BLAST TO THE PAST
A crowd of cool cats and kittens hopped off their hot rods and rocked around the clock at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. That’s where a host of Hollywood heavyweights were on hand to help the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization and celebrate the fabulous ’50s. Local notables Steve Soboroff and David Foster popped in for the Rising Stars 50th Anniversary Gala along with Barbara Davis, Sherry Lansing, Roy Disney, Sidney Potier and Wayne Brady.
Always adorable Dakota Fanning made the rounds with a precious golden retriever pup, which fetched top dollar at the live auction. The 11-year-old actress also received one of the group’s Rising Star Awards. But with 22 credits to her name, including “I Am Sam,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “War of the Worlds,” Dakota probably won’t be considered a “rising” star for long.
Other honorees included funnyman Nick Cannon and “13 Going on 30’s” Renee Olstead. Entertainment exec Richard Cook was given the Walt Disney Award, while Ms. Lansing received the Legacy Award.
The bash really got rocking after celeb deejay Rick Dees introduced Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Fab Frankie had scenesters dancing in the aisles with hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “Sherry.”
The bopping bash raised a cool $1 million for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Crazy!
FASHION 911
It’s time to start dressing up for Academy Awards, but not before giving a few fashionably challenged folks a little dressing down. In a tradition almost as old as the Oscars, Mister Blackwell has come out with his 46th annual Worst Dressed List.
Kicking things off, Mr. B finds Renee Zellweger’s red carpet wear beyond the edge of reason. Renee is in good company with teen queen Lindsay Lohan, songbird Shakira, geezer squeezer Anna Nichole Smith and Greek-loving celebutante Paris Hilton, all making the top ten.
Coming in at No. 5, Blackwell applauds Mariah Carey’s musical emancipation, but says “leave that body to our imagination.”
The fashion faultfinder puts Eva Longoria on his list of desperate divas while telling Jessica Simpson to forget Nick, “divorce your designer.” Mary-Kate Olsen meantime bums her way into the No. 2 spot for her disheveled, brother-can-you-spare-a dime duds.
As for No. 1, the winner is… Malibu mom Britney Spears. In Blackwell’s words, the former teen cutie has gone from “princess of pop to fashion flop.”
But the clothing critic doesn’t have unkind cuts for all. He gives a thumbs up to several Hollywood stunners, including Nicole Kidman, Scarlet Johansson, Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst. Sew there!