At the table in front of me, the arriving guests meet each other. "Nip/Tuck" star Julian McMahon sticks his hand out to "Deadwood" honcho Ian McShane. Luke Wilson's date introduces herself to Emmy Rossum; her date greets Zach Braff and his date Mandy Moore. Luke Wilson and date say hi.

For the most part, the mood at the table resembles an awkwardly mixed group at a wedding. Rossum and date seem to hit it off with Braff. But the rest of the table spends the night in their own worlds, mixing little with each other.

After Luke Wilson presents an award, it takes him more than an hour to return to the table, stranding his noncelebrity date, who sits quietly by herself, scanning the room for Wilson, largely ignored by the others.

The table receives visitors. Evangeline Lily drops by to chat with Rossum. Scarlett Johansson sits down with McShane.

But one can't help but notice, here are a group of moderately humongous names, attending the second most glamorous event on the Hollywood calendar, and they are spending it sitting in awkward half-silence at a table with strangers, just like you and I have done at every oversized event we've ever attended.

Something about the alienation of grand events haunts me as I watch the table.

Random observation No. 5
Producer Jenji Kohan, creator of "Weeds," can barely contain her mock anger. After being passed over for best comedy series, she rants, "Damn you Hollywood Foreign Press. I put on stomach controlling underwear and you don't even give me a prize!"

Going down with the best of them
Later in the night, coming down from the rooftop NBC-Universal/Focus Features Party, I experience my closest-ever power schmooze. In a packed elevator, Jeffrey Katzenberg is pressed against the back corner. A woman in front shouts, "Jeffrey, I really want you to meet Isaac."

Jeffrey reaches over several heads to shake hands with designer Isaac Mizrahi. "Whacha doing, whacha doing, whacha doing?" Katzenberg asks.

"Oh not much. I've got some projects."

"I'll bet you do."

"What're you doing?" Mizrahi retorts.

"Oh, you know. Riding the Geffen Express. Trying to keep up with it."

"That's a wild ride."

"Just make sure you don't get in front of it," Katzenberg quips.

"Where's the big party tonight?" Mizrahi wants to know.

"In my bed," nods Jeffrey, before stepping off and calling it a night.