Award shows Archives

Los Angeles, January 23, 2010 – There wasn’t a tool belt in sight at the SAG Awards, where the entertainment industry’s working stiff union workers pay tribute to their own.  The skies cleared after days of rain, and Hollywood stars trod the red carpet dressed to the nines.  (Although none of the actors from the movie Nine won anything.)

Despite her moving Best Actress acceptance speech, Sandra Bullock displayed her comedic talents in presenting Betty White with a Lifetime Achievement Award: “She starred in four different television shows called The Betty White Show. Four. Most people would stop naming shows after themselves after the third one.”  (Bullock is turning out to be an entertaining presence of this year’s awards circuit, after kissing Meryl Streep at the Critics’ Choice Awards.)  Backstage, Bullock said she was surprised by her SAG win.  “My money was on Meryl,” she said. 

The 88-year-old White was no slouch in the comedy department herself, coming back at Bulock with, “Isn’t it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go?”  White continued to crack jokes, and working a high-slit dress, told reporters backstage, “You’ve got to use everything you possibly can!”

Other notable union label winners included Drew “Um” Barrymore, Jeff Bridges, Julianna Margulies, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon and Mo’Nique. 

New York, January 12, 2010 – The National Board of Review’s annual awards dinner was, as always, not televised and therefore loose, with lots of jokes and back-and-forth banter between the evening’s honorees and presenters.  Accepting his Best Actor trophy, Up in the Air star George Clooney noted that actors are only as good as the screenplay and director, and gave one illustrious example: “You know, I was also Batman in Batman & Robin, so I know how to be bad,” Clooney told the crowd.  “I mean, you give me a rubber suit with nipples on it, I can rock Batman.  Give me another shot; I’m on it!”

Woody Harrelson, named Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Messenger, thanked his handlers and the studio “for giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do most – tons of press. That’s where the fun is.”  Harrelson, who plays a military messenger in the movie, also thanked members of the U.S. armed forces he met “who accepted a Hawaiian hippie peacenik as part of the family.”

Precious star Gabourey Sidibe acknowledged her newcomer status among the crowd of Hollywood luminaries, saying, “I’d like to thank you all for not throwing rocks when I walked in, because I really feel very different, and it’s really hard to get used to this room.” 

Other winners and presenters included Joel and Ethan Coen, J.J. Abrams, Jeremy Renner, Anna Kendrick, Morgan Freeman, Carey Mulligan and Clint Eastwood, who sent regards via video, since he was off shooting a movie.

New York, January 11, 2010 – Awards season got into full swing this week, kicking of on Monday with the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.  Everyone forgot all about movies when George Clooney, named Best Actor for both Up in the Air and Fantastic Mr. Fox, walked in - and not because of his blindingly good looks.  On his arm was his latest lady love, Elisabetta Canalis.  The two walked the red carpet together, officially putting an end to speculation about whether the Italian beauty would be George’s arm candy on this year’s awards circuit.  Designers must be sending her dresses by the truckload. 

Best actress Meryl Streep was press shy, as usual, breezing into the venue and not even posing for a photo.  The equally shy Wes Anderson, whose Mr. Fox was Best Animated Film, nervously smiled for pictures and then zipped away before saying a word to reporters.  The press-averse Mo’Nique, as expected, did not show up to pick up her Best Supporting Actress trophy.

The Hurt Locker had a big night, with Kathryn Bigelow taking home two awards for Best Picture and Best Director.  And after his many years as a relatively unknown actor, suddenly everyone knows Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz after his stunning performance in Inglorious Basterds.  

Presenters and guests included James Gandolfini, Lynn Redgrave, Amy Ryan and Christine Lahti.

Additional photos by Caroline Torem Craig

New York, November 30, 2009 – The movie awards season got its official start on Monday with the IFP’s Gotham Independent Film Awards.  Big stars like Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe and Ryan Reynolds gathered at Cipriani Wall Street to celebrate indie movies like Big Fan, A Serious Man and The Hurt Locker. 

The evening’s funniest shtick was from presenters Rosie Perez and Anthony Mackie, who opened with a shout out to the host, comic Kumail Nanjiani: “That guy - I don't know how to pronounce his name - but you're a funny motherf---er,” said Perez, stunning the audience into silence.  “We can curse right?” she asked innocently, and then rambled on hilariously on everything from having once married a Breakthrough Director winner, but being embarrassed because they are now divorced, congratulating the Yankees on their winning season, and toasting a mortified Willem Dafoe on his large member in the movie Antichrist.

Not all of the nominees were unknowns – Chris Rock, the Coen brothers, James Toback and David Strathairn were all up for awards.  Receiving Gothams special tributes were director Kathryn Bigelow, actors Natalie Portman and Stanley Tucci, and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. 

Los Angeles, August 9, 2009 – Let’s face it, the 2009 Teen Choice Awards was all about the guys.  While the Gibson Amphitheatre stage was swarming with gorgeous gals, the evening’s hottest, Transformers star Megan Fox, summed up the mood of the ceremony when accepting her Choice award for Female Hottie:  “I love you guys. And I'm gonna shut up now so you can all look at Robert Pattinson," Fox told the crowd.  And look they did: Pattinson’s Male Hottie award was one of 11 for Twilight. 

With hosts the Jonas Brothers receiving several awards along with Zac Efron, Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick, screaming female fans were everywhere.

The Teen Choice Awards airs on Monday, August 10, at 8 PM E.T. on Fox