Go Go Golden Globes

Each year, the Golden Globes marks the beginning of my Rev-Up-The-Workout season. (For most folks, it's New Year's and the resolutions. For me, it's seeing strappy gowns and peep-toe shoes.)

As Kate Winslet gushed her thanks (twice!) last night, I picked up the dumbells and did sets of lunges, squats, overhead presses, you name it. During commercials, I hit the exercise bike at a high resistance and cranked as hard as I could until they cut back to the gowns and speeches. I watch the Golden Globes, the SAG awards, and the Oscars every year, both to see if I can pick the winners (oh, yes, I did call Slumdog Millionaire! And Colin Farrell for In Bruges, which is a GREAT flick) and to see the fashion.

So here are my loves and hates for this year. What do you think?


Anne Hathaway:

The good: the color choice (different for Hathaway), the shape of the dress, the makeup and hair. All perfect.

The bad: if she didn't stand up really, really straight, the dress made her look like she has a tummy she does NOT have. What was with that?!



Christina Applegate:

The good: The dress. It fits her well and is va-va-voom old Hollywood glam.

The bad: What happened to her hair? It flopped in her eyes all night. Every time the camera flashed to her table, she was shoving it out of her face. She has the cutest hair, so I hope next time her hairdresser leaves it loose.


Beyonce and Jay-Z:

The good: Her hair and makeup (always, always perfect.) Her big smile. Her arm candy (the equally smiley Jay-Z.)

The bad: While the dress was gorgeous, she seemed extremely uncomfortable in it. Like there were pins inside sticking her all over and she was trying to suck in her breath just to keep from getting needled. Am I the only one who noticed this?


Susan Sarandon:

The good: Everything. She looked comfortable and happy all night, brought her son as her date, and her outfit was both classy and sexy. She looked incredible when she took the stage as a presenter.

The bad: None that I could see.



Mary Louise Parker:

The good: YEOWZA! Well played, MLP. Loved the color, the hair, the makeup...every time she appeared on camera, she looked like she was having fun.

The bad: No statue to take home. However, she looks so good, she doesn't need one.



Maggie Gyllenhaal:

The good: Her shoes (you could see them when she walked.) Her makeup. The cut of her dress, and the fact I couldn't completely hate it, despite the cockamamie print.

The bad: That horrid print. If it'd been a solid blue, it would've ROCKED. Then again, her style's always a little offbeat, so, again, I couldn't completely hate it.



Renee Zellweger:

The good: She decided to be bold and try something different.

The bad: This was NOT the right choice. But she seemed happy and comfortable in it, so kudos to RZ.



AND...to end on a high note, my fave of the entire night, Elizabeth Banks, Best Dressed:



The good: She took a risk and went with a pale dress despite her pale complexion, and it WORKED. Great cut, great color, and to-die-for ruffle detail that isn't over the top. Best of all, she topped it with a fun, flirty hairstyle that exuded class. This is the way to go glam without opting for the safe black or red.

The bad: NONE!

Tonight, I plan on night two of Rev-Up-The-Workout while I watch E!'s Fashion Police do their best and worst dressed. I can't wait to see if they agree with me on my picks.

A Day of Mourning

Tonight, the Golden Globe winners will be announced at a press conference. As in, no show, no dresses, no blingy shoes on pedicured feet for Joan and Melissa Rivers to ogle. With the writers' strike still on, the show is off. (Anyone else want to join me in a community "Waaah!"?)

As a writer, I'm all for it. Hollywood's writers work hard to create the storylines that keep us talking...how much time have you spent debating the plot twists on Lost, Heroes, Desperate Housewives, or Gossip Girl? The DVD sales from those shows stand to earn studios a lot of money, and writers deserve to earn a reasonable piece of that pie.

However, cancelling the ceremony means the actors and shows that win won't get their moment of glory--which is a big career boost. This year, it also means Steven Spielberg won't have an audience as he picks up a well-deserved Cecil B. DeMille Award. And it's not just the award winners who lose out. Calling off the show means a huge hit to the the L.A. economy. Given all that, I hope the strike ends soon, with all sides feeling the conclusion was reasonable, to prevent the same thing happening with the Oscars.

I'll admit, even though my writer side supports the strike...as an awards show fan, I'm in mourning. (I swear, the fact I'm wearing black today is a total coincidence. Really.) I mark the ceremony date on my calendar and even get up early on the day nominations are announced to find out who's up for which award. I enjoy it so much that I decided one of my characters, Val Winslow of the Royally Jacked books, should have an awards show addiction just so I could write about it.

Most years, I have friends over to watch the broadcast with me. As the stars make their red carpet entrances, we discuss their outfits (usually predicting who'll end up on Go Fug Yourself the next morning) and fill out ballots, trying to see who can pick the most winners. (Tip to those of you with awards show pools: nailing the documentary and music categories is what makes the difference!) But who'll be this year's fashion Cher? Who'll be this year's Halle Berry? Hopefully, we'll find out come Academy Awards night. I want to see what Amy Adams, Jodie Foster, and Keira Knightley wear this year.

What about you? Are you in mourning, or is the lack of an awards show no big thing to you? Are you in it for the fashion, the awards, or the speeches? Whose dress did you want to see? Me, I most want my regularly scheduled house party!