What makes a great party? High hopes and high spirits.
HBO had that and more at their star-strewn pre-Golden Globe bash Saturday at that terminally hip and historic Hollywood hotel, the Chateau Marmont. They also had 17 Globe nominations, more than any other network.
“We actually have some shows competing against each other,” marveled HBO honcho Colin Callender. “It’s like having your kids up for the same award.”
But he was still looking forward to the competition. "It’s the most fun of all the award shows. You can drink and eat and even go to the bathroom.” Yeah, but don’t stay too long. Remember Christine Lahti’s name was called when she loitered in the Beverly Hilton's ballroom bathroom.
HBO stars and execs were scattered throughout the living room-style lobby. Assorted famous folks mixed with cast members of HBO’s hit shows: Ian McShane, Kevin Connolly, Ben Kingsley Jeremy Piven, Bill Paxton, Rachel Zoe, Frederic Fekkai, Aann Magnusson, Cillian Murphy, Powers Booth, Jeff Daniels, Kiera Knightley, Edie Falco, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Rosario Dawson, Ludacris, Bill Maher, Matt Dillon, Troy Garity, Donald Sutherland, Cynthia Nixon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mira Sorvino, Taylor Hackford, even the Zappa family!.
The only MIA's were Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who opted to skip the Saturday bash and won't be at the Monday night show.
Notoriously press-shy “Walk the Line” star Joaquin Phoenix, wearing a black jacket and orange hoodie, took one look at the crowded lobby and immediately headed outside. Later he was spotted chatting under the heat lamps with hottie Kirsten Dunst, who was standing near a still-shorn Natalie Portman.
When a wandering HBO party photog asked for a quick shot, Phoenix waved him away. “No man, I’d rather not. No seriously, I’d rather not!”
“Courtney Love is over by the bar,” whispered Nadine Johnson, the Chateau’s New York-based PR pusher. After a search, the shockingly sane and svelte Love was spotted outside, along with every other smoker at the party.
Harvey Weinstein came late with a very pretty, slender brunette and introduced her as “my girlfriend” to photographer Patrick DeMarchelier. “The Wedding Crashers” actress Rebecca De Mornay arrived with New Line Cinema head Bob Shaye. Globes presenter Catherine Deneuve turned up with MAC cosmetic magnate John Dempsey who was being tailed by Chloë Sevigny.
Later that evening, “Entourage” star Adrian Grenier asked for an Advil from a helpful gal who dug an old pill from the bottom of her purse. But Grenier is no dummy. He checked it out carefully before swallowing to be sure the small white pill was a headache antidote and not something that would turn the HBO bash into an "Are We Not Men?" scene from the classic horror film, "The Island of Dr. Moreau."
The party went on so loud and so late that they really should have handed out Advil as a party favor.
Photo: No pictures, please, for Joaquin Phoenix, who even looks camera-shy at GQ's Men of the Year awards.
(Lester Cohn / WireImage)
Everyone was buzzing about Kate Hudson's fabulously slinky gown at the Hollywood premiere of her new comedy, "You, Me and Dupree," also starring Matt Dillon and Owen Wilson. 
