Not to burst any bubbles, but Greg Hernandez does not get every A-list invitation in town. I had the privilege tonight of joining 2,000 or so of my closest celeb friends and/or fellow gawkers at the Beverly Hilton for the 2007 American Cinematheque Award presentation to Julia Roberts.
It's a lovely event that salutes big-name stars mid-career, which makes it a magnet for other big-name stars still in the middle of their careers as well. Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Blair Underwood, Bruce Willis, Natalie Portman and Marcia Gay Harden were among those spreading the love, and revered veterans Shirley MacLaine, Garry Marshall and Mike Nichols also came to lay tributes at her feet.
A couple of things that make the American Cinematheque event extra cool: The general public actually stands a chance of getting in, if they will pay $200 or so for a ticket in support of the year-round non-profit cinema showcase at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre. This mixing of haute couture and hoi polloi makes for interesting little moments, such as when one woman marveled quite loudly at the fact that Sally Field was in the bathroom. As if possession of Emmys and Oscars somehow brings an end to bodily functions.
There's no competitive element to it, which makes for a far more relaxed atmosphere than the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys have known in decades. And celebs say the darndest things at this show.
When the ceremony is televised on AMC on Dec. 5, blink and you'll probably miss Portman's anecdote about co-starring with Julia in "Closer," because the entire story hinged on one particularly nasty word. George Clooney (last year's honoree) sent in a taped message in which he and Brad Pitt played footsie a la Larry Craig. And there was one clip montage that compiled Roberts' many on-screen obscenities.
Accepting the award from Denzel Washington, Roberts opened with a line that no one, except maybe her 4-month-old son, Henry, would have expected:
"Is there a hungry baby in the house?" she asked, clutching her ample bust. "Just come on down."
The simple, sweet table arrangements of irises reflected the good-natured gal from Georgia who has come to be known as America's Sweetheart. Not sure what the contents of the gift bag -- assorted organic munchies and sweets with wine, liquer and fig vodka -- were intended to say.
On a personal note, the highlight of my evening was enjoying the company of my daughter, Renee, at a black-tie Hollywood event. At 13, she was poised, elegant and polite, and at the same time thoroughly delighted to be there. And she had the good sense to be discreet while marveling that Sally Field was in the bathroom.