LA.COMFIDENTIAL > CELEBS.

Extremely tall men, a slew of beautiful women, and one r&b star took over Rodeo Drive on Saturday night, as the L.A. Stars Celebrity All-Star Charity Weekend launched with a night of gambling, shopping and sipping. Following in the footsteps of Magic Johnson, who last year handed over the charity's reins to NBA stars and Los Angeles natives Baron Davis (of the Golden State Warriors) and Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), those two young stars are now the force behind the charity, which raises monies to help at-risk kids all over Southern California.

Penny Marshall added to the organization's coffers during the live auction, as did Magic himself, purchasing a cruise to China (perhaps to coincide with the 2008 Summer Olympics happening there?), but it was Davis and Pierce who really opened up their checkbooks, spending $100,000 for a Madame Tussaud custom-made wax figure. Davis says they bought it as a gift for Magic, calling him "a cultural icon to us as black men."

Fellow "cultural icon" Stevie Wonder swayed to the tunes of Angie Stone, as beauties Lil' Kim, Sally Richardson, Niecy Nash, Taryn Manning and Tichina Arnold looked on. Cash Warren showed up sans Jessica Alba (rumors of their breakup have been rampant); and Serena But the night was really all about the NBA, with a turnout that host Bill Bellamy called "gangsta" for some weird reason, as most of the athletes in attendance -- from Derrick Fisher, Al Shearer, Cuttino Mobley, Emeka Okafor and Deron Williams to Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Maurice Evans and Wilson Chandler -- are upstanding citizens who are giving back to the community, not part of the ever-growing pro-athlete arrest blotter.

>JENNY PETERS, SPYWITNESS

When in 'Rome' ...

History and fashion buffs collided in Beverly Hills on Saturday night at Barneys New York, as HBO Video marched "Rome" into that fair city, with a party and costume display celebrating the DVD release of the second season of that fabulous series.

Emmy-winning costume designer April Ferry's designs are being displayed in the windows of Barneys until Aug. 13, as well as on the fifth floor, where those beautiful period pieces are juxtaposed with gowns by Prada, Versace and other modern creations, offering a glimpse at just how much clothing has changed since the Romans ruled the world.

Sadly, the series will not be returning to HBO, but hunky star Kevin McKidd (he played Centurion Lucius Vorenus in the show) happily revealed that there are other plans afoot. "I hear that they are in negotiations to make a movie," he said, "and I know all the cast would come back, as we all love each other so much that we really want to make it happen." He's not letting any grass grow under his feet, however, as he'll star in the new NBC show "Journeyman" this fall.

Neither are the other two memorable "Rome" stars who glammed up the party: James Purefoy, who as Mark Antony died a terrible death at the end of the second season, just finished a new version of "Frankenstein," and Polly Walker, who was so wonderfully manipulative as Atia of the Julii, will be seen this fall in the new CBS show "Cane."

She and McKidd insist that they will find the time to come back to "Rome" if the movie happens. "I don't know why they didn't pick it up," McKidd admitted. "Nobody does. Everybody is scratching their head. Nobody gets it. But if we get to make a movie, I know it will be great!"

Until then, fans of the multiple-Emmy-winning show will just have to settle for the DVD box set of the second season, hitting stores today.

>J.P.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Basketball players Paul Pierce, left, and Baron Davis score with the L.A. Stars Celebrity All-Star Charity Weekend.

(2 -- color) Polly Walker, who played the manipulative Atia in HBO's "Rome," attended the DVD launch party Saturday night. No word on whether she wore a toga to the festivities.