Diller, Graydon Put Oscar Parties on Chiller, But Others Plow Ahead

With the writers’ strike and all, what’s goin’ on with the Oscar parties? Vanity Fair’s is canceled, the magazine said in a statement on Tuesday. Feb. 5. Barry Diller’s annual luncheon is also off, a spokeswoman, Leslie Cafferty, confirmed to the Transom.

But art dealer Larry Gagosian is still having his shindig, this year celebrating the paintings of artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel. “It is an annual art opening he has been doing for more than 10 years,” said his publicist, Nadine Johnson. “He never considered canceling it.”

As of last week, word was that Dani Janssen, former wife of the late actor David Janssen, had canceled her exclusive jamboree. But with the weekend’s news of progress in talks between the Writers Guild and the studios … “I assume it’s back on,” said her friend, producer Fred Zolo.

Heiress Betsy Bloomingdale is definitely proceeding with her party. “I’ve got the menu,” she said. “I was over at Spago. And Wolf [Puck, the chef there] is planning on doing his thing. You’re prepared and you unprepared. I have my regular old guest list.”

Agent Ed Limato’s party, however, is off. “I just don’t feel like celebrating,” he told Daily Variety. And the Endeavor Agency is doing something much more subdued than last year’s bash at super-agent Ari Emanuel’s house in Brentwood. “It’s going to be mostly for our nominated clients,” said a spokeswoman.

Fox Searchlight, which distributed Juno, has opted against a bash like they did at Dominic’s in West Hollywood last year. "It was something we decided not to do this year—but it wasn't solely because of the strike," said Michelle Hooper, senior vice president of publicity and promotions at Fox Searchlight.

She noted that at least the Oscars’ Eve party, hosted by the Motion Picture & Television Fund at the Beverly Hills Hotel, was definitely still on. Excitement!