Celebrity Chatter: On Stage, Backstage At The Globes

The 60th annual Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globe awards have become more popular as a televised event through the years. Why?

It's a mix of Emmys and Oscars, and the Golden Globes assembles a mix of television and movie stars for a live presentation from the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.

The Globes are considered an accurate predictor of the Academy Awards. A Globe award gives a movie or star extra exposure in the midst of members of the Academy casting their votes for the Oscar.

In fact, 15 of the 20 "Best Picture" Oscars handed out in the past 20 years first won a Golden Globe in the Drama or Comedy-Musical category. This year will likely be no exception.

But, as they say in the biz, let's get on with the show.

Fashion Winners and Sinners

Winners: Gowns, gowns, gowns were the order of the day at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards. The ever tasteful Halle Berry looked just right in a light blue, floor-length dress. Debra ("Will and Grace") Messing chose a sleeveless gown by Vera Wang and Nicole Kidman's subtle lilac gown by Yves Saint Laurent were Globe winners. Meryl Streep modeled her Giorgio Armani silver-beaded jacket backstage after the show for the press.

Sinners: Sharon Stone looked like she was wearing a reject from Kelly Osbourne's closet. Her black go-go boots looked like they were straight out of a Frederick's of Hollywood catalogue. Sarah Jessica Parker's corset could've stayed in the closet, and Lara Flynn Boyle looked like she borrowed Bjork's outfit from last year's Oscars. Boyle must have taken a wrong turn. Her pink tutu skirt and pink toe shoes were better suited for "Swan Lake" than for the Golden Globes. Give me a scissors for Brad Pitt's long, straggly hair.

Weren't those bald bookends cute when "The Shield" award winners hit the stage? Cue-ball Michael Chiklis was joined by fellow baldie, Shawn Ryan, producer of the show.

You Were Wondering?

Why Jennifer Aniston had a cane? She broke her toe bumping into furniture a week ago, according to her publicist.

Mysterious couples? Josh ("Mister Sterling") Brolin and Diane ("Unfaithful") Lane showed up at the awards together. Interesting. Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford both happened to be presenting awards. John ("Sex And The City") Corbett was spotted at the HBO after-party with Bo Derek. Rumors have been floating about them for months.

Who do you think talked longer during their acceptance speech: Richard Gere or director Pedro Almodovar? Almodovar gets the award for most nonsensical speech.

How many times did Golden Globes' cameras zoom in on Catherine Zeta Jones? We lost count. How many people called her beautiful?

Was Chrysler the only advertiser during the awards show? Chrysler rolled out Celine Dion's new reported $10 million advertising campaign during the awards show. Yes, she did drive or ride in just about every new model Chrysler for each commercial. Heck, I'd get in any car or minivan Chrysler told me to for $10 million bucks.

How did Nicole Kidman keep her head straight with those enormous earrings on? Perhaps she learned balance during "The Hours," where she was forced to wear a bulbous nose as Virginia Woolf. She told the press after the show that the earrings were Indian and that she wore them for good luck.

Why didn't anyone mention the dearly departed Richard Crenna who passed away Friday? Here was a guy who was a television and movie actor and no one even said his name. That's a fine tribute.

Oops, I Said It Again…

Some notable quotes from the Globes:

"Ladies, ladies, ladies, look what I got in my gift bag!" – Jamie Lee Curtis ogling her much younger co-presenter Paul Walker.

"Winning a Golden Globe is better than sex. You can have sex over and over, but you only win something like this once in a while," Kim Cattrall at a post Golden Globe party.

"I didn't even want to do this movie!" – Richard Gere, accepting his award for "Chicago."

"I took a valium tonight so…." Jack Nicholson looking sleepy while clutching his award for best actor in "About Schmidt."

"I can't talk -- I've got laryngitis," Edie Falco of "The Sopranos" whispered into the microphone. "I can't do this."

"It's my first day wearing a thong," deadpanned presenter Tim Allen.

"That is really, really, really (expletive) brilliant!" Bono exhibits the beauty of live television as he blurts out the unexpected. Whoops!

What's In The Goody Bag?

Presenters and attendees didn't leave the Golden Globes empty handed.

Ceremony gift bags for the attendees were valued at $700 and included:

Aroma Naturals – Candle

Biotherm - Facial Sunscreen

Brooks Brothers - Gift card

ClarinsMEN - Product

Crest - Spin brush

Feng Shui Chic Book - Paperback book

Godiva Chocolatier - 2-piece Gold box

Hasbro, Inc. - Travel Scrabble

Herban Essential for Urban Disorders - Peppermint, lavender, and lemon hand wipes

In Style - Luggage tag

John Frieda Professional Hair Care, Inc. - Secret Weapon, Flawless Finishing Creme

Kenneth Cole NY Men, Kenneth Cole Fragrances Kenneth Cole (Men)

Kiss My Face - Organic lip balm

L'Interdit, Parfums Givenchy - Givenchy L'Interdit

L'Oreal Paris - Body Expertise body/hand lotion and Exfotonic Exfoliator

Lancome Paris - Soleil, self-tan for legs

Lands' End - Tote

"My Stroke of Luck"/HarperCollins - Kirk Douglas paperback

N.V. Perricone, M.D. Cosmeceuticals - Mini doctor's bag with skincare products

Soolip Press & Paperie - Hand printed memo pad

The Container Store - Wink frame

Zagat Survey - Movie guide book

Presenter gift bags were valued at $12,000 and included:

Alchera - Hand poured soap, $125

Bobby Jones, a division of Hickey Freeman - Gift certificate, $250

Bruno Magli - Gift certificate, $250

Burberry - Gift certificate, $250

DermaNew - Personal microdermabrasion system, $252

Escada - two sunglasses (men's and women's), $500

Ethan Allen - Chenille throw, $250

Ethel M Chocolates - 1 lb. decorative red box, $35

Histoires de Parfums - Candles, $100

Kiehl's assorted bath and beauty products, $272

Longchamp USA - International agenda book, $260

Marc Jacobs men, Marc Jacobs fragrances, $50

Mikimoto pearl necklace $295

"My Stroke of Luck"/HarperCollins - signed copies of Kirk Douglas hardcover book

Rebecca Moss Ltd. - Ball point and Fountain Pen in dual leather case, $325

Reed Krakoff for Coach - TransAtlantic cabin bag, $400

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, spa package, $5,000

Siemens Mobile Phones - Pocket PC phone, $600

Target Judith Leiber - cuff links, $100

Tiffini Dooris Jewelry - Yellow Jade jewelry gift certificate, $200

TiVo - Tivo box with 80 hours of recording time and 3 months service, $650

Vera Wang perfume, $300

Waterford crystal clock, $250

Zodiac Swiss Watches - Ambassadeur plain face watch. $895

Presenter box. Handmade linden wood French casual chest, $249

Guess it's better to be a presenter than an attendee.

Michelle Solomon's gossip column, Celebrity Chatter, appears each Monday. Got a question about a celebrity? E-mail us (please include your first name, city and state) and we'll find you the answer. Michelle Solomon@Celebrity Chatter. Personal replies cannot be sent.