A tale of two after-parties: John Lithgow talks 'The Crown,' Tracee Ellis Ross swaps the gown

(Charley Gallay [left] and Earl Gibson III [right] / Getty Images)

By Ellen Olivier

Jan. 9, 2017 2:45 PM PT

Mere moments after the Golden Globes telecast ended, guests began pouring into party venues in and around the Beverly Hilton Hotel to celebrate with the night’s winners, nominees and other VIPs from the film and television industries.

Here are a few dispatches from the glamorous trenches of what we saw and heard at two of those parties:

8:31 p.m.: Co-Chairman of the Weinstein Co. Harvey Weinstein and fashion designer Georgina Chapman were early arrivals to the the Weinstein Co./Netflix post-show tented party space just outside the Beverly Hills Hotel, quickly joining their guests at reserved banquettes at one end of the room.

8:35 p.m.: Winona Ryder, a Golden Globes nominee for “Stranger Things,” looked especially glamorous in her Viktor & Rolf Couture gown. Stepping up to one of the corner seating areas, she soon relaxed into a banquette and took a sip of Fiji water before turning to talk with her companions.

From left, "Stranger Things" cast members Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp were among the guest who turned out to the Weinstein Co./Netflix party.

No one needed to go far at this affair to satisfy a thirst — or hunger — as the tables at all the conversation clusters had been set with Fiji water, Moet & Chandon champagne, assorted cheeses, cold cuts, chocolates, popcorn, sushi and other treats.

And lest anyone feel a lack of elegance, representatives from Moroccan Oil set up shop just outside the main party area, where they touched up hairstyles and, in one case, a gent’s beard.

8:38 p.m.: A cheerful Ted Sarandos steps into the party tent.

The chief content officer for Netflix, Sarandos said he felt “phenomenal” — not surprising considering that his company’s “The Crown” had just won top honors in the television series, drama category.

“It’s our first series win. So this is one we will never forget,” he said. “It’s so great when something of this quality, made with this much passion and by so many good people, gets rewarded.” He added: “I love the show because as much as it’s historic, and about a historic figure, it’s really about a family.”

8:46 p.m.: Starring in the series as Winston Churchill to Golden Globes winner Claire Foy’s Queen Elizabeth II, John Lithgow also seemed pleased. “We’re all ecstatic,” he said. “This is the first major award that Netflix has won and it’s for ‘The Crown,’ which is our pride and joy. So I did not win tonight, but I am amazed at how I’m not sulking.”

9:02 p.m. Perched on the edge of a sofa reserved for those associated with “Lion,” supporting actor nominee Dev Patel said, “It’s just an honor to be included among such incredible films. We consider ourselves winners right now — to be here, the whole [“Lion”] family celebrating together.”

At left, Golden Globe winner Tracee Ellis Ross (in Zuhair Murad) keeps hydrated early in the evening. By the time she arrived at the InStyle/Warner Bros. after-party (at right, with Laverne Cox), she’d switched into a Paule Ka gown. “I love a costume change,” she said.

From there it was a quick dash to the InStyle/Warner Bros. party back inside the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

9:18 p.m.: Stars streamed into the affair and within just a few moments they included stylist Brad Goreski of “Fashion Police” with Jenna Dewan Tatum of “Step Up” in sequined Julien Macdonald with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

9:22 p.m.: Tracee Ellis Ross of “black-ish” arrives at the InStyle/Warner Bros. party cradling her freshly won Golden Globe Award in her arms. “Happy? I’m very happy,” she said of her win for actress in a TV series, musical or comedy. “I’ve been walking around, nursing [the award] like it’s a child. It has stayed very close all evening, like a small lapdog.”

For what is arguably the liveliest of the Golden Globes after-parties, Ellis Ross had swapped out her sparkling Zuhair Murad number for a graceful Paule Ka gown. “I love a costume change,” she said.

9:24 p.m.: Just before entering the ballroom, Kat Graham of “The Vampire Diaries” (in an Erdem print gown) spots Sarah Hyland and gives the “Modern Family” actress a hug.

9:26 p.m.: Dewan Tatum stopped for photos and a quick chat. “To be honest, I haven’t seen the [Golden Globe Awards] yet,” she said, adding that after having been with her daughter, she had to get ready for the party but planned to see the show when she got home.

9:35 p.m.: Inside, servers passed hamburgers, falafel, crab cakes, shrimp and other goodies, while more than a few guests gathered on an impromptu dance floor, among them an easy-to-spot statuesque Sophie Turner of “Game of Thrones,” rocking out to “Stayin’ Alive.”

Well-heeled attendees at the InStyle/Warner Bros. party included, from left, Kat Graham (in Erdem), Sophie Turner (in Louis Vuitton) and Jenna Dean Tatum (in Julien Macdonald).

9:40 p.m.: A dapper Jon Voight, white silk scarf draped over his tuxedo, held court in a somewhat quieter spot, as admirers came by to converse with the 2014 Golden Globe winner for his supporting role in “Ray Donovan.”

9:43 p.m.: Asked for his take on the awards show, Riz Ahmed said, “I loved Meryl Streep’s speech,” referring to her remarks on accepting the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement in which she criticized the president-elect. “I think it’s really important in these times that artists fulfill their role as agitators and that people speak truth to power,” continued “The Night of” Golden Globe nominee. “To me it was a very moving speech and it’s typical of an actress who always makes it about other people. It’s never about her.”