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Sir Richard Branson (Getty Images)
Known as the EMA's - say "Emma's" to be in the know - the annual awards have gotten too big for their original home at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, so this years' show headed outside and expanded to fill Paramount's Main Street neighborhood. The new venue drew skads of stars ready and willing to remind the world that protecting the planet should be an everyday part of all our lives.
Blythe Danner gamely limped out on crutches, explaining that "I have a broken foot," while the night's big honoree, Virgin head honcho Sir Richard Branson, sported a shoulder sling and jokingly blamed his injury on audience member and astronaut Buzz Aldrin, then got serious.
"The solutions we need are an insurance policy toward saving the earth," Branson exhorted as he accepted his EMA Corporate Responsibility Award. "Man must keep looking at the big ideas to get on top of the problem, since this is a beautiful world we live in."
Cheering on Branson and his environmental consciousness-raising efforts were Marilu Henner, Frances Fisher, Michael Rady, Beau Garrett, Andrea Bowen, Bill Nye, Finola Hughes, Natasha Hentsridge, and "Glee" favorite Dianna Agron.
The bigger guns of Hollywood's ongoing crowd commited to the eco-fight hit the stage to give out awards honoring film and television productions that address environmental issues. Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Amy Smart, Dana Delany, Simon Baker, Daryl Hannah, Alanis Morissette, Calista Flockhart, Emily Vancamp, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ed Begley, Jr., and Kathryn Morris joined host Cedric the Entertainer and handed out trophies in categories including Best Feature Film, Documentary, Reality Program, etc.
Hot singer Jason Mraz took home a special "Missions in Music" award, and the National Geographic Society was honored with a "Legacy" trophy, too.
And while most of the star wattage slipped out once the awards concluded - perhaps jumping into their Lexus-supplied hybrids or gas-guzzling limos and heading for the U2 concert at the Rose Bowl? - we spotted Ed Begley, Jr., and Marilu Henner sampling the earth-friendly tidbits served up by Border Grill, Akasha, Ciudad, Street, and Wilshire restaurants. And it was Catering by Crustacean who won the best food of the night prize; their amazing Barramundi practically caused a riot among the starving greenies.
