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GossipCop: GossipCop Makes It Inside
By Michael Lewittes
7:33 - Peter O'Toole is by the bar, but not drinking. I asked him about the pillows he stole under his sweater from the Vanity Fair party on Thursday. He said, "I didn't think anyone noticed."
Sacha Baron Cohen, Isla Fisher and Cohen's parents clicked glasses at the bar and the family said, "L'Chayim" (to a happy and healthy life). Cohen's father said it was a weird category for him to be nominated in.
6:45 - He smiled and laughed. Eddie and Tracey are holding hands.
6:44 - Eddie's on his cell by the bar with Tracey Edmonds and Harvey Weinstein.
5:51 - And the Oscars goes to? Wasn't Nicole supposed to say, "And the winner is..."
5:26 - The nominees -- 177 of them -- just practiced standing up. It's going to be part of the opening. They're all going to be asked to stand.
5:11 - Steven Spielberg is in a deep conversation with Djimon Honsou as the director's wife Kate Capshaw, is in the ladies room.
Meanwhile, Sacha Baron Cohen has parked himself with his fiancee at the end of the second floor by the bar. They've been surrounded by people, including Kirsten Dunst for the past 20 minutes. Now, with drink in hand, he rushed down the stairs to take his seat, which is precisely what I need to do.
4:46 - She was just convinced by an escort her to take her seat. She's visibly nervous, practically having a hard time breathing.
At the closed bar, Jennifer Lopez was just handed a glass of champagne.
4:43 - This year there's even more security inside. In the old days once you were in the Kodak you could go wherever you wanted. Now, you can only mingle on the floor of your ticket -- at least that's how it is before the Oscars have begun.
Jennifer Hudson was just given a glass of cranberry juice from a bar that's closed. The bartender then wished her luck. A few seconds after downing the drink, she made choking sounds and walked toward a wall to be by herself. She seems better now. She's reading through her acceptance cue cards RIGHT NOW!
Also, her speech is on HANDWRITTEN index cards.
4:24 - Seems to be a problem by security. They just said, "shut 'em down," and no one can get through the security.
I had a hard time being let onto the red carpet. Security has been extra tight this year. Fortunately a policeman recognized me and escorted me in, but it took 30 extra minutes.
Whatever the problem was has been fixed and they are letting people through security again.
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