16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Results and Commentary (2010)

SAG Awards Actor statuette
Actor Statuette
©2005 SAG
  • Date of Ceremony: Saturday, January 23, 2010
  • For performances seen in: 2009
Other years:

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Welcome to DigitalHit.com’s coverage of the 16th Annual SAG Awards.

This year’s Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award will go to beloved actress, Betty White.

When the announcement was made, then-SAG National President Alan Rosenberg said, “Whether creating some of television’s most indelible characters, plunging into film roles with joyous gusto or perfecting the art of the quip as a television panelist and host, Betty White has entertained audiences with her impeccable comic timing and remarkable wit for more than sixty years. Her lifelong devotion to the welfare of animals, manifest in her work as an author, producer and philanthropist, is further evidence of her tremendous humanity and meaningful contributions in so many important areas. Screen Actors Guild is honored to celebrate Betty White’s extraordinary achievements over the course of an exemplary life.”

8:04 PM

Justin Timberlake and Kate Hudson join each other on stage to present Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. And the Actor goes to Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock.

“I’m really happy to get an award from Justin Timberlake, but I’m really, really, really happy to get an award from Kate Hudson.

I just want to say thank you, this is completely unexpected, congratulations to all the other nominees. And thank you to everybody involved with the show. Tina and all of our writers back home, and our crew and our cast, many of whom are here with us. We have a great experience there; we have a great group of people.

But I want to say, especially tonight, that I’m proud to be a member of this union. I’m proud to be a member of the Screen Actors Guild. The work that is done by the union is important work, to benefit people, many of whom are not in this
room tonight, and don’t get to star in films and television projects, and so forth. And they rely on the union to work hard for them, for their residuals and their benefits, and so forth, and we have another negotiation coming up very soon, and it’ll be right around the corner, as we all remember. And I just want to say, I am proud, proud, proud to be a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and thank you very much.” – Alec Baldwin

8:08 PM

Diane Kruger and Christoph Waltz now introduce a clip for Inglorious Basterds, the first of the nominated ensembles.

8:10 PM

Simon Baker and Anna Paquin now present Female Actor in a Comedy Series. And the Actor goes to Tina Fey, so the show opens with back-to-back wins for 30 Rock.

8:18 PM

The wonderful Jane Lynch introduces a series of comedic actor clips.

8:22 PM

Kyra Sedgwick and Ray Romano are presenting the ensemble award for comedy series. And the Actor goes to the cast of Glee.

“We want to say congratulations to all the other nominees, and we couldn’t be happier to be acting on this show. And to be chosen by our peers means the world to us. We would like to thank Ryan Murphy for giving us the parts of a lifetime. Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, and Ryan for pitching into our strike zone every week. And we thank them so much. And of course, you don’t do this in a vacuum. We want to thank our crew who do in 10 days what should take a month-and-a-half. So, thank you so much. “ – Jane Lynch

8:27 PM

Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique introduce the clip for Precious: Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire.

8:28 PM

Helen Mirren, gorgeous and dignified as always, presents the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. And the Actor goes to Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds.

“A stage actor acts on a stage. But a screen actor doesn’t act on the screen. The stage actor just walks on by himself, but the screen actor is put on by projectionist. Yet we dedicate our lives to our contribution of the whole, and yes in occasional fits of megalomania we consider ourselves worthy of a script like Inglourious Basterds, or a director like Quentin Tarantino, or men like Harvey Weinstein, or David Linde, or a studio like Weinstein or Universal. Or partners like Brad or Diane, and back-up personally like Adam Schweitzer and Lisa Kasteler. But after the rude awakening, we just carry on with our lives. We work towards what can only be hoped for in utmost secrecy. This is what I was granted by working with Quentin Tarantino on Inglourious Basterds” For this I’m indebted and grateful to all of you, for this as well. To all of you, including the projectionist.” – Christoph Waltz

8:38 PM

Felicity Huffman and Alec Baldwin are out to present next. Felicity forgot her glasses, so Alec has to read off the teleprompter for her. They then present Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series. And the Actor goes to Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife.

“I just have to say, my mother and father call me after every single episode. And they’ve been so supportive of me and have such interest in my life, in every role I take — oh except Snakes on a Plane,” they weren’t so proud of that one. But they’re proud of this one, and I really appreciate your interest.” – Julianna Margulies

8:42 PM

Jenna Fischer and Benjamin Bratt propose a toast to actors and then present Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series. And the Actor goes to Michael C. Hall for Dexter.

“Thank you so much to our union for this recognition. Thank you to our writers for their plate-spinning ability and audacity. And thank you as well to our crew who I think have as much to do with the cohesiveness that we manage on this show as anyone. And finally, again, to my cast mates, thank you for your professionalism and your talent, and for your willingness to endure all those awkward pauses while Dexter thinks his voiceover. Thank you to my wife, Jennifer. Thank you for wearing that dress. And thank you to my mom for keeping all the most important doors open for me. “ – Michael C. Hall

8:45 PM

The pixie-like Carey Mulligan introduces the clip for the ensemble nominated An Education.

8:47 PM

Christina Applegate and Chris O’Donnell present Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. And the Actor goes to Mad Men.

“It is truly a collaborative effort the making of our show. We wouldn’t be anywhere without our insanely talented staff of writers, our amazing crew that does in seven days what some shows take even longer to do. So, we are very happy to be here, very happy to accept this. And thank you all very much.” – Jon Hamm

8:52 PM

Almost halfway through the ceremony. Christoph Waltz joins us backstage. He said he was blown away by the win…and his mind went with it for a moment. He talks about being an “overnight success” after thirty years in the industry.

8:56 PM

The PA announces that the show is running long. They ask that winners please keep their speeches to 45 seconds or less.

8:57 PM

SAG President Ken Howard welcomes everyone to the ceremony and congratulates the nominees. He also singles out George Clooney and thanks him for the Haiti telethon.

8:59 PM

Tina Fey joins us backstage. She mentions that she has many friends over at Conan and is at least glad that the situation has now been resolved.

9:00 PM

Sandra Bullock is now presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Betty White.

The cast of Glee joins us backstage.

Julianna Margulies joins us backstage. She tells us how her parents love watching the journey that she is on with her career.

9:10 PM

To a standing ovation, Betty White takes to the stage to accept her honor.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And from the bottom of my bottom, thank you for whatever. Oh my dears, I can’t — and the fact that this lovely lady, she is such a wonderful one, with all the wonderful things that have happened to her, isn’t it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go. Seventy-one years ago when I sang on an experiment thing and it was called television, who would have dreamed it would culminate in an evening like this?

I should be presenting an award to you for the privilege of working in this wonderful business all this time. And you still can’t get rid of me. I was only 88 last Sunday, so I have lots more stuff to do.

Being in show business is like living in a small town. People greet you like neighbors, not like strangers. And through the mail you form friendships that last for years with people you’ve never even met. I often wonder about people who have some kind of passion. Something that they care so deeply about that it never fails to fascinate them. How lucky can I be to have two such passions: show business and animals. Actually, I may have more than two passions, but that’s none of your business.

I am still to this day star struck. I look out at this audience and I see so many famous faces. But what really boggles my mind is that I actually know many of you. And I’ve worked with quite a few… maybe had a couple. And you know who
you are.

Back when I first started, it would never have even occurred to me to imagine such a thing as this moment. And I still can’t believe I’m standing here. This is the highest point of my entire professional life. To the Screen Actors Guild, to each and every one of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.” – Betty White

9:15 PM

Michael C. Hall joins us backstage. Said he’s feeling good and said that he made the public announcement about his health because he had these appearances on the horizon and felt he should let people know why he was wearing a hat to cover the
results of his cancer treatment.

9:20 PM

Anna Kendrick and Stanley Tucci have been cast as the presenters of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries. And the Actor goes to Drew Barrymore.

“I’m very proud to be a member of this Guild, all 120,000 members are just incredible. And this started in 1933, and my family was — the Barrymores were acting at that time, and I’m very honored to keep their name alive. And I’m very honored to be in this room with you. And Jessica, to be in your company. And
Michael, for you to give me a chance, I’m incredibly indebted. Because we just want so badly to express range and to try things that we never thought we could do, or take risks.” – Drew Barrymore

The cast of Mad Men joins us backstage.

9:23 PM

Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty take to the stage to introduce the clip for the ensemble nominated Hurt Locker.

9:25 PM

Jon Hamm and Michelle Monaghan have the role of presenting Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries. And the Actor goes to Kevin Bacon.

“And, lastly, I just want to say to my — my beautiful wife and family, you know, we actors, we’ve got to go away sometimes. And, you know, not just like physically, but into the heads and hearts of the characters that we play. So, thanks for trusting that I’ll always find my way back. Thank you.” – Kevin Bacon

9:29 PM

Sigourney Weaver introduces this year’s In Memoriam segment.

9:38 PM

Betty White joins us backstage. She even lovelier and funnier in person.

9:39 PM

Morgan Freeman presents Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. And the Actor goes to Mo’Nique.

“Thank you to every member of the Screen Actors Guild. I am so very honored. There are some people that I must thank, that could easily go overlooked. But without these people, this film could have not been what it is. I have to say thank you to Aunt Dot, who plays Mary Jones’ mother. I have to say thank you to the Each One Teach One Students, y’all were absolutely amazing. I have to say thank you to Lisa Cortes, who was an amazing producer, and who put the work in every single day. And I have to thank the little girl that we called “Mongo.” Her name is Quishay, and I want to thank that baby and her mother for allowing us to use that special gift in this project. Lee Daniels, you never cease to amaze me. God got somethin’ on you brother that you can’t begin to imagine the gift.” – Mo’Nique

9:43 PM

Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson present the clip for Nine.

9:45 PM

Kevin Bacon joins us backstage.

9:50 PM

We’ve got about ten minutes to go as Meryl Streep takes to the stage to present Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. And the Actor goes to Jeff Bridges.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. Aw, this means so much to me. My god, this is a heavy thing. Whoa! This means so much to be acknowledged like this by my
acting family. You guys, that’s what it’s like. It’s like a big family with you guys, playing “advanced pretend.” You know, my mom was real good at that. You always encouraged us to pretend, and it’s like this is just, you know, an advanced version of that. And it especially feels wonderful to be nominated in this great group of actors, with my buddy George, and all of you guys. You’re such wonderful actors.” – Jeff Bridges

9:55 PM

Warren Beatty takes to the stage now to present Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. And the Actor goes to Sandra Bullock.

“Oh, if this were only not televised, so I could use the appropriate words I’m feeling right now. I am Sandra Bullock, and I’m an actor. And I am so proud to say that in a room full of faces that have inspired me, and allowed me six years ago to say I’m going to stop working ‘cause I wasn’t doing good work, and audition again. And you say goodbye to the money, and you say goodbye to all the things that you became comfortable with. In 2006, I sat in this room with a little film called Crash, and I got to look at the people who got me here. So, to the Screen Actors Guild, thank you so much.” – Sandra Bullock

9:59 PM

George Clooney is tasked with presenting the last award of the night, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. And the Actor goes to the cast of Inglorious Basterds.

“On behalf of the whole cast of “Inglourious Basterds,” we want to say thank you to Mr. Quentin Tarantino — for — for what you did for this film. A year ago — a year ago, we all sat down in Berlin and we read through the script and we all sat around, and we saw that Quentin had pulled together actors from Ireland and from Austria and from France, and from Newton, Massachusetts, and from Germany and from New York, and from the Fangoria Convention. And pulled together such a wonderful, wonderful cast. We all felt it was really something special. So, it was an honor to be a part of it, Quentin. And, for every actor out there, we just want you to know that whether you are Brad Pitt, one of the biggest stars in the world, or someone who has never acted in a motion picture, your vote is a vote for director Quentin Tarantino, who, if he feels you are right for the part, he will give it to you. And, Quentin, your belief in us lets us rise to the occasion and brings out the best in all of us. It was an honor to be a part of this. We love you.” – Eli Roth

10:17 PM

Jeff Bridges joins us backstage. He mentions that the Actor, which weighs about 14 lbs., is tough to hold for someone with rotator cuff problems. He invites his wife back when one reporter asks about raising three daughters. She says that, “he was fun, I was constant.”

10:23 PM

Sandra Bullock joins us now. She says that she told husband Jesse James that this is the last ceremony that he has to go to.

That’s all folks!

Special thanks to the beautiful O Hotel for their assistance with our coverage stay and to Freeman Formalwear for Ian Evans’ tuxedo.

The Actor Statuette Photo Credit: Mark Hill ©2005 Screen Actors Guild.