TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

WESTERN WOMEN: There are no women running for office in the first elections being held in down and dirty ``Deadwood'' during the third season of HBO's morality tale.

Although they were disenfranchised in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1877, women are increasingly empowered, and in more scenes, on the popular series (airing Sunday at 9 p.m.).

``I fought to ensure that my character (Trixie) was played in a way that embodied hope for women,'' said Belfast-born Paula Malcomson at the season premiere at the Cinerama Dome on Tuesday night. ``And I think it becomes clear this season that women were often the power behind the men in the camp.''

Even Calamity Jane, usually in an alcoholic stupor, takes a bath and occasionally cleans up her act. ``The female characters each score some personal victories on the show this season,'' said Robin Weigert, who portrays Jane.

Those progressive sentiments didn't prompt Malcomson or Weigert to be the first guests to ride the mechanical bull at the after party at the Cabana Club, where the low-key d(hrt)cor consisted solely of weathered manzanita trees. Nor has ``Deadwood,'' which will conclude next year with two two-hour specials instead of a full fourth season, become more contemporary or politically correct.

``Women weren't as empowered as men in those days, and I'm not going to try to change history for the sake of political correctness,'' said creator David Milch, who says the series will ``have a satisfactory conclusion'' despite its truncated running time. ``But female characters are definitely shown in more complexity this season.''

``David feeds off all of us, but all of our squawking did not let him compromise history,'' added Kim Dickens, who plays Joanie Stubbs.

Or make the women feel like they had to be the first to ride a mechanical bull.

CRYSTAL CLARITY: Someone should have told producer Lauren Schuler Donner (``X-Men: The Last Stand'') that her Women in Film Crystal Award really was made of crystal; maybe then she wouldn't have sent it crashing to the floor. That was the slightly inauspicious start to the long-standing Tinseltown group's annual lovefest, held Tuesday night at the Hyatt Regency Century City.

The other award winners were more careful, although songwriter Diane Warren (``Moulin Rouge'') shakily handed hers over to ``American Idol'' pal Randy Jackson as she stammered through her acceptance speech. Actress Camryn Manheim accepted the Kodak Vision Award for cinematographer Maryse Alberti and promised, ``I will get this to her in one piece,'' while Maria Bello, the MaxMara Face of the Future Award winner, clutched hers for a moment and then wisely handed it off.

Geena Davis graciously accepted her Lucy Award with the most impassioned speech of the long evening, reminding the assembled female power players -- including host Edie Falco and actresses Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Patricia Heaton, Angela Bassett and Jean Smart, as well as a host of well-known behind-the-scenes Hollywood honchos -- that women still have a long way to go for parity in the business. ``Our children are seeing films and TV shows that are terrifically gender-imbalanced, and it is our job to change that, hopefully in my lifetime!'' Davis said, to loud partisan applause.

Finally, after a song by Jessi Collins that many took as a signal to make their getaways, Crystal Award winner Jennifer Lopez took to the stage, nervously giggling that ``I have nothing funny to say; I need a script to help me.'' Two things the veteran entertainer/entrepreneur did know to do: hang onto her breakable award and thank her husband, singer Marc Anthony (who watched misty-eyed from the audience), ``for being so solid for me all the time,'' especially since, as she so modestly put it, ``who knows, this may be my last time up here to receive an award!''

CAPTION(S):

7 photos

Photo:

(1) WEIGERT: Fresh-scrubbed Calamity Jane

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

(2) HBO's Kristen Ardigo takes a ride on the wild side at the ``Deadwood'' premiere party Tuesday at the Cabana Club.

(3) LOPEZ: Humble acceptance

(4) DAVIS: Calls for gender parity

(5) MANHEIM: On pickup duty

(6) FALCO: Playing host

(7) MALCOMSON: Power play