The Golden Globe Awards is like a fancy dinner party in an alternate universe where everyone is famous and beautiful. There's a fully stocked bar — and a fully stocked makeup station in the bathroom. A-listers in their finest attire fill almost every seat in the Beverly Hilton Hotel's International Ballroom. Here's a running view from inside the festivities.
Escaping the rain
Rain on the red carpet meant the Beverly Hilton Hotel's International Ballroom filled up fast this year. With red-carpet schmoozing limited by the weather, nominee Edie Falco and her date got an early start on their dinner. Rex Lee of "Entourage" milled about with a cocktail and Mike Tyson greeted a friend before finding his seat.
Old-school star
The cameras and the crowds never tire of Sophia Loren. That was made clear as the 75-year-old star stopped to collect kisses all the way to her table at Sunday's Golden Globes, while photographers never stopped snapping pictures of her.
Beating cancer
"Dexter" star Michael C. Hall, who recently announced he's being treated for cancer, arrived with a black turban on his head and his wife and co-star, Jennifer Carpenter, on his arm. Hall, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, says the disease is in remission.
On your feet, people
Martin Scorsese, arriving on stage to accept the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Cecil B. DeMille Award for career achievement, received the night’s second standing ovation. The first one went to Loren when she came on stage to present the Golden Globe for best foreign language film. Rounding out the night’s standing ovations was just one more, for Jeff Bridges, who won his first Golden Globe, for best motion picture actor for “Crazy Heart.”
Stargazing
It may have been raining outside but the stars were in clear view inside at the Golden Globes. Super couple Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon hugged and visited with Julianna Marguiles and Jane Lynch of "Glee" as the members of the "Entourage" cast joined their co-star Rex Lee. Morgan Freeman, nominated for a best actor award for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in "Invictus," made his way through the crowd, followed not far behind by Amy Poehler, who was wearing a red over-one-shoulder dress.
It was 20 years ago today
"Ladies and gentlemen, the ... " Well, it was just one of the Beatles, but Paul McCartney still gets a round of applause from Hollywood when he shows up to take his seat at the Golden Globe Awards.
Dishing on the bashes
The show hadn't even started and already Heather Graham and Kevin Connolly were trading information about what parties they should hit afterward. Meanwhile, Sedgwick and Bacon chatted with Sandra Bullock and her husband, Jesse James, as Falco and Glenn Close greeted each other with kisses. With three minutes to showtime, a voice was heard over the loudspeaker: "Take your seats and settle down."
Fashionably late
Even on a rainy night, there's still a last-minute rush to get in before they close the doors and the cameras roll. This year's fashionably late crowd included: Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, and Harrison Ford with fiance Calista Flockhart. Bringing up the rear right behind them: director James Cameron.
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em
Not everyone brought their appetites to the awards, but all the smokers seemed to bring their tobacco. Guests who skipped the dinner noshed on cheese and fruit in a bar area adjacent to the ballroom. Meanwhile, the smoking patio quickly filled to capacity.
Among the first to arrive at the smoking patio was “The Hurt Locker” star Jeremy Renner, who held off all the way until the show’s first commercial. Others seen lighting up there included “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, who shared a cigarette with one of his show’s stars, January Jones.
Postpone that bathroom break
Oops! “Up in the Air” co-stars and supporting actress nominees Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick were heading to the ladies’ room together when Farmiga suddenly realized she had to stay behind to present the next award. She wasn’t the only one who had to tough it out. In accepting his Golden Globe for best motion picture director, James Cameron said he would make his speech quick so he could get to the bathroom.