78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS
Of the many events that take place in Hollywood, none is more famous than the Academy Awards. This year, Daryl and I got to sit in the bleachers as the celebrities walked the red carpet. Did you see us? Probably not, so I’ve attached a picture of Nicole Kidman being interviewed. If you look to the right of her wrinkle-free forehead, past the two speakers, you’ll see me in beige and Daryl in purple stripes.Attending the event was free. All we had to do was register with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, provide a recent photo, submit our address for the last ten years, and pass a background check. Nothing to it! Over 20,000 people signed up for this year’s event and only 400 made the final cut.
If you are interested in attending next year’s Academy Awards, bookmark the following page and start checking it August 1st. The registration period lasts a week, but you should submit your information as soon as the site goes live. http://www.oscars.org/bleachers/
So what was it like? Here’s a quick overview of the day:
9:30am Pick up credentials at check-in table.
9:45 am Grab gift bag with camera, M&M’s and Krispy Kreme
10:00am Pick up free drinks and go to assigned seats
10:15am 1st Celebrity: Chris Harrison of The Bachelor
11:00am Red Carpet cleared of morning journalists
12:00pm Complimentary lunch from Subway
1:00pm Afternoon media trickle in and begin setting up
2:00pm E!, Extra, ET, Insider, Melissa & Joan arrive
3:00pm Rachel Weiz and George Clooney arrive
4:00pm There is someone famous everwhere
5:00pm J. Lo, Latifah and Charlize straggle in
5:30pm Bleacher guests escorted across the red carpet El Cap
It was kind of like an 8-hour workday, except our only tasks were to take pictures and scream a lot. It’s not for everybody. The couple next to me was visiting from Texas and the husband left after a half hour because he didn’t want to miss the UT basketball game. But for those us that are into films, it was like having box seats at the All-Star game or sitting courtside at the Final Four. The people whose work you’ve been following during the season are all there in one place. And the people whose work you haven’t been following--Lee Majors, for example--show up, too.
The Red Carpet is about a block long. Joaquin Phoenix did no interviews and he reached the Kodak Theater in about five minutes. Jessica Alba and Kiera Knightley took about an hour each as they posed for pictures and did interviews. George Clooney took the full two hours.
The emcee for the red carpet is usually Army Archard, but this year he turned over the show to Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies. While we were waiting for the stars to arrive, he asked the crowd which movie was going to win Best Picture and the overwhelming winner was Crash.
Once the celebrities exited the security tent and made their way down the carpet, the bleachers went wild. No one is “announced” so we were constantly scanning the crowd for famous faces. Twelve years of reading Entertainment Weekly prepared me well for the task, but a few celebrities slipped by unnoticed. I’m still not sure how we all missed Jack Nicholson.
As glamorous as the red carpet is on the surface, it’s really just an industry-wide office party. People were being introduced to each other’s spouses, underlings were trying to get face-time with higher-ups, and many were just there for the free food and booze.
Oscar night also reminds me of the Senior Prom because of the fixation on everyone’s wardrobe and who-showed-up-with-who. And, like prom, the actual event is kind of a drag unless you or your best friend get crowned king or queen. The real fun for most of the industry starts at the after-party.
But for us mortals, the fun was the pre-party. I could write an entire Update about all the funny stuff from the red carpet, and another one about all the geeky moments. Instead, though, here are three highlights:
Ÿ Jamie Foxx and Matt Dillon both waving to us when we yelled out their names.
Ÿ George Clooney coming over to the bleachers to sign autographs.
Ÿ Dolly Parton showing off more white meat than a bucket of chicken.
A week after the show, friends were showing me pictures that their co-worker Ingrid had taken from her seat in the Oscar bleachers. They looked just like ours because Ingrid was sitting next to Daryl the whole day! Can you believe that? [You can see her aiming her camera at Nicole Kidman in the attached photo.] She has already taken the time to crop, organize and post her pictures online and she graciously allowed me to include the link below. Thank you, Ingrid!
STAR SIGHTINGS--78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS EDITION
Amy Adams—Junebug, Jessica Alba—Fantastic Four, Marc Anthony—Big Night, Eric Bana--Munich/Troy/Hulk, Ed Begley, Jr.—A Mighty Wind, Sandra Bullock—Crash, Gary Busey—Buddy Holley Story, Kate Capshaw—Temple of Doom & Mrs Spielberg, Steve Carrell—40 Year-Old Virgin, Helena Bonham Carter—Wallace & Gromit, George Clooney—Winner, Sup Actor, Judi Dench—Mrs Henderson Presents, Matt Dillon—Crash, Will Ferrell—Anchorman, Jamie Foxx—Ray, Morgan Freeman—March of the Penguins, Dan Futterman—The Birdcage & Writer, Capote, Jennifer Garner—Alias, 13 Going on 30, Paul Giamatti—Sideways/Cinderella Man, Selma Hayek—Frida, Terence Howard—Crash, Hustle & Flow, Felicity Huffman—TransAmerica, William Hurt—History of Violence, Catherine Keener—Capote, 40 Year-Old Virgin, Nicole Kidman—The Interpreter, Keira Knightly—Pride & Prejudice, Queen Latifah—Last Month, Heath Ledger—Brokeback Mountain, Jennifer Jason Leigh—Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Christopher Lloyd—Back to the Future, Jenifer Lopez—Monster In-Law, Ludacris--Crash, William H. Macy—The Cooler, Lee Majors—Six Million Dollar Man, Terry Moore—Come Back, Little Sheba, Dolly Parton—Travelin’ Thru, Ryan Phillipe—Crash, Jaoquin Pheonix—Walk the Line, Keanu Reeves—Constantine, Mickey Rooney—Andy Hardy, Jane Russell—Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Peter Sarsgaard—Flightplan & Kinsey, Jane Seymour—Wedding Crashers, Jada Pinkett Smith—Matrix Triology, Will Smith—Hitch, David Strathairn—Good Night and Good Luck, Meryl Streep—Prime & Lemony Snicket, Hilary Swank—Million Dollar Baby, Charlize Theron—North Country, Uma Thurman—Prime, Kill Bill, Bruce Vilanch—Get Bruce! & Celebrity Fit Club, Nancy Walls—40 Year-Old Virgin, The Daily Show, Naomi Watts—King Kong, The Ring, 21 Grams, Rachel Weicz—The Constant Gardener, Michelle Williams—Brokeback Mountain, Dawson’s Creek, Luke Wilson—Old School, Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon—Walk the Line
Behind the Camera:
Robert Altman—Director, The Player, MASH, Nashville, Noah Baumbuch—Director/Writer, Squid and the Whale, Tim Burton—Director, Corpse Bride, Alice Davis—Walt Disney Imagineer, Sid Ganis—President, A.M.P.A.S. , Dan Glickman—Current head of MPAA, Paul Haggis—Director/Writer, Crash; Writer, Million Dollar Baby, Don Hahn—Producer, The Lion King Beauty and the Beast, Grant Heslov—Writer/Producer, Good Night & Good Luck, Luc Jacquet—Director, March of the Penguins, James Keach—Producer, Walk The Line and husband to Jane Seymour, Ang Lee—Director, Brokeback Mountain, Sense & Sensibility, Bobby Marisco—Writer, Crash, Larry McMurtry—Writer, Brokeback Mountain, Bennett Miller—Director, Capote, Diana Osanna—Writer, Brokeback Mountain, John Singleton—Producer, Hustle & Flow, Director, Boyz In the Hood, Steven Speilberg—Munich, Schindler’s List, ET, Duncan Tucker—Director, TransAmerica, Jack Valenti—Former head of the MPAA John Wagner—Writer, History of Violence, Todd Wagner—Producer, Good Night, Good Luck and Enron: Smartest Guys in the Room
Entertainment Media:
Jann Carl, Steve Cocajuru, Chris Connelly, Giuliana Depandi, Dayna Devon, AJ Hammer, Chris Harrison, Leonard Maltin, Mark McGrath, Vanessa Minnillio, Nancy O’Dell, George Pennachio, Tony Perkins, Lisa Rhinna, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Sam Rubin, Ryan Seacrest, Joel Siegel, Lara Spencer, Debra Wilson, and Jeanne Wolfe
THE CHERRY ORCHARD--MARK TAPER FORUM
We saw more stars at the Mark Taper Forum’s production of Anton Checkov’s The Cherry Orchard. Anette Bening, Alfred Molina, Sarah Paulsen, and Rafael Sbarge contributed to a successful but ultimately uneven show. [The LA Times Calendar guest reviewers recommending everything from RAVE to REFUND. http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/300700,0,2127659,reviews.event]
Daryl had gone online and found $20 tickets. Our seats were at far-far-far-house-right. But because the Forum is done in three-quarter round we actually missed some of the dialogue aimed at the far-far-far-left. We would’ve enjoyed the show more had we sat in the center section. Our next two $20 theatrical experiences went much better.
PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY--BOSTON COURT
Boston Court is a relatively new and smaller house in Pasadena but every seat was excellent for this show. Oscar Wilde’s script still engages with its ruminations on beauty, youth, purity and vice but everything else--acting, lighting, sound design, sets, props and costumes--was just as solid. The direction, by Michael Michetti, was so strong that Daryl went back on Sunday to see the show performed with the understudies in the leads. http://www.bostoncourt.com/the_show.htm
DAME EDNA: BACK WITH A VENGEANCE--AHMANSON THEATER
Dame Edna Everage, self-proclaimed international megastar (and idol of millions) puts on one heck of a show. Whether doing a prepared bit or improvising with the audience, she was hilarious. We laughed a lot, especially when she was making fun of our fellow audience members. For example:.
“Fixing up a home is expensive, isn’t it? You have to save a lot , of course. And ma‘am, you‘ve obviously saved a lot by making all your own clothes.”
Daryl found $20 tickets for this show, too, in the 7th row! I still can’t believe how close we were. If Dame Edna is coming to your town, make plans to attend. Check out her website for tour information and some Edna humor. http://www.dame-edna.com/
SAN FRANCISCO
Daryl spent the weekend of the 25th with good friends in the City By the Bay, San Francisico. David Fernandez was in town for a conference and they went to the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill for afternoon tea in the Laurel Court. Later, they met up with another old Orlando friend, Charles Lougee. Charles moved to San Fran about 2 years ago and was a great tour guide through the city. A few of the highlights were Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio, the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Castro district. Daryl was also happy to see Denise (Gigi) Pasternak on Sunday as the whole group took a ride on a cable car and explored Chinatown.
25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Daryl & David were able to see a production of the play while in San Francisco. The set was straight out of a junior high school gym, complete with bleachers and a basketball hoop. The cast was top-notch and the story kept us guessing right up to the end who will win the Bee. Of course, we won’t Bee revealing that here. [Daryl’s joke, by the way.]
STAR SIGHTINGS--NON-OSCAR EDITION
On March 19, we were in Santa Monica to see 20,00 Leagues Under the Sea on the big screen with our friends Shawn and Rob. Walking to the theater, we passed by Steven Spielberg as he chatted on his cell phone. After the movie, we dined next to Paula Poundstone and her kids.
VISITORS
Our fiend Mark Witko was in town and in addition to joining Daryl at Dorian Gray, he went with us to Larchmont Village, which is sort of like Park Avenue in Winter Park. Many of our former Disney co-workers were in town for a conference so we hung out in the hotel lobby and caught for three hours. We had dinner with Lisa Becket and her team at the oldest restaurant in Hollywood Musso & Frank‘s. http://www.hollywoodlostandfound.net/locations/mussoandfranks.html
And we are already halfway through April, it seems. Passover starts tonight and Easter is this weekend. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. We’ll be back in three weeks.
Until then,
James & Daryl
