Variety On the Town

Downey's Crowning Moment

It's not unusual for premieres to quickly turn into lovefests as co-stars and directors gush about each other ad nauseam on the red carpet. But instead of spreading the love, the "Iron Man" team has been directing it all towards Robert Downey Jr. At last week's London premiere, Gwyneth Paltrow went so far as to call Downey, "the greatest leading man in Hollywood." Then at Monday's Gotham screening, helmer Jon Favreau said the thesp, "carried the film on his back," while co-star Terrence Howard said, "he’s innovative, he’s fearless, he’s a genius."  Photo: WireImage

Taking a Chance with Mamet

"Everyone in Hollywood passed on the project," Sony Pictures Classics co-chief Tom Bernard said Friday at the Tribeca Film Fest's premiere of David Mamet's latest pic "Redbelt." "We said, we will take a chance because we like David and we have done a lot of great movies with him in the past."

Pic is about a Jiu-Jitsu teacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor) in Los Angeles who runs his studio by the honorable samurai code until greed and corruption threaten to derail his existence. At the preem, Ejiofor said he was not intimidated by Mamet, who he said approached him about the lead role in the film. "He sent me the script and I loved it," the thesp said before adding that he trained "for quite a bit of time in London and Los Angeles before filming began." - Addie Morfoot in N.Y.

Photos: L: Chiwetel Ejiofar; R: David Mamet/ WireImage

Ellen's Missed Photo Op

Ellen DeGeneres presented Janet Jackson with the Vanguard Award during Saturday's GLAAD Media Awards at the Kodak in L.A. Before handing over the kudo to Jackson, DeGeneres joked;  “I looked up the Vanguard Award and the people who have won before are Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor, both have their picture taken with Michael Jackson. Coincidence, I don’t know, I’m just saying, I’ve never had my picture taken with Michael Jackson, and I’ve never won this award.”  photos: WireImage

Tribeca's 'Baby' Talk

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler delivered "Baby Mama" to Gothamites on Wednesday at the film's premiere at the Tribeca Film Fest.  The evening began at the Ziegfeld theater screening where the duo was joined by Robert De Niro, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Sigourney Weaver and Kristen Bell.  During the Museum of Modern Art after-party the ladies got a lot of love from their SNL crew as they celebrated with Jimmy Fallon, Chris Katan and Lorne Michaels. Poehler told USA Today that having the preem in New York was "honestly awesome," since they shot the film in the city. She added that the premiere, "kind of felt like a mini-wedding. Because my parents are here and I'm just nervous."  To read Variety's review of the pic, click here.

Photo: WireImage

Vanity Fair's Toast to Tribeca

Although they canceled their Oscar party, Vanity Fair proved they still know how to throw a lavish fete Tuesday night as Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Lorne Michaels, Harvey Keitel and Edie Falco arrived at the State Supreme Courthouse bash to help kick-off the 7th annual Tribeca Film Festival, which starts Wednesday.

(pictured: VF's Graydon Carter and Larry David, Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld/ WireImage)

Globetrotting Stars: Paltrow, Downey, Kutcher

Rob Corddry, Ashton Kutcher and Lake Bell walked the red carpet in London for the  "What Happens In Vegas" bow, while Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. brought their "Iron Man" pic to Berlin on Tuesday.   Both films have their L.A. premiere next week.                                                                                                                                                                               

Spielberg's Support

Steven Spielberg took on the role of supportive dad as he arrived for a book party celebrating the launch of his son-in-law, Christopher Gavigan's new book "Healthy Child Healthy World" on Wednesday night at Lucques in L.A. Spielberg held court in one of the restaurant's back booths with Kate Capshaw while step-daughter Jessica Capshaw and Gavigan were busy greeting guests such as Jessica Alba and Amy Smart at the People sponsored bash. Gavigan says the birth of his son Luke in September was a big inspirations for the book, which focuses on creating an eco-friendly environment for kids. "This is a book that gives people solutions to prevent things that are known to hurt kids," Gavigan told On the Town. And while the book features contributions from several stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, Gavigan says Spielberg's contribution was providing encouragement. "The only input he gave is inspiration. I live in a very creative family and a family that is constantly talking and challenging each other. They certainly lead by example."  (Photo: Kate Capshaw, Steven Spielberg, Jessica Capshaw and Christopher Gavigan/ BEImages)

De Niro's Comedic Performance

Meryl Streep received a standing ovation as she walked on stage to accept her award from the Film Society of Lincoln Center Monday in N.Y.  She also got loud cheers when a clip from her upcoming film "Mama Mia" was shown. But it was Robert De Niro who got the biggest laughs of the night. As he took the stage to pay tribute to Streep, De Niro admitted he didn't have any anecdotes to share with the crowd saying:

"I just don't have any tales of fun things we used to do. We didn't go to the high school prom together although that would have been fun. I don't think we ever sneaked into Michael Cimino's trailer and played a practical joke although that would have been fun too and I don't remember sleeping together, although…." De Niro said with a grin.

Watch video of De Niro's speech on Defamer here. 

(photo:  Meryl Streep shows off her award/ WireImage)

Kidman and Snoop's Country Side

You may have expected to see Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at the CMT Awards in Nashville on Monday but Snoop Dogg? The rapper arrived wearing a cowboy hat and was a presenter at the kudofest. Yet, if you had been keeping up on your MTV News, you would have seen this coming. During a recent taping of VH1's "Storytellers," Snoop performed the country song "My Medicine" by Everlast and then told the aud "I love country music. Love Johnny Cash."  Read the full story here.  (photos/ WireImage)

Elton John's Puppy Love

If you're Elton John's dog you don't just sit home scratching yourself like other hounds. Instead, you attend glamorous red carpet events and even pose for photos with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley. Tuesday night, Elton's cocker spaniel, Arthur, got groomed for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Hottest Pink Party Ever. So, not only did this dog get to go to a star-studded soiree, he got to go to "the hottest pink party ever." Ever?  Talk about a lucky dog.  (photo: WireImage)

Streep Steps Into 'Dark Matter'

Aidan Quinn, Meryl Streep, Liu Ye and director Chen Shi-Zheng gathered at the Tribeca Film Center in New York on Monday for a special screening of their new pic "Dark Matter." The film is based on the actual events of a Chinese university student who becomes violent after he feels his chances for a Nobel Prize are crushed by school politics.  The pic had been scheduled for release last year but was delayed after the Virginia Tech shootings. It now opens in N.Y on Friday. Watch a clip of the film below:

Stars Show What They 'Can-Do'

See everyone... doing good does make you feel good. Helena Christensen and Gwyneth Paltrow appeared to be in high spirits as they arrived for the Food Bank For New York City's 5th Annual Can-Do Awards on Monday. The evening, hosted by Stanley Tucci, was held at the Chelsea Piers and featured cocktails, dinner, a live auction and performance.

The org works to end hunger in Gotham, distributing food to 1.3 million New Yorkers through approximately 1,000 emergency and community food programs throughout the five boroughs. For more info click here. (photo: WireImage)

Musicians Jump For Juno

Red Carpet Pose of the Week:

Now this is how you accept an award.  Singer Michael Buble isn't afraid to show his excitement upon receiving a Juno Award in Calgary on Sunday. Thirty-two statuettes were handed out at the kudofest that honors Canada’s brightest music stars.  Other winners included Feist and Blue Rodeo. (photo: WireImage)

                                                                                                                                                                           

Clooney's "Leatherheads" kick off

Guests at Monday night's "Leatherheads" premiere were treated to a swinging time at the 1920's styled after-party complete with a big band, swing dancers and the pic's star and director George Clooney. Jon Krasinski who plays the bigshot football player in the film, got a lot of "Office" support at the bash as his skein co-stars Jenna Fischer, Kate Flannery and Angela Kinsey were among the aud at the Chinese Theater screening. Watch Clooney discuss on-set injuries and how he enjoyed yelling at co-star Renee Zellweger in this clip from the preem's red carpet.