Here’s one sign that things could be looking up in Hollywood: the return of the gift bag. On Saturday, Evan Handler scored loot at the Saucony & Stride Rite Baby Lounge at the Century Plaza Hotel, including kicks for his kid. And at the same spot the night before, Jeremy Piven, Amanda Bynes, Jewel and Dustin Hoffman walked away with $1,000 worth of goods at the Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis’ “Rock to Erase MS” affair.
But it wasn’t just take, take, take. Angie Harmon (pictured at left with Amanda Bynes) and Jamie Tisch each put in a winning bid of $45,000 to vacation at co-chair Tommy Hilfiger’s paradise abode in Mustique, while the Eagles belted out the event’s theme song “Lean on Me” with Michelle Branch. Really tugging at the heartstrings: "American Idol" contestant David Osmond (the nephew of Donnie and Marie), who was once confined to a wheelchair due to MS but got onstage to perform “Last Day.” By night’s end, $2 million was raised for the cause …
Also serving up dinner and a show: the Noche de Niños Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday night, where Jewel and Raphael Saadiq rocked out for attendees including past award recipient Jennifer Lopez. Honoree Jamie Lee Curtis turned heads, thanks in part to the fluorescent pink wig on her head, which belonged to a now-deceased cancer patient. Once inside, Curtis’ hair-raising behavior continued, most notably when she planted a wet one on the lips of the Governator (see photo below; photos by Getty Images). Cause for the surprise smooch: her “True Lies” co-star presented her with the Entertainment Industry Courage to Care Award for her work with children …
Also Saturday night: Billy Crystal and Paul Reiser got the glitterati giggling for “A Night of a Million Laughs” benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Teen Center. ‘Bu residents, including Linda Thompson and Pierce Brosnan and his fam, supped on “Tickler” and “Belly Buster” courses at La Villa Contenta, also known as the seaside home of Liane and Richard Weintraub.” Following an auction that featured tickets to the Teen Choice Awards and access to a script reading of “The Simpsons,” it was time to party in the poolhouse …
Also poolside: the fifth annual Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards, held on Friday night at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. Diablo Cody, Brian Burke and James Cameron presented Golden Boomerang awards to three emerging Aussie talents: Craig Gillespie, Anna Torv and Sam Worthington. Although Cameron admitted he hasn’t seen a frame of the fourth “Terminator” just yet, he proclaimed that Worthington could give Christian Bale a run for his money (surely he meant in the talent — not tirade — department) …
And the Aussies got celebrated yet again on Saturday, when they scored the win over the Brits during the second annual Westfield Hollywood Ashes cricket match in Van Nuys. Tracey Ullman, who conducted the coin toss, could not provide the much-needed luck for the English team, which included “24”’s Julian Sand and “Dancing with the Stars” judge Len Goodman …
Meanwhile Goodman’s fellow “DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba worked up a sweat alongside dancer Derek Hough, Christina Applegate, Lilly Tartikoff, Marcia Cross, Jordana Brewster and Miley Cyrus at the 16th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum …
And finally, lest you feel bad for Ullman, the weekend was not a wash for the British comedienne. She scored a Lifetime Achievement Award at BAFTA/LA’s 2nd Annual British Comedy Festival at the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday night.
