blige, the top nominee with eight nods, is one well put-together broad. looking nice in a pants suit, with all her moving parts on display, she handled the gauntlet of TV on her path to her limo with practiced professionalism. we got her briefly. she's been through all this many times before.

"mary j. blige is gonna keep doin' what i'm doin'," she burbled. "wow! it's like 'people, i'm deep with humility and gratefulness.' "

nearby, a dark-suited fellow shouts into his cell fone: "we need some security in here."

may j. is plenty secure.