LOS ANGELES – Ryan Seacrest Talks About Ellen DeGeneres’ ‘Sexual Tension,’ ‘Idol’ Director Disses Paula Abdul?
While we’re sure Ryan Seacrest misses his former colleague Paula Abdul, the (very rich) television host is excited for the err, “energy” the newly appointed Ellen DeGeneres will bring to the hit FOX show.
“We love Ellen, she is a superstar. She will change the sexual tension,”Seacrest told us at the Emmy’s on Sunday night. “Simon and Paula had a specific sort of tension, but this will be quite different…”
However fellow judge Randy Jackson (who went out of his way to greet Kim Kardashian and gasp at her lush curves amid the red carpet madness) told Tarts that he’s already got DeGeneres sorted.
“She’ll be following my lead, I’ve told her to watch the dog,” he explained.
Winner of Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Kristen Chenoweth and recent “Idol” guest judge also weighed in on the debate.
“I’m sad that she (Abdul) left because I think she had a heart, but I also think Ellen will fill that void,” said the petite blonde after wiping away her Emmy-winning tears of joy. “A lot of people will give Ellen a lot of guff for not being a trained singer… She represents a lot of America and there is nothing wrong with having her on that panel at all.”
We also caught up with ex -“Idol” Producer Nigel Lythgoe (who was disappointed but not surprised that the show once again lost to Amazing Race) at the FOX Emmy After Party and he too had quite a DeGeneres opinion.
“I think she’ll create another style, very different from Paula. If Paula disagreed with Simon she would hit him,” Lythgoe told Tarts. “But if and when Ellen disagrees with him she’s going to hit him with a tongue lashing.”
However the most eyebrow-raising “A.I.” comments of the night actually came from the show’s lone winner of the night, director Bruce Gowers.
“I think there’ll be a lot more fun on the show than there was before,” Gowers said backstage. “I think we’re going to get even higher ratings.” Ouch.
Shock of the Night: Tina Fey Wins With Palin, Loses With ’30 Rock’
’30 Rock’s’ Tina Fey was undoubtedly the hot favorite to take out the Emmy for Best Comedy Actress, but the academy just wasn’t willing to give her a golden statuette in that category for the second year in a row.
A hush fell over the auditorium as “United States of Tara” starlet Toni Collette took the honors instead (even she said backstage that she was surprised) and presenter Justin Timberlake appeared a little perplexed by Collette’s win, or more-than-like Fey’s loss. So while her work on “30 Rock” wasn’t a winner, Fey did pick up an Emmy last weekend for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her SNL impersonation of Sarah Palin.
But the comedienne didn’t seem too interested in talking about the former Alaskan governor, which ultimately catapulted her into a whole new level of fame, as Ms. Fey quickly put her head down and ran away when she spotted FOX on the red carpet. A little shy?
However Hollywood would not be Hollywood without all the politics, despite the fact the Presidential elections were almost a year ago it seemed some were still on the campaign trail. Jon Stewart was slated to take the mic after “The Daily Show” took out Best Writing, but instead an unidentified writer jumped in just to say that he has “nothing to say since George Bush left the office.”
Alec Baldwin also went on and on backstage about how happy he was that Obama was “out there” unlike a certain – ahem – other President who “wasn’t out there enough” (if you care the “30 Rock” actor said he has no plans to run for office at this point in time) and “Young and the Restless” actress Victoria Rowell even wore a dress with Obama’s face all over it to the otherwise haute couture affair.
Heidi Klum Worried About Going into Labor at Emmys
While so many starlets go to great lengths to disguise their baby bellies, Heidi Klum (who is eight months pregnant with number four) showed off her very bountiful bump in a form-fitting black dress and didn’t even seem slightly phased by the 90-degree heat as she roamed the red carpet calmly while hubby Seal supplied the water.
And even though a little extra sweat wasn’t a bother, the supermodel turned TV host had another concern on her mind.
“I’m in my last month now so it could happen anytime,” Klum told Tarts on the red carpet. “It could happen now!”
But back to Seal, it turns out that no matter how big you are in the business rules are rules – almost. Pop Tarts spies spotted the music mogul being turned away from the bar about 40 minutes before the live telecast kicked off, as a general rule the organizers close it early in an effort to lure the crowd in to the auditorium.
Thankfully for Seal however, an official quickly hurried over and had the bar reopened so that he could at least purchase popcorn.
A few minutes late “Entourage’s” Rex Lee also made a beeline for the VIP bar but was given the cold shoulder. As a consolation, he insisted on a cigarette but tragically, his publicist had lost his lighter.
Pop Tarts Scene & Herd
Kellie Pickler and her pals enjoying Coronas and vodka shooters at Tootsies Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway in Nashville after her performance with Taylor Swift and Gloriana across the street at Sommet Center last Saturday night.
Bill Murray enjoying Hype energy drinks at the Greenhouse party for Get Low last Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival. Later in the night, he tipped the bar tender very generously and when the bar tender refused, Murray insisted saying “I have enough money, why not spread it around?” Also inside, Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek shared a bottle of 360 Vodka.
Vanessa Minnillo departing LAX on Saturday, looking super sexy in Dylan George jeans.
Lydia Hearst sipping Veuve Clicquot backstage before opening the Karolina Zmarlak show at Hotel Griffou during NY Fashion on Sunday.
Matt Damon hosting a small charitable fundraising event (but raising over one million) for ONEXONE on Sunday night, honoring former President Bill Clinton during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Jennifer Garner attending the gala screening of ‘Invention Of Lying’ during the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday.
Charlize Theron all smiles at C Magazine’s LA Premiere of “The Burning Plain” at Bond Street Beverly Hills on Monday night.
Kelly Clarkson lamenting on how Patrick Swayze was the first celeb she met after winning ‘Idol’ and he sought her out as a fan before taking the stage at the Hollywood & Highland Center for the Samsung AT&T Summer Krush Concert on Monday night.
Helena Christensen, Bjork, Milla Jovovich, Peter Sarsgaard, Jared Leto and Kirsten Dunst attending 42BELOW Vodka’s Another Magazine’s 17th issue launch party at the Jane Hotel in NYC on Monday night.
Kara DioGuardi and reality star Bethenney Frankel chatting away like old friends at the Badgley Mischka Spring 2010 collection during fashion week, in New York on Tuesday.
Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian stopping by the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Week Suite at the Bryant Park Hotel on Tuesday to check out the new panty collection and sketches of the upcoming VS Fashion Show.
Jared Leto narrowly missing running into former girlfriend Lindsay Lohan at the Grey Goose Armani party for the Richard Hambleton exhibition in NYC on Tuesday night.
Rachel Zoe, Hilary Duff, Nicky Hilton and Mary J. Blige partying with Dean and Dan Caten, Creative Directors of DSQUARED2 at the launch of their eyewear line at their NY Headquarters on West 28th St on Tuesday night.
Jennifer Aniston arriving fashionably late (and thus dodging the reporters’ questions) to the Los Angeles premiere of “Love Happens” in Westwood on Tuesday night while co-star Aaron Eckhart went on about how the best part of the film was “kissing Jennifer.”
Kevin Connolly enjoying lunch at the Maloof Estate on Wednesday while learning more about the Noreen Fraser Foundation’s ‘Focus on A Cure’.
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried playing catchup with writer Diablo Cody (Fox was talking about getting an Elvis tattoo) while rocking out to Panic! At the Disco at the Hollywood and Highland center on Wednesday night.
Mark-Paul Gosselar reuniting with Tiffani Amber Thiessen at Three-O Vodka’s “Invention of Lying” New York red carpet screening on Wednesday night. Other partygoers included Hilary Duff, Mark Ronson, Katherine McPhee, Mena Suvari, Kathy Griffin, Ricky Gervais and Katie Lee Joel.
Newly crowned Miss California Tami Farrell talking about how excited she is about her new role (after the dethroning of Carrie Prejean) and how she wants to be the best role model and representative of the Golden State while having her makeup down at Valerie Beverly Hills on Wednesday night.
Martin Scorsese talking about his “fascination for clothes” at Kimberly Ovitz’s first ever presentation at New York Fashion Week on Wednesday.
Charlie Sheen dropping by the Seven ’til Midnight booth at Silverspoon’s pre-Emmy retreat with wife Brooke Meuller on Thursday to pick out several naughty costumes and unmentionables for her to wear for the boudoir.
Hugh Laurie talking about how nervous he gets before screenings while hanging out with co-stars Olivia Wilde and Lisa Edelstein at the Season 6 premiere of “House” at Hollywood’s Arclight Cinerama Dome on Thursday night.
Vanessa Williams, Amanda Bynes, Kelly Rutherford (playing with the Heidi Klum Barbie), Mena Suvari, Jennifer Esposito, Katharine McPhee, Kelly Bensimon, Gretchen Mol, Joy Bryant, Laila Ali, Sanya Richards and Lucy Sykes celebrating the “new Ann” on Thursday at Ann Taylor’s first “See Now, Wear Now” runway show, which debuted the new collection under designer Lisa Axelson in NYC.
Pitbull hitting the stage Thursday night at the 9th annual Alma Awards, where he performed using the Pepsi Refresh Player which allowed him to digitally integrate Sheila E, Willy Chirino, Arturo Sandoval and Papo Vasquez into his hit song “I Know You Want Me”.
A super pregnant Heidi Klum donning a tight black dress while schmoozing at the L.A Confidential party at a private residence in Beverly Park on Thursday night.
Sarah Silverman telling everyone to “wash their hands” (because she was sick) at the EW/Women in Film Pre-Emmy party at the Sunset Marquis Hotel, before partying alongside the likes of Gabriel Byrne, Sharon Stone, Audrina Patridge and Dave Navarro.
Sean Penn, Stuart Townsend and Isla Fisher observing Amazon Watch’s LA Premiere of “Crude, The Real Price of Oil” on Thursday night as guests enjoyed eco-friendly VeeV cocktails like the VeeV Rainforest on the Rocks and Basil Gimlet.
Lauren Conrad going straight from LAX (back from New York) to relax with a Signature Kate Somerville facial at her signature store on Melrose Place on Friday.
Will Ferrell talking about doing inappropriate things on frat house rooftops while hosting the 16th Annual Cancer for College Golf Tournament on Friday at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego.
Jermaine Dupri enjoying dinner in a private dining room at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday.
AnnaLynne McCord (wearing a leather jacket in the 90 degree heat) while picking out freebies at The Suite Life: Skybar Emmy Suites on Friday, before following around on again/off again boyfriend Kellan Lutz through the HBO Luxury Lounge on Saturday. The two flirted while sipping Celsius and she refused to leave until he did…
Paris Hilton polishing off two plates of M Cafe food at the Kate Somerville Salon on Saturday, while Olivia Wilde spent over four hours being pampered with a signature facial, mani, teeth whitening and blowout by Fekkai artist Alexandre.
Eddie Murphy hosting a surprisingly tame but lavish bash to watch Floyd Mayweather fight it at, at his Beverly Park mansion on Saturday night.
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