celebrity awards

Scarlett Johansson Braves Cold For Pudding Award

While it’s not quite an Oscar, Scarlett Johansson was nevertheless appreciative of receiving Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals 2007 woman of the year award on February 15th.

The 22-year-old actress defied cold weather to lead a parade of students yesterday during the tradition-rich acceptance ceremony.

According to the Boston Globe, “Johansson wore no gloves as she rode in the freezing temps in a donated silver Bentley convertible that was trailed by another of the sleek cars holding Miss Massachusetts Michaela Gagne. Johansson may not have worn gloves, but she was wearing a $125,000 tiara made by Suzy Fabrikant for Alpha Omega Jewelers. (The 13.1-carat diamond on a white gold piece will be on display in the Harvard Square store.) The actress was thrown a stuff toy pig from someone in the crowd, which she seemed to hug for warmth, and was bombarded with proposals, prompting Johansson to lean into senior Justin Rodriguez to say, “We’re moving so slowly I could take numbers.”

Grammy Winners Named; Dixie Chicks Reap Top Awards

From country music outcasts to winning 5 Grammy’s is not a bad turnaround for The Dixie Chicks. The group, who jeopardized their career by criticizing U.S. President George W. Bush, won all five Grammy Awards for which they were nominated on Sunday, including the coveted album of the year.

“The victory for their work on the chart-topping album “Taking the Long Way” marked a stunning validation for the female Texan trio almost four years after their dream run as the darlings of Nashville came to an abrupt end,” reported Reuters

Singer Natalie Maines told fans during a 2003 concert in London she was ashamed to come from the same state as Bush.

Jessica Simpson, John Mayer PDA at Sony Grammy Party

Jessica Simpson and John Mayer are finally breaking down the walls that have been an attempt to hide their relationship. In what comes as the most open comment by Mayer to date, he stated, “She’s a lovely woman, and I’m glad to be with her,” to Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet. But Mayer still played his games, by proclaiming the relationship in Japanese.

According to E! insiders, later that night, around 9:15 p.m. PST, Mayer was the third celeb to hit Sony’s Grammy after-party at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

E! reported, “He and a posse of a dozen men made a beeline for one of the four private outdoor cabanas. Mayer immediately sat down, started texting on his cell phone and made a brief phone call.”

Little Miss Sunshine, The Departed Take Top WGA Honors

The much unheralded, yet ever important Writers Guild of America held their awards ceremony on February 11th. The event, which was completely outshadowed by the Grammys, honored Oscar rivals Little Miss Sunshine and The Departed with the two top awards. The road trip comedy, Little Miss Sunshine, which is about a family who takes their youngest member on a trip across America to enter a California beauty pageant, took the best original screenplay gong to Michael Arndt. The Departed, a remake of the Hong Kong police drama Infernal Affairs, took the best adapted screenplay prize for writer William Monahan.

Both films are up for best film at the Academy Awards on February 25, where they will also compete with The Queen, Letters From Iwo Jima and Babel. Many members of the guild are also entitled to vote in the Oscars so last night’s awards does provide a useful indicator of success later this month.

Clive Davis Holds Annual Pre-Grammy Party

Clive Davis threw his annual pre-Grammy bash on the night of February 10th. In the biggest story leading up to the event, Whitney Houston isn’t ready to sing in public yet. Sources told the New York Post that Clive Davis wanted Whitney to perform at his party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, but a rep for Davis said, “She will be his date. She will not perform.” Instead, Jennifer Hudson was being lined up to perform, assuredly along with other surprise musical acts.

The annual event, which occurs on the eve of the Grammy Awards, long-ago established itself as the destination for A-list celebrities, Grammy winners, Hollywood stars, sports legends, authors and influential entertainment industry executives.