TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Joel Stratte-McClure

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE: Don't blame the smoke and stench of cigars at Monday's ``24'' party at Les Deux on terrorists or Kiefer Sutherland. ``I'm the only guy on the show who doesn't smoke cigars,'' Sutherland claimed as he pulled a pack of Camel cigarettes out of his jacket pocket.

The smoke-filled launch party celebrating the launch of last season's DVD collection -- which includes an intriguing prequel to season six of the Fox drama -- was primarily due to 150 hand-rolled Dominican cigars lit by guests during the party's first hour. Sutherland was all business.

``The prequel on the DVD explains why Jack Bauer is indifferent to life when we first see him next month (Jan. 14),'' Sutherland said. ``It enables the audience to be in sync with what's happening.''

Then he shook hands with newcomer Powers Booth and eased into a private alcove to get up close and personal with a blow-up photo featuring him from the new coffee-table book ``24: Behind the Scenes.'' But he and other cast members -- including Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kim Raver, Jean Smart, Gregory Itzin, Eric Balfour and Roger Cross -- were typically tight-lipped about the next 24 hours.

``Anyone holding hands with Jack Bauer doesn't have a long life expectancy,'' admitted Raver, Jack's love interest. ``One day out of two, I think I've become so key to the show that they won't kill me,'' added Rajskub, who plays Chloe O'Brian. ``On the other day, I know I'm doomed.''

Newcomers -- including Booth, Rick Schroder, Chad Lowe, Regina King, Rena Sofer and James Cromwell -- were a bit more talkative. ``I play a vice president who cleans up the crisis and saves the world,'' confided Booth.

That may merit a cigar.

CLOONEY ON A ROLL: George Clooney had more on his mind than ``The Good German'' following the film's premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Monday night.

Clooney broke off an animated chat with Cate Blanchett during the after party at Boulevard 3 on Sunset to discuss his infamous drinking bout with Danny DeVito, criticize irresponsible bloggers and lament the recent death of Max, his pot-bellied pet pig.

``Danny took some shots at the president and has got to take his licks, but he'll survive,'' said Clooney, who plays a U.S. Army war correspondent in Steven Soderbergh's post- World War II film noir thriller. ``But what really shocks me is that bloggers just make (censored) up and get away with it.''

Nearby, Soderbergh nursed a dirty martini and Tobey Ma-

guire refused to demonstrate the punch he gives Clooney on the screen. Blanchett, who looked ravishing in a sleeveless Versace dress, gave directors all the credit for any award nominations she might get for her roles this year in ``The Good German,'' ``Babel'' and/or ``Notes on a Scandal.'' (``Babel'' is on the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures' 2006 top-10 list.)

``How lucky am I!'' said Blanchett. ``All three films seemed like such risky endeavors, but each director achieved his aim. Remarkably, they all clicked.''

Clooney says ``The Good German'' resembles Billy Wilder's ``A Foreign Affair,'' but ``The Maltese Falcon'' was showing on plasma screens throughout the club.

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber chatted with Grant Heslov, Beau Bridges brought his family, and German-born Christian Oliver described Soderbergh's use of filmmaking techniques from the 1940s. One modern touch: a hostess promoting Trump Super Premium Vodka in a hand-painted gold bottle. And no, Clooney didn't touch the stuff.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) SUTHERLAND and RAVER: Death takes no holiday on ``24''

Frederick M. Brown Getty Images

(2) CLOONEY and BLANCHETT: Sexiest man ... and sexiest dress

Vince Bucci/Getty Images