TIED TO THE TUBE: The 500 or so bleacher fans who cheer on the stars will be confined to watching the ceremony on TV instead because the sidewalk seats have been removed.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE: An online survey of 2500 likely Oscar viewers finds 87 percent want the show to go on regardless of war with Iraq according to marketing firm New Media Strategies.

FANCY FOOTWEAR: A designer who planned to loan out a pair of ruby and platinum shoes worth $1.2 million is shelving the footwear since the red carpet was rolled up.

STORK WATCH: It's a baby girl for Patricia Arquette and fiancé Thomas Jane.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, due in bookstores in June, will be published with two seperate covers, one for adults and one for children--the children's version will be the only one available to Americans.

WILL NOT ATTEND: Will Smith stepping down as an Oscar presenter Sunday night saying he feels uncomfortable attending the ceremony.

ANALYZE THIS: Anthony Michael Hall being sued by an insurance company for not disclosing a mental illness. The Dead Zone star rang up $612,000 in medical bills during a 2001 hospital stay for bipolar disorder but had failed to tell the show's insurer he suffered from the disease.

TIME OUT: Liza Minnelli doing her annual eight-week stint at a Pennsylvania drug and alcohol rehab center. The singer has been vocal about her alcohol and pain killer addictions in the past.

RECALL: Walt Disney is recalling 40,000 Woody dolls because the doll's buttons could pose a choking hazard to young children. Consumers can contact Disney at 866-228-3664 for a refund.

SHE WON'T GO ON: Celine Dion canceling her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony due to take place on Friday when her star was unveiled saying she didn't feel the hoopla was "appropriate at this time."

NOTHING TO WEAR: Angelina Jolie's Oscar dress and baubles stolen in London on Wednesday from a specially-marked car that was carrying at least 20 gowns earmarked for Sunday's ceremony, reports Reuters.

GOODBYE TO YOU: Michelle Branch filing a petition with the California Labor Commission this week to dissolve her relationship with Madonna's Maverick Records claiming they acted as unlicensed talent agents, reports the New York Post.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE: Eminem's feature debut 8 Mile selling 2 million DVDs and earning an estimated $40 million during the first 24 hours after its release.

MUSICAL MEA CULPA: The Dixie Chicks encouraged to perform a free concert for troops by South Carolina state lawmakers. Lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush but later apologized for the slur.

THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER: Heath Ledger openly criticizing Australian Prime Minister John Howard's deployment of troops to Iraq as "ridiculous." Ledger is in Australia shooting Ned Kelly with gal-pal Naomi Watts.

CURSED: Brett Ratner announcing plans to abandon the Warner Bros. remake of Superman in favor of helming Rush Hour 3, report Variety.

MAN HUNT: Fox tapping Monica Lewinsky to be the host of their new reality series Mr. Personality.

ON THE RIGHT FOOT: Eve joining rapper Fabolous as a Reebok pitch-person on TV and in print. The first spot featuring the two singers will air March 26.

BUH-BYE: Shawna the latest babe booted from Survivor: Amazon which CBS aired Wednesday night to avoid being pre-empted by war coverage on Thursday, while Charles Grigsby was the latest warbler voted off American Idol.

SUDSY ROLE: Kelly Ripa close to inking a deal to star in an ABC sitcom Faith & Hope as a former soap star, reports Variety. The new show would not affect her Live duties.

LIGHTING UP: Best Picture nominee Chicago winning the Hackademy Award from the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails for its gratuitous use of tobacco.

OSCAR ACCESSORIZING: Dustin Hoffman, Jim Carrey, Julianne Moore, Salma Hayek, Ben Affleck, Kirsten Dunst, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Moore among the celebs to wear a "peace pin" at this Sunday's Oscars. The pins are being distributed by Artists United to Win Without War.

THIS IS SOBER?! The very pregnant Catherine Zeta-Jones, joined by costar Queen Latifah and dozens of dancers choreographed by director Rob Marshall, will perform Chicago's Best Song-contending "I Move On" at Sunday's Oscars. Latifah subs for Ren?e Zellweger, who didn't want to sing before a live audience.

PULLING THE PLUG: ABC postponing Barbara Walters' annual pre-Oscars interview special on Sunday night featuring Ren?e Zellweger, Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore, due to the war with Iraq.

OUTTA THERE: Barry Diller, the powerful chairman of Vivendi Universal's entertainment division, has announced his resignation on Wednesday from the cash-strapped company to focus.