Clooney. And she still maintains she had permission to run his quotes as a blog.

But Camp Clooney is pleased as punch that their March 15 statement about her blog being nothing more than recycled interview quotes, not a blog written by Clooney, has sparked discussions about blogdom ethics, honesty and the attribution of quotes.

Clooney’s publicist Stan Rosenfield maintains, "For the hundredth time, what Huffington calls a misunderstanding was, and still is, a blatant misrepresentation. She did not have permission to use George’s quotes and make it look like he wrote a blog,” says Rosenfield. “We asked her to clarify this on March 13 and when she refused, George released his statement on March 15.”

So before we bid "Good Night, and Good Luck" to the George Clooney blog brouhaha, there are a few statements Arianna made that bear examination for the public record.

In a March 15 Envelope blog item, explaining why she sought permission from freelance publicist Lisa Taback to use Clooney's old quotes in a blog, Huffington explained: "I had met Lisa Taback at every “Good Luck” event and she was always with George. She told me to just send her the compiled quotes for the blog and that she would run it by George. The fact that it was for a blog was very unambiguous. Naturally, I didn't think twice about it."

After reading the story, Taback told The Envelope,  “There are a couple of inaccuracies,” including Huffington's description of their meeting and phone conversation.

Taback said that while she had met Huffington years ago when doing PR for a Michael Moore film, she didn't meet Huffington at any “Good Luck” events, not even the only “Good Luck” event Taback organized at the GM penthouse in the Beverly Regent Wilshire. The Feb 12 reception was hosted by talk show host Larry King and honored Clooney and “Good Night, and Good Luck” co-screenwriter Grant Heslov.

"Arianna didn't attend,” says Taback. "Her sister did." Huffington's producer pal Lawrence Bender brought her sister, Agape Stephanopoulus, to the reception.

That week Huffington called Taback about using a quote from Clooney for her blog. Taback sent an email on Feb. 17 to her Warner Independent Pictures boss Laura Kim seeking permission  to reprint a partial quote from the Guardian.

A copy of Taback's email fowarded to The Envelope from Kim indicated that after Huffington's sister attended the "Good Night" event, Huffington's interest was sparked in reprinting Clooney's Guardian quote.

Kim's Feb. 18 response gave Taback the go ahead.

Kim explained to The Envelope: "Arianna requested to use an attributed quote from The Guardian. Larry King's interview was never brought up. I gave the okay because everyone does that, uses a quote and links to the original article."

Taback also recalls a phone call prior to the Clooney blog posting, when she asked Huffington about quote attribution. “I said, "You are going to source the quotes to the Guardian, right?' And Arianna replied, “Naturally.”

In an interview with The Envelope, Huffington denied that this phone conversation took place. "All our contact was done by email," Huffington said.

On March 13, the day the faux blog went up, Taback says she spoke to Huffington by phone in the Caribbean and emailed her boss, Kim, who sent us a copy of the missive:

"I spoke to Arianna --  She is on a boat right now...     They are moving the blog down to the bottom of the HuffPost immediately.  She is afraid if she removes it completely that it will cause more attention.   They are replacing the item on Yahoo immediately.   It will be removed completely from the blog by tomorrow.     Arianna is sorry if it was misleading – they never attribute where comments originally appeared.  (although I told her it was misleading.....)Please call me if you want to discuss more..."

So we think that ends this chapter from our end. Over to you, blogosphere.

Photo Credit: Hey, maybe Arianna Huffington got permission for Clooney's Larry King quotes from Shawn King, whom she really did meet at Shawn’s Skybar album launch party.
(Eric Neitzel/WireImage)

Finally! 

On the Huffington Post today, Arianna Huffington does a mega mea culpa to her HuffPost readers, commentators and bloggers about George Clooney's faux blog:

“At the beginning of the week, I was so focused on making it crystal clear that we did indeed have permission to run the Clooney blog that I was blinded to another extremely important issue: that a blog, where the source of the material is not clear, diminishes the amazing work of bloggers who day in and day out put their hearts and souls into writing their blogs."

On her blog, she goes on to say that, from now on, she will always identify repurposed material, source and link to it, will not create helpful sample blogs for green bloggers and if she reads, hears or see information she thinks should be put up, it will be put into her blog.

Huffington used the tried-and-true “I’m new at this” tact: “We've been doing this for ten months, and the learning curve has been enormous. Consider this a major lesson learned. I get it and have taken it to heart."

Well, thank heavens that’s over.

Or is it? Her statement says "that I did indeed have permission to run the Clooney blog." But if you ask Clooney and his publicist Stan Rosenfield, they'll maintain that all Arianna ever had was Clooney's permission to use his old sourced quotes. But enough already.

Photo Credit: Arianna Huffington says she's learned her blogging lesson, seen here with a strange disembodied hand on her shoulder at the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards on March 4.
(Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

The ongoing tussle between George Clooney and Arianna Huffington isn't cooling off. It’s heating up.

This week Clooney told New York Daily News columnist Lloyd Grove that he's furious after his phone conversation with the Huffster. He said Arianna told him that all this publicity since his statement denying writing a blog for her Huffington Post website - a blog she compiled using several of the Oscar-winner's unattributed past quotes - could be "bad for his career."

But judging from the responses of Arianna’s readers to this incident posted on her site, it looks like it’s her blog career that may be in jeopardy.

Respected blogosphere denizens, such as the The New Republic's "The Plank" blog and web-guru Jeff Jarvis, are baffled less by her blunder in not securing approval from Clooney and his uberpub Stan Rosenfield than by her  insistence that it was kosher to post Clooney’s quotes without attributing the sources, Britain's Guardian newspaper and Larry King’s CNN talk show.

“Public domain” is how she justified using his unattributed quotes in our March 15 phone conversation for a March 16 story in the LA Times Calendar section. C'mon. Every journalist knows they're not supposed to run quotes without attributing them. Writers have been forced to resign from major newspapers, including USA Today, when it was discovered they'd used quotes from other sources without attribution.  And bloggers routinely link to their sources when referencing stories and/or quotes. It's not just ethical and non-copyright infringing, it's also polite and inclusive.

Arianna’s stubborn insistance that she did nothing wrong is raising hackles. And suspicions.

“She got caught because Clooney wouldn't let get her get away with it,” an inside source told me.  “Now everyone is wondering if this is the first time this has happened. Given her arrogant reaction, she may have bull-dozed her other celebrity bloggers like this - used past quotes - and they've just kept quiet about it.”

And people are wondering about the other celebrity bloggers on her long contributor list that includes Walter Cronkite, Diane Keaton, Nora Ephron, Bill Maher, John Kerry, Norman Mailer and Chris McMillan, Jennifer Aniston's hairdresser. So if any of you famous folks are unhappy, now's the time to speak out.

On the surface, Arianna getting people to write for her site who know nothing about blogging, including etiquette and ethics, appears to be a generous attempt to include, in her words, “some of the most interesting voices of our time that are not already there.”

Gosh, how else would the voice of Larry David, whom she says phones his blogs in from a cell phone when he's on the set of his HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm, be heard?

But make no mistake. Famous names are also a huge draw for her almost 1-year-old blog site. And admitting that she goofed using unsourced quotes for Clooney's concocted blog might hurt business because it raises the issue that this is the norm, not the exception, on HuffPo. But that 's exactly what's happening with her staunch refusal to take responsibility for a serious mistake.

The bottom line on the Clooney/Huffington tussle is this: if Arianna would simply admit making an error and apologize - to Clooney and her readers - for not crediting the quotes, all would be forgiven. Of course, she should also promise never to do it again. Ever. Since she's relatively new to the blog world, it’s almost a slam-dunk that she'd get a pardon. Or at least a second chance.

Gosh, has the longtime political observer learned nothing from watching politicians such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George Bush, even California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger do that always winning “Admit and Apologize” act?

Photo Credit: Arianna Huffington and HBO's "Real Time" host Bill Maher, also one of her many celebrity bloggers, pose for the  paparazzi outside Vanity Fair's star-studded Oscar bash on March ,5 2006.
(Eric Charbonneau/WireImage)

One of the biggest questions inside Hollywood is why Arianna Huffington would seek permission to post George Clooney's blog item from Lisa Taback — an independent publicist working on the “Good Night, and Good Luck” Oscar campaign — and not from Clooney's personal publicist, Stan Rosenfield.

Rosenfield, infamous for deftly handling stars who don't need publicity — also known as 'The Keeper of the Clooney” — is, and rightfully so, fiercely protective of his superstar charge. Is it really possible that Arianna didn't know that Stan is the go-to guy for all things George?

“I had never spoken to Stan before Monday when he called,” says Huffington, speaking from the Caribbean for a piece on the blog brouhaha that will run Thursday, March 16, in the Los Angeles Times Calendar section.

“Hollywood is not my beat so I had never heard of him before,” she explained. “But I had met Lisa Taback at every “Good Luck” event and she was always with George. She told me to just send her the compiled quotes for the blog and that she would run it by George. The fact that it was for a blog was very unambiguous. Naturally, I didn't think twice about it.”

Huffington sent Taback, not Rosenfield, the blog item, exactly as it would eventually appear on her site. Three days later, Taback responded with "Of course this is fine, Arianna." Huffington even emailed the email correspondences to this writer as proof.

"Once I got the approval from Lisa, I went ahead and ran it: George Clooney’s words put into blog form," says Huffington.

Bet she won't do that again.

Oscar winner George Clooney may make politically provocative films like "Syriana." But he doesn't write politically provocative blogs.

So imagine his ire when Arianna Huffington used some of his recent answers to political questions in a way that makes it look as if he wrote one for her Huffington Post blog site.

"He doesn't object to the quotes," says Stan Rosenfield, Clooney's rep. "He said those things and those are his views. Arianna asked for permission to use the quotes and he gave it to her. What he didn't give permission for was the use of his quotes without source attributions to make it appear that he wrote a blog for her site. Which he did not. When he saw the posting Monday, we called and asked her to make the change, to simply attribute the quotes and make it clear that he did not write a blog. But she refused. And it's now Wednesday."

Rather than keep waiting, Clooney got proactive and issued this statement:

"Miss Huffington's blog is purposefully misleading and I have asked her to clarify the facts. I stand by my statements but I did not write this blog. With my permission Miss Huffington compiled it from interviews with Larry King and The Guardian. What she most certainly did not get my permission to do is to combine only my answers in a blog that misleads the reader into thinking that I wrote this piece. These are not my writings — they are answers to questions and there is a huge difference."

In the pulled-from-interviews quotes, Clooney criticizes the Democrats' failure to speak out about the Iraq invasion for fear of being criticized for being unpatriotic.

And the "Good Night, and Good Luck" writer-director-star also invokes Edward R. Murrow: “When you hear Murrow say, ‘We mustn’t confuse dissent with disloyalty’ ... it’s like he’s commenting on today’s headlines.”

Or today's blogs.

UPDATE: George is wrong, sez Arianna, and here’s her side of the story just emailed to "The Envelope" via publicist Ken Sunshine’s office.

“When I first invited George Clooney to blog after a screening of "Good Night, and Good Luck" in New York a few months ago, he said he wasn't sure how a blog worked. So we put together a sample blog from answers he had given on 'Larry King Live' and an interview with the Guardian in London, and sent it to him to rework in any way he wanted.

"A publicist working with George on the promotion of 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' emailed back saying, “I will get it to him and get back to you as soon as I hear anything.” Three days later, she emailed again, approving, without any changes, what we had sent: 'Of course this is fine, Arianna!'

"And once we had the approval, that’s what we ran: George Clooney’s words put into blog form.”

According to Shawn Sachs at Ken Sunshine’s office, Clooney's camp asked her to issue a statement saying she lied and misled Clooney, which she refused to do. “They also asked us to take down the blog which we did.”

Then why is it still up?

“It is?” asked Sachs.

Yup. Just click on the Huffington Post link in the item.

“Oh, you’re right. Here it is. I’ll call you back.”

UPDATE No. 2:

: Arianna Huffington has posted a full response on her blog, calling it an "honest misunderstanding." You can read her full statement here.

UPDATE No. 3- 11:34 AM PST: Ken Sunshine's office has emailed The Envelope to say that the Clooney blog is being removed from Huffington Post.

But Arianna's defense does not impress Clooney rep Stan Rosenfield much: "I read (Arianna's) response. This wasn't a misunderstanding. It was misrepresentation."

Clooney's camp insists they did not ask HuffPo to take down the item or to release a statement about lying and misrepresentation. They say they only asked for a posted qualifier explaining that the item was not written by Clooney but was a compilation of quotes from past interviews with Larry King and The Guardian.

So there.

Photo: No, George Clooney is not carrying a box of his political blogs. Because he doesn't write them and don't ask him to! He's actually filming his new movie "Michael Clayton" in New York.
(RJ Capak / WireImage.)

Now that the Oscar dust has settled, which designer was the most popular on the red carpet?

You could call it a tie. Dior dressed two big names: presenter Charlize Theron and the adorable first lady of the evening, best actress Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon.

Theron’s forest green silk gown with a benign tumor-sized shoulder bow didn’t win over most style seers. But Witherspoon’s honestly vintage 1955 beaded Dior frock was a major thumbs-up, despite criticism that the gown was "too much dress" for the petite actress.

But Vera Wang also dressed two important ladies — both best actress nominees — and both of her creations were wildly hailed. "Brokeback Mountain" nominee Michelle Williams wore a Wang curry-hued '30s-inspired chiffon gown. And "Pride & Prejudice" nominee Keira Knightley looked to-the-manor-born in Wang’s fishtail hem burgundy gown.

And here's a surprise: Versace, usually deemed a bit too racy for the Oscars, came in third, designing for three presenters: Jessica Alba's gold gown, Salma Hayek's blue wrapped gown and Hilary Swank's strapless black number.

Other fashion forces at the 2006 Oscars:

Photo: Michelle Williams won fashion favor at the Oscars for her curry-colored Vera Wang chiffon gown.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

Director Kevin Smith got all gooey at the recent 2006 Independent Spirit Awards. Seems he took his now-wife Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith to the Spirits on their first official date eight years ago. “We actually fell in love in this tent at the Spirits,” he recalled onstage.

They’d met a few weeks earlier when the leggy brunette journalist interviewed the Gen X filmmaker (“Dogma,” “Mallrats,” “Jersey Girl,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”) for a USA Today profile.

And yeah, since you were wondering, Smith did get lucky that night. For more details, read his official website, Silent Bob Speaks.

Smith couldn’t help but wonder if his good luck at the time might have had something to do with the fact that he took home an award that night for his "Chasing Amy" screenplay.

“But I'm not winning anything tonight so all you people holding awards have a really good shot at f---ing my wife. All I ask is that I get to watch. From under a glass table.”

At the IFC after-party at Shutters on the Beach hotel, Jennifer rolled her eyes at Kev’s comments. “I’m pretty used to being the brunt of Kevin’s jokes,” she said, giving one of those patient wife smiles.

And she got used to roughing it recently while shooting “Clerks II" on a tight budget. She has a small role in the film, making it well worth the price of admission. “We stayed in Days Inns and the only star is Rosario Dawson.”

What, no Matt Damon or Ben Affleck? Darn. Double darn.

Expect Weinstein Co. to have their hands full releasing "Clerks II". Smith says he's releasing the sequel unrated. Yikes! (Or, Oh, boy! depending on your point of view.) But it may not be all that queasy-making. After all, the original “Clerks” was an NC-17 back in '94 before it came down to an R.

The always-unrated Kevin couldn't resist pushing the Indie Spirits envelope to the point of audience unease. Praising the show’s hostess Sarah Silverman and her vag rinse jokes, Smith announced, “Finally, an award show host you’d like to ----. Although, Jon Stewart’s not bad either.”

Later, he confided that he probably had a better shot at Jon than Sarah.

“I actually think I’d do better with Jon because I’m kind of a cuddly bear and Jon usually responds very well to that.”

Photo: Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith cuddles up with her teddy bear Kevin Smith on the eighth anniversary of their first date at the Independent Spirit Awards.
(Mychal Watts / WireImage)

The 2006 award season may be officially over. But red carpet couture will live on.

C'mon, admit it. You're just dying to slide into Heidi Klum’s Vanity Fair Oscars party frock. How about Pamela Anderson's vintage Bill Blass Golden Globes gown? Or maybe you'd like to unbutton Oscars host Jon Stewart’s Ralph Lauren tuxedo?

Now’s your chance.

Clothes Off Our Back is doing another one of their inexplicably successful online auctions in which stars donate their ABW (already been worn) award show clothing and people actually bid good, hard-earned money for the celebrities' used duds, money that goes to marvelous causes supported by the various celebs. Just check out clothesoffourback.org.

Other award show-worn garments on the block: Peter Jackson's Kenneth Cole dress shoes worn to the Globes, Ellen DeGeneres' Grammys sneakers, Joss Stone’s Grammys gown worn onstage to perform (hopefully dry-cleaned); Joaquin Phoenix’s Globes tux, Jessica Alba’s Golden Globes dress and last — but most certainly not least — Scarlett Johansson’s red Jimmy Choo heels worn to the Globes.

Too bad the offer isn't Johansson's spectacular red Globes gown. In case you don’t remember, that particular couture creation got foppish fashionista Isaac Mizrahi, E!'s current red carpet critic, into deep doodie.

Mr. Miz got scathing reviews for his impertinent questions to Ms. Scarlett about her strapless dress and a verbal hand slap from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for daring to reach out and touch her treasure chest during their carpet chat. As a result, he was noticeably reined in — at least in manners — for the Oscar carpet.

In Style magazine and Clothes Off Our Back children’s charity founders “Malcolm in the Middle” star Jane Kaczmarek and her “West Wing” husband Bradley Whitford, showed off all the to-be-auctioned awardsware last week at Republic restaurant in Los Angeles. And to sweeten the pot, Saturn tossed in a 2007 Sky roadster customized by fashion designer Richard Tyler.

But just because you weren’t invited to their show off party, do not despair. You can still bid on all this stuff — including the car — until March 31.

Just one word of caution when buying celebrity cast-offs: These people are very, very small. Klum's gown, for instance, is a size 2-4. Anderson is also a size 4. Most women may have better luck fitting into Camryn Manheim's size 18-20 Mon Atelier Globes gown.

Photo: For a good cause, you could look just as "smokin'" as Heidi Klum does in this Michael Kors gown at the Vanity Fair Oscars bash.
(Eric Charbonneau / WireImage)

Talk about a mensch.

As if attending all the recent award shows with his wife — the continually nominated (Globe, SAG and Indie Spirit winning) actress Felicity Huffman — wasn’t enough, William H. Macy presented an award at the 14th annual "A Night at Sardi’s" benefit.

The guy’s indefatigable. But he had a darn good reason for being there: to present an award to Shonda Rhimes, creator of “Grey's Anatomy,” for the hit ABC show's ongoing awareness-raising Alzheimer's disease storyline.

On the show, Meredith Grey's mother, played by Kate Burton, has Alzheimer's. And — as Macy announced to the Beverly Hilton ballroom audience of 1,000 — his father also has the mentally and physically crippling fatal disease.

This year’s event — themed around the Broadway hit “Funny Girl” — featured Peter Gallagher, fresh from singing a lewd “Brokeback Mountain” ditty “On Top of Old Brokeback” at the Independent Spirit Awards last weekend.

He sang a duet of “You Are Woman” with Ricky Lake, and Chandra Wilson, who plays "The Nazi" on “Anatomy,” belted out “Coronet Man” at the event which raised $1.1 million for the Alzheimer’s Association's research, patient and caregiver support programs.

Macy’s wife Huffman had been set to attend the Wednesday awards benefit. But, frankly, she’s flat exhausted from the awards, the parties, taking care of her two kids and her day job — playing overworked Lynette Scavo on “Desperate Housewives.”

Besides, she needs a serious fashion break. And the Emmys (Aug. 27) are practically right around the corner.

Photo: William H. Macy rallies for the Alzheimer’s Association cause at A Night at Sardi’s, posing AA chairperson Laurie Burrows-Grad in a Bradley Bayou gown and Martin Katz bling.
(Amy Graves / WireImage)

Sunday night wasn’t a complete wash-out for Chanel.

Even though there were no Chanel frocks on carpet-walking actresses, "Munich" star Eric Bana and his wife Rebecca Gleeson wore sparkling Chanel watches and jewelry to the Oscars.

Gleeson chose a pair of Chanel’s LaPluie earrings with a matching ring and watch, while Bana wore Chanel’s Superleggera watch.

Several other stars — Marisa Tomei, Selma Blair and the Olsentwins — sported Chanel sparkles at some of the hot post-Oscar parties.

Blair wore Camélia Jumelle earrings and a diamond ring. Mary Kate Olsen wore a Camélia Cachalong ring and a black diamond ring.

Ashley Olsen wore two Matelassé bracelets and a Camélia Dome diamond ring and Tomei wore dangling Matelassé diamond earrings and an Ellipse diamond ring.

Hey, if ya can’t garb them, gem them.

Photo: Marisa Tomei sparkles in Chanel jewelry at the Vanity Fair after-party on Sunday night.
(Gregg DeGuire / WireImage)

Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron in Dior. Jessica Alba in Versace. Keira Knightley and Michelle Williams in Vera Wang. Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera. Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga. Naomi Watts in Givenchy.

Hey, wait a minute. Where’s the Chanel?

Good question.

International fashion experts are buzzing about the fact that for the first time in almost a decade, there was not a single Chanel creation on the Oscars red carpet.

Was Hollywood slapping Chanel’s liver-spotted hand for having handed “Walk the Line” Witherspoon a very previously worn vintage gown to wear to the Golden Globes back in January? She won only to find out that her dress had been sported by Kirsten Dunst to a Golden Globe Awards party in 2003?

Mon Dieu!

The resulting comparisons between Reese and Kirsten (who looked better?) wearing the same sparkly Chanel frock became an embarrassment for Witherspoon’s camp and a horror for Chanel, who had no real explanation for why the mix-up had happened. Say what you will about how silly this big brouhaha was — but for a designer to dress a Golden Globes winner in a recently worn dress — not to mention one that was worn by another blonde twenty-something actress at the same awards just two years prior — was deemed simply unforgivable.

Even though Witherspoon's publicist issued a public statement "forgiving" the luxury house, many remained skeptical. "We all knew there would be some kind of retribution," whispered a Los Angeles-based fashion rep.

Observers recall a major Chanel statement at the 69th Academy Awards with Celine Dion in a sparkly silver gown. And Chanel haute couture really made headlines with Julianne Moore's stunning black gown at the 72nd Oscars. Recently Kidman was almost a CC regular, wearing Chanel to the 74th and 76th awards.

“Since 2000, Chanel has always been present at the Oscars and the house has always been very select and discerning with their red carpet placements,” says Oscar.com’s longtime fashion expert Tom Julian. “It was quite obvious that the label was not present on Sunday night.”

Why? Everyone has theories.

“Perhaps actresses — or more importantly, their publicists — were still reticent over the Reese Witherspoon debacle. Maye they did not want to generate press for Chanel since they might also come under close scrutiny for wearing a previously worn dress. But whatever the reason, it was obvious that many of the nominees have moved on this year.”

Some style seers say the snub was unintentional. "Designers' presence on the Oscar carpets is always cyclical and the timing of Chanel's disappearance is merely a coincidence," says Mariiyn Heston, who represents Elie Saab, Thomas Wylde, Bebe and others.

Others say the deeper problem is a loss of fashion faith. “It all comes down to trust. If you can’t trust a luxury fashion house to provide your client with a unique gown for an event as big as the Oscars, well, then there is no point in having a relationship with them,” sniffed one top Hollywood personal publicist. Ouch.

What can Chanel and other fashion houses learn from this?

“It’s a very important lesson,” Julian says. “Never take this world too lightly and always have a strategy in place — otherwise negative press and bad fashion buzz will get you. And always remember that the celebrity has to protect their fashion reputation and standing, not yours.”

Some stylists note that it may be smarter for major designers to continue to work selectively and closely with actresses who are tied to their commercial campaigns.

One thing is certain. Chanel must slowly rebuild a relationship with Hollywood. And some insiders predict that major payola — a pay-to-play routine — will be a big factor in Chanel getting any gowns on the 2007 awards carpets.

Photo: Now this is a dress for the Hollywood history books. Reese Witherspoon is elegant, classic and feminine in a 1955 vintage Dior gown. Take that, Chanel!
(Kevork Djansezian / AP)

Anyone heading for the Elton John 14th annual Oscar bash — held in a huge tent outside the Pacific Design Center — was in for a rude shock.

First, there was the usual limo-lock. But folks who hopped out of their cars to walk, hoping to beat the traffic, were held back from the main check-in desk and red carpet by burly security guards — even "NYPD Blue" actor Henry Simmons and "Entourage" star (and Nicky Hilton beau) Kevin Connolly had trouble.

Why the delay? Guards said guests had to wait because fire marshals had temporarily halted arrivals to the packed party, co-hosted by Chopard, Audi and VH1.

An irate Entertainment Weekly editor and Marilyn Heston, Hollywood’s hottest fashion rep, were detained for almost half an hour, even though other guests arriving in cars were being allowed to check in. Heston was frantically texting Lindsay Lohan on her Blackberry about what the star should wear to the other after-parties. Decisions, decisions!

Lindsay had been at Elton’s bash for a while and met the singer-philanthropist. But she left to go back to her hotel and change into another sexier frock, more suitable for the hot Vanity Fair action across the street. “I told her to wear something short,” said Heston. “It’s easier to dance on the tabletops in a short dress than a long one.”

But Lohan actually turned up wearing a long dress. Guess she doesn’t always listen to solid fashion advice. Or maybe she wasn't planning on dancing.

Inside the tent: Elton, Donatella Versace, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Pamela Andersonand her photog pal David LaChappelle, Mary J. Blige, Ben Stiller, Tori Spelling, Nicollette Sheridan and new/old beau Michael Bolton, Nicole Richie and Lisa Rinna. Elton played the piano, John Legend sang some songs, a good time was had by all inside and over $3 million was raised to help fight AIDS.

Paris Hilton, who definitely was on Elton's guest list, arrived in a bright blue gown with an attention-getting peacock feather train and beau Stavros Niarchos in tow. The cooing couple later left to try out the Us Weekly/Rolling Stone party inside the PDC. Paris and her entire entourage took the private elevator up to the third floor bash while sister Nicky, who was with Connolly, took the escalator. When asked how the Elton bash was, Nicky replied. “I don’t know. I didn’t stay long enough to find out."

So many parties, so little time...

Photo: Mary J. Blige, Elton John and Sharon Stone band together at the 14th annual AIDS Foundation Oscar party.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

Vanity Fair honcho Graydon Carter reportedly culled the Hollywood herd for the mag's 2006 post-Oscar bash at Morton’s. Chatting with Bill Maher, he told the political talk show host that Paris Hilton would definitely not be on the VF guest list this year.

Apparently, he looked around his party last year and realized — Good Lord! — the place was lousy with reality TV stars! And the real movie stars didn’t want to be near them. Eww, small screen cooties!

So this year, the VF bash was an A-list only event with nominees and winners such as Dolly, Madonna, Joaquin, Terrence, Jake, Matt, Jamie Foxx, Philip, Reese and Ryan, Jennifer Aniston, Hilary Swank, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jay Leno, Keanu Reeves, Kirk Douglas, L’Wren Scott with beau Mick Jagger, Les Moonves, Teri Hatcher, Steve Tisch, Harvey Weinstein and Lauren Hutton.

Whew. The list goes on and on but if you want more names and faces, go to WireImage.com.

Snapshots from the party:
Heath and Joaquin swapping funny stories. Heidi Klum helping Seal puff on a cigar. Jennifer Lopez dancing with Marc Anthony. Keira acting like a couch potato. Guy Ritchie kissing Mickey Rourke. Mischa Barton and Nicole Richie huddling and giggling, perhaps planning practical jokes to play on Paris Hilton, who was most definitely not at the party.

More close ups:
Sandra Bullock hanging on hubby Jesse James. Sienna Miller wearing another Thomas Wylde frock and kissing Tom Ford. Jennifer Aniston’s date Vince Vaughn entertaining Will Ferrell. CNN's Anderson Cooper amusing Patricia Clarkson. Beck sticking close to fellow Scientologist Giovanni Ribisi. Maher, whose date was a foxy Arianna Huffington, sat briefly with Winona Ryder, maybe asking her to be on his show. Eve consoling Matt Dillon up close and personal. Naomi Watts sparkling in a bright turquoise frock that was way prettier than her boring beige Givenchy gown. And Angelica Huston catching up with...Jimmy Buffet?

Gosh, it's almost as good as being there, isn't it? Maybe even better.

Photo Credits: Eve makes it all better for Matt Dillon at the Vanity Fair fete.
(Eric Charbonneau / WireImage)

Photo Credit: A smoking Sienna Miller busses Vanity Fair guest editor Tom Ford.
(Eric Charbonneau / WireImage)

Ah, the Oscars post parties. More like ugh.

It's been a veeeery long awards season and you'd think everyone would just go straight home after the Academy Awards, right? I mean, aren't these people a little sick of each other after all these months of award shows?

Apparently not.

Immediately after the ceremony, everyone who held — or had hoped to hold — a little gold naked man headed straight for the Governors Ball, an elegant Art Deco decorated affair in the Kodak Ballroom.

Ever-gracious George Clooney was still acting like he was campaigning, talking to every single press person about his final win, followed around by his still-intrepid pub Stan Rosenfield and CAA head dude Bryan Lourd. Clooney even posed with rival hunk Matt Dillon, whom he beat out for the best supporting actor honors. Wow, guys. Talk about playing well with others.

You’d think he might relax, take a week off, get away from it all at his Lake Como retreat. But he had no time to chill. Clooney was getting on a plane Monday to go back to the New York set of “Michael Clayton,” the dramatic thriller in which he plays a slick attorney whose defense of high profile creeps comes back to haunt him big time.

“Brokeback” couple Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams sat at one high-level table together, looking like they couldn’t wait to get out of their formal duds and get home to Matilda. Williams was even on the cell phone, perhaps talking with the baby sitter? Then she disappeared for a few minutes, leaving an exhausted Heath to sit back and chill by himself.

When Reese Witherspoon finally walked into the ball, dozens of cameras started madly flashing, as her hubby Ryan Phillippe walked behind her, carrying her train. Talk about a supportive husband. She ended up at the “Walk the Line” table, along with her parents, Joaquin Phoenixand his mom, and was happily dancing in her seat to the piped-in big band tunes and bopping her glass of bubbly up and down.

Lauren Bacall was having as much trouble finding her table as she did with the TelePrompTer lines on the show.

“Tsotsi” Oscar winner Gavin Hood was chatting with his boyhood idol Steven Spielberg about having won an early filmmaking award or kudo that was apparently partly sponsored by Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. Hood said that honor inspired him to take his film director career path. “And now you’ve got an Oscar,” Spielberg said, congratulating the South African winner of the best foreign language film.

After an hour, some great Wolfgang Puck food and celebratory bubbly, everyone started asking where everyone else was going next. “Are you going to Prince’s party?” “No, I’m going with the 'Crash' folks,” said Ludacris who actually ended up at the crowded Elton John AIDS fundraiser and the exclusive Vanity Fair bash in West Hollywood, Calif.

Don't these people ever sleep?

Photo (top): Reese Witherspoon celebrates with her mom at the Governors Ball.
(Jeff Vespa/WireImage)

Photo (bottom): Heath Ledger doesn't seem to notice that Michelle has left the table at the Governors Ball.
(Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

What? Your Vanity Fair Oscar bash ticket still hasn't arrived? Dammit!

No worries. You can still catch all the insider glitz and glamour — George Clooney, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Jake Gyllenhaal and whoever, Terrence Howard, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Charlize Theron, Keira Knightley, Reese Witherspoon, etc., etc. — at the venerable bash held at Morton’s in West Hollywood, Calif., on Sunday night.

This year Vanity Fair’s gala will be webcast live from the restaurant starting at midnight. Woo-hoo!

So set your alarm and then click on this link to see who’s chatting up whom, making deals and carrying big gold statues. Actually, this is way better than having to get all dressed for the night, trust me.

And if you want to read VF honcho Graydon Carter’s secrets to throwing the world’s most famous Oscar gala in an excerpt from his book "Oscar Night," just follow this link and take notes.

OK, so maybe it wasn’t quite as grand as those $100,000 Oscar winner swag bags.

But some of Film Independent's 2006 Independent Spirit Awards nominees and presenters still made time to visit the On3 gift lounge during Saturday's show for some small-scale swag: personalized Docker khakis, Ugg sandals, Invicta watches, Laura Merkin personalized bags, Dior eye shadow, Palm Treos and coupons for free laser eye surgery.

Hey, a gravy train is a gravy train and after Sunday, the swag-laden 2006 awards express is screeching to a halt. But after reading the recent CNNMoney.com story about hundred-grand gift bags possibly being considered taxable income, I predict stars may become a little more selective about swag next year.

Presenter Sienna Miller, wearing a sweet printed chiffon Thomas Wylde frock, was one of the first to pop into the lounge to snag some Three Dots racer-back tanks (with sheer chiffon straps) in brown, black and white. Spirit hostess Sarah Silverman just took one. In black.

But some of the guys really went hog wild on men's shirts. ”Matt Dillon took eight shirts,” whispered the shirt rep. “And Billy Baldwin took 10, one in every color. Terrence Howard was so cute, he picked out a brown racer-back for his 12-year-old daughter. And Peter Sarsgaard really wanted a polo shirt for himself.”

Yeah, he looks like a polo shirt kinda guy.

Miller also started a new sunglasses trend at the Spirits.

“She’s been wearing white vintage Wayfarers for that retro '80s look," said the Ray-Ban rep. “But today she requested a pair just like the ones Tom Cruise wore in 'Risky Business.' She tried them on and said 'I have to have them!' And have them, she did, immediately slipping them on and wearing them outside in the Santa Monica sunshine.

Turns out Howard — whose future certainly looks bright even if he doesn't win an Oscar — is a big Ray-Ban Aviator fan and he fittingly chose a pair of gold framed Aviators with rose-colored lenses. When pushed, the rep revealed, “When Vin Diesel heard we had new Aviators, he said, 'New? I gotta have them!' He was all over that. And Sarah Silverman took a pair just like Diesel’s. She told me that she really needed a pair because the only ones she had, she’d found in the grass on the walk over here.”

Funny gal Silverman’s next stop was the Phyto hair booth where she picked up a bottle of hair and nail vitamins — Phytophanère. “She said her nails are always breaking,” said the rep.

It's somewhat ironic that Silverman partook in the backstage freebie fest. Ya see, during her hilarious opening monologue at the Spirits, Silverman waxed philosophical about vaginal douches. Not that she needs them, mind you. She'd like to be self-deprecating but she just can't. Not about this.

“I don’t need them because — and pay attention, George Clooney — my vagina smells like a mountain breeze.”

But Silverman admitted that she will never buy douches at a 99 Cents Only store. “I just can’t put anything inside me that costs less than a dollar,” she deadpanned on live TV, cracking up the audience.

Guess she doesn’t mind using products that are completely free.

Photo (top): Sarah Silverman hops on the freebie train with a new Three Dots racer-back tank
(Kevin Parry / WireImage)
Photo (bottom): Sienna Miller practices her Tom Cruise grin in a pair of "Risky Business" Wayfarers(Mychal Watts / WireImage)

Even though Hollywood is positively fried from all the Pre-Oscar events this week, scads of nominees and presenters found time Friday for the One.org Event to fight Global Poverty, hosted by Motorola.

Why? Because it’s a noble cause, dammit. The One organization is trying to rally Americans to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty.

The Chateau Marmont was packed with Oscar nominated stars, some of whom are staying in the hotel for awards week — like Keira Knightley, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams and Joaquin Phoenix — which certainly eliminates that long boring limo drive home.

In the mix: Kate Bosworth, Felicity Huffman and William Macy, Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, David Strathairn, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Adrien Brody, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, and — making a grand appearance — Dame Judi Dench.

Lindsay Lohan was even there posing with the adorable African Childrens’s Choir, who performed in colorful costumes at the party that took over the hotel's lower lobby and spilled out onto the Marmont's expansive patio gardens.

Lohan, sporting another one of those slinky black satin frocks she’s been wearing of late, didn't seem to be the slightest bit embarrassed about her recent costume gaffe, a breast-exposing wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet at the GM ten fashion show on Tuesday night. Sorry. We just had to bring this down to the superficial fashion level.

Also on hand, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, as well as a fishnet-stockinged, mini-skirted Teri Hatcher and no, she wasn't there because George Clooney was also there. No, really. Besides, another hot brunette, Krista Allen, also rumored to be “seeing” George, was there too. It must be good to be King George.

Clooney stood up on the stairs to speak to the party people, making no Oscar references, but sticking to the message about One and its valiant efforts on behalf of Africa’s serious health and poverty problems.

Tense moment of the night: Everyone watching to see if Ellen and Portia would speak to Ellen’s-ex, Celestia, I mean, Anne Heche there with her husband Coley Laffoon. But the couples never actually met face-to-face. On the other hand, Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener, who have been separated, posed for photos together, which could signal a major reconciliation. Yeah, I know. I don't really care either.

The One event was short — from just 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. — with most celebs arriving by 8 p.m. just in time for the kids' show. Afterward, many stars headed over to CAA head Bryan Lourde’s pre-Oscar party at his home.

Hope these folks got some rest. There are still Saturday afternoon’s Independent Spirits and oh yeah, the Oscars on Sunday.

Photo (top): Lindsay Lohan and Teri Hatcher look hot watching the African Children's Choir.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)
Photo (bottom): Talk about hot unmarried couples. Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams chat with Ellen DeGeneres and her partner, Portia de Rossi.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

So you’re all dressed up in a totally hot low-cut gown at the Vanity Fair Oscar party and some jerk comes by, checks out your décolletage, and says, ‘Hey, nice chicken cutlets!”

Don’t deck him.

He may actually be a jerk. Or he may have just heard about Victoria’s Secret latest secret weapon — what the VS PR gals call “chicken cutlets” — cleavage-creating Sensual Shapers inserts.

The VS reps at the Beauty and the Boudoir Oscar lounge at Frederic Fekkai’s Beverly Hills salon actually referred to the rubbery flesh-colored inserts as “Chicken Cutlets” because, well, that’s exactly what they look and feel like; raw chicken breasts — with nipples. And there are two Sensual Shaper sizes, the discreet one-cup increase and the vavoom two-cup increase ($28 and $48).

These VS raw materials were displayed for all the celebs who were visiting Fekkai’s before the Oscars for facials, blow-dries, mani-pedis, Botox and consults with plastic surgeon David Sayah, to touch, feel and try on.

Other Oscar gown-boosters included the VS Bare Attitude bra ($24), a backless and strapless mold that literally sticks to your chest for an advised 4 to 6 hours. Wow. If the Oscars run long and you’ve got three parties to hit, you could be in deep trouble.

On-site to explain the importance of Oscar gown support was Chantal Thomass, the legendary French fashion designer who was the first to pull lingerie out of the underwear drawer and onto her Paris runways in 1975.

Photo: No, Scarlett Johansson is not wearing Victoria’s Secret “chicken cutlets” at the Weinstein Co./Glamour 2006 Golden Globes after-party. Pretty impressive, huh?
(Albert L. Ortega / WireImage)

Thursday was a busy, busy day for some Oscar nominees.

The Dior beauty folks hosted a late-night, candlelit dinner party graced by Naomi Watts, Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan, Diane Kruger, Emmy Rossum and Joy Bryant on the Chateau Marmont patio in Hollywood, Calif.

Best actress Oscar nominee Keira Knightley — staying in the Chateau — even popped down briefly with some pals. But the “Pride & Prejudice” beauty was a bit hard to recognize because she was suddenly sporting very long, thick hair. Hmmm. Extensions? Seems very likely.

Couldn't tell if she was also wearing the new brand new H. Stern right-hand diamond ring that she picked out and took home from the Diamond Aquifer Retreat at Soho House the day before. But probably. Wouldn't you?

O-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" couple Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams noticed a few flashes from their Marmont penthouse suite high above the party and called downstairs to get the camera scoop. They were later seen picking up a car down in the garage, sans their baby daughter, Matilda.

Earlier, Oscar nominee Amy Adams — star of “Junebug” — was beaming at the Independent Spirit nominees reception at Casa del Mar in Santa Monica. Adams has a darn good reason to look so happy: she's also nominated for a Spirit best supporting actress award. Spirit nominees “Brokeback Mountain” Oscar fave Ang Lee and his producer James Schamus and their “Capote” Oscar rival, director Bennett Miller were also at Thursday's reception.

The Spirits, being held on Saturday in Santa Monica, mirror the Oscars more closely than ever, causing some folks to wonder: What’s the point? Host Sarah Silverman, that’s what. The show promises to be shorter, less scripted and oh, let’s just say it, waaay more fun than Sunday’s Oscars.

If you want to catch some possible Oscar warm-up acceptance speeches from Terrance Howard, Felicity Huffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ledger and Williams, George Clooney and/or Paul Haggis, tune in to the live awards broadcast on the IFC Channel at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Also on Thursday, “North Country” Oscar-nominated best actress Charlize Theron wore a slinky black Dior dress to host Vanity Fair’s Amped for Africa benefit at Republic restaurant. By the way, it's official. The actress will be wearing a Dior couture gown to the Oscars. "She doesn't have to wear Dior just because she has a beauty contract with us," revealed a Dior beauty rep. "She just fell in love with the gown."

Miller, his “Capote” Oscar-nommed pal Philip Seymour Hoffman and “Crash” best supporting actor, Oscar-nommer Matt Dillon hit Jason Binn's Los Angeles Confidential pre-Oscar party Thursday night at the Sky Bar in West Hollywood.

And a shockingly sexy Armani-clad Jodie Foster — you are correct, she’s not nominated for anything, just making sure you’re paying attention — attended the U.S.-Ireland Alliance honors for acclaimed directors Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and David Holmes at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Seen out of town: The Constant Gardener” Oscar nominee Rachel Weisz was still at home in New York but she turned up at Bloomingdale’s to help launch a new women’s fragrance for Burberry.

Photo Credits:
(Top right) Naomi Watts at the late night Dior private dinner at Chateau Marmont.
(Donato Sardella / WireImage)
(Top left) Oscar nominee Keira Knightly models her new long hair and H. Stern right-hand diamond ring from the Soho House Diamond Aquifer Retreat.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)
(Bottom) Oscar nominee Charlize Theron hosts Vanity Fair's Amped for Africa event.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)

Want to feel what it’s like to be inside the infamously exclusive Vanity Fair Oscar party?

Check out the mag's official party photographer, Patrick McMullan’s new photo book, “Kiss Kiss,” a 340-page collection of Hollywood’s hottest kisses, taken during his 30-year career shooting stars at swanky parties and sizzling fashion fetes, with an intro by famed gossip columnist Liz Smith.

“There is definitely an excitement during Oscar weekend in Hollywood that's unsurpassed,” says McMullan. “Everyone is all dressed and looking their best, they’re happy, excited and they all 'kiss up,' sometimes as a way of showing how close they are to someone important.”

His book documents Ashlee and Jessica Simpson’s perfectly posed double-truck air kiss, Cindy Crawford bussing a limp-lipped Richard Gere, Gwyneth Paltrow hair-kissing Julia Roberts, Sir Elton John smooching Elizabeth Taylor’s bejeweled paw, Ben Affleck nose-to-nose with Jennifer Lopez, Pam Anderson practically biting Lindsay Lohan, Alan Cumming chewing on Rachel Weisz’s shoulder, Selma Blair lip-locked with aged producer Bob Evans, Sharon Stone going in for the kill on Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger's lips. And there’s an entire section of bestiality, featuring stars kissing their pups.

McMullan has certainly seen his share of celebrity kissing up at VF’s party over the years. He’s planning on shooting the Gagosian Gallery (Christopher Wool exhibition) opening Thursday, March 2, where Matt Dillon, Adrien Brody, Kirsten Dunst, Dennis Hopper and Ed Ruscha will be popping in. And Sunday’s VF party promises to be one for the record books. "I always make sure to have plenty of Duracell batteries with me," says McMullan. "The worst thing for a photographer is seeing the perfect moment and having your batteries die." His expert photo tips can be found on Duracell.com.

Dying to see all the VF party action? On Monday, check out PatrickMcMullan.com, where you can also buy the "Kiss Kiss" book ($55), along with his others, "InTents" — a history of the New York fashion collections — and "so80s" — a New York-in-the-'80s flashback.

By the way, McMullan’s not the slightest bit worried about kissing — commonly known as the “Hollywood Handshake” — going out of style with the ongoing bird flu threat. Gosh, can you imagine everyone trying to kiss up while wearing protective white surgical masks? Now that’s a photo op.

Photo Credits: The way they were: Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey in a luscious lovers' lip lock on the cover of Patrick McMullan's delicious photo book, "Kiss Kiss."
(Patrick McMullan)   

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel opened the 43rd annual ICG Publicists Guild Awards luncheon by saying grace.

“Thank you, Lord, for this food and these gifts," Kimmel said at the podium Wednesday, his head bowed. “Please watch over us and forgive us for all the lies we told Us Weekly last year. And please forgive us for all the lies we’re going to tell Us Weekly next year.” Amen.

Kimmel dubbed the awards "the Pubies" (pronounced pew-bies) and spoke admiringly of the work of all the powerhouse publicists packing the Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom. “It’s been an incredible year for all of you," he said. “You’ve changed illicit affairs into love stories and turned eating disorders into diet tips. You even changed Tom Cruise from a couch-jumping lunatic into a man deeply in love with a woman one of you in this room set him up with.”

On the Nick Lachey/Jessica Simpson divorce, Kimmel marveled, “Thanks to someone here, Nick and Jessica broke up so many times last year that when the split was finally announced, it did not become a real national emergency and we all remained calm.”

Kimmel felt whoever handled Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie deserved extra credit. “Talk about making lemonade out of a lemon. You have a man who cheated on his wife — Jennifer Aniston, one of the most beloved humans outside of Oprah — with a woman who, last time we checked, was making out with her brother and wearing Billy Bob’s blood in a vial around her neck."

"But one of you here said, 'I know how to fix this. Brad will adopt a baby! And not just any baby. An Ethiopian baby! And we’ll release lots of photos of him carrying it around but not letting it drive his car!' It was diabolical genius and you should be very proud.”

Photo: Teri Hatcher cracks up at Jimmy Kimmel's offstage joke before she makes a Publicists Awards presentation.
(Craig T. Mathew / Mathew Imaging)

Superstylist Rachel Zoe’s chic army of fashionistas — Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, Joy Bryant, Eva Longoria, Garcelle Beauvais and Brooke Burke — stormed the GM ten runway Tuesday night.

General Motors’ annual Hollywood fashion/car show regularly kicks off the Oscar week’s festivities. Cars and clothes? Here's how it works: first, celeb models walk out in designer gowns. Then assorted hot cars — Pontiac Solstice, Cadillac STS, Chevy Corvette Z06, Hummer H3, Pontiac Firebird, etc. — rumble out, revving their approval.

But it was hard to tell what the boys in the audience — Nick Lachey, Jamie Foxx, Vincent Gallo, David Spade — liked better: the shiny metal or the female flesh in slinky Marchesa, YSL, J. Mendel, Cavalli, Halston, Collette Dinnigan, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana gowns.

Lohan opened the show wearing a B&W Valentino gown, stomping down the runway (trailed by a silver Saturn Sky convertible) to the snarling strains of The Pretenders' “Precious.” Then she blew a big mmwwah to photographers, revealing a red string cabala bracelet.

Oh no, they've got her too!

Foxx went wild applauding when Longoria strutted out in a strapless Luisa Beccaria gown. When the “Desperate Housewives” star spotted Foxx in the front row next to Jenna Elfman, she waved a cutesy Gabrielle hello.

But as hot as the girls were, “Entourage” star Jeremy Piven stole the show with his wild dance groove moves. Who knew Ari could get down like that?

Barton, looking hot in a black beaded Azzaro Paris gown, definitely tried to avoid eye contact with pouting ex-beau Brandon Davis, seated in the second row. But he sure tried to catch her eye, with no success.

Hey, it's gotta be hard on a guy's ego to see your ex-girlfriend looking hot and knowing that she's with rocker Cisco Adler. What does he have that you don’t? Don’t go there, dude.

Photos: Lindsay Lohan blows a wet one at the audience at the GM ten fashion/car show
(John Shearer / WireImage)