BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Two years ago, several Golden Globe
Awards after-parties raged at once at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, with
movie and television stars co-mingling, braving the chilly night air
and sometimes waiting in line for hours to get into lavishly decorated
bashes.

On Sunday night, a year after the writers' strike shut down the awards
show ceremony and its onsite parties, the weather was much warmer and
alcohol flowed again throughout a spate of shindigs at the hotel,
though fewer than before and not quite so extravagant.

Still, the current economic recession didn't stop post-Globe revelers
from indulging in booze, food and the sheer will to make merry.

Clutching a tumbler of whiskey, his hair askew, "Mad Men" actor and
nominee Jon Hamm grinned next to his wife, surrounded by cast members
at an intimate, exclusive bash for the AMC '60s-themed show, which won
a best TV drama trophy for the second year in a row. Retro tunes
blasted overhead as guests ate mashed potatoes served in martini
glasses. Decorations were minimal.

"To win again is great. We're going to light the lamp. We're going to
party until late," said Hamm, a little unsteady on his feet.

Hamm pointed out that even with layoffs within the entertainment
industry and beyond, a party could provide an economic boost.

"It employs a lot of people. I was a caterer and waiter for a long
time of my life," he said.

Hamm's co-star Michael Gladis, sipping on a scotch and soda, said he
had been drinking for hours.

"We're good at it. It's all about pacing," he joked, noting the show's
characters' penchant for at-work boozing.

Unlike previous years, The Weinstein Co., E! and Paramount Pictures
did not host after-parties at the hotel. Showtime held an offsite
party at the nearby Peninsula Hotel, and Fox Searchlight hosted a
party at the restaurant Craft.

NBC Universal's annual party on the Hilton's rooftop was a mostly
industry affair, with guests dancing to a DJ spinning tunes by Prince
and Britney Spears. Vases of white roses and lilies, and silver
containers full of white feathers, decorated the area. Massive black
chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Attendees feasted on a modest spread of grilled vegetables, mashed
potatoes, pasta and beef tenderloin served with mustard and
horseradish.

With only two onsite parties left, most celebrities flocked to the
Warner Bros. In Style bash in the Oasis Courtyard or HBO's grand party
at its traditional home at the Circa 55 restaurant and poolside patio.

Both parties did their part to save on costs. Warner Bros. In Style
reused decor which would have been used last year, and did not hand
out gift bags. HBO also recycled decorations from other events.

Warner Bros. In Style's soiree still looked, well, in style. A live
band pumped out covers of tunes by Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson
and the Talking Heads. Guests chomped on slices of pizza, bologna and
turkey. A couch-sized silver-plated ball drooped from the ceiling,
circled by glittering strings of fake crystals. Pink fake feathered
peacocks sat alongside platters of red roses.

Eva Longoria Parker and nominee Leonardo DiCaprio made early
appearances. Gerard Butler, thoroughly enjoying himself, danced and
then mingled. Adrian Grenier sat on a couch, drink in hand, flanked by
two women.

Other attendees included Aaron Eckhart, Mira Sorvino, Debra Messing
and a dapper Terrence Howard.

At the end of the night, though, HBO's gold-and-brown themed party
reigned, with a line to get in snaking down the hall after midnight.
The cable network came away from the awards rewarded with major
trophies for actors in multiple shows and miniseries.

Eva Mendes, Drew Barrymore and Lauren Hutton made for a glamazon
trifecta, huddled together smoking outside next to the pool, which was
lit up by dozens of circular trays sporting candles.

"It's a privilege to be here, and it should never be forgotten what a
privilege it is," boasted Barrymore, when asked about the opulent
setting, given the sorry state of the economy.

Earlier in the evening, a hungry Paul Giamatti, holding his best actor
trophy for the title role of John Adams in the HBO miniseries, also
reflected on partying and Hollywood. "John Adams" snagged acting
awards as well for Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson, plus a trophy for
best miniseries or TV movie.

"It's 'basta' with the glitz and the glam. It's enough. But I'm gonna
go along with it, man," said Giamatti, before searching out a plate of
food.

Anna Paquin, who won as best actress in a TV drama for the vampire
series "True Blood," looked dazed as she sat at a table waiting to dig
into some steaming chicken. Grilled scallops, rice, macaroni and
cheese and beef tenderloin rounded out the menu.

"I'm loopy, and the adrenaline has started to wear off. Now I'm just
hungry," said Paquin, happy she didn't have to be at work the next day
until 7 a.m.

Jeremy Piven, who plays irate agent Ari Gold on the HBO show
"Entourage," broke out into smiles as he joked to friends about losing
to Wilkinson. Munching on chocolates and taking pictures with fans,
the actor didn't indulge in champagne and wine like his co-stars. He
said he was drinking a lot of water instead.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

"USA Today"
January 12, 2009
Win or lose, the stars celebrate the return of Globes parties

The real party doesn't start until after the Golden Globes broadcast
is over. USA TODAY's Kelley L. Carter, Donna Freydkin and Ann
Oldenburg party-hopped their way through the post-Globes scene.

The bash: Showtime
The venue: Peninsula Hotel
The stars: David Duchovny, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kevin Nealon

Seen & heard: Duchovny was robbed of a party last year when he won for
Californication. Sunday, he didn't win, but he was happy the Globes
were back, gloomy economy or not. "It's just a celebration."

As for his speech about his wife and son, he said, "It's funny. My son
(Kyd, 6) really wanted me to win."

Duchovny said he is doing "very well," after announcing in August 2008
he was going into rehab for sex addiction. "I'm healthy and happy."

And he's back together with his wife, Tea Leoni, since he mentioned
her on the air? (The two had separated in October.)

"Well, we are very happy," is all he would say.

Weeds star Kevin Nealon said he was surprised by Mickey Rourke getting
a standing ovation. But he chalked it up to the fact that: "I think
everybody likes a comeback."

What else did he like about the show? "I liked seeing Angelina Jolie
and Brad Pitt."

Because? "Because they looked so in love. It was nice not to see them
in a foreign country for once."

He added, "I liked Ricky Gervais. I liked that Slumlord, I mean
Slumdog won so much."

For Tudors star Rhys Meyers, it was a night to see old chums. "I met
some very nice people. I was able to catch up with (Robert) Downey
(Jr.)."

What did you and "Downey" talk about?

"Stuff," he teased. "None of your business stuff."

Standout moment:  Nealon gobbling ice cream. "At home I'd be doing
this over the kitchen sink." —Ann Oldenburg

The bash: NBC/Universal/Focus Features
The venue: The Beverly Hilton Hotel rooftop
The stars: Ron Howard, Pierce Brosnan, Jane Krakowski, Tina Fey, Amy
Poehler, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski

Seen & heard: Guests, including Howard, Brosnan and Krakowski, noshed
on sushi and partied in a posh room decorated with displays of
vintage, very pricey Carter diamonds. Poehler and hubby Will Arnett,
accompanied by Wilson and Krasinski, checked out the bash and headed
out.

Standout moment: "The thing that brought me the most joy tonight was
watching Tracy (Morgan) kill in that room. Watching Meryl Streep laugh
at Tracy brought me a lot of joy," said 30 Rock creator Fey about her
co-star as she loaded up a plate of turkey at the buffet and posed for
photos with fans. As for winner Colin Farrell, "I feel good, yeah,"
said the Irish actor and In Bruges star between chatting up various
ladies. — Donna Freydkin

The bash: Fox Searchlight
The location: Craft in Century City
The stars: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Freida
Pinto, Dev Patel, Sting, Bruce Springsteen

Scene and heard: The studio held an ultra-exclusive party outside of
the Beverly Hilton, where the other Golden Globes festivities took
place. The studio's two big movies? Slumdog Millionaire and The
Wrestler. The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky was giddy, no
kidding. But aside from his drama star Rourke, "Kate Winslet did
pretty well, too," said Aronofsky. What about the middle finger he
flashed to Rourke during his acceptance speech? "We love each other.
We hate each other. We're brothers," said Aronofsky. Rourke and his co-
star Tomei both made appearances, as did Wood, who made an early
exit.

Standout moment:Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle said he's
still in shock. "You have a dream. It's Cinderella-like," he said.
"The progress of the film is like the story of the boy in the movie."
The Globe was great, he said, but so was meeting Sting and
Springsteen, both of whom were at the bash. Slumdog's Freida Pinto,
chowing down on some late-night grub with her co-star Dev Patel, was
still shocked by how well her little film did. "This means the world
to me, the world," she said. "This isn't even a dream come true
because I hadn't even dreamt this." — Donna Freydkin

The bash:InStyle magazine and WB
The venue: The Oasis Courtyard in the Beverly Hilton
The stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Taraji P. Henson,
Vanessa Hudgens, Blake Lively, Tyrese Gibson and Megan Fox.

Seen & heard: "I gotta go get drunk," Rogen said, as he ran into the
party. "Brad Pitt is the best son a mother could ever have. Very
obedient," joked Henson, who plays his adoptive mother in The Curious
Case of Benjamin Button.

Standout moments: Efron and Hudgens spooned inside the party while
chatting up Gibson and Fox near the Godiva chocolate bar. Partygoers
feasted on sushi, fruit tarts, jumbo cocktail shrimp and a variety of
chocolate truffles. There also were cigarettes displayed inside of
short vases which were available for guests who forgot to bring a
pack. A live band covered Amy Winehouse, Prince and Beyoncé and Jay-Z
tracks. — Kelley L. Carter

The bash: HBO
The venue: Circa 55 restaurant, poolside at the Beverly Hilton
The stars: Mark Wahlberg, Drew Barrymore, Hill Harper, John Krasinski,
Jeremy Piven, Leonardo DiCaprio, Blair Underwood, Laura Linney, Kevin
Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Paul
Giamatti and Sting.

Seen & heard: "Eh, it could have been better," said Wahlberg, who
produces series In Treatment and Entourage, "but it was a good night."

Standout moments: This party attracted alot of interest, as the line
was wrapped around the corner with people clamoring to get inside as
late as midnight. Inside, guests dined on steak, sushi, mini-burgers
and cotton candy and drank lemon drop and chocolate martinis. Jamie-
Lynn Sigler and Entourage actor Jerry Ferrara held hands and greeted
friends as they walked the party. — Kelley L. Carter

Copyright 2009 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Jaime