“Yeah, it’s gonna’ be a hell of a good time.”

That was Emmy nominee Holly Hunter’s fabulously deadpan response to Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet. Seacrest, who was also one of Emmy night’s four reality TV show hosts, didn’t get the usual, giddy (often embarrassed) responses from the star of “Saving Grace.”  

When Seacrest asked what Holly did “to prepare” for her big night, he was anticipating the usual: “I had a massage” … "worked with my stylist” … "worried over my dress” … "oh, the problems with my hair!” This is what he got: “I didn’t work today. I had a day off.” I love Holly Hunter. 

After watching an hour of red carpet “interviews” by Seacrest and his cohorts, I almost didn’t bother with the show itself. My brain had melted. In fact, I found myself channel surfing between the Emmys and a History Channel program on Neanderthals. Guess which group I’d rather have a Cosmopolitan with? It turns out this was the lowest-rated Emmy show ever. I don’t know that it was any worse than usual. (Critics seem to think it was!) I think people just don’t care right now. Look, they can check out all the highlights on YouTube and get the dirtiest behind-the-scenes gossip from Perez or TMZ. The showbiz times, they aren’t ‘a changing; they have ‘a changed.

However, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa offered his critique at an afterparty. “I thought the show was a bit dry. It needed one strong personality to direct it.”

At the HBO party, after his well-deserved win, Alec Baldwin was full of good cheer and undyingly flirtatious ways. When he spotted the striking, blonde Alexandra Leighton, he lifted her left hand and said, “Oh, what’s this? A wedding band? Too bad!” (She is married to APA agent Jack Leighton and she also stars on CBS’s “Swingtown.”)

And I loved Alec’s sly introduction, when he gave out the best actress in a miniseries or TV movie award: “I have watched, thought about and studied actresses since the 1970s. This hasn’t always worked out as planned.” 

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A lot of Hollywood traditions have died, but bitchy snark is alive and well. Last week at the big Hollywood event celebrating film producer Arnon Milchan, Warren Beatty was spotted planting an affectionate kiss on Sumner Redstone’s head. Another industry insider standing nearby said (and loud enough for Beatty to hear), “Since he hasn’t made a movie in years, maybe he should be kissing Redstone’s ass.”

It is true, Warren hasn’t appeared in a movie since 2001’s “Town & Country” but I doubt this icon of acting, producing and directing is worrying about his career. In fact, Beatty stopping worrying his career in 1992 when he made the divine Annette Bening his wife and sired four beautiful children. 

At this event, News Corp prexy Peter Chernin in his remarks onstage took a swipe at Sarah Palin and was met by only a smattering of weak handclaps. Perhaps even Hollywood is getting wise to the futility of Palin-bashing. (More on this further down.) 

Among those spotted at the Milchan fete — which also celebrated Israel’s 60th anniversary — was Kiefer Sutherland who has just signed a contract for three more seasons of “24.” Rumor has it that Kiefer is now the highest-paid actor on a TV drama, to the tune of a $40 million deal. But when asked for specifics he smiled and said, “Honestly, I don’t think that’s so.” (Why do reporters ask salary questions? No one ever gives out a figure. Although I always appreciate it when an actor acknowledges he or she is ridiculously overpaid — of course they never say how much they are overpaid.)