SAG Live Blog: Bridesmaids, Silent Stars and The Help
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6:35PM 6:30 I was writing an (unrelated) short little note about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy moments ago and am suddenly thrust onto a red carpet with fast talking E! reporters uttering inanities while stars explain who they're wearing. These are things old spies never have to think about. But tonight is not about the spies. It's about bridesmaids, silent film stars, time travelling writers, Hawaiian land barons and maids. The first four things I hear are two engagement stories (good news for Bridesmaids or mere coincidence?), one ode to George Clooney via The Good Wife herself. Then Octavia Spencer -- love that bun (is there are name for those high buns on steroids?) -- announcing that she's robbed Cougar Town of Josh.
Which begs the question: Is anyone in Hollywood not friends with Octavia Spencer?
6:37 Armie Hammer on his wife's bakery. He's not the baker, he's the, uh, taster. The reporter or his wife I can't recall calls this "out of the closet taster?" which he confirms. I'm not making this up.
I'm an out of the closet taster and Elizabeth is the master baker: lemon pies, tiramisu, many cupcakes. Let's just say we now have the most special red velvet recipe there is.
For some reason when he's talking about food it sounds utterly filthy. I'm having a flashback to Rock Hudson talking about recipes in that one movie.
6:40 Rose Byrne is wearing a sparkly jumpsuit and reminding me that she is Australian. I always forget the she's Australian and that jumpsuits exist. The latter by choice. Although she says Scarface was her inspiration and I can sort of see Michelle Pfeiffer circa 1983 in this look. The BEST part is when she leaves the reporter who is going to commercial and Glenn Close (Damages reunion!) looks her jumpsuit up and down... more than once. She doesn't know what to make of it until...
No, she definitely doesn't like it. Hee.
6:53 Viola Davis is talking about her new daughter. I didn't realize she had adopted. Somewhere I missed that. She sounds happy and nervous and she definitely isn't completely comfortable in her Jimmy Choos. Since we're talking about feet, I feel the need to share this photo.
Regina King tweeted "toes done" an hour ago.
I did not retouch this photo so either her camera phone has some issues or her feet are sunburned. Ouch. Put some aloe vera on that. If feet horrify you I apologize. But, true story, it's how I remembered it was time to live blog.
This live blog is brought to you Regina King's pedicure.
7:02 Jonah Hill says everyone can't believe he was Oscar nominated. To his credit he says that he can't believe it either so he understands.
7:08 Michelle Williams, who clearly does not like talking to reporters about her personal life, does a pretty good job of pretending to be okay with it whilst astrally projecting herself away. I'm reasonably certain she was floating somewhere over Montana whilst Guiliana was inundating her with questions about child rearing.
7:17 E! talks to so many people I don't care about. I sometimes wish I was their boss so I could redirect their energies. But then I'd probably not bother and just fire them all.
7:20 Giuliana is so intrusive into celebrity lives. She's constantly asking about children and boyfriends and romance and underwear and personal stories. Jesus! I'm actually shocked that she restrained herself and didn't ask Sofia Vergara how big her boyfriend's dick was once she started grilling her on her own body parts.
7:27 It's weird to be annoyed with George Clooney but I really really am. It's like the Charm Offensive. Stop it. "Is it still so humbling to you? It's really nice."
7:29 NOOOOoooooooooooo Guilana. Down girl. I didn't mean to be predictive. She is now asking Clooney about his dick. I'm not making this up. "Would he ever drop trou for a movie?"
7:34 A conundrum. I watch Glee and though it's totally wrong, I look forward to doing so. But when Glee actors are interviewed I always astral project myself away. Right now I'm headed north trying to spot Michelle Williams.
7:39 Brad and Angie have arrived. I tried to take a photo but they're all blurry like a mirage. A mirage of beauty. Movie Stars. Two people you can say that about with a straight face.
7:41 Meryl Streep was talking to Guiliana and it seemed so unnatural. Curiously, perhaps momentarily stunned by the realness of The Meryl, Guilana was gazing at her as she left and narrating Meryl's conversation with Steve Carrel once she had left the stage -- Meryl and Steve looked like they were laughing and Meryl did this cute little crouch thing as if she was giggling/giddy. Guiliana "This is obviously a real moment, a real conversation. Not like some Hollywood conversations.' GUILIANA SAID THIS.
It is 2012. I worry.
7:53 And Ross and Guiliana talking to Brad are suddenly all sincere... talking about particular moments they loved in Moneyball (like they've actually seen it). Ross telling Brad his kids won't be embarrassed by him when they grow up and see his movies is somehow endearing against all odds.
The Mayans were right.
THE SHOW !!!
8:03 The writing on this SAG Awards info is hurting me. "Have a great night Brad and Angelina". "Jean Dujardin. No words are needed. And now they're starting with Ducky (Jon Cryer forget his name for a sec). Not a good sign, Jon Cryer not my forgetfulness.
8:06 SUPPORTING ACTOR goes to Christopher Plummer
Heartfelt speech, longer than he's been giving with a nice shout out to Ewan McGregor for making acting look so effortless. Exactly. That's why he never gets nominations.
8:13 George Clooney is mysteriously bad at a teleprompter tonight
8:15 SUPPORTING ACTRESS goes to Octavia Spencer
Team Help is really good about playing their awards wins for emotional narrative value. She let's out a squeal of Ohmygooooodddd as she leaves the stage. Octavia and Plummer are now mortal locks for Oscar wins... not that they weren't before.
I believe Joe called The Golden Globes a "bullet train of awards" on the last podcast but honestly that's even more descriptive of SAG. There's no time to type before they're handing someone else an actor.
8:23 They're showing clips from Supporting Actor in a Comedy and Two and Half Men feels like such a dinosaur. Laugh tracks are so anachronistic. Ugh. Stop it. If you can't make people laugh on your own you don't deserve a nomination as "Best"
8:24 ACTOR TV COMEDY goes to Alec Baldwin, his sixth consecutive win! After a bunch of squealing "ohmygoddddd"s he gives a bunch of credit to Tina Fey's writing. Nice.
8:26 ACTRESS TV COMEDY goes to Betty White
My dears. My dears. I don't think they can read. I think they made a terrible mistake."
Gooey Love for her castmates with just enough bite to also be funny.
8:30 This is maybe my favorite thing I've ever seen on the SAG Awards. Theyre highlighting dayplayers by showing clips of various movies with these unknown actors getting their names on screen. It's like my bit player awards (coming soon) only less specific.
8:35 BEST COMEDY SERIES ENSEMBLE goes to Modern Family
The speech, naturally it's a joke, doesn't quite come off. Which is weird for this cast. I do feel the need to point out that young Nolan Gould (who got speech duties today) who plays Luke Dunphy on the show is the brother of Aidan Gould who played Tilda Swinton's kidnapping victim in Julia.
ISN'T THAT CRAZYYYYYYYYY?
8:43 BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE goes to Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce. She's not there so Glenn accepts on her behalf.
8:46 Team Help is on the stage introducing their movie clip. The clip has this really sitcomy music over Viola's "you a godless woman" bit. Awkwaaaaard.
8:50 BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE goes to Paul Giamatti for Too Big To Fail. He's also not there. The other nominees look around for him like he'll spring up from a seat heretofore unknown.
8:56 I'm sorry I'm so slow with the live blogging tonight. Computer acting up and I don't have $1,500 for a newbie.
9:07 Fact: There has not been enough Bridesmaids up in my awards season.
Their Scorsese drinking game --" drink every time you hear the word "Scorsese". It happens more than you'd think" -- will get you very very drunk here in NYC. The only single name that might rival it in terms of speedy inebriation would be "Woody" or "Tarantino"
9:10 MARY TYLER MOORE TRIBUTE
Lovely to see her and Dick Van Dyke again. I couldn't buy MTM as a nun in that one clip. Ah well, you can't win them all. I love career tributes. There is a strange gap when she finishes speaking where she says nothing on stage and there is no music and no cut to commerical. Dick Van Dyke rescues her with a kiss and they cut to commercial. Whose fault was that? Was someone chatting in the control room or did Mary just space out? This is not necessarily a sign of age as I've been doing that since i was like 10. Sometimes you're just suddenly not there. Like Michelle Williams on the red carpet.
9:15 Commercials. But maybe everyone is just tired. Nick being his brilliant self, tweets:
His math seems right.
9:19 BEST ACTRESS DRAMA SERIES Jessica Lange for American Horror Story
It's her first SAG Award and it's spooky that I name checked her super-fan Nick just before she won it.
It's great to play such a BIG character with so much to do."
Ummm. what other size characters do you play, Jessica?
9:28 Meryl Streep introduces the In Memoriam segment: Farley Granger, John Wood (in Ladyhawke clip no less!), Betty Garrett, Doris Belack in Tootsie (LOVE) Jane Russell, two principal cast members of They Shoot Horsese Don't They? (Such a great movie. See it!) Elizabeth Taylor gets the ending "Bye now". Okay, I'm sad. Thanks a lot Meryl! There will never be another La Liz.
9:35 The SAG Actor statue looks so indecendent when it's brightly lit what with that huge package. I always want to move one of its face masks down for a fig leaf. #Prude
9:37 BEST ENSEMBLE DRAMA SERIES goes to Boardwalk Empire
I just can never become interested. But I have too many shows anyway. I'm okay with my lack of interest.
9:41 BEST ACTOR FILM goes to Jean Dujardin !!!
Zoinks. I think this needs three screencaps for the excitement.
Love Penelope Ann Miller's reaction. She's feeling what I'm feeling. Although I'm also feeling what Bérénice is feeling at the end there, glowing pride. Not that I had anything to do with it. But it really is quite a performance.
He says "mygodmygodmygod" a bunch of times. God has been name checked a lot in a comic way tonight. He reads his speech (he doesn't speak much English) with nice shout outs to his cast -- which prompt him to finally look up from the page. Lovely. Clooney & Pitt both seem totally fine with it, happy even.
10:01 My laptop all but froze up for the last 15 minutes of the show. So sorry. Time for it to go to... where do old computers go? A few observations about Viola Davis and The Help, which won all three of its awards tonight... (give me a sec)
Amazing reaction from the crowd and another really heartfelt speech with very specific inspiring honors going to Cicely Tyson (the first actress that made her want to be an actress) and Meryl Streep in her college years for inspiring her. Lots of tearful eyes in the crowd. She's clearly loved. Viola's speech about racism is beautiful and I'm thinking back to the Peggy Siegal luncheon I attended in which she talked about the controversy surrounding The Help and she and Octavia both understood some of the criticisms of the film but were completely proud to be a part of a movie that had sparked so much dialogue and discussion.
10:15 I must power down. But congratulates to all the winners! Did you enjoy the show? Do you think all these winners will repeat on Oscar night?
ADDENDUM: "Dream Big. Dream Fierce" Notes on the Viola Davis Win
Bridesmaids, Meryl Streep, Octavia Spencer, SAG, The Help, Viola Davis
Reader Comments (115)
ohhh My Gosh..who's gonna win tonight ?
someone on the TBS red carpet asked the cast of The Artist what it was like to work with Woody Allen.
I can't believe Guiliana didn't ask about Armie's arrest. Live TV, hello?
Nathaniel, can we point out that now 2 cast member from Cougar Town have been brought to the SAGs as plus ones?? I love it.
Oooh did Michelle Williams bring Busy Phillips again? I think They're my fave holllywood friendship!
Viola davis looked amazing! I hope she wins just so we can see her accept the award in that dress :)
@Kim
Is this part of that campaign with Cougar Town actors having cameos on other TV shows? I still think Busy Phillips at GG was part of that, no matter her friendship with Michelle Williams!
Wait, wasn't that same guy at The Help's table at the Globes? Is that Octavia's man?
@Julia your comment made me LAUGH. Cougar Town for the win! #saveBigCarl
Guilana is a hot mess. So annoying.
"I didn't mean to be predictive."
Spoken like a member of the BFCA! ;)
And the guys at the TNT Red Carpet are not that better...
I already know Giuliana's interview with Brad and Angelina will be SO cringe-worthy.
If there's a surprise tonight, my bet would be Dujardin for Best Actor.
^ I could actually see that.
Guilana so bitch !!!! , i see
fingers-crossed for BRIDESMAIDS in Best Ensemble!
The presenters of the AP red carpet were not much better.
Kim -- obviously people love that cast. weird that none of them get any awards heat ever. theyre so funny!
John-Paul -- that would be exciting.
Nick -- Ahhhhhh i've been read.
are suddenly all sincere... talking about particular moments they loved in Moneyball (like they've actually seen it) -----) Nat you're so Funny......hahahahhaha
YES! SAG always has the clips!
That was a great speech! And Christopher Plummer gets closer and closer to an EGOT!
Before anyone claims that Spencer is now a lock for the Oscar, I'd like to point out that the most accurate predictor of Best Supporting Actress during the past 10 years has been the BAFTA, not the SAG. The BAFTA's were the only group to predict Tilda Swinton's win, so if the BAFTA's pick someone other than Spencer (which is possible), then I will maintain that this race isn't quite over yet.
But in all likelihood, yeah, Octavia Spencer will probably win the Oscar.
Julia - but, he doesn't have a Grammy...
Unless they pick a brit, like last year... But I do wonder who would they pick if not Spencer. Any thoughts?
I really liked Octavia's speech. Her best yet.
@Philip I know, but if he wants, with that accent, we know a spoken album Grammy is very possible...
Nathaniel, seriously, Courteney Cox must have done something to awards nominators in a past life. The fact she never got anything for Friends and now Cougar Town is inexcusable.
Julia - Oh, mmkay, that's what you meant.
Kim - I agree! Blasphemy.
Alec Baldwin again......really?!
-___-
And Alec Baldwin is still one behind Julianna Margulies. Not that I think it is justified...
Plummer = Bacall? Bacall got tripped up because a lot of people who worked with her didn't like her (she was referred to as the Bitch of Broadway during the 80s) and I've heard negative things about Plummer as well.
If I may, Philip...
Betty White again......really?!
-___-
I just learned recently that jessica chastain does not reveal her actual age.
that is... weird.
They won't be voting for modern family again after that speech.
My GOD, the SAG voters are lazy with television. Alec Baldwin does NOT deserve this six #&*$T# years in a row. And Amy Poehler not even nominated?! Ridiculous. At least Modern Family beat Glee. But Parks and Rec and Community were ROBBED of nominations.
I watch too much TV. Sorry. :-)
i think the bfca awards are actually more tasteful than this. baldwin x6, betty white, that modern family acceptance, don't know if i can take it. badddd
Is there a live streaming? Link, please?
Glenn looks STUNNING!
A trailer for Hugo came up after the Bridesmaids bit. I had to drink twice. (Seriously, they say "Scorsese" twice in the span on one short TV spot.)
Omg, did they really just turn the Artist table black and white??? How tacky -_-
oh! Nat do u have a problem with La Lange?
This is Lange's first SAG? Who won in 1994 for Actress? Jodie Foster for NELL? yikes.
They misspelled Maria Schneider's name. How depressing.
Is it just me, or were the clips for Drama Series really strange? The first two seemed to focus on a single character, not an ensemble, and the game of thrones clip was just, well.....a bunch of awkward hugging
It looks like Leo didn't even show up. Not all that surprised. He's probably ready to give up.
Just when I was cringing, ready to hear George's name, Natalie said Jean!!!! Woooo. I can even settle with that over George.
Does George not have this sewn up after all??
What a breath of fresh air...go Jean!
I am SO relieved. I never thought George was much of a front-runner and I'm glad to see my suspicions were correct. Whew. Also, go Jean! He was so thrilled, it was a delight to see.