Daniel Benedict and Andrew Saffir Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

Britney Spears is going home to the family for Christmas sans boyfriend(s). One of the Olsen Twins has dyed her hair. I don't know which one. I still can't tell them apart. Sienna Miller is off her vodka diet to get in shape for "The Factory Girl." Lindsay Lohan has stopped hanging with Paris Hilton and is drying out. The Lance Bass "forever" relationship with Reichen Lehmkuhl is kaput. Marc Jacobs is still seeing lots of Jason Preston despite catching Preston smooching with gossip scribe Perez Hilton. Tom Cruise's rating with the public has sunk faster than the Titanic. A new Gallup Poll states only 12% of respondents would make the effort to see a Tom flick. Now that I've answered all your burning questions let's talk about people we really care about.

Alan Alda has had presidential aspirations in the past – but the Big Number 1 job? Yup, now Alda can add the Almighty to his resume thanks to the Roundabout Theater revival of "The Apple Tree." The actor is the Voice of God in the smashing revival of the 1966 musical by Jerry Bock and East Hampton's Sheldon Harnick. Kristen Chenoweth of "Wicked" fame will star as Eve. Interestingly Alda was nominated in 1967 for the role of Adam in the musical.

Southampton's Daniel Benedict and Andrew Saffir and their Cinema Society screenings continue to pull in the bold faced names. Their recent screening of the Marilyn Monroe classic "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" pulled in a host of Hamptonites and fashionistas. Tossing their tresses, blonde or otherwise at the Soho Grand, were Debbie Brancroft, Patsy Raynes, Amanda Hearst, Beth Ostrosky, Kelly Killoren Bensmon, Nina Griscom, Ivanka Trump, and Alexandra Richards. Not to be outdone Rufus,
the Earl of Albemarle, donned a platinum blond wig that looked great with his beard.

MM singing "Diamonds are a Girl's Best friend" got folks talking whether diamonds are forever – or for never – with the current controversy over conflict diamonds raised in the Leonardo DiCaprio thriller "Blood Diamond". Before everyone goes into PETA frenzy (stashing their minks in the back of the closet) you can simply ask your jeweler for a certificate of authenticity which most will readily provide. Or you can shop vintage at Hollis Reh Shariff, Gems of the Past, or London Jewelers. Better yet do as Marilyn advises "Talk to me Harry Winston Tell Me All About It". The fabled jewelry house which has dressed Hollywood royalty and real blue bloods has been purchased by Aber of Canada which mines its own diamonds up north. Last time we heard there were no civil wars in Canada. If you're still felling uneasy go the Swarovski route and only your jeweler will know the difference.

On the subject of bright, shiny, glossy things check out the sure to be Oscar contender, "Dreamgirls", adapted from the sensational Broadway musical of 25 years ago. While Beyonce and Jamie Foxx share the above the title star billing, it's Eddie Murphy portraying James "Thunder" Earley and Jennifer Hudson as Effie who steal the film.

After a number of real dogs, Murphy really hits with his portrayal of a James Brown like soul singer and Hudson, though not quite as heart wrenching or roof-raising as Jennifer Holiday in the original, still manages to wring out tears for the ugly duckling of The Supremes-like Dreams. It's a great story of how Black artists were ripped off and used, time and time again by the recording industry.

Regretfully, one of the staunchest champions for African American musical artists passed away this week, Ahmet Egrtegun the legendary founder of Atlantic Records. As readers will remember, Ahmet was injured in a fall months ago during the filming of the Rolling Stones Birthday salute to former President Bill Clinton. He never recovered from his injuries and the music industry and music lovers will miss him and so will the folks in Southampton where he summered.

Happily some old traditions never change like coming out parties and debutante balls. Call me old fashioned but I'd love to get all gussied up, enter a ballroom with two handsome escorts, make a deep bow…then party like mad as Cornelia Guest did some years ago.

Peter Boyle Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

At this year's Le Bal Carillon in Paris, twenty four of the world's toniest teens were introduced to society including two local girls with serious money/arts pedigrees. Zara Beard, daughter of famed photographer Peter Beard and his elegant wife Nejma who hails from a prominent Afghani family, made her entrance in a gold Dior by John Galliano.

Southampton's Jay and Vivian Mellon, as in The Mellons, proudly watched 16 year old daughter Angier gracefully alighted into the opulent ballroom in dark blue Christian Lacroix. I'd bet my Prada bag she was wearing Jimmy Choo's – her cousin Matthew Mellon married Choo's President Tamara Yeardye at the Mellon estate last year.

While I won't be walking like a princess through a grand ballroom, I plan on filling my tiny cottage with scented candles in five fragrances from Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York's new line for Slatkin and Company as soon as they hit the stores. Of course, I'll don my Sarah Ferguson costume jewelry (replicas of some of her own precious baubles) run a bubble both and feel as regal as all get out. Savvy Harry Slatkin, who donates his exotic candles to all the top East End events, was the man who launched the Elton John Candle in the Wind tribute to Princess Diana.

I was slightly dismayed that my favorite catwalk queen Heidi Klum of Project Runway fame didn't score higher in the "familiarity" high profile models survey by Manhasset based Marketing Evaluations released last week. But then I thought, hmmm, she's happily partnered with Seal, just had a baby and looks fabulous (bitch), wasn't in a messy husband cheating scandal, didn't bonk a housemaid with a cell phone and doesn't do drugs. That explains it a bit.

Dying to know who gets the primo nod? None other than America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks. Cindy Crawford with all of her lucrative Revlon, Pepsi and fitness video deals is number 2. Christie Brinkley ranks 3 – you know why, Naomi Campbell of cell phone tossing fame is 4, Kate Moss needled us at 5, our favorite Aussie Elle MacPherson ranked only 6 and our Heidi only 7. Still she has that sweet contract with Mouawad the big, big Euro jewelers, so I'm not feeling too sorry - maybe just a little jewel-ous.

Just heard that my old on-the-front-lines of the red carpet-buddy photographer James Edstrom of Times Square Gossip.com has finally settled a long drawn out law suit (10 years) with the Baldwin Family over a picture NOT taken. Edstrom who had volunteered side by side with the family matriarch Carol Baldwin for her breast cancer foundation claimed he was promised an exclusive family photo op with the boys Alex, Billy, Steven and Daniel, which never materialized. Nobody's talking about the settlement (the photo would have possibly netted Edstrom big bucks) but he and Mama Baldwin exited the courtroom arm in arm – a picture perfect ending.

Not so cherry a holiday for many on the East End who learned of the death of neighbor Peter Boyle last week. With wife Lorraine, the former star of "Everybody Loves Raymond" was regularly seen at local events cultural and otherwise. Many will remember him for his tap dancing monster in the Mel Brooks classic "Young Frankenstein". Interesting trivia note: Peter and his wife, a Rolling Stone Reporter, were such friends with Yoko Ono and John Lennon that the former Beatle served as the best man at their wedding. Everybody Loved Peter.