New Orleans, Feb. 26, 2006 – When we saw a bejeweled Willie Nelson riding down St. Charles Avenue on a float, we figured he was shooting the video for his new gay cowboy song, Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other). Perfect choice - there’s no place gayer than New Orleans, and the storm-savaged city can use a lift.

But this wasn’t a music video; it was Mardi Gras, when everybody’s gay, or at least fabulous. Saturday’s heavy rain wasn’t so fabulous; it delayed the Endymion Parade for a day, and one of the parade’s co-grand marshals, Jim Belushi, had to leave town to be on a film set. Dan Aykroyd was left to lead the bead-throwing himself, with fabulous assistance from CNN hottie Anderson Cooper.

The Bacchus Parade was delayed for an hour when a float hit an overhead cable line, setting off a barrage of “FEMA must be running this” type jokes. But actually, it was Beetle Juice; Michael Keaton, fabulous in a sparkly costume and pearls, paused and toasted New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

Elijah Wood was fabulous, but definitely not gay; he was accompanied by a mystery woman, and they were kissing.