TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Elizabeth Snead and Joel Stratte-McClure

THE BIG APPLE IN L.A.: Why were Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger huddling between the Lindy Hotel and the Blue Moon Lounge just outside Madison Square Garden late Monday night? The two are married in ``Cinderella Man,'' the Depression-era boxing movie. But they certainly weren't discussing the film or plotting a secretive off-screen romance in Manhattan.

They were celebrating at the premiere after-party on the Universal Studios lot. The Roaring '20s/Depression '30s New York decor also included Joppy's Bar, a pool hall, a waffle shop, advertisements for 15- cent chocolate sundaes, ragtime music, a vintage car and promotional boxing posters.

The film is based on the life of Jim Braddock (Crowe), the rags-to-riches American hero (known as Cinderella Man), who won the heavyweight crown in 1935. Zellweger, as his supportive but skeptical wife, Mae, tries to keep food on the table for their three kids.

``I had to get skinnier and skinnier to resemble Braddock's silhouette,'' said Crowe, accompanied on the red carpet by wife Danielle Spencer. ``Danielle really enjoyed watching me lose weight and get in shape.''

Crowe, who playfully hugged the three young actors playing his on- screen kids as they walked into the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk, also drew on his newly acquired know-how as a father. ``Being a real-life father is a fantastic experience and has made me more emotionally available, even on the screen,'' said Crowe, whose son, Charles, turns 2 in December.

His performance - one fan had a sign proclaiming ``Russell You're A Knockout'' - already has the Australian media touting him as an Oscar contender.

Zellweger was also a knockout. Perhaps because she's still bubbling with excitement following her recent marriage to Kenny Chesney. ``Well, it all started like this ...'' she was overheard telling Crowe, director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman. And what happened to the party and guests - including Thora Birch, Lara Flynn Boyle, Carrie Fisher, Matthew Perry and Randy Quaid - when the clock struck midnight?

No one turned into a pumpkin or a mouse. But the New York setting was gone the next day.

THE COLOR OF COOL: Jamie Lee Curtis certainly gave some thought to her appearance as host of the Fashion Forward L.A. benefit last weekend at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on behalf of two local drug/alcohol addiction recovery centers.

``My navy Prada pantsuit matches my new navy hybrid SUV and my navy Balenciaga bag,'' the trendy-at-46 Curtis pointed out to Amber Valletta, Sela Ward, Meredith Baxter, Michelle Phillips and other supporters of the Friendly House and Clare Foundation.

Valletta didn't even bother to try to match that sobering statement. She just blew kisses to a crowd gathered for a retrospective by fashion design legend James Galanos and a show by various L.A. designers.

Blowing kisses at her age?

``Why not?'' asked the ``Hitch'' star. ``I don't mind being goofy for charity.''

And we thought it just took some cool color coordination.

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(1 -- 2) ZELLWEGER, top: SPENCER, CROWE, above: Fairy tales really do come true.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press