Saturday night found everyone but a hung-over indisposed Justin Timberlake at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy bash, Jennifer Hudson was in full voice, as were The Blackeyed Peas and Smokey Robinson. Davis, known for speechifying to the max, dedicated the evening to Ahmet Ertegun.

Maria Villar, the other resident of Franklin Avenue, was nominated for a Grammy for her design of Rhino’s boxed set, Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found. She didn’t win, but she looked hot.

Marc Malkin thinks Jessica Simpson and John Mayer are an item. Ryan Seacrest asked Mayer directly, and got an answer in Japanese. Or maybe an order for Nobu to go.

The Envelope’s Jeff Miller sorts best, worst and who cares? moments. In no particular order: Police reunite, Joan Baez compares Dixie Chicks to Woody Guthrie and Carrie Underwood thanks Simon Cowell after her folks and the supreme deity.

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Variety

Scott Rudin has offered one of his former development guys, Craig Perry, a first-look deal, thus gaining an opportunity to “generate mainstream comedies and family films.” Perry produced the American Pie and Final Destination movies.

Sidney Sheldon, the prolific author and producer, has died. During his extensive career he wrote several Broadway musicals, screenplays and televisions series, in addition to a multitude of novels. His television career included producer of The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, and Hart to Hart, in addition to a number of his novels produced as made-for TV movies including Rage of Angels, Bloodline and Memories of Midnight. His career awards included a Tony for Best Musical: Redhead in 1959, an Oscar for his original screenplay of The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer starring Cary Grant, two WGA awards for Easter Parade and Annie Get Your Gun, and an Emmy for I Dream of Jeannie.

Hollywood Reporter

Television is the new feature, according to a CBS development exec. Pilot orders are running towards nighttimee soaps and high-cncept dramas, while the networks are avoiding open-ended serials–Lost being the only hit out of the current crop. Big name directors, like Spike Lee, Brett Ratner, Guy Ritchie, and Barry Sonnenfeld are directing pilots.

The Police will perform at the Grammys in February. Sting had hinted at this during the TCAs, where he was promoting his PBS project, a collection of 16th-century classical music called Songs From the Labyrinth, as the 30th anniversary of the band was approaching. THe group will open the show on CBS.