My night at TV Land Awards honoring “Ally McBeal,” Betty White, Donny & Marie and more

Had never been to the TV Land Awards before and had no idea this year’s event was black tie.

But I sure found out when I arrived at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills and was handed my ticket which read: “Black tie attire.”

I had no tie and my suit was blue but I decided not to care and it turns out no one else did either. Since I was not working the red carpet, this was a rare event where I could get a glass of wine and nibble on the delicious eats being passed around on trays – including Lobster Roll.

I’ll take about 10 of those, thankyouverymuch.

Spotted a group of friends and went over to say hello. It was then I realized the woman they were with was Dawn Wells! That would be Mary Ann of Gilligan’s Island. I had recently seen her on a rerun on Chopped (on Food Network) and she lamented being eliminated after the entree round. I then remarked that when I watched Gilligan’s Island as a kid, I thought it would be fun to live in a hut and have Mary Ann make a coconut pie for me. She laughed and said, ‘I always wondered where I got all those eggs to make those pies.’

During the cocktail party, it was fun to look around the lobby and see the stars having such a relaxed time. I spotted Ally McBeal co-stars Greg Germann, Peter MacNicol, Courtney Thorne-Smith and Gil Bellows catching up in one corner. Across the room were Parenthood castmembers Peter Krause and Lauren Graham with a group that included their TV dad Craig T. Nelson.

Also saw Jane Leeves of Hot in Cleveland at the bar with friends and Olivia d’Abo from The Wonder Years posing for pics with attendees.

Next thing you know, they are blinking the lights and it’s time to head into the theater. I was seated with other media at a table in the back but there really was not a bad seat in the house. The Saban, normally a concert venue, was transformed into an elegant ballroom and the casts of honored shows Parenthood, The Wonder Years, Ally McBeal, Freaks & Geeks were seated together.

Seated in the very front were honorees Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond and Betty White – the start of the show literally had to be delayed for several minutes until Miss White’s tardy arrival.

She’s worth waiting for – always.

The first of Miss White’s many close-ups came when host Terry Crews did a spirited lip synced medley of TV theme songs that included The Golden Girls theme Thank You For Being a Friend.

The cast of Hot in Cleveland – Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli and Jane Leeves – presented Betty with The Legend Award after a lengthy video montage of a legendary TV career dating back 60 years (from Life With Elizabeth in the 50s to The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 70s to The Golden Girls in 80s and 90s) and still going strong with Hot in Cleveland in its sixth and final season..

Malick joked that her accomplishments are ‘exhausting’ while Leeves pointed out: ‘You were even the best camel trainer Circus of the Stars has ever had.

White took the stage to the song You Sexy Thing (70s hit by Hot Chocolate) as the audience gave a lengthy standing ovation.

‘You couldn’t have any idea what it means after this many decades in the business at 93 years old,’ she said. ‘It’s a privilege to still be a part of this business, working in the business and loving the business as much as I do.’

I never watched very much of The Wonder Years but want to after watching a highlight reel and hearing the speeches of its cast members Fred Savage, Danica McKellar, Olivia d’Abo, Alley Mills and Josh Saviano.

Savage, clearly moved, confessed he did not expect the evening to be so special and didn’t even bother to bring his wife or his mom.

‘They’re going to have to watch this (on TV) because it’s really special. … It just means the world to us – it kind of gave me my whole life. This is the icing on the cake for what was an amazing experience for me growing up.’

Mills, who played Savage’s mom for six seasons, said: ‘Watching that montage, it just hit me so hard. We were so lucky to work on something that makes people think, makes people feel, and makes kids grow.’

A real highlight for me was the tribute to Ally McBeal with reunited star Callista Flockhart, creator David E. Kelley and the four cast members I saw in the lobby along with Lisa Nicole Carson. Notable absentees included Portia de Rossi, Lucy Lui and Jane Krakowski.

Flockhart told the crowd: ‘Watching all the clips kind of blew me away. We had a great time shooting the show. What I remember the most are the friendships. This is really an honor and I’m grateful and happy.’

Kelley said it is ‘especially gratifying’ for the show to be remembered after all these years.

Also remembered after all these years – and surprisingly so since only 12 of its 18 episodes even aired on TV – is the comedy series Freaks and Geeks which featured a cast of then-unknowns named James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Busy Phillips, among others, and was created by Paul Feig and had as a writer and director a guy named Judd Apatow of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up fame.

Franco didn’t show but plenty of other alums did including Rogen, Segel and Phillips and making the moment even more special was having the award presented by 93-year-old TV legend Carl Reiner.

Said Reiner: ‘How many shows canceled after 12 weeks are being celebrated on their 15th anniversary. You can cancel greatness but you can’t kill it.’

In his brief speech Apatow said: ‘It was a very special moment for us and one we try to keep going for the rest of our lives.’

An emotional Segel said: ‘It changed my entire life. I’m so happy to be here.’

Also happy to be there was the cast of Parenthood which recently ended its six season run and had its award presented by Martin Sheen who described the series as ‘equally heartbreaking and heartwarming.’

Also said the father of Charlie Sheen: ‘Parenthood made that deep and lasting connection. I know a little bit about parenthood and drama – it’s a job that never ends.’

Craig T. Nelson, who played the family patriarch, said after receiving the award: ‘This has been an extraordinary journey with an extraordinary group of people – I thank God for the opportunity.’

The ageless Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond were also among the honorees and the montage of clips dated back to their first television appearances as very young children who were literally born into show business.

They went on to become huge recording stars as well as stars of Broadway productions and national tours of major musicals. But they are best remembered for their classic ABC variety series as young adults.

‘This is our fifth decade of working consistently in this business,’ said Marie. ‘We are so grateful.’

Donny called it a ‘crazy but beautiful business. We want to thank our parents – we miss them so much.’

Adding to the family love, Marie looked at Donny and said: ‘I have to say this publicly because I don’t very often, but I love you.’

The evening also included a musical performance by Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson whp belted out the song Whatever Makes You Happy which she had performed on the TV series Empire.

And finally, there was a tribute to the late Joan Rivers who died last September at the age of 81. The montage of her comedy routines were well-chosen – all stand-up from the 1960s up until near the end of her life.

You can see it all for yourself when the TV Land Awards when they air on TV Land on Sunday, April 18.