Once the pre-telecast was over, the press room went on lockdown. Despite the fact that every year I ask to take pics and video of the arrivals on the green carpet, I have been denied twice. Instead I watched the arrivals the same way that most of you did, on a television. That’s right, I flew cross-country to watch a tv with a bunch of strangers. That being said there were two standouts on the green carpet that I want to mention.

Ivy Queen : she went really blonde this year and channeled a greek goddess in her white arrivals dress. I liked the dress. The hair, not so much.

Sofia Vergara looked beautiful in a never can fail little black dress. Now onto the actual award giving and performances.

Backstage, most of the performers said that they looooooved Ricky Martin’s opening number with the Blue Man Group. Upon hearing this, Ricky commented backstage, only slightly tongue in cheek that his performance was his fave too. I was happy to hear one of my favorite shake my culo Ricky Martin songs, la Bomba. The Blue Man Group were hilarious and a little bit creepy when they came backstage.

Barabara Mori and Eduardo Verastegui came backstage after presenting la Quinta Estacion with a Latin Grammy for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group.

Barbara Mori wore her super short hair and purple dress by Jimena Valero well. Why the sheered look? Well, She just finished filming a movie about a mother with a child with cancer and the mother shaves her head in solidarity with her child.

Eduardo Verastegui, who is getting lots of press with his film Bella, looked hot. Too bad that he ruined it by preaching when came to talk to the press. Seriously, if you’re that hot and are going to try an issue like abortion and come down against a woman’s right to choose, well just stand there and look pretty damnit. Hell, that’s what they want us women to do most of the time. Anyway, according to Eduardo, Bella is not a religious film. He said It’s a film about virtue. He even quoted Mother Theresa!

Now I have to say that the lead singer of la 5ta Estacion, Natalia Jiménez, looked the best I have ever seen her and I usually am not impressed with her look. She was sooo happy with their win. Backstage with the press she was caressing her Latin Grammy like no one’s business. One couldn’t help but feel happy for her.

Horoscopos de Durango won for Banda Album but they were not winning any fashion awards with their lame dresses that were unforgiving of their figures.

Dayanara Torres and Benjamin Bratt presented Calle 13 with the award for Best Urban Music Album. Backstage Dayanara Torres was very fidgety and looked uncomfortable and nervous, scratching her arm, pulling at her Christian Mendoza dress. It wasn’t long before a member of the press asked if her children knew they were going to have a half sibling. She responded by asking the press not to ask her that type of question anymore, especially in light of the fact that she’s been divorced from Marc Anthony for almost 4 years. This garnered applause from the press room. But she also said that she isn’t closing the door on having more children.

Calle 13 came out with Orishas and freestyled for the press. Later some reporters tried to play Mala Rodriguez against other “urban” artists like Calle 13 and Ivy Queen, referring specifically to Calle 13′s sweep of last year’s Latin Grammy. La Mala (no relation, although I wouldn’t mind if there were) said she couldn’t be happier for Calle 13 and considers them friends of hers. Ivy Queen, looking way too blonde with glitter claws, I mean nails, to match, wasn’t so nice, saying that she is the reina of the urban genero. She’s trying to be the Susan Lucci of the Latin Grammy Awards.

Pepe Aguilar, who performed, criticized the way the U.S. handled hurricane Katrina rescues compared to the Tabasco flooding rescues.