The quote-worthy, noteworthy moments
Celebrating with a trophy (“That guy is heavy!”) or a drink goes with the SAG territory
The Screen Actors Guild Awards show boasts most of the bada-bling of the Oscars, but in a handy, non-sleep-depriving two-hour package. And it offers the same bonus as the Golden Globes: the sight of TV stars rubbing slightly less well-paid elbows and sipping booze with their movie counterparts. Highlights of the actorly action on air and backstage:
-Another plum for Plummer. For ripe and ready 82-year-old Christopher Plummer, awards season has been a cakewalk; he has plucked up trophy after trophy for his supporting role in Beginners as a dying father who reveals he’s gay. “I just can’t tell you what fun I’ve had being a member of the world’s second-oldest profession,” he said with a Capt. von Trapp twinkle in his eye as he accepted his SAG statue. But when asked offstage about his front-runner Oscar status, Plummer refused to speculate. “I can’t talk about that yet. That’s miles down the road, at least three months — or three weeks.”
-She’s got it maid. Octavia Spencer is no slouch in trophies either, picking up yet another supporting-actress honor for The Help. You’d think she would have already gotten enough exercise lifting shiny metal, but eyeing her SAG statue, she exclaimed: “I need to work out a little more. That guy is heavy!” Backstage, she explained its true weight: “I have been a member of SAG for 16 years. It’s beyond profound for me. It’s your peers saying you are the best tonight. I am thrilled because it’s shining a light to women who haven’t been given a voice in history.”
-Smart Alec. With Tweeting not an option onstage, Alec Baldwin managed to OMG himself into a tizzy accepting a sixth SAG for his TV mogul on 30 Rock: “Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. . . . ” Backstage, he earned laughs telling reporters that even after being kicked off an American Airlines flight for refusing to turn off a game on his phone, “I am still playing Words With Friends. But now on Virgin Atlantic.”
-The White stuff. If the 90-year-old walking miracle known as Betty White is anywhere near an awards show, she’s not leaving empty-handed. Or without a memorable zinger. The winner for the second year for comedy Hot in Cleveland sweetly gave props to castmates Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick before she added, gazing fondly at her SAG man, “I’m not going to let them keep this, but I’ll let them see this.”
-Kids say the darnedest (bleep). At least the ones on Modern Family do (as the recent f-word episode with toddler Lily proved). Leave it to Nolan Gould, who plays middle-schooler Luke, to almost provide a bleep-worthy moment accepting the award for best comedy ensemble: “I think it was the late, great W.C. Fields who said, ‘Never work with kids or animals.’ Well, he can kiss my . . . ” His co-stars pushed him from the mike in the nick of time. Offstage, Gould confessed, “I have learned lots of curse words from them,” referring to his adult co-stars. Rico Rodriguez, who plays more mature Manny, countered, “I’ve learned how to be a better actor.” And Ty Burrell, who plays Gould’s father, said that, from the Family kids, “I've learned things like union words and technical things about acting. They have been acting longer than I have.”
-Boozed- up Bridesmaids! Kristen Wiig, free beer in hand, revealed she and co-stars Maya Rudolph and Melissa Mccarthy came up with a drinking game on the set of the raunchy boxoffice hit. Explained Mccarthy, toting a vodka bottle, “You have to take a drink every time, and I mean every time, you hear the word ‘Scorsese,’ ” a reference to legendary director Martin Scorsese, who had absolutely nothing to do with their comedy. She took a swig before clarifying, “You’d be surprised how that comes up in casual conversation.”
-Drinks on Marty, cont. The game went on when Steve Buscemi came up to claim his lead trophy for his Mob boss in Boardwalk Empire and handed presenter Tina Fey his glass of red wine. “I have to thank our executive producer, Martin Scorsese.” He then looked at Fey and declared, “You can drink.” Which she did, to the last drop. Later, after the show’s ensemble had won another acting award, Buscemi told USA TODAY, “I feel really happy for the cast, especially since we have so many wonderful actors that are not returning,” notably handsome co-star Michael Pitt, whose character was shockingly killed in the finale. “So it’s really a great send-off.” Is he rooting for anyone at the Oscars? Maybe someone with a movie called Hugo named Scorsese? “I’m pulling for Marty, and Stephen Daldry for Extremely Loud & In
credibly Close. I can’t even think right now, to tell you the truth,” he said, holding his two trophies tightly.
-More Help. Not only did Spencer win, but Viola Davis took lead and the entire cast took ensemble. Backstage, Davis told USA TODAY: “I’m in shock. It’s hard for me to even jump up and down and scream. . . . It’s unimaginable that someone from such humble beginnings who literally just had a tiny dream and then unemployment lines and roach-infested apartments . . . ” then she trailed off. “You know, to be here, I really can’t even conceive it.”