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So the Screen Actors Guild gave its best film ensemble prize to a movie that was sent out on DVD to all its members… for the second year in a row. Did that influence the win for “Little Miss Sunshine”? Hard to say. Guess you’d have to poll a significant sampling of the 110,000 SAG members, including those who may be unusually grateful for a free copy of a movie.

Hollywood heavy weights

The announcer backstage introduced Helen Mirren’s second appearance. Instead of the grand dame of the evening, in walks milquetoast publicist Stan Rosenfield, carrying her two Actor statuettes and setting them down on the podium. Later, Steve Carell, the dual winner for “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Office,” swabbed his brow as he toted two beefy bronze figures.

Little Miss Sunshine wins ensemble…Oscar fave now?

“Little Miss Sunshine” beat the casts of “Bobby,” “Dreamgirls” “The Departed” and “Babel” to win the evening’s top prize. Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin and Abigail Breslin were on hand to accept and Kinnear lifted Breslin up to the microphone to say a few words. Very cute.
Kinnear thanked the movie’s co-directors who were shut out of the Oscar race. But “Sunshine” should be considered the Oscar favorite since it won the Producers Guild of America prize a few weeks ago. Last year, “Brokeback Mountain” was the front-runner until “Crash” ensemble upset it to win top ensemble.
So, “Sunshine” could win best picture and Martin Scorsese can finally get his Oscar for “The Departed.” I think that’s how it might go.

Favorites Forest Whitaker, Helen Mirren win top acting prizes!

In another category identical to the Oscar race, Forest Whitaker takes home leading actor prize for his performance as Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.” He gave a nearly incoherent speech at the Golden Globes but was far better this time around after a shaky start.
“I want to thank you for allowing me to have a moment like this…to help me be able to continue to express myself as an artist. Thank yoiu from the bottom of my heart.”

Mirren won for “The Queen” and said it was “an incredible night for me personally.”
The actress said that when she first walked into wardrobe and saw “all those sensible shoes and tweed skirts, I cried. I can’t playt anyone who chooses to wear those clothes. I just can’t do it.”
The audience laughs then Mirren adds that she “learned to love that person” and paid tribute to the Queen of England for her discipline and dedication to duty.

Duh…

Somebody from the cast of “The Office” mentioned backstage that they spend 60 hours a wek together in an office. That brought on the first “Duh” question of the night: “What do you do in those 60 hours on the clock?” Rainn Wilson calmly explained the process of making a TV series. Whoever asked that question must have been completely lost in the Mirren/Irons discussions about acting.

Jennifer Hudson stays on awards roll!

In a category identical to the Oscar field, “Dreamgirls” star Jennifer Hudson took home the best supporting actress award and said: “What a welcome! (It is her FIRST movie!) I’d like to thank God for this moment.” She thanked her castmates and said “I was able to work with and learn from the best.” She thanked director Bill Condon: “Thank you for believing in me when I did not believe in myself.”
And to her fellow SAG members she said: “Thank you for noticing little ol’ me and accepting me.”
Next stop: Oscar night!

TV Drama ensemble winners…GREY’S Anatomy!!!

The Isaiah Washington mess did not hurt ’em. But Ellen Pompeo is a pretty sucky award accepter. Next time, let Dempsey speak!
“We love this category more than you know,” she began.
OK, so far, so good.
But instead of mentioning the 10 cast members present and behind her on stage, Pompeo chooses to focus on those who are not.
” I think because this category is ensemble, it is worth mentioning the members of our cast who arent here. Kate Burton. Um, um, um help me! Isaiah Washington…Um…”
Good job Ellen…NOT!!!

Hugh Laurie wins best TV drama actor…

He beat Sutherland and Michael C. Hall among others. Tough category!
Laurie, the star of Fox’s “House” was a popular winner and said that being a successful actor and winning awards “It’s not so much about whether you do good work, it’s about whether you get a chance to do good work.”
“It’s a phenomenal honor…I know it will pass quickly, it might have already passed while I’m standing here.”

Best TV actress in a drama winner is CHANDRA WILSON!!!

Everyone looks shocked!
“It’s about those 10 actors sitting over there (points to Grey’s Anatomy cast) and the other one in rehab!” (Isaiah Washington, in gayhab)
She is all over the place. Thanks family. Agent. Friends.
“Look with this skin and this nose and these arms and this height! I’m here! Thank you Screen actors Guild for taking me as I am!”

Julie Andrews gets special award…is dressed as Mary Poppins!

Just kidding! Julie is dressed like a big star and at 71, looks like time started standing still right around “Victor/Victoria” about 25 years ago. Her “Mary Poppins” co-star Dick Van Dyke is here to take part in the presentation of a lifetime achievement award for Julie as is Anne Hathaway, with whom she appeared in the two “Princess Diairies” flicks.

Says Hathaway: “She’s not only a dear friend and colleague…she was also a patient, generous and wise mentor, and I might add, a helluva lot of fun.” Julie blows her a kiss from her seat and the audience stands up and goes into a standing ovation that threatens to go on a long time.
Hathaway, showing all the pluck of her character in “The Devil Wears Prada” says: “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for honoring Julie Andrews, but there IS more.”
Now they are showing all the clips of Julie singing in “Camelot” and “My Fair Lady.” She got robbed of those movie roles after nailing them on Broadway.
Now “Poppins” clips are on. Think about it. Was Mary Poppins really such a good nanny? She had those kids do some dodgy things. But whatever. Now “The Sound of Music” clips are on and “The Hiiilllls are aliiiive” and I feel sad that she can’t sing like that anymore after that botched throat operation.
I didn’t know she was an advocate for the UN. She really is a saint! And she is a Dame! Queen Elizabeth II gave her that honor. I think it’s kind of like being a Knight?
Now out comes the ageless Dick Van Dyke. Cool!
“I never got over being toingue tied…thaqt beauty and elegange was always a little daunting to me.” “They didn’t break any mold with Julie, there was no mold. She is the one and only.”

Now Julie is taking the stage to the “Hills Are Alive” music and everyone is standing again. I have a lump in my throat. Gulp.
Julie says: “I am so grateful to be part of a guld that reaches out and goes one step beyond its tremendous responsiblities.” my career has just been filled with good fortune. amazing mentors…and what about those delicious leading men? (Paul Newman, Omar Sharif, Rock Hudson etc). Pays tribute to hubby Blake Edwards.
“I have so much joy in my work…and you, ladies and gentlemen have just given me an evening that I will cherish all my life.”

What a lady!