Meanwhile, at Elton John's viewing party, where some of the rest of the stars are right now...
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi arrive hand in hand. Ellen brags that she's sitting at Elton's table. I somehow doubt guests like J.C. Chasez can claim the same.
And Elton tells me he knew it would be okay to throw his annual party despite the strike. "The Oscars have to go on," he told me. "It's a business, and at the end of the day, money talks." Elton also tells us press people he feels for Britney, and if there was anything he could do to help, he would.
Also, it looks like Prince is going to be a busy guy tonight. Rumor has it he'll be taking the stage with Elton later, before throwing his own late-night rager at his Benedict Canyon mansion. No wonder his bash doesn't start until 11 p.m.!Sean Penn hurries by, skipping the entire press line. He does, however, stop right inside the entrance to chat with Chris Noth. Dying to know if Mr. Big really marries Carrie in the Sex and the City movie, maybe? (Okay, maybe that's just me.) Jason Lewis is on the red carpet, and I beg him to tell me one thing about the upcoming movie. "It's good," he offers. Gee, thanks.
T.R. Knight makes a hasty entrance, hand in hand with a cute, dark-haired dude. Looks like someone has brought his boyfriend! Kate Beckinsale and Sharon Stone arrive solo, as does Tara Reid. She seems sober, yet she still manages to trip on her dress. Poor girl.
Minnie Driver is wearing a black flowy frock that does nothing to dispel pregnancy rumors. "No comment," she coyly offers when asked if she's expecting. I notice she doesn't touch the gratis glasses of champagne, though.
—Filed by Cristina Gibson