By Joel Stratte-McClure
LA.com

"I really gotta use the bathroom," a grimacing Sean "Diddy" Combs said as he rushed into the 16th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar viewing party in the gigantic tent outside the Pacific Design Center and headed to the port-a-potties.

He wasn't alone. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who held hands throughout the night, had just left the toilets and were chatting with Simon Cowell. Nearby, Minnie Driver and T.R. Knight discussed why being at Elton's bash was preferable to going to the Oscars.

"The Oscars are for fancy people, not for me," said Knight as Rupert Murdoch strolled by.

"Hitting a great party is a fantastic way to spend Oscar night if you're not nominated," added Driver, who refused to comment on rumors that she might be pregnant.

John once again proved to be the hottest host in town. He left partner David Furnish, Mary J. Blige, Billy Joel, Sharon Stone, Josh Groban, DeGeneres and de Rossi in their seats at his table and diligently thanked each of the other 692 donors attending his charity evening.

"This is our prime fundraising event in North America, and we're very grateful that the writers strike ended and the Academy Awards took place or we would have really been in trouble," John explained as he greeted Sean Penn, Larry King, Eva Herzigova, Kate Beckinsale, Charlie Sheen, Christian Slater, Faye Dunaway, John Waters, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Richie, Prince, Stevie Wonder and other guests, including Tim Allen, who was attending his 16th consecutive Elton John Oscar party. "It's got to be a fun night because people pay a lot of money to come and I want to make sure they feel welcome."

Tables, priced at $50,000 each, and an auction raised a record-breaking $5.1 million for the charity that supports HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries.

Stone and John both indicated they would go to any lengths to help the cause.

"I'm here whoring for money tonight," Stone blithely admitted as she raised the bidding to $1 million for a 1974 Corvette she had donated.

"I'll take my trousers off if it will increase the bidding," John chimed in after eating a five-course, three-hour-long meal prepared by Renato Piccolotto from the Cipriani Hotel in Venice, Italy.

"I would, too, but everyone's already seen me," added Stone.

Naturally, some people came just to party.

"I'm single and ready to mingle," said Tara Reid as she eyed lovebirds Penn and Petra Nemcova, who couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Best actress Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, nominees Tom Wilkinson and Amy Adams, and Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford dropped in after the Oscars to hear John perform with Blige and Jack Shears of Scissor Sisters.

And what was next on the host's agenda?

"The highlight of the party, for me, is going home afterwards, having a hot chocolate and being grateful that we raised a lot of money," concluded John.

Diablo Cody's got the Spirit
Beaming stripper-turned-screenwriter Diablo Cody arrived at Shutters on the Beach late Saturday afternoon carrying the first best screenplay trophy she'd just picked up for "Juno" at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. (She went on to pick up an Oscar on Sunday.)

Cody nursed an Absolut Avant Garde cocktail as Matt Dillon, Steve Buscemi, John Waters, Ruby Dee, Parker Posey, Ricki Lake, Maggie Grace, Marcus Call Franklin and the Whitest Kids U' Know crew negotiated the warren of rooms illuminated with pink and blue neon lights.

But she seemed comparatively mellow as the boisterous crowd gyrated to DJ Samantha Ronson's music.

"I'm usually pretty confrontational, but they've medicated me heavily today," she joked as she chowed down on mini-cheeseburgers and chocolate truffles stamped with the IFC (Independent Film Channel) logo.

The hit of the after-party basked in the success of the coming-of-age teen comedy, which also won best feature and best actress on Saturday. But she apologized that she wasn't wearing more appropriate footwear.

"This is all so cool that I wish I was wearing red patent pumps or stilettos," Cody concluded. "But I jacked up my foot permanently stripping so I've got to wear flats for the rest of my life."