Tag Archives: red carpet

Follicle frenzy

I got a haircut today.  Just a trim –

No need to alert the media.

I walked in the salon not knowing how much I was going to cut.  My stylist and I talked about it, adjusted things as we went along — your typical ‘do.  But I realized how different my experience was from an A-list celebrity.

Take actress Michelle Williams, for example.

Kate Young For Target Launch EventShe made a red carpet appearance this week sporting new, longer bangs and short shorts.

Twitter blew up.

Why the new ‘do?  Why the edgier style?  Was it a personal choice?  Was it for a film?

Why, Michelle, why???

After days of questions — media outlets practically panting in their intensity — one proudly announced the answer:

Michelle is growing out her bangs.

Wow.  We are ridiculous.

Who, moi?

Finally — a reason to watch an awards show red carpet!

The BAFTA Awards — the Brits’ Oscars, if you will — announced that Miss Piggy will be their official red carpet host for this Sunday’s awards ceremony.

Oui!

Now there’s a red carpet interviewer who’s bound to ask something more interesting than ‘Who are you wearing?’  Heck, I bet Miss Piggy will proposition a celebrity or two (George Clooney) and throw a punch if said celebrity’s leggy girlfriend (Stacey Keibler) gets in the way.

Plus, it’s nice to see a television host who hasn’t starved herself to death to get the job…or filled her face with Botox or other fillers to maintain a youthful appearance.

(I’m pretty sure she’ll just put on a new head for the broadcast.)

Muppets rule.  Congrats, Piggy!

Star baby

Like many of you, I loved watching the Golden Globes last night, and look forward to the many award shows yet to come.

SAG Awards.  BAFTAs.  Independent Spirit Awards.  And of course, the almighty Oscars.

But a part of the process I don’t enjoy that much is the red carpet coverage.  Sure, it’s fun to see the array of fashion do’s and don’ts, but the inane interviews make even the most beautiful gowns painful to behold.

I read a book last night instead.  (You can see the dresses during the ceremony, right?)

Perhaps if I had a red carpet history like Tyler Sercombe, I’d feel differently.

At the ripe ol’ age of one, Tyler has already been photographed with more than 130 celebrities, including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp.

Her mom Donna started taking her to premieres when she was a month old. They have been to about 60 so far.

Yep.  I’d put my book down for that.

Stomach this

What’s that I hear going bump in the night?

Could it be all the goodwill surrounding Beyonce’s pregnancy?

The headline of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards was the announcement of the impending arrival of the superstar coupling of Beyonce and Jay-Z.  Her red carpet gown and the teeny tiny tuxedo she later wore on stage were both tailored to put her baby bump on full display.

Cue the oohs and ahhs.

But photos taken only one week prior to the event reveal a very different mother-to-be, her flat stomach barely showing at all…as you might expect from someone who’s only two months along.

So why would Beyonce fake it?

Some say she wanted to announce the pregnancy at the awards show, and a cute, rounded bump garners more attention than no tummy at all.  Poor baby — it isn’t even born yet, and Beyonce is already using implants to make it appear more ‘perfect.’

Did she forget the paparazzi follows her and photographs her 24/7?  Someone was bound to notice her stomach’s way-too-sudden eruption.

Perhaps I bought into her PR machine, but I thought Beyonce was more genuine than that.

Guess I expected better.

Oscar unworthy

I’m headed to Los Angeles this weekend — for work,  of course.  But my hotel is located right next door to the Grammy Awards venue.

I know, right?

Another red carpet, another round of celebrity self-congratulations.  And as the Academy Awards draw ever nearer, I have to say — this year’s awards season seems even more shallow than usual.  The nominees, the producers, the directors, and even the Oscar voters, I dare say, have abandoned even the appearance of giving out the statutes based on quality.

You just gotta be popular.

Producers always run elaborate pre-Oscar marketing campaigns for movies and their stars, but this year, even the actors are purchasing full-page ads in industry publications ‘for your consideration.’

Case in point: Melissa Leo, Best Supporting Actress nominee for her gritty performance in  “The Fighter,” (which has already garnered her three other trophies).

Chillax, Melissa.  You’ve been considered.  And shee-shee pics like these may swing opinion in the other direction.

The popularity of  the leading actors in The King’s Speech is also one of the main reasons it has of late pulled ahead of The Social Network in the awards race — not because Speech is a better film.  (It’s not.)  This became especially clear during the SAG Awards telecast.

When the casts of both movies appeared on stage during the show, the good feelings that washed over the cast of The King’s Speech were palpable…. whereas the young entourage from The Social Network was prickly, awkward and off-putting.

Heck, I wanted TSN to win, and I didn’t like their attitude that night much either.  But I would hope — if I had the opportunity to vote for any of the awards — that I could separate my personal feelings about any of the nominees from their work in the films.

If the Oscars are going to mean anything now and in the future, the voting community has to man up, act like adults and vote based on the quality of the filmmaking…not just ‘who’s their buddy.’

But then again, maybe none of them are that good of actors.

My reward

Some weeks are all about work.

This has been one of ‘em.

I’ve sat at my computer all day, every day, and most of the evenings, too, just trying to get it all done.

But today is my reward.  Today is all about play.

I have the UK-Florida basketball game at noon, which is being broadcast on national TV (thank you, CBS).  I have tickets to see “A Little Night Music” at the matinee at 3pm.  And then tonight, there’s the Oscar red carpet and awards show telecast, which will start even before I get home from the theater.

Entertainment extravaganza to the max!

I feel like I live my life to extremes — either all work or all play.  This week is a perfect example.  But since today is the play day…well, I’m okay with it.

(I’ll go for balance next week.)

Wouldn’t it be nice…

“I still think awards are stupid…but they would be less stupid if they went to the right people.”
– Ron Swanson, Parks & Recreation

I have a dream….

That the 2010 Oscars aren’t a  boring repeat of the Golden Globes and SAG Awards and every other awards show that has gone before them…

That I will be rewarded for the hours I devote to the red carpet coverage and show telecast with actual entertainment.

That the actors and films I like get the statuettes they deserve.

So this year, instead of making Oscar predictions — which at this point is pretty darn easy — I am listing my Oscar favorites….because if someone else wins, it won’t change my mind.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS — Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”
Anna deserves it.  She went toe-to-toe with George Clooney and made the movie.  I know Monique is going to win, but we’re talking who I like, remember?

SUPPORTING ACTOR — Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”
I boycotted this movie (long story), but I have loved his interviews.  Bet his acceptance speech is killer.

ACTRESS — Carey Mulligan, “An Education”
I love Sandra, but the “The Blind Side” being nominated for best picture Oscar was not legit.  “An Education” was…and so was Mulligan.

ACTOR — George Clooney, “Up in the Air”
Jeff Bridges is gonna win, but Clooney’s performance was original and emotional. “Crazy Heart” is just “The Wrestler” with a guitar.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM — “The Secret of the Kells”
I hadn’t even heard of this film until a week or so ago, but I’m intrigued.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM — “The White Ribbon”
I correctly picked this film to win the Golden Globe based on a trailer, and I’m sticking with it.

ORIGINAL SCORE — “The Hurt Locker”
It takes a special score to accompany bombs bursting in air.

ORIGINAL SONG — Take It All, “Nine”
I loved all the music in this movie.  Too bad the movie didn’t live up to it.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY — Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air”
Relevant to today. Emotional. Authentic. Didn’t steal from “Dances with Wolves.”  Give him the Oscar!

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY — Quentin Tarentino, “Inglourious Basterd”
If we can convince him he’s a good writer, maybe he’ll stop directing such gore fests.

DIRECTOR — Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air”
I think a director who can write and direct a story in an original way that speaks to everyone — and who doesn’t need to use CGI or bombs or scalping to keep your attention — is Oscar-worthy.

PICTURE — “Up in the Air”
I’ve seen it twice.  Would see it again.  Can’t recommend it enough.

No excuse

Celebrities have no excuse for bad hair.

None.

Actors, especially those who  have played a variety of roles and have seen themselves in different hair styles and hair colors and wigs and even different eye color and makeup combinations, should know — by the time a major event like the Golden Globes or SAG Awards or Grammys roll around — what hair style looks best on their person.

And yet, time and time again, celebrities turn up at these events looking either dowdy as hell or like they just got out of bed or so genuinely freaky, that I doubt they glanced in the mirror before they walked the red carpet.

I know these actors and singers hire stylists to present them in their best light.  But I have decided those same stylists are simply taking care of their own career…which apparently means dressing the actors in whatever label is best for their business and whatever hair style will get the most attention.

But bad attention is still attention.  So, hey — let’s make a bird’s nest out of Drew Barrymore’s hair and see if E! mentions her in their red carpet coverage.

You got your wish, Drew.  Your face is everywhere, but you’re getting slammed for your hairstyle instead of congratulated for your win.  Did your stylist really do her job?

A lot of these celebs would do themselves an enormous favor by cutting the size of their entourage and replacing them with a big ol’ dose of reality.

Look in the mirror with your own eyes and trust your judgment for a change.  Do you think you look like an idiot?

Chances are, you’re right.

Social save

What do you do if you’re Myspace.com, and everyone who is anyone in the social media realm has already declared you dead and buried?

Well…you could host the Internet live stream of the LA premiere of “Twilight Saga: New Moon” on November 16th and pull in over 200,000 unique visitors at the height of the webcast.

Turns out vampires aren’t the only undead in town.

I personally haven’t visited my page on myspace.com in over a year, but when I heard they were hosting the live stream of the red carpet, I hit that URL.  I might have been watching “Dancing with the Stars,” but I streamed the celebrity interviews in the background and tuned in when a star of note stepped up to the microphone.

Myspace.com was also smart enough to link the webcast to Twitter, Facebook, and AIM so folks could chat while they were watching the “New Moon” red carpet.

Integration with the other social media sites might be their best chance for survival….if anyone still cares, that is.

(Sorry.)