The Academy, founded in 1972 by Donald A. Reed, honors the achievements of genre entertainment, and among the star studded presenters was Lucy Lawless, best known as Xena, Warrior Princess. Sorry to report that Lucy, who is now a blonde, looked much better as brunette – or maybe it was all that leather and metal breast plate that made her so attractive. The former Mrs. New Zealand can soon be seen in the suspense/horror flick, The Boogeyman.

& Ben Browder at Saturn AwardsRan into another of our favorites Ron Perlman, who we always remember as Vincent, The Lion Man, in Beauty and the Beast. Although Perlman is a classically trained actor, his unusual appearance has him type cast as extreme characters. You can catch him soon in Hellboy 2.

Another big winner was the mini-series, Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars, which received three Saturns: Best Television Presentation, Best Actor (Ben Browder) and Best Actress (Claudia Black). We join Steven Spielberg and “salute the Academy for their unbounded imagination and creativity”. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

Kathy Bates was an appropriate honoree at the Associates for Breast Cancer Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, as she is a cancer survivor.

In a question and answer tête-à-tête, Bates was joyful about her infamous Jacuzzi scene with Jack Nicholson. “It’s the first time that a scene like this, featuring actors over the age puberty, were featured”. Bates can currently be seen in Warm Springs, a HBO special, and just directed and starred in Ambulance Girl for Lifetime.

& Kathy Bates at ABC LuncheonA surprise guest was actress about town Virginia Madsen (Sideways) who also spoke about various family members (including her Mom) who were afflicted with cancer. No folks, she didn’t order any wine that afternoon, but did rave about her 11 year old son, Jack, whose dad, Antonio Sabato, Jr, is currently starring in the CBS Soap, the Bold and the Beautiful. Both of which, he certainly is!

Thanks go to President Gloria Gebbia and Luncheon chairman, Lana Schervone for presenting an interesting and informative program that was most appropriate for Mothers Day on the Hollywood Beat.