Los Angeles, January 9 – The biggest shock at the People’s Choice Awards was the metrosexualization of Michael Moore. The usually baseball capped-scruffy-faced-shaggy-haired filmmaker wore a suit and tie, hair product and had his facial hair all styled. Oh, and he had on little black glasses too.
Moore, whose Fahrenheit 9/11 was voted best movie, became starstruck when he saw Mel Gibson. In the press room after receiving his award, Moore spied Gibson, whose Passion of the Christ won best drama, about to enter the area, and he looked at us, pointed to the door and said excitedly, “That’s Mel Gibson”.

Things were relatively calm, and leading lady winner Renee Zellweger told us she likes it much better when the press isn’t screaming at her. In fact, Zellweger liked the press so much, that when she passed a room set up for transmitting electronic files, she got curious about digital photos of her on the screen of a Getty Images computer, and sat down and joined in the editing process, telling the operator which she liked. Nick and Jessica Simpson playfully tussled over who would hold their award.

Some big winners weren’t there, including female movie star Julia Roberts and male movie star Johnny Depp. Leading man winner Brad Pitt, who announced the breakup of his marriage to Jennifer Aniston two days before the awards ceremony, stayed away.

California has been hit with storms, and the red carpet at the Pasadena Convention Center was sopping, squishing under those strappy heels.