L.A. CAN REALLY PARTY STAR-STUDDED HOLLYWOOD EVENTS SHOW THAT.

Byline: Staff Writers David Bloom, Heather MacDonald, Jennifer Hamm, Greg Wilcox and Erik Nelson contributed to this report.

President Clinton said goodbye, and then California - with the help of Hollywood - said a big hello.

Thousands of people descended on Paramount Pictures in Hollywood on Monday after Clinton's speech for the California Welcome Party. There was one big party for thousands of delegates, media members and their guests. Other smaller, exclusive parties rimmed the studio lot.

Arrivals were greeted by spotlights and a long red carpet. All Hollywood.

Actor Gary Busey, casually attired in a light-blue T-shirt, white slacks and white shoes, arrived at Gov. Gray Davis' welcome in a good mood.

``I'm having a great time. This is a nice open party with the energy heading in the right direction,`` said Busey, who should know something about energy after playing piano-plunking rocker Jerry Lee Lewis in ``Great Balls of Fire.''

He hedged, however, on where his political loyalties and his career stood Monday night.

``I support the right way,'' he said, ``and I'm working on breaking even.''

Bill Miller, a Los Gatos-based Democratic political consultant, rated the party a success.

``I think it's great. This has got to be a wonderful thing for people from out of state. This is what we do here in California, and this is a perfect party.''

About 11:20 p.m., to the delight of the crowd, Davis introduced President Clinton and presented him with an Oscar, a fitting tribute since the party was in Hollywood.

``We've had a wonderful time,'' Clinton said. ``This is where it started and this is where it ends, and I want to thank you for being very gracious to Hillary.''

``We've had a wonderful eight years.''

As the president came onstage to deliver his five-minute speech, several celebrities, including former ``Saturday Night Live'' comedian Kevin Nealon, emerged from a special VIP zone to see the commander-in-chief in person, rather than on a video screen.

Those present to see Clinton out of office included some celebrities of, uh, various note. They included Nealon, former Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten and Lou Diamond Phillips, whose appearance was pre-empted by the soon-to-be ex-president.

< As the first lady whirled through a series of events all day, she stopped off at a luncheon at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood for Democratic women in Congress.

The event, whose entrance was on Clinton Street, was put on by DreamWorks SKG (with co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife hosting) and Chase Bank, in a modestly converted sound stage featuring large stills of politically tinged films ranging from ``The American President'' to ``Random Hearts'' to ``JFK,'' which oddly enough showed a woman sitting on the lap of a man with drink and cigar in his hand.

Hillary Rodham Clinton spent most of her time pumping up an enthusiastic crowd of about 400 people to re-elect Nita Lowey, the Westchester, N.Y., congresswoman who left the U.S. Senate race there when Clinton decided to run herself.

One prominent New York Al Gore supporter groused about the Clintons' decision to hold fund-raisers such as the one for a Clinton presidential library. ``They didn't need to do that, not here,'' the supporter said anonymously. ``That could wait, but that's how they are.''

For Grace Mary Brady, Monday night at the Grammy Party in Santa Monica was a dream come true.

The Maryland woman, who volunteers for Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., met Donny Osmond, former teen idol.

``He was so nice and cute,'' Brady gushed, dressed in a star-spangled T-shirt. ``I'm just a regular person. I've never met a movie star before.''

Brady was one of about 500 people at the party billed as a salute to the Democratic Party's commitment to arts and culture, and a tribute to Hoyer.

Notables in the audience included Chevy Chase, who was there for work, he said, and included performances by Melissa Etheridge, Montel Jordan and the Goo-Goo Dolls.

For Brady, the party was the culmination of a long, busy day of sightseeing. She went to Universal Studios with Maryland's Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and her family.

``He was just so cute,'' Brady said, unable to stop bubbling about Osmond. ``He was so approachable and so cute. I didn't think he would talk to me. I'm not that pretty.''

Politicians from Former President Jimmy Carter to Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Roy Romer dined on roasted orange rosemary chicken and watched ``Politics in Motion Pictures'' at Union Station.

The short montage of political life in Hollywood movies featured films such as ``Wag the Dog,'' ``All the President's Men'' and ``Primary Colors.'' Ironically, it did not include any footage from NBC's ``The West Wing,'' despite the presence of Martin Sheen, who plays President Josiah Bartlet on the TV show.

South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges said Hollywood's impressions of politicians are unrealistic. While many may think the work involves kissing babies and shaking hands, Hodges said that's only 5 percent of it.

``It's a lot more boring than people think,'' said Hodges, who is making his first trip to Los Angeles.

Psychedelic lights were bouncing off buildings around Paramount Studios as a half-dozen bands of various types played in different corners of the sprawling event.

Event organizer Merv Griffin Productions divided the lot into themes or flavors of California.

More than 50 acts were scheduled to appear, but there were several last- minute changes in performers. Britney Spears backed off a few days before the event, according to Griffin Senior Vice President Craig Waldman.

Waldman declined to say how much money was spent, though organizers saved money because many of the performers donated their services.

``Most of the talent stepped up for us for free, for the governor,'' Waldman said.

The Grammy party was abuzz with talk of the LAPD's use of pepper spray at the Rage Against the Machine concert near Staples Center.

``I'd like to thank Rage Against the Machine for not playing in our parking lot,'' joked Mike Green, president of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences.

The clashes also didn't dampen Pennsylvania delegate Joseph Elias' time at Gov. Gray Davis' welcome party at Paramount Studios' back lot.

``It's absolutely fabulous,'' he said of the party and his L.A. experience. ``Gov. Davis has done a great job of presenting California. And this is my first visit to L.A. and I love it.

``I'd like to compliment the LAPD and the highway patrol officers. They're doing a great job.''

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1) Timeforkids.com reporter Alexandra Tatarski, 10, interviews actor and Democratic supporter Gary Busey.

(2) Actor Martin Sheen, left, who portrays the president on the television show ``West Wing,'' chats with former President Carter at a luncheon Monday for Democratic governors at Union Station in downtown L.A.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(3 -- 4) Above, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, and New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey share a laugh Monday before speaking at the DreamWorks/Chase Bank Party at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg, below, laughs during the first lady's speech during a luncheon for Democratic women candidates.

(5) At left, Sen. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, introduces Caroline Kennedy to friends and supporters during a reception Monday. Solis was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award earlier this year, and Monday's event recognized her achievement.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

(6) Gov. Gray Davis bestows a joke honorary Oscar on President Clinton during Monday's California Welcome Party at Paramount Studios in West Los Angeles.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer