Red-Carpet Guide: The Awards Show Cheat Sheet

Your ultimate ceremony rundown, from the go-to dates to the trademark drinks
by Adam Leff, Vanity Fair








The "It Girls" from left: Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Sofía Vergara, Michelle Williams, Kristen Wiig; photos by Fairchild Archive



THE ACADEMY AWARDS
KNOWN TO VIEWERS AROUND THE WORLD AS The Oscars
VENUE The Kodak Theatre
ICONIC HOST Bob Hope
THE STATUE 8.5 lbs.
BEST KNOWN FOR Fitting two hours of entertainment into a four-hour show
"IT GIRL" Meryl Streep
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE The Chuck Workman film montages
DATE "My mother"
DRINK Moët Red Carpet Glamour
SIGNATURE DISH Wolfgang Puck's lobster tacos
BLACK SHEEP David Letterman
TRYST SPOT Behind the giant Plexiglas Marlon Brando
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH "I deserve this. Thank you."

See more: Photos: Jennifer Lawrence's Fiery Fashion Evolution

THE GOLDEN GLOBES
KNOWN TO VIEWERS AROUND THE WORLD AS The Oscar's Half-Wit Cousin
VENUE The International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton
ICONIC HOST Ricky Gervais
THE STATUE 5.5 lbs.
BEST KNOWN FOR Open bar all night long
"IT GIRL" Kate Winslet
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE Awards decided by 84 unknown foreign journalists
DATE Kim Kardashian
DRINK Absolut and Pom Wonderful
SIGNATURE DISH Chocolate terrine sprinkled with edible gold
BLACK SHEEP Lindsay Lohan
TRYST SPOT Trader Vic's
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH "I want to thank God and Harvey Weinstein."

THE SAG AWARDS
KNOWN TO VIEWERS AROUND THE WORLD AS The Secretly "Out" Awards
VENUE The Shrine
ICONIC HOST Tina Fey
THE STATUE 12 lbs.
BEST KNOWN FOR Brangelina's yearly public face suck
"IT GIRL" Sofía Vergara
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE "Its genuine warmth."
DATE Jason Weinberg
DRINK "Fiji water-yum!"
SIGNATURE DISH Roasted root vegetables
BLACK SHEEP The SAG Puppeteers
TRYST SPOT The Fendi Casa Green Room
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH "I'm just a bartender from Ohio who had a dream … "

See more: Emma Stone's Favorite Beauty Products

THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
KNOWN TO VIEWERS AROUND THE WORLD AS The "Alternative" Awards
VENUE White tent on Santa Monica Beach
ICONIC HOST John Waters
THE STATUE 5 lbs.
BEST KNOWN FOR "Keeping it real, dude."
"IT GIRL" Michelle Williams
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE Sparkly-hoodie dress code
DATE Illeana Douglas
DRINK Ginger kombucha
SIGNATURE DISH Lunchbox from Along Came Mary
BLACK SHEEP Kevin Smith
TRYST SPOT Back of the Prius
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH "Whoa--how rad is this?"

THE W.G.A. AWARDS
KNOWN TO VIEWERS AROUND THE WORLD AS The Nerd Prom
VENUE JW Marriott L.A. Live
IONIC HOST Seth Rogen
THE STATUE 7 lbs.
BEST KNOWN FOR Balding middle-aged guys in tuxedos looking for Rooney Mara
"IT GIRL" Kristen Wiig
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE Writers allowed on television
DATE Roommate Keith
DRINK Diet Dr Pepper
SIGNATURE DISH Peanut-butter ThinkThin bar
BLACK SHEEP The video-game writers' caucus
TRYST SPOT JW Marriott rollaway bed in thehallway
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH "Is this show actually on the air?"

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