The Szish Dish: Katrina's Red Carpet Report

ByABC News
March 6, 2006, 4:05 AM

March 6, 2006 — -- It's George Clooney's world and we're just living in it. He made an otherwise reserved and somewhat somber event come alive with that increasingly elusive movie star sparkle.

Never mind that Clooney only won one measly Oscar. He reintroduced Hollywood glamour on the red carpet with his classic bowtie. He made the opening skit funny when he showed up as Jon Stewart's bedfellow.

Clooney spoke intelligently and eloquently to defend Hollywood's relevance in what seems to be a country divided between million-dollar blockbusters and what industry insiders consider a "quality" film. He laughed heartily -- and genuinely -- as the butt of Stewart's "Good Night, and Good Luck" joke. He made funny faces to the camera when the woman who won for documentary film short thanked the academy for seating her next to him at an Oscar luncheon. He made the in memoriam tribute feel glamorous.

Clooney also did something that no one else can -- he made us want to go to the movies again.

Clooney's luminosity was a welcome contrast to Sandra Bullock's dreary midnight blue gown and matching demeanor; to Jennifer Aniston's stiff, uncomfortable aura. Yet, his classic elegance was reinforced by other leading men who (finally!) got the (urgent!) memo that "black tie" means black bow tie. The Szish Dish extends fashion props to Matt Dillon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Keanu Reeves, David Strathairn, Luke Wilson, Eric Bana and Russell Crowe.

The Clooney Effect -- defined in the Szish Dish glossary as "inspiring awe and amazement" -- thankfully extended to Hollywood's younger set of leading ladies. So without further ado, let's break down the trends and dive into the best and the worst:

It's important to note that there were no real fashion losers this year. Dolly Parton doesn't count, because, well, she's Dolly Parton. Instead, the diss-honors go to disappointments ... the style-setters who weren't as spectacular as expected.