Starry Eyed Surprise

The stars aligned for our Young Hollywood Awards where unforgettable actors clinked cocktails of congratulation at the show and after-party.

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WE'RE SUCKERS FOR TALENT. Flat-out, fame-worthy, show-stopping talent. Which is why, for the sixth year, our award show drew the hottest young thesps this side of the sun.

Our Young Hollywood Awards, hosted by the lovely Maria Menounos, was more celeb-saturated than Mr. Chow's. In theory, only a precious few would be worthy, but with Tinseltown's next generation thriving in our own backyard, it was impossible to narrow the list.

This year, the bold-faced and beautiful gathered at the Avalon nightclub to toast box-office biggies like Halle Berry, who picked up the Young Hollywood's Role Model award, and Spider-Man 2 director Sam Raimi, who snatched the Dream Director trophy. Blonde beauty Mena Suvari handed our May cover girl Alicia Silverstone the Estée Lauder Hottest, Coolest Young Veteran award, and both pointedly praised the beauty giant's policy against animal testing.

A humble James Garner accepted the Pontiac Legend in Acting award amidst the thunder of a standing ovation (started by a sequin-sparkly Scarlett Johansson--a recipient herself of the Quantum Leap award). And when honored with his Superstar of Tomorrow accolade, resident hottie Josh Duhamel quipped, "I don't know what superstar of tomorrow means. Does that mean tomorrow morning?"

When presenting to Hilary Duff (Today's Superstar), George Lopez, her neighbor, confessed to stealing lemons from her trees. And when honoring Ginnifer Goodwin (Standout Performance), Topher Grace warned the other actors about her charisma. "Do not work with Ginnifer unless you are prepared to not be the favorite person on the set."

But the biggest adrenaline rush certainly came in the form of Grace (channeling Adrien Brody at the Oscars) bounding onto the stage to kiss Menounos when the emcee minx asked the audience to help her pass time between presenters.

Après the lovefest at the swank Spider Club, Zoe Saldana (One to Watch), Joy Bryant and James Marsden enjoyed tame cocktail conversation while Ashley Scott (Exciting New Face) split time between admiring her award and her new engagement ring.

But perhaps Silverstone best embodied our celebratory spirit by letting loose on the dance floor, shimmying and smooching her beau (not to mention sipping out of Hollywood Life editorial director Anne Volokh's drink).

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Stephanie Scott & Celeste Atkinson. Photos by Wirelmage.com