Los Angeles, Feb. 13, 2006 – George Clooney asked reporters at the annual Oscar nominee’s luncheon on Monday if they weren't tired of him by now. Absolutely not. But George predicted that we will be by the time the Academy Awards roll around.

Charlize Theron brought her mother, Gerda, who recently remarried, and Steven Spielberg had his father, Arnold, in tow. Neither Theron or Spielberg discussed their Oscar night dates, unlike George Clooney, who publicly invited U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney to accompany him to the awards.

Jake Gyllenhaal was perfectly willing to pose for photos with Brokeback Mountain costar Heath Ledger, but Ledger refused. Finally, Jake gave up, and good-naturedly advised anyone who wants to see the two together to go and see the movie.

The nominees all wear name tags on their chests at the luncheon, and when Capote star Catherine Keener needed to stash hers out of sight for photos, she stuck it on her back. Clearly, the frog coming out of Joaquin Phoenix's head has scared off his barber.

While the weather in Beverly Hills was mild, several nominees missed the luncheon, stranded on the East Coast by the previous day’s blizzard.