Forget the red carpet. What about the parties?!

Enough about the Golden Globes' red carpet fashion doldrums.

What about the darn parties????

At least that's where actresses can show off some awards season finery. And it's where we reporters get to watch winners and losers doing exciting, newsworthy things like talking to their friends, sipping champagne, trying to eat without being photographed with food in their mouths, checking their BlackBerrys and iPhones, and leaving early through the back exits.

My sources say Vanity Fair has cancelled their sponsored Golden Globes party, usually held at Mike Medavoy's pad. But today Media Bistro New York reports that Graydon Carter confirmed the fete.

''We're going ahead as planned," Carter wrote via email. "Although we have made provisions for a shorter-than-usual ceremony. Since it's all hypothetical at the moment, it's difficult to comment further.''

More on that as it develops.

Today,  Showtime is a no go. WB/NBC will no doubt continue with its official on-site bash. But will this be the first season in, like, forever that HBO's apres bash doesn't steal the party scene?

HBO spokeswoman Nancy Lesser says the network has reserved its space at the poolside restaurant Circa 55. But that's all she would say.

Anyway, that's good news for the network's plans to honor its 18 Golden Globe nominees -- including  "Big Love," "Entourage" and "Extras."

However. my inside HFPA source says all the on-site parties will go on as planned. So fluff up those frocks, girls. And dry clean those tuxes, guys! There will still be plenty of parties to attend. 

Photo credits: Chloe Sevigny, left, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jeanne Tripplehorn sip bubbly at the Moet & Chandon red carpet Champagne pit stop before last year's Golden Globe Awards.
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