More Oscar pix

One more gallery then I promise I shall never mention it again...

Pictures are courtesy one of our cameramen.

And without any further ado...

So, the Oscars.

We left the house about 330p. We decided to skip the limo and just drive ourselves. It was absolutely pouring, so the entire red carpet was tented. We went through a ticket usher, then through a metal detector, then you walk through a curtain and WOW.

Total sensory overload. The Red Carpet is split in 2 - the nominees and presenters walk down the left side, and the rest of the riffraff down the right. There are bleachers set up behind the press with about 200 people sitting screaming at the stars as they walk by. I stood behind Ryan Seacrest for awhile looking like a lemon in hopes that my sister would see me on tv. I also stood behind Heidi Klum (taller, skinnier, more beautiful in person) also looking like a total dork. The Red Carpet turns the corner into the Kodak where all fashion photogs are coralled. We stood there for awhile. Others seen on the red carpet from a very close proximity: John Travolta (very strange/alien looking. weird spray-on hair), Tommy Lee Jones (what would he be if not an actor? - the wrinkles on his face should be insured), the couple from "Once" Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard (toooo cute), Kristin Chenoweth (adorable! gorgeous dress. really nice to everyone around her), Amy Adams (dress rocked. loved the hair), Jason Bateman (totally hot and uniquely not shorter in person), and Javier Bardem (total mmmm).

Inside, there was champagne and pink cocktails. Hors Doevres I think. Too overwhelmed to eat/not to drink lots of expensive champers.

We had nosebleed but not total nosebleed seats. We had a pretty good perspective on the door the stars went through to go onstage. Seen: Helen Mirren (dress looked better from a distance), Nicole Kidman (that necklace was simply amazing), Ellen Page, Diablo Cody. Jon Stewart was sweet. He seemed v v nervous. Show was LONG but the ad breaks seem shorter in person. Weirdly, I found some weird moments very moving.

Show over...now on to Governor's Ball. The room was so amazing. Very crowded and opulently decorated. Pink Martini was playing on a raised platform over the room. Our table was very strange: One of the Academy Governors and his wife, the director Norman Jewison ("Moonstruck", "In the Heat of the Night", "Thomas Crown Affair" and that other modern classic "Rollerball") and his ladyfriend, and the Russian nominees for Best Foreign Film ("12"). Norman Jewison is a huge CNN fan and told me stories about all of the actors he'd worked with that are obsessed with CNN ("Michael Caine nearly gave my French production manager a coronary trying to get CNN in his trailer!"). The Russians hoovered up all the hors doevres but were offended by the appetizer (mini-baked potatos with caviar) - "in my country, dees iz not SPECIAL!" - and left in a huff early on. The main course was a lovely steak w red wine sauce and macaroni and cheese with truffles. Dessert was architectural cherry chocolate cake. Lots and lots of nice champagne. But enough on the food, seen at the Ball: Harrison Ford and Bobblehead (he's short, she's just eew), Diablo Cody (again), Cohen Brothers, Jon Stewart (so very sweet and so very tiny), Casey Affleck, the guys from Superbad and Knocked Up (identical twins), and my favorite...Viggo Mortensen. He was kicked back in a round banqette, and I suddenly had this near-overwhelming urge to sit on his lap. I did not, dear reader, sit on Viggo Mortensen's lap. But oh how I wanted to.

I did not see, and will eternally regret it: Tilda Swinton and George Clooney.
Not there, and that disappoints me: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightly.

It was really fun. Lord knows I couldnt do this every year (or at least without a full-time stylist and facialist) but totally glad I went.

Oscar preps - more pix

Ok here's the hair and makeup pix and a full-length of the dress and tux. The power went out in the neighborhood for most of Saturday, so if it looks like I got ready in the dark, its because I DID! Yes, that stressed me out a bit - one of the many, many disadvantages of living near the Kodak Theatre! My regular crazy hair person did my hair and the makeup artist at work did my makeup. A more thorough account of the show and ball to come...

Red Carpet Stroll

A full review to come...

The President of Oompaloompastan

Ok, so I'm orange.

Not like a tangerine, but more like a faded terracotta tile. Also my ankles look a little like I've gone hiking barefoot. Oh well. My legs look slightly less like a weisswurst.



T-24. This time tomorrow I will be leaving my humble abode for the red carpet and Primpapalooza '08 will be complete. Some of the things I've learned from my all-out primpathon.

• Facials really are worth it! I had the most amazing one on Tuesday and my skin is now the skin of a small child fed only the milk of virgin ewes (is that possible? maybe not). Anyway, an hour of rubbing and buffing is bound to be nice anyway, but it really has made a big deal with my skin.


• Exfoliating works! I have been exfoliating like a mad thing in preparation for my Oompaloompaing. The spray tan woman told me as she rubbed the pre-spray lotion on my back (!) that I have the softest skin she has ever felt. Yeah, put aside the slight creep of that comment and see the truth beneath it.


• There is no difference between a $20 manicure and a $50 manicure other than with the latter, the manicurist speaks English.

And now! an exclusive! preview! of some of the fashions I will be sporting tomorrow:




I was considering a pair of Stella McCartney sandles, but I just couldnt quite get my head around $700 shoes. Perhaps I will regret it, but I like these Stuart Weitzman shoes and they do have a little bling.



Speaking of bling: my cocktail ring (for color) and bracelet. The ring is real! Please disregard the orange hand (and the nailpolish - it will be roughly same as toenails) wearing it.

I will be carrying a lovely little evening purse given to me on my 30th birthday by Verna.

We will be arriving sometime around 330p my time, so look for me in the background anytime between 330 - 4p. Wish me luck!

Viva Palm Springs!

Iain and I spent a great weekend in Palm Springs with The Boys. A significant portion of the weekend was spent strategizing on the Oscars. Custom airbrush or Mystic Spray tan? Finger waves or china-doll straight hair? Robert Clergerie teal shoes or, er, something else? David did help disguise my roots, as you see in the pictures. They are givers, these guys.

My blog - a caveat

Apologies for the delay in posting. My boss and I have been discussing whether I should continue this blog. As you may/may not have seen, my employer recently fired a producer in NY for his public writings. He made the mistake of writing about politics (journalists are not allowed political views - or at least in public) and about the mistakes and foibles of other networks...and sending them on to be published in major blogs. That was clearly a mistake. I have tried to stay away from anything that might be controversial (although my obsession w Stevie Wonder might skirt the limits of good taste). I will be allowed to continue with this as long as I dont do anything that disparages or embarasses me or my employer or inhibits my ability to cover a story in the future. Anyway, that pretty much limits me to writing about food and posting endless pictures of Sophie and PorkChop the ColdBloodedKiller. Keep me honest.

Oscar dress hunt update

Ok I think I found it. The needle in the haystack. The One Dress To Rule Them All.

The Details

Bought: at Saks.com
Price: I'm not telling, but not expensive
Designer: Tadashi
Fabric: Black matte jersey
Style: off-shoulder, ruched (ruched!) across chest. long slit up left side.
Condition of tits: on display

Bring on the Spanx!

Prom for Grownups

I'm going to the Oscars.

Of course it is a huge honor just to be invited yadda yadda, but WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR. Suddenly, I'm filled w neuroses. Its been a few months since The Surge, and I'm not as svelte as I was (ahem.). Do I need a facial? Do I need a full body sugar scrub? What if my skin is not GLOWIE enough. If only I could just fit into my Laura Ashley floral print hydrangea-blue strapless dress I wore to Military Ball with Phil Sheppard senior year (oh yeah Liz, you remember...) I will see if I can find that photo for your enjoyment.

Anyway, I have consulted with The Gays, and they have given me a few guidelines and pictures for inspiration:

• I think keep the dress black and simple and inexpensive. Good fit. Comfortable.


• Play up your cleavage.


• Splurge on a pair of kick ass shoes - in a color. Maybe.


• Some kick ass stockings. A color possibly.


• A vintage or new - chunky necklace in color. Big, bold.


• Or no necklace and some GIGANTIC drop earrings.


• Gloves are a nice touch.
  

Is it too late to get a pre-Oscar boob job?

Am I the only one who has noticed?

Britney Spears' manager and "best friend" is named Osama? Am I the only one who thinks that's weird?

The Vanity Fair Oscar party has been cancelled. They have obviously found out about my Vulcan Mind Trick I used to great effect to enter the Kodak Theatre. Pussies.

Oh yeah, Superduperwooper Tuesday. More later.

Campaign '08, The Starf*cker Edition

Yep I was there, and boy was it nuts. I guess Hollywood figured if they cant have the Oscars, they will have the Debates. Hilariously, it became the hottest ticket in town. Here's my exclusive behind-the-scenes blog.


945a arrive at Kodak and walk right past the security without credentials and go inside, bypassing the epic queue. Maybe its because I ooze authority. Make mental note to try same strategy at Vanity Fair Oscars party.

950a. Jessica Yellin, CNN political reporter = adorable + tiny + blond.

1012a Tour set. Try to keep control and not steal Stevie Wonder's seat marker.

1013a Steven Spielberg! Leonardo di Caprio! Leo's mom! Democrats are much more glamorous than GOPs. Best they could muster was an Ubergeriatric Nancy Reagan and Frasier.

1228p Lunch catered by Wolfgang Puck. Who is paying for this?

1258p Receive email from the 9th of the 10 people I know in LA asking for tickets. When did CNN become cool and why was I not informed?

104p Security is asked to clear Spiderman, Freddie Kruger and Darth Vader from behind the live shot outside Mann's Chinese. Darth gets belligerent.

152p Check out the Spin Room. Food is better in workspace so I leave.

215p Consider going to check if "S. Wonder" seat marker is still there. Must. Be. Good.

341p Brandy arrives and talks about the importance of the youth vote. Uh huh. So does the cast of "The West Wing". Bradley Whitford (or is it Bradford Whitley?) is hot.

401p A Baldwin arrives. Not sure which one.

427p Stars coming quick and fast. Spielberg looks mildly irritated. The dead "Desperate Housewife" is here looking v glam. Dont these people know this is a POLITICAL event and that glamour is most definitely not allowed.

445p Stevie Wonder! Stevie Wonder! I faint dead away.

454p Wolf is making jokes. He is a really genuinely nice guy and an inspiring journalist, but sadly not a comedian.

5p The show starts! Obama is in crazy elegant suit. Hill - brown suit? hmm. At least she doesnt look like Diane Keaton, who is in all-white and can likely be seen from outer space in that outfit.

515p Quickly becomes apparent that we are trapped in a giant auditorium with two girl scouts. Are they talking about healthcare or a bake sale? I lose track. Nicey-nicey everybody kissie.

524p Yay! Usher and I get to hustle out a group of sweaty college students who have the wrong color wristbands. LO-SERS.

555p "Historic...blah blah... historic...."

614p "Historic" Everybody do a shot!

627p Did I mention that this is HISTORIC?

645p Is Bill here? Cause he's getting slated. Oh wait. Now they are applauding him. Hard to keep track.

7p Debate is over. I ride down the elevator with the cast of "Dirty Sexy Money" (love that show! miss it!) including Blair Underwood (*purrrrr*), the mystery Baldwin and the dead Housewife.

715p Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Kodak is like the weirdest political rally you've ever seen. Each of the campaigns must have sent their "Fruits and Nuts for Obama/Clinton" organizations to rally outside. A giant Spongebob is wearing a Hillary pin. My brain may explode, so I leave. I wonder if Stevie Wonder's seat marker is still there?