Bill Clinton won’t be at the Golden Globes tonight. When I asked him why–at Sean Penn’s Hollywood Haiti fundraiser on Saturday night–he said: “I gotta get home to my grandbaby.” I did try and push a button. “How are you going to get Hillary elected president?” I asked. Even with swarms of movie stars and Hollywood execs around him, Clinton didn’t miss a beat. “First she’s gotta run,” he responded.

With Clinton there, Penn’s Help Haiti Home raised $6 million from tickets and auction items. The ballroom at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills is not large, folks. I’ve been in bigger rooms where less money was collected. But Clinton’s appearance as honoree for the night caused quite a stir. During the bidding auction there were more paddles in the air than at a ping pong tournament.

And who was there? Well, Sean and Charlize Theron commanded the main table, where they were joined by host Bryan Lourd from CAA, Ben Stiller and Fisher Stevens. Reese Witherspoon and Salma Hayek, looking ever so glamorous, were right there too. Tabloid stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were also front and center. I had a long talk with Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am about his wearable technology, which he was showing to Neil Young’s fabled manager Elliot Roberts– and we got an earful about Neil’s just launched Pono music player.

There were performances by Chris Martin (who was Paltrow-less) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Some other famous people who chowed down and ponied up:  Pamela Anderson, Garcelle Beauvais, Michael Bolton, Adrien Brody,  Rebecca Gayheart and husband Eric Dane, Soleil Moon Frye, Balthazar Getty, Josh Hutcherson (of “Hunger Games” fame),  Kyle MacLachlan, Kevin Nealon, Samantha Ronson, Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, Rainn Wilson,  and Rachel Zoe.

There may have been more, but the room was so packed– and Clinton caused grid lock since everyone, no matter how famous, got a picture with him. And Clinton is still very much a rock star. He throws off thousands of watts of energy. But physically he is much less a presence in the past. He is very thin looking from his vegan diet. As an orator, though, he can still bring thunder and lightning to any room.

photo courtesy of Getty Images

Rock Star ex president Bill Clinton has hit Hollywood with a bang. What better way to let everyone know you’re in town than to take the big long back table at Craig’s on Melrose? And that’s what he did last night, dining with eight pals and carrying a nice security force into West Hollywood’s star palace restaurant that actually has vegan offerings on the menu. (They’re really known for truffled fried chicken but we couldn’t tell if he fell off the wagon and went for this very delicious entry.)

Clinton was joined by Casey Wasserman, grandson of the late MCA Universal legend Lew Wasserman, as well as top CAA speakers agent Darnell Strom and a few guests. (Later more CAA came including chief Kevin Huvane.) Clinton sat with his back against the wall of the restaurant, facing out, and visible to anyone who had to use the facilities. Outside, paparazzi and autograph hounds milled about quietly because they were faced by about a half dozen policemen who chatted across the street.

Clinton’s not in Hollywood by coincidence with the Golden Globes ceremony tomorrow night. There’s a strong rumor he may appear on the show. He could be presenting George Clooney with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement, or simply introducing a movie like “Selma.” There’s also a chance he will turn up tonight at Sean Penn’s annual dinner to raise money for Haiti. That dinner always attracts superstars; Clinton would be right at home.

But this is what it’s like when you arrive from the bitter cold in New York on an awards weekend in Hollywood. It’s like some kind of strange fantasy.

To wit: At dinner on Thursday night I ran into Alan Alda and wife Arlene dining at Il Piccolino with famed agent Toni Howard and her husband.

On Friday, unable to get into the overbooked AFI lunch at the Four Seasons, I wound up hanging with superstar Al Pacino, who has two movies coming out– “The Humbling”– which was killed by its distributor–and “Danny Collins.”

Later, I chatted with Randy Jackson at Chateau Marmont and ran into “Paddington” and “Harry Potter” producer David Heyman.

Then off to this very futuristic iPic movie theater in the Wilshire corridor for a reception and screening of “The Imitation Game.” Keira Knightley was the effervescent host, with a little baby bump, she was delightful. Director Morten Tyldum introduced the film to a packed house. Patrons sit in a big comfy leather seats and wait people bring food during the movie! Former New Yorker Michael Nouri was there, an old pal.

At W Magazine’s Shooting Stars event, I had a nice talk with Miley Cyrus, who wore an outsize white gown and joked that it was a tribute to Elvis Presley on his 80th birthday.

Post Clinton, I saw Selma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, among others, scattered about. And they were all very nice.

Was it all just a fever dream? Was it jet lag? Hall’s cough drops? Or just the surreal world of Hollywood? I vote for that.

W Magazine’s Stefano Tonchi and Lynn Hirschberg know how to throw a party, kids. Last night in the 16th floor penthouse of the famed Chateau Marmont I actually saw Superman, Stephen Hawking, and Christian Grey all chatting with each other.

I do mean Henry Cavill, Eddie Redmayne, and Jamie Dornan, the actors who have played those parts. And not only them but Miles Teller, Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Tracee Ross ( star of the really good TV comedy “Blackish”), hot “Frances Ha” actress Mickey Sumner, and  “Catfish” director Ariel Schulman.

Wait– did I mention Paris Hilton, looking terrific, funny as ever, and discussing her 18 product lines. Paris is a business magnate. Trust me, if you ask her a business question, Paris’s whole demeanor changes from party girl to Carly Fiorina. She knows what she’s doing.

The most startling appearance? Naomi Campbell with “Empire” creator Lee Daniels. Naomi remains the most stunning creature, and she was wearing some sort of beaded silver dress that kept thanking her for putting it on.

The party was so packed that the fire marshall shut down the elevator for a time. This left a lot of interesting people in the Chateau lobby, where they made their own party until the ban was lifted. They included Christoph Waltz, double Oscar winner and one of our favorite people, as well as “Imitation Game” director Morten Tyldum and a lot of lovely ingenues.

Eventually everyone made it upstairs, where special Cronuts were served, now a W tradition. Perhaps less nutritious than the Cinnabon, the vanilla glazed Cronut is now the official snack to launch Golden Globes weekend.

Jamie Dornan, by the way, is a keeper. He’s Irish, which means articulate and voluble. He started out as an underwear model, and “Fifty Shades of Grey”– for which he’s signed to two sequels, will put him  on the map. But he’s got higher aspirations and already has several “serious” movies lined up. Watch out.

As for Miles Teller: he’s worked so much this year that he’s missed a lot of the “Whiplash” frenzy. He’s thrilled for J.K. Simmons, hot on the trail of many awards as Best Supporting Actor in that film. Will Miles be at the Oscars? “I want to be there to lead the standing ovation when JK wins,” he told me.