Freida Pinto, relentlessly gorgeous in “Slumdog Milionaire,” is wearing a John Galliano gown in almost-midnight-blue (iris blue?). And she looks, well, gorgeous. It’s a bare-shoulder look, same as Marisa Tomei. Trend?

– Claude Peck

Ms. Rinna has admitted that she went “too far” with filling up her lips. Why does it seem like she’s been plumping up even more. Or maybe she’s trying to distract us with her big helmet hair.

Miley Cyrus’ dress looks a bit like Marion Cotillard’s fish-scaled Gaultier dress from last year. More annoying, it’s not at all age appropriate. She looks like she’s in her mom’s ballgown. Oh, our achy breaky fashion hearts.

Word is that Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe was at Fashion Week last week, hoping to shop off the runways for some of her clients. She was seen schmoozing backstage, trying to turn the runway looks into red carpet exclusives for the starlets she dresses. Given what Zoe was wearing herself last week (she was dubbed “Rachel McSlouchyHat” by New York Magazine’s The Cut), we might expect some pompom hats as seen on the Diane von Furstenberg runway… Or maybe not. I just hope celebrities follow Michelle Obama’s lead and wear American.

Music critic Jon Bream here on the Idol beat on Wednesday night. In an attempt to grab viewers and raise funds, AI brought out the A-list. However, not all the advertised names (Hillary, Barack, McCain, Jim Carrey, Toby Keith, Michael Kors, to name a few) appeared. Oh well. Let’s dish about what happened, not what didn’t happen.

Some thoughts:

* The eight remaining finalists need more rehearsal if they are going to sing as an ensemble. Group singing is different from solo singing; it takes work. Their blend and power were lackluster. However, I did like the dancers from So You Think You Can Dance who joined the Idols on “Please Don’t Stop the Music.”

*Jimmy Kimmel was funnier than his gal pal, Sarah Silverman. Ellen got off a good line: “Hi, it’s me, Oprah.” So did Rob Schneider, when he said “You’d think Bono has enough money to fix wha’ts wrong in Africa. He only has half.” Ben Stiller had a funny bit about fundraising a gugillion dollars near the beginning — and the end– of the show. btw, the show ran 9 minutes long.

* Don’t expect Ryan Seacrest to take over for Jerry Lewis on Labor Day. Ryan has to learn how to cry. 

*Having an orchestra play “Maria” from “West Side Story” when Maria Shriver walked to the stage was so Oscars. Oops, this event was in the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars.

*Speaking of the Oscars, that Generation Gap bit between Billy (I Hosted the Oscars 8 Times) Crystal and Miley Cyrus seemed like lame filler from the Oscars. Robin Williams’ routine about being the Russian Idol was more on-target for baby boomers and younger viewers.

* I’m soooo glad Mariah Carey made it onto Idol. I’m sooo tired of the Mariah wannabes on AI.

What did you think? Please post your comments here:

Just had the pleasure of seeing the new version of “My Fair Lady” at the Orpheum and I’m reminded that it’s got one of the best scores in the history of American theatre. It’s also got a lousy ending. It would sure be interesting to see someone do an updated TV version in which Henry Higgins explains why he’s truly a “lifelong bachelor” and gives his heart to Col. Pickering (Why IS that guy staying in his house for six months anyways?).

What about Kelsey Grammer (who played Higgins in a limited recital) and Anne Hathaway?

TV used to do theater adaptations all the time, but it’s becoming rarer and rarer. I’m too young to remember the heyday, but I do remember 1985’s “Death of a Salesman” with Dustin Hoffman and John  Malkovich. Has to be one of the best things that’s ever played on the small screen. Your faves?