Walken in to claim his pudding pot

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals honored their Man of the Year last night, skewering actor Christopher Walken as only Harvard's cross-dressing comedy troupe can. The 64-year-old Oscar winner, who possesses one of cinema's most distinctive voices (and thatches of hair), was a good sport even as the Hasties were having their way with him - they went so far as to require the "Pulp Fiction" star to prove he was the bona fide Walken and not one of the many imposters. "I have a birthmark," Walken deadpanned. "Otherwise I don't know." His Hasty hosts, the tuxedo-clad Joshua Lachter and William Teslik, then handed Walken a recipe for hasty pudding, which he proceeded to read, dramatizing it down to the final bit about it curing "the horrors of dyspepsia." Walken, who performed at Harvard's New College Theatre twenty years ago, said he was aware of "this award and who got it . . . yes, it's a very cool award, honestly." He won an Academy Award for his role in 1978's "The Deer Hunter" and was nominated again in 2002 for "Catch Me If You Can." More recently, he appeared in "Balls of Fury" and last fall shot a film in Boston titled "The Lonely Maiden." Walken is the latest in a long line of luminaries to receive the ceremonial Pudding Pot. Past honorees include Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, Richard Gere, and, last year, Ben Stiller. The Hasty Pudding Theatricals' Woman of the Year, feted a few weeks ago, was the enchanting Oscar winner Charlize Theron. Last night's ceremony, however, featured something different: a recurring reference to Walken's classic "more cowbell'' skit on Saturday Night Live. The skit, you may recall, has a hyperventiled Walken grooving a little too much to Blue Oyster Cult's 1970s tune "Don't Fear the Reaper,'' screaming "More cowbell!'' repeatedly. Asked at a news conference last night how the World's Greatest University measured up, Walken intoned: "Harvard has all the cowbell it needs.'' Asked how he prepared for the evening, Walken replied: "I didn't. I probably should have had a couple of drinks.'' With lipstick gracing his cheek, Walken attempted a few seconds of seriousness when he was prodded for his Best Picture pick for the Oscars. "The Golden Compass,'' he deadpanned. "C'mon -- those bears! They are really good.''

Bobby Shriver spent Valentine's Day raising some serious dough for AIDS relief in Africa. The oldest child of Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver was in New York for the Product (RED) auction at Sotheby's. The event, which raised more than $40 million, attracted an A-list crowd that included Bono, Jordan's Queen Noor, Michael Stipe, Dennis Hopper, Martha Stewart, Christy Turlington, Brian Williams, and Anna Wintour. (A piece by artist Damien Hirst's fetched the top dollar at auction: $7.15 million.) Shriver and Bono cofounded Product (RED), which raises money and awareness about the Global Fund.

Could Tim Cahill be the next big reality TV star? With any luck, yes. An independent producer is talking to the state treasurer about a reality show focused on the Abandoned Property Division. The show, whose working title is "The Return Team," would track the treasurer's efforts to reunite people with their long lost dough, including forgotten savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, stock dividends, and the contents of safe-deposit boxes. "It'd be less mindless than a lot of reality shows," said Cahill, whose database is bulging with four million accounts worth about $1 billion. "We handle some interesting cases." (In the past, the names of Boston ballplayers, including Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, and Kevin Youkilis have shown up on the list, as did Upton Bell's father, former NFL commissioner Bert Bell.) We're told the show, which has been optioned by Insomnia Media, will be pitched to several networks, including Bravo and A&E. Even if he doesn't become as popular as Tim Gunn of "Project Runway," Cahill said he'll be satisfied. "We have some very nice rewards for people," he said. "I think people would watch this show."

Jimmy Kimmel's not about to take Sarah Silverman's infidelity lying down. In response to his girlfriend's silly but hilarious music video "I'm (bleep)ing Matt Damon," Kimmel's come up with an appropriate response. The New York Post reports that Kimmel has crafted a tune of his own, and it's called "I'm (bleep)ing Ben Affleck." The tabloid says the vid, set to the song "We Are the World," stars Affleck, Robin Williams, Don Cheadle, Harrison Ford, Ashlee Simpson, and Pete Wentz.

Turns out Ray Allen is a team player off the court, too. Talking to Conan O'Brien the other night, the Celts sniper downplayed his role in the fine basketball flick "He Got Game." "Spike Lee directed it, and he's one of the best directors of our time . . . and then there's Denzel Washington," said Allen, who'll play in his eighth NBA All-Star Game tomorrow. "For me, out on the court, that's like having a great point guard getting you the ball right where you need it. . . . That's what it was like working with those two." Given the opportunity to poke a little fun at Shaquille O'Neal, who was a big-screen bust in the movie "Kazaam," the ever-polite Allen just smiled.

The world's wealthiest supermodel is about to get a little richer. Gisele Bundchen has just signed a lucrative contract to become the new face of Max Factor. First reported by E! News, the two-year deal with the cosmetics line will pay Tom Brady's Brazilian beauty $2.5 million. The current face of Max Factor is Carmen Electra.

Their 2001 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a big deal, but Aerosmith has now achieved true immortality: The Boston band stars in its very own video game. "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" gives gamers the chance to be Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, and Tom Hamilton while they rock out with Joey Kramer and Steven Tyler. "Fans want to get and experience music in new formats," Perry said in a statement yesterday, "and there are going to be some of them who will play the game, then pick up the guitar for real, and start bands." As gamers progress through Aerosmith's 30-year career, they can shred to dozens of the band's biggest hits, as well as songs from celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way. For more information, visit guitarhero.com.

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