To shine the light on solutions to climate change and lend their star power to the problem of global warming, some of the world’s biggest celebrities are choosing to arrive at the Academy Awards in ‘green cars’. Instead of stretch limos or SUV’s, they’ll be arriving in eco-friendly hybrids, electric sports cars and other green vehicles. Celebrities and notable individuals participating this year include: Leonardo DiCaprio, Penelope Cruz, Forest Whittaker, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Ryan Gosling, Gwyneth Paltrow, Al and Tipper Gore, Melissa Etheridge, Davis Guggenheim and Elisabeth Shue, Larry and Laurie David, Lawrence Bender, Scott Z. Burns, Lesley Chilcott.

"Global warming is threatening us all" said Oscar nominee and Global Green supporter Penelope Cruz. "Fortunately, there are many simple things we can all do such as driving greener cars or changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which can dramatically save energy and reduce global warming pollution."

This year, Global Green is highlighting the increased choice in eco-friendly cars as examples of the directions automakers can head. A plug-in Prius that gets 100 mpg, the Tesla Roadster, an electric sports car, and Compressed Natural Gas vehicles are included in the green fleet. The Red Carpet/Green Cars Oscar campaign kicked-off Wednesday night with a pre-Oscar Party at the Avalon Hollywood to raise funds and awareness for Global Green’s smart global warming solutions: clean cars and green buildings.

Jay said, "We live in an era where liking cars and liking the environment don’t really seem to fit- especially high performance cars." He not only wanted to disprove that, but wanted to inspire America's youth to explore the possibilities and follow their dreams- this car for Leno started as a pipe dream, "and went from zero to here in seven months." Although the Eco Jet was not designed to be a production car - and we may never see it for sale - after a few good conversations with folks at GM, we're confident they understand innovations like these are crucial.

With all that said, we don't want you to think we are gloating for GM-they have a long way to go. Seeing this unveiling and speaking to the GM executives and designers makes us wish that this transition towards eco-friendly performance vehicles could happen on a mass-market level sooner than late (before the ice caps melt).

And for Dick Glover, NASCAR's Los Angeles-based vice president for media and broadcasting, the whole scenario felt like Jimmie Johnson grabbing the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway.

"NFL is the gold standard for sports in this country and baseball is the national pastime," Glover explained in an interview. "We know we need to do what we can to become more a part of the day-to-day consciousness."

No one is ready to declare "mission accomplished" just yet, but when one of Hollywood's most bankable stars attaches himself to the country's fastest-growing major sport, someone is doing something right -- in addition to doing something no other major sport is doing right now.

It is hardly a coincidence that for the third consecutive summer, stock-car racing is featured on big screens across the country, or that NASCAR drivers keeping popping up everywhere from "American Idol" to the soap opera "Days of Our Lives."

Cattrall, who plays sex-obsessed, promiscuous Samantha Jones in the hugely successful U.S. series, appears in the ad purring with excitement about Nissan's new sedan.

"Why didn't you tell me it was so big, I just wasn't prepared for it?" she gushes. "The all-new Nissan Tiida makes you feel really, really, really good inside."

She tells a salesman: "Ah! That was amazing. Absolutely fabulous! I mean the great body and the way you moved it."

The double entendre-laced ad was approved by New Zealand's Television Commercial Approvals Bureau before broadcast. Nevertheless, it sparked a number of complaints to the Advertising Standards Complaints Board.

Nissan said it was taking the commercial off the air before the board could consider the objections.

Mike Brady, The Brady Bunch: The infamous head of the Brady clan drove a variety of different vehicles during the show's run, from a 1968 Dodge Polara convertible to a 1973 Chevy Caprice convertible. Probably the most memorable, however, was his 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible with an MSRP of $3,124. Today, that same car's high retail value is $51,800 -- one heck of an investment for a guy with six kids, a house in the suburbs and a live-in maid.

Ward Cleaver, Leave it to Beaver: Beaver Cleaver kept his family on their toes with his innocent antics. It makes sense, then, that his dad Ward would seek refuge on the open highway in his beloved car -- a 1961 Plymouth Fury 4-door hardtop. Back then, the car sold for around $2,777. Today, that same vehicle would sell for $6,475. Not exactly the investment Mike Brady made, but definitely not a loss. This should make Ward (who some speculate was an accountant on the show) pretty darn happy.

Sheriff Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show: Ah, the good 'ole days of Mayberry, where life for Opie, Andy and Deputy Barney Fife was about as warm as Aunt Bee's hugs. And who could forget Andy and Barney's squad car -- a Ford Galaxie. Rumor has it a nearby Ford dealer would supply the set with cars free-of-charge and every time a new model came out, the show's old Galaxie was returned to the dealer where it was re-painted and sold. Let's say Mayberry's top crime fighters drove a 1963 Galaxie. Its price tag back then? $2,562. It's high retail price today? About $9,000. (LoJack not included).

Ozzie Nelson, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: Not much is written about the Nelson family car, although urban legend has it a 1932 Ford Roadster appeared in two episodes. Seems Ozzie's son Ricky was desperate to buy the car with earnings from the show (what kid wouldn't want a car like that), but like most fathers of that generation, Ozzie put his foot down and firmly refused. Today, a 1932 Ford Roadster, similar to the one that appeared on the show, sells for $46,500 high retail. In 1932, you could buy one for right around $460. Maybe Ozzie should have put his foot down on the Roadster's accelerator instead.

Ricky Ricardo, I Love Lucy: Don't tell Lucy, but it seems Ricky had another love ... his red & white 1955 Pontiac Star Chief convertible. Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo took their '55 Pontiac cross country from New York to California in episode #110, entitled "California Here We Come." With 180 horsepower and a hydra-matic transmission, its price tag in 1955 was $2,691. Today, a '55 Pontiac Star Chief convertible sells for about $56,500. No wonder we love Lucy ... and Ricky, for that matter.

Al Bundy, Married with Children: Al Bundy's not a sports car kinda' guy. In fact, he hates his job, his wife is lazy and his kids are a dysfunctional bunch. About the only thing he DOES like is reminiscing about his high school football days and his Dodge Dart (which dates back about as far). Sources say Al thought his '72 Dart was the color brown, but after a car wash in episode #917, it turns out the car was red after all. The vehicle's original price tag -- $2,420 and what it would sell for today -- $6,175. This guy just can't catch a break.

Ozzy Osbourne, The Osbournes: He's been dubbed the 'Prince of Darkness' -- not exactly an Ozzie Nelson-type, but modern-day families have fallen in love with (and can seemingly relate to) Ozzy Osbourne. This quirky Brit and his 'eccentrically normal' family -- Sharon the wife, Kelly the daughter and Jack the son -- have become favorites among younger generations. So what does a multi-millionaire Beverly Hills rock star resident drive (or rather, ride in)? A limousine, of course. Seems you can buy a Matchbox replica of Ozzy's limo on eBay these days. The price tag for a 2003 black Cadillac? About $75,000. Forget the Crazy Train -- Ozzy knows how to ride in style.

Tony Soprano, The Sopranos: He's ruthless. He's powerful. He's a ... Dad? Tony Soprano might be a hardcore mob boss, but he's a softy when it comes to his kids -- and, it seems, GM sport utility vehicles. Ever since the show's debut, he's owned various SUVs, including a red Chevy Suburban and two Cadillac Escalades. His most recent ride, a 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV, sold for $57,620 new (with all the bells and whistles). Ba-Da-Bing.

Hulk Hogan, Hogan Knows Best: Believe it or not, Hogan knows best and Hogan knows cars. This modern day Dad owns an impressive car collection, including a 1994 'Hulkster Viper' (with yellow stripes), a 1996 Viper GTS and a 1998 Toyota Supra TT. Our favorite? A candy apple red 1957 Chevy Bel Air 2-door hardtop sport coupe (one heck of a 40th birthday present). With an MSRP of only $2,399, this car's high retail price today is about $45,400. In the ring or on the road, big muscles or muscle cars, we like Hulk's style.

The partying heiress is apparently a poker aficionado, and says she always wins the game in Vegas. But the buzz is that she doesn’t always win — and actually lost her beloved Bentley — valued at over $150,000 — in a recent game, according to various reports. But now an online poker company is offering Hilton a chance to win a new Bently. “If she goes heads-up online in a no-limit Texas Hold'em challenge against poker legend Mike Sexton and wins we’ll hand her the keys to a brand spanking new Bentley,” PartyPoker.com spokesman Warren Lush told the Hamilton Spectator. “Forget one night in Paris, we're offering her one night to win her wheels back.”

In all, 25 VIPs are participating in the fourth annual "Red Carpet, Green Cars" event sponsored by Toyota Motor Corp. and the environmental organization Global Green USA. McDormand, Phoenix, Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney are all expected to arrive at the Oscars in Toyota or Lexus hybrids, including the Toyota Prius, Lexus RX crossover and a hybrid version of the Toyota Camry, which goes on sale in May.

Event spokeswoman Kathy Kniss said the program began with just four participants in 2002, but interest in fuel-efficient vehicles has grown exponentially since then.

Other automakers are also getting into the act. Ford Motor Co. said Cathy Schulman, the producer of best-picture nominee "Crash," plans to arrive in a hybrid Mercury Mariner, while best-supporting-actor nominee Gyllenhaal's entourage is scheduled to show up in a Ford Excursion powered by clean-burning biodiesel.

General Motors Corp. also will be bringing VIPs to the ceremony, but its focus will be on luxury rather than fuel efficiency. GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney said a fleet of 50 Cadillacs - mostly 2007 Escalade SUVs - will be used to pick up and drop off celebrities. Carney said the automaker also will run ads during the broadcast featuring GM's two other luxury brands, Hummer and Saab.

1. Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee -- from the 1970s TV show
2. Bullitt's dark green 1968 Mustang driven by Steve McQueen
3. Gone in 60 Seconds' Eleanor - the 1967 Shelby GT500
4. Back to the Future's flux capacitor-equipped 1983 DeLorean
5. Batman's Batmobile from the TV series starring Adam West
6. Goldfinger's Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond
7. Smokey & The Bandit's 1977 Pontiac Firebird T/A driven by Burt Reynolds
8. Herbie the Love Bug, the 1963 Volkswagen from the Disney movie
9. Starsky & Hutch's 1974 Ford Torino driven in the original TV show
10. The Green Hornet's Black Beauty - from the 1966 television series