Goldie Meets Hasty: Hawn Takes Home Pudding Pot

Goldie Hawn relived her old days as a "Laugh-In" cast member yesterday as she giggled her way through Hasty Pudding Theatricals' Woman of the Year festivities.

Students and onlookers crowded the streets of the Square for the parade yesterday afternoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hawn as she rode by en route to accepting the Pudding Pot award.

Hawn, sitting in a blue BMW convertible, was almost obscured by suit-clad security guards and Pudding actors dressed in colorful drag costumes.

After the parade ended on Holyoke Street, Hawn entered the Hasty Pudding Theater to accept the award.

She elicited numerous laughs from the audience with her self-deprecating humor and lip sync of "You Don't Ovn Me," a song she sang with Diane Keaton and Better Midler in "The First Wives Club" movie.

Hawn said she was honored to receive the Pudding Pot because "it comes from young people, in all their enthusiasm, and it is also fun to be honored by academia."

She earned her award by surviving a "roast" by Daniel M. Ring '99, president of the Theatricals, and Jason R. Mills '99, vice-president of the cast.

The roast was a comical take on Hawn's television debut in the variety show "Laugh-In."

While presenting Hawn with her award, Mills and Ring praised the actor's effort to give audiences a message through humor in her movies.

Hawn spoke of the importance of humor in herlife while dispensing advice for young people.

"I feel that it is my purpose to lighten thespirit even on a tiny level with humor," she said."Carry the joy you feel right now, at 20, throughthe rest of your life. Don't ever lose thatsmile."

Hawn followed her own advice, saying she washaving a "complete and total blast" at Harvard.

In a press conference after the award ceremony,Hawn credited her father as her inspiration.

"My father was a realist," she said. "Butthrough the truth, he was able to derive greathumor."

Hawn heads her own production company, CherryAlley, and is starring with Steve Martin in theupcoming film "The Out-of-Towners," which opens inMarch.

But when asked what she sees herself doingfurther in the future, she did not have a clearanswer.

"I have the luxury of doing what I want," shesaid. "Maybe I'll write a book. But who knows?"

Many student groups participated in the paradethrough the Square, including the HarvardUniversity Band, the Harvard Glee Club and theHarvard Juggling Club.

Members of the Mainly Jazz Dance Companyshouted, "We're pumped," when asked how they feltabout participating in the parade.

But Karin G. Johnson '99, a flutist in theband, said that leading the Woman of the Yearparade had its drawbacks.

"We never get to see the Woman of the Yearbecause they push us to the front," she said.

Those who did get a glimpse of Hawn expressedexcitement over the festivities.

"Everyone seems so happy," said Walthamresident Mary G. Sullivan. She had heard about theparade and had taken the day off of work toattend. "I hoped I might see Kurt Russell [Hawn'shusband] too," she added, smiling.

The Hasty Pudding honors one female and onemale entertainer each year. Previous recipients ofthe "Woman of the Year" award have included"Alien" star Sigourney Weaver and "Pretty Woman"Julia Roberts

Hawn spoke of the importance of humor in herlife while dispensing advice for young people.

"I feel that it is my purpose to lighten thespirit even on a tiny level with humor," she said."Carry the joy you feel right now, at 20, throughthe rest of your life. Don't ever lose thatsmile."

Hawn followed her own advice, saying she washaving a "complete and total blast" at Harvard.

In a press conference after the award ceremony,Hawn credited her father as her inspiration.

"My father was a realist," she said. "Butthrough the truth, he was able to derive greathumor."

Hawn heads her own production company, CherryAlley, and is starring with Steve Martin in theupcoming film "The Out-of-Towners," which opens inMarch.

But when asked what she sees herself doingfurther in the future, she did not have a clearanswer.

"I have the luxury of doing what I want," shesaid. "Maybe I'll write a book. But who knows?"

Many student groups participated in the paradethrough the Square, including the HarvardUniversity Band, the Harvard Glee Club and theHarvard Juggling Club.

Members of the Mainly Jazz Dance Companyshouted, "We're pumped," when asked how they feltabout participating in the parade.

But Karin G. Johnson '99, a flutist in theband, said that leading the Woman of the Yearparade had its drawbacks.

"We never get to see the Woman of the Yearbecause they push us to the front," she said.

Those who did get a glimpse of Hawn expressedexcitement over the festivities.

"Everyone seems so happy," said Walthamresident Mary G. Sullivan. She had heard about theparade and had taken the day off of work toattend. "I hoped I might see Kurt Russell [Hawn'shusband] too," she added, smiling.

The Hasty Pudding honors one female and onemale entertainer each year. Previous recipients ofthe "Woman of the Year" award have included"Alien" star Sigourney Weaver and "Pretty Woman"Julia Roberts