Red-carpet rivalry got physical for potential best-actor Oscar nominees Leonardo DiCaprio and Jesse Eisenberg. Last weekend the pair hit Snap on 14th with a group of pals for a dudes' night out. While watching ultimate fighting on TV, Leo took the opportunity to demonstrate his skills, a source tells us, jumping on Eisenberg's back and locking his head in a"guillotine"hold - much to the amusement of fellow bargoers.
Brittny Gastineau likes birthdays
Sounds like Brittny Gastineau has birthdays on the brain in more ways than one. A source tells us the former reality star, linked in the past few weeks to Olympian Michael Phelps, was spotted on Friday at a Duane Reade at 63rd and First buying a pregnancy test and a birthday card.
That same evening, the dark-haired beauty drank only Diet Coke while celebrating agent Darren Bettencourt's birthday at the Gansevoort Park Hotel's Asellina restaurant, where she seemed quite smitten with foursquare founder Dennis Crowley. A close pal of the 28-year-old confided that Brittny is in New York promoting her Tres Glam jewelry line and"barely has time for a boyfriend, let alone for a baby."A spokesman for Gastineau tells us he doesn't comment on her personal life.
Paterson doesn't want to reverse with Rangel spot
Gov. Paterson was among those who turned up at Elaine's on Friday night to mourn the passing of namesake restaurateur Elaine Kaufman. And since Elaine's saloon was always a place where news was made and discussed, we didn't think she'd mind us asking the governor for his reaction to our report Friday that his name has surfaced as a replacement for recently censured Rep. Charles Rangel - that is, of course, if Rangel, who was resoundingly reelected in November, decides to give up his seat.
As Paterson departed Elaine's he told us he wasn't interested in the job, even after we cajoled him a bit by telling him how"great"he'd be.
"I'd be great for it,"the governor replied."And I'd be going backwards."
Juicy journalism emerges with Vice
The aging hipster: A figure of scorn no more. Vice Magazine co-founder Shane Smith tells Gatecrasher that when MTV was testing out his new show,"The Vice Guide to Everything,"he saw a focus group survey that asked viewers questions like,"Is the host too old? Does the host's age bother you?"Evidently, it did not: 40-year-old Smith got to remain the graybearded face of"globetrotting gonzo journalism."
The show doesn't premiere until Monday, but Vice screened the first two episodes last Wednesday at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema. Afterward, Smith was gregarious, accepting congratulations from a crowd of rum-drinking revelers that included buddies like director Spike Jonze.
Eckhart won't fall for Kidman's set-up
Nicole Kidman: Matchmaker? Aaron Eckhart thinks not. At the"Rabbit Hole"premiere on Thursday at the Paris Theater, we asked Eckhart if he'd ever let his co-star, who has said he'd make"a really good husband,"set him up on a date."No!"the noticeably flustered star laughed."This is so embarrassing. Um, it's sweet of her to say."
But the 42-year-old could have used Kidmans's help at the after-party held at The Plaza hotel's Oak Room: While a source tells us the alabaster beauty left the fete after a brief appearance because she was feeling under the weather, Eckhart stayed an hour and a half longer, but avoided chatting with the swarm of pretty ladies circling him.
Tennis pro calls Elton John 'crafty'
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, hello tennis court. At the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Awards (which honored the Saints' Drew Brees), Billie Jean King told us that her old pal Elton John is a force to be reckoned with when he gets his hands on a racket."He has a great forehand. I don't think a lot of people realize that he plays on tour every morning,"the former tennis pro said."I don't play with him anymore because he doesn't like to hit it back and forth with me. He always wants to hit it away from you and he wants to challenge you. He's very crafty and mean."And she said, she tells him so.
WithCarson GriffithandMolly Fischer
cgriffith@nydailynews.com,mfischer@nydailynews.com
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