Awards / Awards Shows

It happened last night at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Diddy arrived at the party, but met with resistance. He got into a pretty heated conversation with a guy who looked like the head of security for the hotel. Several uniformed guards stood by as Diddy haggled with security and talked on his phone. How many times do you think he said, "Do you know who I am?"

About five minutes after Diddy arrived, Mirren, who won two Globes earlier in the evening, was greeted with open arms by the same security guard who stiff-armed Diddy. Mirren was then ushered in -- right past him!! Sometimes, it's good to be "The Queen."

Last night's Golden Globes was no exception. Long after Ryan Seacrest's thoroughly wince-inducing stand-up with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Warren Beatty made us wince with a deeply awkward (and incorrect) "Borat" impression.

Best TV Comedy Actress winner, America Ferrara, positively made us gnash our soup dumplings when she exited the stage after her touching acceptance speech and waited like a glowingly expectant puppy to be interviewed by NBC's Maria Menounos. And waited. And waited. And then had to run offstage, ignored by the blathering Ms. M. Such indignity!

Then, as Prince was a no-show to accept his award for best song, Justin Timberlake waited for his Petite Purple Majesty to come and collect his trophy, then saved the cringe-worthy moment by making himself a foot shorter and accepting on Prince's behalf.

From ill-fitting gowns to risky tuxedo failures, wardrobe malfunctions were plentiful. Check out which stars' outfits didn't win any awards --and wound up laying golden eggs.

Accepting the award last night for best actor in a comedy or a musical, Cohen brought the house to tears (of laughter) by slipping into a mock-serious appreciation of "the dark side of America," referring of course to his "Borat" co-star and his testicles and "rancid bubbles" of air that had been trapped in bodily crevices unsealed for decades and ... oh, hell, just watch.

As Borat himself would exclaim, "Wa wa wee wa!"

In a possible attempt to infuriate PETA after putting her sister on their Worst Dressed list, Mary-Kate Olsen donned a fur get-up. Girl even had a bodyguard as a personal paparazzi face-blocker.

More generous to the photo and autograph crowd were Johnny Drama himself Kevin Dillon, and Mark Wahlberg --who both took time to pose and sign pictures.

Also at the party were Terrence Howard, Dennis Quaid, Michael Keaton, Forest Whitaker, Justin Long and the always sexy Rose McGowan.

The Beverly Hills bash, sponsored by E! and the Environmental Media Association, will feature recycled party decor, sustainable plants and flowers, and a menu consisting entirely of organic food. Pass the salt! A tree will be planted for each party attendee, which will go toward offsetting the carbon emissions generated by the soiree. Al Gore will be so proud!

Celebs like Paris Hilton, Lance Bass and Adam Brody will also be getting their ecological groove on to the sounds of DJ AM. Try doing that at Hyde!

While one "Hero" saves her mother from a red carpet disaster, a daytime talk show host is caught staring below eye level.

One time "Karate Kid" turned Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. The two-time Academy Award winner has definitely come a long way since her role as "Julie Pierce" in "The Next Karate Kid" -- something one fan was quick to note at the ceremony.

Though she'd probably like to forget those days (as well as her turn as a single mom on "Beverly Hills 90210"), Swank was ecstatic about her star. In old-Hollywood style, she even signed photos for fans after the unveiling.

The revealing picture was taken in June, 2004 and has been posted on a website since June 30, 2004. You'll recall, of course, other revealing photos of Katie were taken at Fletcher's Backstreet Grill in Tampa that same year.

Last week, Katie's lawyer said the photos taken at Fletcher's "was an isolated incident." Maybe not so isolated.

The Miss Nevada USA website has been updated to show First Runner-up (and insanely tan) Helen Salas as the current crown-holder, with a statement saying that Rees "has been relieved of her duties."

The salaciously entertaining photos showed Rees exposing herself inside a Tampa Bar, Fletcher's Backstreet Grill, and outside of a nearby audio system company, Donovan Audio Designs Inc.

Donovan issued a statement on their website distancing themselves from the racy photos, saying, "There is no denying that these pictures were taken in front of our old office. However there were a number of pictures depicting a rather wild party as well. These pictures were not taken inside Donovan Audio's offices, nor did the parties occur there."

Though she's said little in a public forum, Rees' MySpace page holds a telling Bob Marley quote, "who are you to judge the life i live? i know i'm not perfect - and i don't have to be, but before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean."

CNN Headline News' "Showbiz Tonight" named the recently tattooed pop tart "Most Controversial Celebrity of 2006," beating the likes of wayward Mel Gibson, couch-jumping Tom Cruise, sashaying Paris Hilton and ranting Michael Richards. A train wreck can't be stopped.

Citing her parental missteps, the infamous YouTube video where she questioned the validity of time travel and her many pantyless nights in Hollywood, Britney shut out other contenders for the title, pants down.

Donald Trump made the surprising announcement on Tuesday, that embattled Miss USA Tara Conner would be entering rehab, but would be keeping her crown -- a crown that no one, including Tara, thought she'd win, according to E!'s "Uncovered: Hidden Lives of Miss USA."

Originally aired in June of this year, the TV special reveals how first runner-up Tamiko Nash appeared to have the title in the bag. When it came down to the final two, Conner even congratulated Nash prior to Conner's name being called as the winner. An obviously distraught Nash can be seen in tears.

Moments after winning, Tara gets some chilly words of advice from a pageant official who says, "If you act up, you and me in the bathroom -- headlock!" Curious, isn't it?

Once Tara takes up residence in her her swank new Trump Place digs in NYC, the beauty queen states, "I want to soak up everything that I can," -- and it looks like she did! "You can sleep when you are dead ..." -- or, in Tara's case, in rehab.

E!'s "Uncovered: The Hidden Lives of Miss USA" re-airs December 20 at 6PM.

Maroulis and Conner spent a night on the town at a NYC pool hall last October, partying with pop singer Ryan Cabrera and "Six Degrees" star Jay Hernandez. As seen in this video, Conner smacks Maroulis' butt and kisses him on the cheek (facial). How's that for a talent!

Before signing off, Maroulis looks straight into the camera and admits that they "have to get to some partying. You know how it is." Tara knows.

Maroulis recorded the footage as part of video diary series for People.com.

TMZ spotted the besieged beauty queen as she arrived at Trump Tower in New York City, where she is meeting with The Donald to discuss her fate. A press conference is expected later this morning where Conner's status as Miss USA will be announced.

Conner is under fire with allegations of drug use and excessive partying. New York Daily News reported that she failed a drug test for cocaine. Sources tell TMZ that the blonde Kentucky beauty will be officially replaced by Miss California, Tamiko Nash.

Miss USA 2001, Kandace Krueger, was standing outside of the Trump Tower this morning and told TMZ, "This is very disappointing to me if the allegations are true. Tara Conner should have the crown taken away. When you become Miss USA, you have to take the title seriously and you have to make good decisions and Tara obviously didn't."

"Dancing With the Stars" beauty Shanna Moakler, arguably one of the most famous women to wear the Miss USA crown, exclusively tells TMZ, "I don't think a lot of women are prepared when they take the title," and that may be the cause of Tara Conner's trouble with the title.

Moakler, who was crowned Miss USA in 1995 after Chelsi Smith became Miss Universe, knows first hand the difficulties of being a pageant winner. Says Shanna, "Most women in pageants love the actual pageant -- the competition, the show. They don't understand that it is actually a real job that you are paid a real salary for."

"[These girls] ... they don't understand that it is actually a real job that you are paid a real salary for."

Moakler, 19 at the time of her reign, points out that most pageant participants are extremely young and don't realize the responsibility that comes with the title. "You're traveling 85% of the year, working with different charities and organizations and making appearances at events." The schedule, Moakler says, is not fun, and there were times she just wanted to be her 19-year-old self.

Moakler held the title the year before Donald Trump purchased the pageant, but says the strict rules were the same. "I lived with a 60-year-old chaperone, and drinking, swearing and smoking were absolutely forbidden -- even in the house." Moakler added that she would have to check-in with her chaperone and leave a note whenever she left the apartment.

As for the besieged Miss USA Tara Conner's troubles, Moakler says her heart goes out to her, saying, "The situation is really sad." Shanna states that Conner may not have realized the responsibility she was undertaking as a role model and spokesperson for the country, and that it's unfortunate that this drama is playing out now, as "there are thousands of girls who would have died to be wearing the crown."

The interactive Web 2.0 era is filled with opportunities to shine on a big stage, but this is a huge deal. The Grammy Awards are the biggest night in music, and it is difficult (and considered an honor) for established acts to perform on the show. So, being completely unknown and getting to sing at the Grammys with one of the top pop stars of the day is nothing to sneeze at. If this opportunity isn't a career launcher, I don't know what is.

The Recording Academy's "My Grammy Moment" contest allows you to upload a video of your vocal stylings for the world to see and judge. This certainly has an "Idol" flavor, but there is no Simon Cowell to tell you to give it all up because you can't sing. Rather, a Grammy panel will select the finalists, and the public votes to pick the winner. If you don't want to be a singer, you can play critic. While voting won't start until after the finalists are selected, you can start shaping opinion by leaving your comments on the performances as they are uploaded.

Says JT:

"All of you contestants out there should look at this as more than just a chance to duet with me, because it's really an opportunity to begin your career as a superstar. And I'll be there to help coach you along."