Sideshow | Legends open with a thwack
Yes! Led Zeppelin made it to its super-special reunion gig last night in London's O2 Arena. In a nod to the band's late drummer, John Bonham, who choked to death on his own vomit in '80, Led Zep's newest lad, and John's son, Jason Bonham, opened the show

Yes!
Led Zeppelin
made it to its super-special reunion gig last night in London's O2 Arena. In a nod to the band's late drummer,
John Bonham
, who choked to death on his own vomit in '80, Led Zep's newest lad, and John's son,
Jason Bonham
, opened the show with a thumping, thwacking, skittering drum beat. He was joined by guitarist
Jimmy Page
, 59, bassist
John Paul Jones
, 61, and the screechadelic singer
Robert Plant
, 59, who launched into "Good Times Bad Times," a bluesy affirmation of love despite
petit bourgeois
morals ("what the neighbors say") and despite mankind's loneliness in an empty universe.
Twenty million
fans had tried to score one of 18,000 available tix. One guy paid $168,000 for a pair. (Need a life, yo?)
Fans are desperate to hear the magic words:
Zeppelin will tour.
But, while there had been rumors, no such announcement came during last night's concert. What fans did hear was a just-over-two-hour, 16-song set likely to set off more calls for a world tour.
Rege on the carpet
Extraordinarily marvelous media industry news: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that veteran TV personality
Regis Philbin
will host the
official
pre-Oscar Red Carpet Pre-Show on ABC, which will precede the official Academy Awards show and extravaganza Feb. 24 live from Tinseltown.
"Regis is the perfect guy to serve as host. He knows everyone, and everyone loves Regis," said Oscar producer Dennis Doty, sounding not a little condescending. (Or is my
Inner Rege
being too sensitive?)
The 76-year-old Rege hosted the Red Carpet show 30 years ago.
No concert for Sierra
American Idol
reject
Jessica Sierra
has been rejected by American patriotism itself. E!Online says Jessica's invitation to perform at a patriotic concert Friday in D.C. has been revoked following her recent arrest. Jess, who is currently in a Tampa jail awaiting a Dec. 20 hearing, was arrested Dec. 1 and charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest for her part in a nightclub melee.
"Sierra needs to devote a great deal of time to putting her life back together," retired Air Force Lt. Col.
Buzz Patterson
, an organizer of the concert for the troops, said in a statement. No comment from Jess' lawyer.
Critics in the Apple
The New York Film Critics Circle yesterday honored
No Country for Old Men
with a best-picture award. Adapted from the
Cormac McCarthy
novel,
No Country
, which made a big splash at Cannes, also was awarded best-screenplay and best-director prizes, for both
Joel
and
Ethan Coen
.
Gentle Canadian
and
acting powerhouse
Sarah Polley
was rewarded for her directorial debut,
Away From Her
, which won a best-first-feature ribbon. The film also won best actress for the incomparable
Julie Christie
.
Daniel Day-Lewis
won best actor and
Robert Elswit
best cinematography for the third multi-award winner,
There Will Be Blood
.
Cruising with the Spice Girls
Displaying yet again their enormously sophisticated tastes in music, the reigning monarchs of the pod people,
Tom Cruise
and
Katie Holmes
, on Sunday attended their second
Spice Girls
concert in less than a week, this time in Vegas. The Cruises, who are personal friends with Posh Spice, a.k.a.
Victoria Beckham
, had already graced Thursday's Spice show at the Staples Center in Lalaland. In a disturbing report, People.com says the Cruises exposed their child,
Suri
, to those Spicey flesh merchants by taking her to the latter show.
Will Smith: Fresh Prince in Chief
Thanks to USAToday.com for this tidbit: Philly's
Will Smith
will soon relocate the nation's capital to Philly. (Least, that's what I hope.) The
I Am Legend
star tells London's The Mail on Sunday, "I'm going to be President of the United States. I always wanted to be the first black president, but
Barack Obama
stole my idea. That's OK with me. Barack can go first, and then I'll take my turn." Does that mean
Jazzy Jeff
will become the veep? (Or will he only become
The First Spinner?
)
A good lad for a good cause
Alex Etel
, the 13-year-old British child actor who was all charm in
Danny Boyle
's
Millions
and stars in the forthcoming
The Water Horse: The Legend of the Deep
, is scheduled to visit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia today at 2:15 p.m. Later, at 6 p.m., he'll host a red carpet advance screening of
Water Horse
at the Ritz Five. Proceeds will benefit the children's hospital.
Dance the night away . . .
The
Dancing With the Stars
show Feb. 10 at the Wachovia Center will feature two newly added guest performers:
Helio Castroneves
and
Julianne Hough
.