Los Angeles, January 23, 2010 – There wasn’t a tool belt in sight at the SAG Awards, where the entertainment industry’s working stiff union workers pay tribute to their own.  The skies cleared after days of rain, and Hollywood stars trod the red carpet dressed to the nines.  (Although none of the actors from the movie Nine won anything.)

Despite her moving Best Actress acceptance speech, Sandra Bullock displayed her comedic talents in presenting Betty White with a Lifetime Achievement Award: “She starred in four different television shows called The Betty White Show. Four. Most people would stop naming shows after themselves after the third one.”  (Bullock is turning out to be an entertaining presence of this year’s awards circuit, after kissing Meryl Streep at the Critics’ Choice Awards.)  Backstage, Bullock said she was surprised by her SAG win.  “My money was on Meryl,” she said. 

The 88-year-old White was no slouch in the comedy department herself, coming back at Bulock with, “Isn’t it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go?”  White continued to crack jokes, and working a high-slit dress, told reporters backstage, “You’ve got to use everything you possibly can!”

Other notable union label winners included Drew “Um” Barrymore, Jeff Bridges, Julianna Margulies, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon and Mo’Nique.