I got to the Beverly Hilton Hotel kinda early to watch the stars walk in and saw Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith nearly cause a riot when they entered the lobby and fans were lined up with cameras. I don't think there is a nicer couple in Hollywood when it comes to fans. They posed for pics, signed things and looked happy and relaxed. Forest Whitaker was also working the line tirelessly as was Penelope Cruz. When Abigail Breslin, the little girl from "Little Miss Sunshine" was giving an autograph, I thought: 'How cute, some star is letting her daughter give a fan an autograph." Duh! I soon realized who it was! Mellissa Ethridge, looking terrific, caused a frenzy and radiated such great energy as she interacted with fans.
Once the stars made it past the fans and a roomful of photographers, they entered the ballroom with an entrance crammed with superstars, legends and other nominees. When former Academy President and Oscar winner Karl Malden, now into his 90s, made his way to the door, Clint Eastwood quickly walked over to warmly greet him. Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg chatted against a back wall, out of eyeshot of most people. Djimon Hounsou stood near the entrance with his manager, looking dapper in a dark suit.
Now here's a scary moment for Peter O'Toole. He walks into the ballroom and the first face he see is...ME! Maybe I was the one who was scared. I had not thought he was coming since he missed the SAG Awards last week and the Golden Globe Awards in January. But there he was wearing a tan jacket and looking pleased to be among his peers. Our eyes met and I said: 'Peter O'Toole!" He smiled and said, "Hello." Then I said, "Good luck!"
Real articulate.
A few minutes, I see O'Toole hugging the very funny Bruce Vilanch who is usually on the writing staff for the Oscar telecast. They chat for a long while and at one point, O'Toole is petting Vilanch's trademark mop-top of blonde hair. After they parted, I walked over to Vilanch, who I have met several times in the past and said, "Do you and Peter O'Toole go way back?"
Bruce: "I'm the O'Toole family's pet Jew. I did 'An Evening with Peter O'Toole,' a one-man stage show, so I've known him for over 20 years. Whenever he comes into town, I get petted."
We both laugh. I laugh again when Helen Mirren walks in, with a friend, and is stuck in the middle of the crowd. She says: I don't know where we go here. Perhaps nowhere."
At one point, I stopped and took in my surroundings. Literally within a 10-feet radius of me are Penelope Cruz talking to Guillermo del Toro, Forest Whitaker, Will and Jada, Eddie Murphy and Sherry Lansing. It's surreal, and really terrific fun.
And lunch has not even started yet at this point. Will tell ya all about that in the next post.