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Oscar blogBy Todd Leopold  CNN's Todd Leopold SPECIAL REPORT
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSHOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- Editor's note: CNN.com entertainment producer Todd Leopold is covering the Oscars in Hollywood. Here are his observations as tonight's ceremony nears. The maverickEighty-one-year-old Robert Altman has a reputation as a maverick, a director who works outside the system and disdains the Hollywood machine. He doesn't know why that is. "I haven't been on this anti-Hollywood thing that's been tagged on me for some reason," the honorary Oscar winner said backstage. "I've been nominated five times, and I've come every time, and I love it." As for the his apparent anti-studio stance, he said it's just a matter of perspective: "The major studios, they sell shoes and I make gloves. We're just in a little different business, that's all," he said. And, he added, he appreciates the credit, but it's the actors who do the heavy lifting. "They give the performances," said Altman, whose movies include "MASH," "Nashville," "Short Cuts," "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and "Gosford Park." "I watch [them] and say, 'Wow, isn't that good?' " The charming Ms. WeiszRachel Weisz, who won best supporting actress, was getting a reaction from someone the audience couldn't see -- her baby. "With the adrenaline, the baby was going crazy," said the seven-months-pregnant actress. But the award isn't inspiring any ideas. Weisz and partner Darren Aronofsky have discussed many names, "but Oscar isn't amongst them," she said. The engaging Mr. ClooneyGeorge Clooney, jokey and thoughtful as ever, just came through the press room to answer questions on his best supporting actor win in "Syriana." Right away, a reporter wanted to know about the important things: What gay-themed movie would he do, and was he dating Teri Hatcher? "Thank you for those important questions," Clooney deadpanned. Then, more seriously, he said, "The answers are, a sequel to 'Batman [Forever]' would be the gay thing, and I never talk about my personal life. He did talk, however, about his acceptance speech, in which he said he was proud that Hollywood is sometimes a little out of the mainstream. In the press room he noted that movies -- like politics -- run in cycles, and that "These [political] films would have been in the center of the mainstream in 1976." Crowd favoriteTurner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne, acting as emcee on the Red Carpet, asked the crowd behind the ropes to applaud for their favorite among those nominated for best picture. The biggest applause? For "Crash." First celebrity of note goes byIt's Dolly Parton. The jokesterBruce Vilanch, who's been writing Oscar shows for years, just stopped by. Yes, he says, there will be "Brokeback" jokes, but not as many as there could be. "We started out with 10,000 'Brokeback' jokes, and now we're down to 500," he joked. Jon Stewart, he added, will play on the fact that "he's not part of all this." But Stewart is also "a fan -- and that's good to see." "We'll leave the resentment for the audience," Vilanch said. More PuckWolfgang Puck just came by again. He was showing off some of the appetizers for the stars, including sushi, tiny Kobe beef burgers (not available at White Castle), salmon shaped as Oscar and -- for dessert -- dark chocolate Oscars spray painted gold. Other than that, it's a waiting game here in Hollywood -- waiting for the game to be afoot. It's a quarter-past 1 and the first arrivals are due in about an hour. Star turnCNN is rehearsing tonight's show, and I've been drafted to play celebrities. So far: Jamie Foxx, Felicity Huffman and George Clooney. For the record, I resemble none of them. But I wouldn't mind playing poker with George -- and I've been known to curse as if I'm in a David Mamet play, as Huffman has been so often. Hammer timeCNN's AJ Hammer has arrived -- still in mufti -- and I asked him about his Oscar picks. He says they don't vary much from the general predictions -- probably "Brokeback," but he wouldn't be surprised if "Crash" took Best Picture -- but he's wondering if an upset may happen in best actor. Philip Seymour Hoffman was terrific, he says, but there was something special about David Strathairn's turn as Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." "It would be nice if he won," said Hammer. Keep an eye on CNN -- Hammer will be talking to the stars on the red carpet. Seen in a shop window... A T-shirt with the "Brokeback Mountain" line, "God, I wish I knew how to quit you!" So even if "Brokeback" doesn't win the big prize, it's very much entered the language -- more than the other nominees can say. Incidentally, the shirt was seen yesterday at a shop. Today: gone. Meaningful? And perhaps I'm rightWolfgang Puck, the celebrity chef, just walked by the bleachers. In response to cheers, he threw a hand-towel into the crowd. Carnival in HollywoodHaving grown up in New Orleans, I can't help but be reminded of Mardi Gras. Notably, whenever a camera turns to the people in the bleachers, they let loose with a lusty cheer. I half expect to hear, "Throw me something, mister!" You know you're on the red carpet in a gorgeous gown when ...... a makeup woman is putting makeup on your back. Who are you wearing?An Asian reporter is asking female reporters who designed their gowns. The ultimate sign of the media covering the media. If it means anything, I'm in Jones New York. Bleacher creaturesThey've been in place since early this morning. Some have been coming for years. They're the "Bleacher Creatures." One woman, who identified herself as Babe, said this is her 37th year. The first year, 1970, she and her sister were going to go to a Dodger game -- the awards were in April then -- but she convinced her sister to come to the Oscars. They got to the site at 10 a.m., "and there wasn't a soul in the bleachers," she recalls. Now she puts in for tickets months in advance -- which may be easier than camping out for a week in front of the Shrine Auditorium, which is what she and her family used to do. Still, wearing a "Bleacher creature" sweatshirt she had made for the occasion, she still enjoys it. She's got a seat in the front row and she's awaiting the stars. March of the penguinsThe Oscars have a rule: Anybody who might end up on camera must be dressed in formal wear. So not only are on-air correspondents in tux or gown, but so are their producers, production assistants, even security people. Not everyone is yet -- after all, it's only mid-morning here, well before festivities start -- but the number of "regular" people dressed to the nines is striking nonetheless. Last-minute prepsThe red carpet is rolled out and the cameras are in place, but the Oscars aren't completely ready to go. A handful of workers are still delivering flowers -- flowers to fill the tent where the celebrities walk in, flowers to line the walkway, flowers to front the facade of the Kodak Theatre. A florid beginning to a florid day. And there are oddball touches, not all of them intentional. Across the street from the carpet, a radio station is playing music -- the Doors' "Love Her Madly" and late-'80s power ballads. Not exactly "That's Entertainment." 
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