Bill Condon won't spill Oscar host

Poor Bill Condon. The newly minted producer of next year's Oscar telecast was just trying to grab a Christmas cookie, socialize a little and take a look at the display of fabulous costumes from "Dreamgirls" during a holiday party last night at the Hollywood Museum when he was set upon by some reporter types.

Your resident grinchy Gold Rusher couldn't resist hitting him up with The Big Question: Who's hosting the Oscars? Ricky Gervais? Ellen? Whoopi? Someone new? Someone not new? Funny, Jon Stewart's name never came up.

But no amount of hair pulling could get Condon to spill. Can you believe that?

Actually, Condon, an Oscar winner himself (for the "Gods and Monsters" screenplay) couldn't have been more gracious and affable. Unflappable? Well, we swear we could see the sweat beads pop out on his forehead when he realized we'd all switched on the tape recorders built into our brains.

Curse you party sponsor and Envelope guru Tom O'Neil, who agreed for the group to something crazy called "off the record." Curses!

So there are a few tidbits we can't share, but for the most part, Condon kept any real news close to the vest. He said he's letting his love of the movies guide him (he and his "Dreamgirls" producer Larry Mark have taken on this gig) and they'll try to put the "live" back in the live telecast. And though they're both longtime fans of the Oscars, that doesn't mean they haven't noticed some of the program's failings.

Could that mean fewer montages in the '09 show? For all that's holy, we can hope.

Meanwhile, we'll be anxiously waiting for that host (hostess?) announcement. Do us all proud, Bill.