Gold Carpet Confidential: It's Hugs Galore For Will Smith, Pussycat Dolls & More At The MTV Movie Awards

The photographers were ready, the press lined up, the fears of disaster averted. In many respects, the red carpet at the 17th annual MTV Movie Awards was a normal experience as these things go. But then, this was a gold carpet — and when MTV throws a party, even the biggest stars in the world have to watch their backs. Literally.

"I was just watching 'Bad Boys 2' with my son, and I told him you can't open a movie better. That's the best movie opening ever!" Will Smith excitedly hollered at "Transformers" director Michael Bay when they bumped into each other on the gold carpet. "We need 'Bad Boys 3'!"

Smith bumping into Bay was hardly the only serendipitous off-camera moment caught by MTV staffers on the carpet. (Check out the full gold-carpet report in the Movies blog.) In fact, it wasn't even the only moment with Smith, who seconds earlier, while shaking hands with screaming bleacher fans, turned to his right and found himself in a giant bear hug with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Hugs, actually, were the preferred greeting of the evening, with everyone from Smith and Johnson to P. Diddy and the Pussycat Dolls to Spencer and Brody of "The Hills" giving each other the world's only gift that's instantly returnable.

Can you feel the love? The stars did — they seemed to utter half their words in praise of someone else.

"I voted for you 12 times!" "Iron Man" director and soon-to-be Golden Popcorn winner Jon Favreau told Jonah Hill, while a reporter desperately tried to get some information on "Iron Man 2." "How good is 'Superbad?!' "

It was hard not to notice others while walking down a carpet that went from a brisk walk to a severe traffic jam in a matter of moments. When the stars of "Twilight," Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, made their way to hug (again with the hugs?) our guest blogger, the carpet was somewhat empty.

But when Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton moved through just moments later, they ran into a gaggle of celebs, some chatting up press, some, like Carson Daly, playing "Rock Band" and some, like "America's Best Dance Crew" winners the Jabbawockeez, actually, honestly, breakdancing. But most were just trying to enjoy a quiet moment with a long-lost friend.

"No thanks, I don't want any chocolate," Jason Bateman told an usher when she innocently interrupted a conversation between the actor and "Juno" star Ellen Page. "I have to keep my girlish figure."

Which makes him all the better, no doubt, to hug.

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