Arts & Entertainment

The Night of 100 Stars Oscar Viewing Party

The most sought after Oscar viewing party can be found every year at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

While Academy Award nominees walked the red carpet Sunday at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, about 200 film and television stars were simultaneously walking another red carpet in Beverly Hills.

Veteran music agent Norby Walters held his annual "Night of 100 Stars" Oscar viewing party at the on Sunset Boulevard.

Walters’ parties began 21 years ago as small, private poker parties. Today his event has become the Oscar viewing party in the area. For many of the attendees, it's a long-standing tradition.

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Among the veteran attendees are iconic stars of film and television such as Ernest Borgnine, Richard Dreyfuss, Shirley Jones and Gary Busey. Even celebrity astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his wife Lois attend every year.

The formal black tie dinner allows celebrities to watch the awards ceremony on large television screens in the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom and is considered the next best thing to being at the Oscars themselves.

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Even though the event has much of the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, complete with a crush of press angling to take photos of the best-dressed celebrities and capture the wittiest sound bites on the red carpet, for attendees it’s more of a laid-back affair. It's a chance to catch up with old friends, hang out at the bar and cheer on the Oscar nominees, many of whom they voted for.

“It’s like a huge reunion,” said attorney to the stars Gloria Allred. "I love catching up with all my old friends.”

Gregory Itzin, best known for his role as the evil President Charles Logan on the television show 24, said the event “is a chance to get to see a lot of old friends that I don’t see during the year.” He said he missed the event last year because he was performing in the musical Enron on Broadway.

As to the rumors of a 24 movie being made, Itzin said, “I’ve heard that there may be a movie, but nobody’s called me up yet.”

As the celebrities snaked their way along the winding red carpet inside the hotel, their hopes and predictions for the big awards turned out to be spot on. Many believed that The King’s Speech would win the best picture award  and it did.

Actress Sean Young thought the film would win, but was among a few who hoped it wouldn’t. Young, who is currently starring in General Hospital and just completed a stint on Skating With the Stars, said she was rooting for Inception.

“But I bet it will be The King’s Speech," she said. “We never appreciate our own people, because we’re so impressed with a foreign accent. The King’s Speech is a wonderful movie, but it should win in Britain!”

Just about everyone, including Young, was rooting for Natalie Portman to win the best actress award, which she did. Dick Van Patten of Eight Is Enough fame said he had his fingers crossed for Portman.

“I married a dancer," he said. "I love dancers.”

Lea Thompson brought her teenage daughter Zoe Deutsch with her to the party and both said they hoped that Portman would win.

“Both my mom and I are dancers,” said Deutsch, who currently appears on Disney’s The Suite Life of Zach and Cody. That may be news to some people who probably best remember Thompson from Back to the Future.

Loretta Devine has been attending the Night of 100 Stars party for several years. She was also pinning her hopes on Portman, and Melissa Leo to win the best supporting actress statue for her role in The Fighter. Leo did not disappoint.

Devine has a recurring role on Grey’s Anatomy as Adele Webber, wife of the hospital’s chief of staff Richard Webber. Her character may or may not have Alzheimer’s, but all Devine would say about her current story arc was that “It looks like I’m in trouble, doesn’t it?”

Veteran comedic actress Doris Roberts didn’t seem too concerned about making predictions though.

“I just love all the hoopla that’s happening tonight,” she said.

There was certainly no shortage of hoopla at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Teenage stars in plunging, low-cut gowns mingled with more demurely dressed and established performers. Walters could also boast several guests that you wouldn’t find on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre, including dozens of Playboy playmates and porn star Jenna Jameson.

Walters said he invited more than 75 of the playmates and models as an ongoing tribute to his late friend Anna Nicole Smith, who used to attend the event.

Nobody has ever said Walters doesn’t know how to throw a great party.


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