Styles & Scenes

No Emmys? Snubbed stars will still rock on

Hugh Laurie (“House”) and James Denton ("Desperate Housewives”) will not be onstage accepting any Emmys on Sunday.

I know, I know. Don't get me started on the whole stupid nominations voting debaucle again.

But that won’t stop these actors from hopping onstage at TV Guide’s Emmy bash later that night.

Both guys actually play in a band called Battle of the Network Stars that includes founder Greg Grunberg (“Alias", “Heroes”) Michael “Fish” Herring, Bob Guiney (ABC's “The View”), Bonnie Somerville (“NYPD Blue”), along with real professional musicians Barry Sarna, Brad Savage, Chris Kelly, and Rich Winer.

Word is that other “surprise celebrity guests are expected to take to the stage” with BNS. Nothing like a little celebrity Karoake to spice up a party.

I’m betting on Felicity Huffman (who's been known to cut loose at a few parties) and a few other Housewives to join their plumber pal Jamie. Alfre Woodard, perhaps?

Maybe even a few "Alias" alums, like Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber? How about "House" co-stars Lisa Edelstein, Jennifer Morrison or Jesse Spencer?

The BNS act won’t go on until after Pink has gotten the TV Guide party started at Social Hollywood, the site of the first Emmys in 1949.

By then, everyone there should be ready for just about anything. 

Photo Credits: Will Hugh's Battle of the Network Stars band get some help from Lisa and Jennifer at the TV Guide Emmy party? Stay tuned.
WireImage/John Sciulli

Felicity's slapstick lightens up the "Hipvah" luncheon

Don't call it the 2006 Hollywood Foreign Press Installment Luncheon. Call it "Hipvah," as Dustin Hoffman suggested.

In truth, the annual HFPA luncheon was more like an Afternoon at the Improv.

Hostess Felicity Huffman got the laughs going from the get-go Thursday when she stepped up to the podium after being introduced by HFPA President Philip Berk.

“Okay, I’m supposed to ad lib now,” said the elegantly attired Golden Globe winning ("Transamerica") actress. “Not gonna happen.” Then she started reading the slowly scrolling tele-prompter, “For many years….” before she (gulp) realized she was reading Berk’s speech, not hers. “Oh, I’m supposed to step aside now,” she exclaimed,looking slightly horrified.

“Oh, I’m gonna be fired,” she whimpered as she backed up and backed up and bumped into a giant Golden Globe statue, very nearly knocking it over. She bowed her head in shame and covered her eyes.

The hysterical move was so perfectly timed that many in the audience - including those spitting out their salad with laughter - thought she’d rehearsed it. So did Dustin Hoffman, who tried to recreate her brilliant slapstick back-up when he got onstage but couldn’t pull it off with Huffman's “I Love Lucy” aplomb.

“I salute you. I’d give anything to work with you. You are my kinda girl,” Hoffman said to the still blushing Huffman.

Hoffman, who accepted a $30 grand check for the Los Angeles Conservancy, was nostalgic about the Rodeo Ballroom in the Beverly Hills Hotel because it was where his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah was held many years ago. “Now I know we're running a little late today and there is another Bat Mitzvah at 2, so I’ll try to hurry up.”

But he got the biggest laugh for his renaming of the HFPA to a more Jewish-sounding name, pronouncing it “Hipvah.”

Another comic standing was the legendary Jack Nicholson, there to accept a $300,000 check for Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation.

“When I was asked to accept a check, something I’m very comfortable doing, no one told me I would also have to make a speech, something I’m not very comfortable doing,” slow-mo growled Nicholson, who then read a prepared speech, making it sound like an outtake from “Five Easy Pieces.” He ended by saying the $1.8 million the HFPA has given to the FF over the years “makes up for a lot of rubber chicken dinners.”

All I can says is Nicholson really does do a spot-on Jack Nicholson impersonation. I mean, Jay Mohr does a better Christopher Walken than Walken but no one can hold a candle to Nicholson’s Nicholson.

Others accepting checks: Diane Lane, Annette Bening, Christina Ricci, Bill Condon, Lisa Kudrow, Mark Ruffalo, Edward James Olmos and James Franco. They all did fine, were dressed appropriately and acted very respectful  reading their prepared speeches and accepting checks that totaled over $1 million in support for organizations such as Film Aid International, Outfest, California State Summer School Arts Foundation, Inner-City Arts, American Cinematheque, Sundance, Institute, IFP West and Inner-City Filmmakers.

But next time I hope they loosen up a little. Take a tip from Felicity, Dustin and Jack.  A little less decorum, a little more Hipvah and lot more slapstick, please.

Photo Credits:
Don't be fooled by Felicity Huffman's red carpet manners at the Hipvah Luncheon. She's capable of doing physical comedy, even when she hasn't rehearsed it.
WireImage/Steve Granitz
C'mon, Jack. Do Jack Nicholson for us! Man, are you good at that or what? Hey, can you do it for my cell phone voice mail when you're done at the Hipvah Luncheon?
WireImage/Steve Granitz 

"Desperate" Cherry picks PJs and spills secrets

What will “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry wear on Emmy night? Probably pajamas.

Cherry won’t be attending the show. 

“I didn't get invited,” Cherry said at the ABC All Star Party for the Television Critics Association held at Kidspace in Pasadena Wednesday night.

So will anyone from the show go? “I would assume that Felicity will go to present an award because it’s a tradition for the previous winner to present that award. But I don’t know for sure. I haven’t asked the girls if they’re going."

Word is they're not. But obviously, Alfre Woodard - nominated for Supporting Actress - will go.

“Alfre called to thank me for the flowers I sent and I asked her, 'So how many nominations is this for you? Four, five?' And she said, 'Seventeen.' So apparently every time she reads the phone book on TV, she gets nominated," Cherry said. "She is, and deservedly so, beloved by the Academy and a very talented actress. She’s also one of the loveliest human beings you will ever meet.”

Frankly, Cherry is relieved to stay home on August 27.

“I was very honored to be nominated last year but to sit there and lose twice with my mom sitting next to me was excruciating. Then you go to the parties and everyone comes up to you and says, 'You were robbed!' so I was like, 'This is the most annoying evening of my life.' I will be so happy to sit at home and watch other writers go through that.”

But isn’t he bothered about not being nominated?

“Am I a little bummed out? Sure. But my reaction to this is that I have to work harder this year and that’s what we’ve been doing. Listen, I went through a period of being unemployed, broke and having to borrow money from my mother. In terms of awful things happening to me, not getting nominated is pretty easy to handle.”

He was more surprised by other snubs. “To me, the shocker was "Lost." I thought that was odd to the point of 'what the heck is going on with the Academy?' For us, we’ll just work harder. It’s more important for me to feel like I’m doing the best job I can and I don’t think I did that last year. I’ve had my trial by fire. Actually, I feel like I’ve had two. The first year was the extreme phenomena of it all and last year was 'let me try some new things.' Some of those things aren’t working. So this new season, I feel for the first time, now I know what it is I need to do in order to do the show the way I want to do it.”

So what’s going to happen on Wisteria Lane in the new season? Cherry let some secrets slip...

Photo Credits: DH creator Marc Cherry was happy to get dressed up for the GLAAD awards on April 8, 2006. But he's gonna stick to PJs on Emmy night.
WireImage/Steve Granitz

Will the Housewives snub the Emmy Awards?

Fashion insiders are buzzing about the number of major Emmy acting nominations for “Desperate Housewives” this season. That would be one: Alfre Woodard for Supporting Actress in a Comedy.

DH did get some technical Emmy nods: Single Camera Editing for a Comedy Series, Hairstyling, Costumes. And Shirley Knight got a Guest Actress on a Comedy Series acting nomination for her portrayal of Phyllis Van De Kamp, Bree’s mother-in-law.

But nothing, zip, nada for the five hard-working actresses who made the show - which won 15 Emmys last season - what it is; a critical success, a global cultural phenomenon and a cash cow for the network: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross and Nicollette Sheridan.

Some loose TV lips have speculated that, despite the astonishing and inexplicable snub, the Wisteria Lane gals would still come to the Emmys, if just to support the series. They’d probably be presenters or something, some duty that would require them to be there so it’s not that obvious that they, ooops, all got seriously snubbed.

But a source close to the wives says no dice. “None of them are going.” Not even as presenters? “Felicity may go as a presenter because she won the lead actress Emmy last year and they usually have last year's winner present this year's award.”

That’s right. She beat her DH co-stars Teri and Marcia. Gosh, what a great catfight that was.

“But the rest of them are definitely not going,” sez the source.  “If you’re not nominated, you really don’t have a reason to go. It’s a lot of prep work to get in shape, all made up, pick gowns and dressed up to go to these things. It’s exhausting. And if you’re not up for an award and it’s just going to be embarrassing why go?”

Why go? Because if you don’t go, you risk looking like a sore not-nominated loser, that's why. That would be one very big reason. My advice: slap on the makeup, slip on the gowns and smile for the cameras, girls.

C'mon, you're all good actresses. Just act like you couldn't care less about being nominated for one night.

Photo Credits: C'mon, girls. Play nice. Eva Longoria, Nicollette Sheridan and Felicity Huffman faux tussle over Flicka's Emmy statue backstage at last year's show. But will they stay home and watch it on TV this year?
WireImage/Jeff Vespa

Jennifer Lopez gets miniaturized at the WIF awards

Producer Lauren Schuler Donner had a few words of wisdom for the gals at Women In Film's 2006 Cyrstal and Lucy Awards. Don't be bitter!

“Carrie Fisher once told me that resentment is like drinking a poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Darn good advice. Not sure who gave the producer ("Constantine," "Bulworth," "Free Willy," "You've Got Mail") the slapstick notion to knock her glass award off the podium, but it was definitely a high point of the evening. "Superman Returns" producer/director Bryan Singer picked up the shattered pieces and Schuler Donner's very human nervousness got empathetic chuckles.

Other winners – song writer Diane Warren, cinematographer Maryse Alberti, Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, Maria Bello and Jennifer Lopez – also won Crystals and Lucys for the “endurance and excellence" of their work in film and television.

Past Crystal winners include Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Bette Davis, Jane Fonda, Jodi Foster.

So...Jennifer Lopez?  Okay, there’s “Out of Sight,” Blood and Wine,” maybe even “Anaconda.”

But then there's “Monster-in-Law,” "Gigli" and (shudder) “Jersey Girl?”

Still, as hostess Edie Falco noted, “She's the only woman in the room who can open a movie and a concert tour.”

Contrary to the baby rumors (which she laughed off), Lopez didn’t look preggers with a long wavy ponytail and a black Max Mara frock, mingling in the Century Plaza ballroom with “Desperate Housewives” Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross, Camryn Manheim, Angela Basset, Jean Smart (“24”), and Leah Remini.

Not only did Jenny NOT look like she had a fetus-on-board, she looked surprisingly slender. But that may have been because she wasn't always glued to the side of her skeletal hubby Marc Anthony.

Next to 6-footer Geena Davis, La Lopez looked - how can we put this - positively petite.

Photo Credits: It's all about perspective. Jennifer Lopez looks itty-bitty when paired with Tower of Power Geena Davis at the 2006 WIF Lucy and Crystal Awards.
WireImage/Lester Cohen

Vera Wang curries fashion favor at the Oscars

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)

William Macy presents, Felicity Huffman rests

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)

Follow those Oscar nominees!

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)

Who are you wearing? Marchesa by Weinstein, of course

As Harvey Weinstein swept through HBO's pre-Globes bash at the Chateau Marmont, he screeched to a halt to say a big bonjour to famous French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

“Patrick, I want you to meet my girlfriend,” said Weinstein, gesturing to his slender, striking brunette date, Georgina Chapman, who has been dating the recently divorced former Miramax movie mogul, 53, for a respectable amount of time.

But little did Demarchelier know that this young woman was about to cause major red carpet burn this awards season.

In suspiciously swift record time, Chapman, a British model-actress-designer, and partner Keren Craig have hit big time celebrity pay dirt with their new Marchesa clothing line.

The line's name is an homage to eccentric clotheshorse and party girl Italian aristocrat Marchesa Luisa Casati — (1881-1957), who sounded a bit like a proto-Paris Hilton when she intoned: “I want to be a living work of art.”

Anyway, let's play connect-the-Marchesa-dots. First, Renée Zellweger wore a Marchesa creation to the “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” London premiere. Zellweger (remember these connections because there may be a pop quiz) happened to star in "Cold Mountain" and "Cinderella Man", both linked to Miramax for production and distribution. Then Cate Blanchett wore a Marchesa sari to the Rome premiere of "The Aviator,” a film that Miramax helped produce and distribute in the U.S.

Are you with me so far? Good. Next up, Scarlett Johansson — soon to star in "The Nanny Diaries," a new Weinstein Co. production — wore a Marchesa design on a red carpet. Then came Penelope Cruz, who starred in the 2000 Miramax film "All the Pretty Horses", wearing a pale pink Marchesa at the 2006 Golden Globes.

For a grand finale, Felicity Huffman — star of "Transamerica," Weinstein's big post-Disney/Miramax-muddle hit — wore a white Marchesa frock to pick up her best actress Globe at the show and dance the night away at the after-parties.

“Harvey asked those actresses, including Felicity, to wear his girlfriend’s dresses to their premieres or to an important awards show,” sniffed one longtime Hollywood style insider. “And it was a ‘favor' that Felicity really couldn’t refuse.”

True or not, Huffman certainly felt she owed Weinstein one. Accepting her Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in early January, a Huffman doled out heartfelt thanks.

“This movie wouldn't have been seen by anyone if it were not for Harvey Weinstein. And Harvey wouldn't have seen the film if William Macy (Hoffman's husband) hadn't called him up, got him on the phone and convinced him to come to a screening the next day. That’s a good boyfriend to have, huh?”

Interestingly, hubby Macy also starred with Cruz in "Sahara." Hmm. Did a Macy call to Cruz return Weinstein's "Transamerica" favor? Was that how Cruz, who favors Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta, discovered the fledging Marchesa line?

We may never know. But the fashion fairy tale is far from over. Spotted at Marchesa’s recent fashion show at the Rainbow Room during New York’s Fashion Week: Josh Hartnett (who is, ahem, dating Johansson), Anne Hathaway, (she voiced a character in Weinstein Co.'s animated film, "Hoodwinked") Huffman's "Desperate Housewives" pal, costar Nicolette Sheridan and Marchesa-in-the-making Nicole Richie.

Not that the lovely Marchesa gowns don't deserve attention. But the line's success has come so fast that it's making other designers — who've struggled for years to get stars to wear their gowns — turn chartreuse with envy.

Photo: Have you met my fashion designer girlfriend? Glamour mag editrix Cindi Leive (left) and Georgina Chapman talk with Harvey Weinstein at the Weinstein Co./Glamour 2006 Golden Globes after-party.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)

Will an actress wear a Marchesa to the upcoming Oscars? Probably. But the big question is: who? And the answer may lie in the Weinstein Co.'s 2006-2007 movie slate. Could the next Marchesa model be...

A Jeannie in Felicity's family tree?

It may be time to check the branches on "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman’s family tree.

There could be a genie hiding in there.

“Transamerica” writer-director Duncan Tucker recently bumped into Barbara Eden, the star of the hit '60s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie,” at a Los Angeles restaurant.

“I am so thrilled to meet you,” Tucker told the actress. “I just wanted to introduce myself and to thank you for all the joy and light you’ve brought to my life and to all our lives.”

Eden thanked him and after a few minutes told him she was dying to meet his Oscar-nominated “Transamerica” leading lady. She explained that not only is she a fan, but her real name is Barbara Jean Huffman and she thought it possible that they might actually be related.

So Tucker happily took Eden over to the other side of the restaurant to meet Huffman. And guess what? The actresses both have family in Indiana, where Eden’s dad is from.

Gosh, maybe they're long-lost cousins. After all, TV sitcom success does seem to run in the family.

Photo: Talk about wish fulfillment. Duncan Tucker dances with his very own genie, Felicity Huffman, at the November 2005 AFI Fest "Transamerica" screening.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)