Awards News

Cash for these opulent shindigs has a way of annually ebbing and flowing, depending on the number crunchers. There must be an accountant's secret algorithm that calculates cost vs. publicity -- and this year the equation seems to favor having parties.

The Golden Globes have shown there's a lot of money around for parties. There were at least double the number of pre-Globe fiestas this year.

One reason is sponsorship. Magazines including InStyle, GQ, Glamour, Interview and TV Guide have shown they'll pony up big time to be the patrons of a Hollywood award-related affair.

"The magazines see big value in having a party," says longtime event planner Jeffrey Best. "They want talent and celebrities to attend their party, and what better way to do this than have something on an award night."

And the place to go for a connection to an Oscar party is the studios, where the attitude is usually: "If someone else wants to pay for this, then great -- let's have a party."

Outside the range of sponsorship, Oscar night's biggest extravaganza will still be Vanity Fair at Morton's. One change this year: The magazine is putting out the word that it is "trimming the list." How the disinvitees deal with the trauma remains to be seen.

"The tented room will be much smaller this year," says Vanity Fair spokesperson Beth Kseniak. "We have no choice but to have fewer people."

AMPAS will again be in Hollywood & Highland's main ballroom with Sequoia Prods. designing the Governors Ball. Rounding out the Big Three of Oscar parties, the Elton John AIDS Foundation will be at the Pacific Design Center, where recent Grammy winner John Legend will be entertaining the throng.

One big question is whether the studios will have their own Oscar night parties. The problem has been that stars normally stop first at the Governors Ball and then go to Vanity Fair followed, possibly, by the studio soiree. Unlike a horse in a full field at Santa Anita, coming in third in the Oscar-night party race is not where you want to be.

The studios decided years ago that they were better off having a small restaurant party the night before "when everyone is still a winner."

What could change this year is if a magazine -- Us Weekly, InTouch, TV Guide -- picked up the tab for a studio night-of party. The obvious choice would be an indie with nominees, or the Weinstein Co., which has, well, the Weinsteins.

Sunset Strip eatery Katana, for example, has been approached about having an Oscar-night event.

Definitely, the biggest pre-party will be the Motion Picture & Television Fund's Night Before bash at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which last year raised

$4 million. This 4-year-old event was a winner out of the starting gate and looks to get stronger.

Also on Saturday, the Independent Spirit Awards are held in the afternoon in a massive white tent near the beach in Santa Monica. For years Miramax has had an early-evening pre-party. It will be interesting to see if Miramax continues with this, or if the Weinstein Co. grabs this bit of corporate culture.

Friday, the big event is traditionally Ed Limato's annual party at his home. This is also a night when agencies have had parties for their Spirit and Oscar nominees; and when groups with a valid -- though sometimes peripheral -- connection to nominees, say the Italian or French consulate, hold events.

Thursday is usually when events related to the fashion side of the Oscars take place. As an example, W mag once had a lunch for Stella McCartney at a private home in Beverly Hills. Look for jewelers and charities to hold soirees, as well.

Also early in the week, Larry Gagosian often hosts a dinner at Mr. Chow after an opening at his Beverly Hills gallery. SoHo House will be having a number of events during the week, including the Diamond Information Center's party.

Wednesday, Amy Sacco's Bungalow 8 will have an event at BevWilshire's GM Penthouse. On pre-Oscar Tuesday, General Motor's massive "Ten" party will once again be in a tent styled by Rachel Zoe at Sunset and Vine.

And this year the Saks Unforgettable Evening, normally two days after the Oscars, will be held the Wednesday before.