Behind the Scenes at the Golden Globes

Jan. 22, 2001 -- “You’ve got your television stars mixed in with my film stars.”

“You’ve got your film stars mixed in with my television stars.”

Two great groups that look great together … and that's what you had at the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills Sunday evening.

All of Hollywood's beauties, male and female, pranced onto the red carpet in an array of designer wear. The women leaned toward sophisticated glamour, while the men remained, as usual, cloaked in variations of the tux-suit-o.

Stunning Sela, Luminous Lopez

Some of the true stunners of the night included Sela Ward in a fitted gown with plunging neckline. Her hair was in a simple ponytail, but there was nothing horsey about her … she her radiance only grew after she won the award for best actress in a TV drama.

Another ravishing vision was Jennifer Lopez in white satin. Unlike past awards shows, J.Lo decided to wear a whole dress, as opposed to a pinned scarf. The look paid off for Puffy's Princess.

For those who didn't prefer the subtle elegance of black or white clothing, there was baby blue … Lara Flynn Boyle had on a light blue sequined gown, which went well with her blue mood, as she was sans Jack Nicholson.

On the other end of the spectrum, there were those who showed up Pretty in Pink. Jamie Lee Curtis was wrapped in a pink gown with matching handbag. Best in Show, a film directed by and starring hubby Christopher Guest, was nominated for best musical or comedy — but it didn't win, which must've turned him pink in the face.

Also in pink was Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall. But more shocking than the color of her dress was the color of her skin — she apparently spent a little too much time worshipping El Sol.

Of course, she may have had some special Hollywood facial treatment where they make it look like crepes were cooked on her face, but I'm guessing too much sun as the cause of her rather painful glow.

Besides their chosen dresses, the ladies were also clad in jewels. This year, simplicity ruled: one-strand chokers, bracelets and hoop earrings made of small-but-snazzy diamonds prevailed. There were exceptions: the very pregnant Cameron Mannheim sported diamondesque-wear, which, she boasted, was purchased at a local Target store.

Not Exactly Miss Congeniality

And no matter how big the celebrity, so too is their behavior. Sandra Bullock, nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy for Miss Congeniality, was smacking gum on the red carpet like she was getting ready to call someone out of bounds at a high school football game. She lost out to Nurse Betty's Renee Zellweger … which gives her something to chew on, I suppose.

But Zellweger's appearance was not without incident. She was in the bathroom when Hugh Grant called her name. It took an awkward 90 seconds for someone to get her out of the john and onto the stage. She said she was checking to see if she had lipstick on her teeth.

One of the evening's bigger surprises included an appearance by everyone's favorite convict, Mr. Robert Downey Jr. Not only did he make it on stage as a presenter, but he also headed to the podium as winner of best performance by a supporting actor in a TV musical or comedy for Ally McBeal.

In a self-deprecating speech, he said he was glad he didn't have to spend the evening under the table. But he was less forthcoming backstage, reading from a prepared statement and refusing questions.

Was It the Champagne Talking?

The evening's finest moment by far came when Elizabeth Taylor emerged to present the best movie drama award: after taking the podium, she immediately opened the envelope — without reading the nominees first.

She was saved by Dick Clark, who quickly explained how one proceeds as an awards presenter. A rather giddy Liz covered up by saying she was unfamiliar with the protocol as she was used to receiving awards — not presenting them.

If I didn't know better, I'd say it was the champagne talking. You see, that's the one thing that separates the Golden Globes from the rest of the awards ceremonies … the booze.

It's flowing on the red carpet, where waiters hand out drinks upon arrival. It's available in the lobby, where champagne glasses are arranged in a giant pyramid, with the bubbly cascading down from the top glass. And it's served throughout the ceremony, along with dinner — if you choose to eat.

All in all, the Golden Globes are a much more social and less stressful ceremony for the participants. They are official, but they're not awarded by the Academy. They are voted on by the HFPA … also known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This is the Anti-Academy. They're fun, they're light and they don't put a lot of thought into who wins.

Let's face it, they chose George Clooney as winner of best actor in a musical or comedy. This wouldn't be so unusual had the other nominees not included the likes of Robert De Niro, Mel Gibson, Jim Carrey and John Cusack.

So no matter what your pleasure, be it best TV musical or comedy — Sex and the City — or best movie drama — Gladiator — the Golden Globes continue to have it all.

And in true Globes fashion, here's a toast to the winners!