Gamesters Go Mad for Sega’s Latest

Hundreds of gaming fanatics lined up around Westwood’s Hollywood Video last week because they just couldn’t wait to play Sega’s much-anticipated Dreamcast system. You may have seen Sega’s billboards announcing the system’s arrival on “9/9/99.” But Thursday morning, at 12:01 a.m., the store made 100 of the consoles available for rental.

Verne Troyer (1), better known as Austin Powers’ pint-sized alter ego Mini-Me, arrived with an entourage of similarly diminutive bodyguards. But they couldn’t save him from being dwarfed by L.A. Laker Travis Knight, who later beat Troyer in a video tournament amid fans begging: “Don’t eat Mini-Me!”

One thing’s for sure--Troyer was a hit with former MTV veejay Downtown Julie Brown and actresses Paula Tricky and Natalie Raitano (1).

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The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California presented its 1999 Torch of Liberty Awards to director Martin Scorsese (2), left, and Atlantic Records A&R; executive Jason Flom, (2), right, last week. The awards are given annually to members of the media, arts and entertainment communities “whose work affirms the democratic principles that underlie the promise of ‘liberty and justice for all,’ ” said Ramona Ripston, executive director of ACLU-Southern California.

Warren Beatty, Patricia Arquette, Edwin McCain, Gene Simmons, Shannon Tweed, Marla Maples, and Ving Rhames (3), with girlfriend Deborah, also attended.

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Tom Morello of the band Rage Against the Machine (4), left, actor Vince Vaughn (4) and actress Charlize Theron (5) were at the County Museum of Art last week for the Junior Benefit Gala and the Diego Rivera exhibit.