Entertainment Hosts Play Musical Chairs

While trolling through Twitter yesterday, I came across the news on Deadline Hollywood that Showbiz Tonight anchor, Brooke Anderson, was replacing Lara Spencer on The Insider.  Now before Lara Spencer fans freak out, Lara is headed back to Good Morning, America, where she started her national network career.  Lara leaves The Insider after being passed over for the Entertainment Tonight anchor job that Mary Hart retired from late last year.  That gig went to former Access Hollywood host, Nancy O'Dell.  She left Access Hollywood in 2009 after it was rumored that her co-host, Billy Bush, drove her up a wall.  I don't blame her, he's a pesky personality.  Before the ink dries on your Hollywood entertainment show anchor chart, please remember, no one has been announced as Brooke Anderson's replacement on HLN's Showbiz Tonight.  How will this story end?

In the meantime, I send my personal "congratulations" to Brooke who is smart, kind, and perfect for her new role on The Insider.  I had the opportunity to interview her during Oscars Week.  She was one of the judges for the MTVu Oscar Correspondent Contest and I love her for giving me the exclusive on who designed her Oscar gown (A to-die-for designer!).  Here is my interview with her on Mingle Media TV:




Photo Courtesy of Mingle Media TV.

2011 Oscars, Day 4

Ah, what a day!  It started out with the Food and Beverage preview with Wolfgang Puck and ended with a run up and down the red carpet.  Yes, they are still setting it up, but it looks more and more like it does at the big event on Sunday.  The most hysterical part of the day was watching Lara Spencer of The Insider and Nancy O'Dell of ET doing a full dress rehearsal in 55 degree weather.  Yep, they had hair, makeup, and gowns at 9:45 AM.  I wish I had grabbed a photo, but I was racing to the preview at the other end of the red carpet.  Needless to say, they looked gorgeous, but miserably cold.

 The amazing Kobe Beef Slider.....heaven in one bite!

The Food and Beverage Preview was a delicious potpourri of Kobe Beef Sliders, Salmon and Cavier atop an Oscar-shaped flatbread, and Black Truffle Pizza.  My mouth was watering at the mere sight of Wolfgang's food.  To read a full rundown of the event, head over to my article at Starpulse for more details. (When you read the section about Katie Lee, remember, this girl was married to Billy Joel a few years ago.  She is SO young and Billy Joel? Well, he's not.) The one thing I made sure to take a picture of was the sketches of the Governor's Ball staff's wardrobe.  It is incredibly detailed and it captures the entire Copacabana feel for the evening.  Afterwards, my romp through the red carpet was fun. I hope to have some more news to deliver tomorrow, but I will say this has been an incredible ride so far.  The only real stressful item of the week has been the credentials.  It is important for me to wear them at all times for security purposes, but we are not allowed to photograph them in any way. For the on-camera hosts, this presents a lot of challenges throughout the day.  You need to have it on, but not in view of the camera.  It always has to be the forefront thing on my brain before each shot and photograph.

Finally, come join me on my quick video on the red carpet.  You get a real inside look at how it feels to be in the middle of the chaos, construction and all.  I want to thank you all for your support and well wishes so far.  It means a lot to me since this is my Olympics and Super Bowl all wrapped into one.  I was also happy to make some time for my New Media friends tonight and reconnect since it has been ages since I have seen them all in one room.  Enjoy the video and I will see you tomorrow...only 2 more days!

Ironic sign given the fact that we are headed to the Food and Beverage Preview.

The sketches for the band members' wardrobe.

The men's costumes:  they are going for a Tito Puente feel.

How classic is this? The orchestra tuxes.

Did you miss yesterday's updates?  Click right here.

After The Nominations

Now that all of the serious coverage of the 83rd Annual Academy Award Nominations is completed, here is a loopy and quick (1 minute. 20 seconds) video made by me and my cameraman, JD Piche of Mingle Media TV, after all of the morning's events.  We had both been up for hours at this point, so forgive my hair and my camera work.  If you are a fan of entertainment news, Nancy O'Dell of ET makes a cameo as well.

I hope to do a few of these videos from time to time, so you can see what it really looks like behind the scenes. (and I promise my shaky camera hand will get stronger.)  Now, I am off to do some Oscar dress shopping with the amazing Roni B. I need to think tall and lean today because these gowns are built for glamazons.  Tall and lean, tall and lean, tall and lean......

83rd Annual Academy Award Nominations

Yesterday was quite a day!  From my 2 AM wake-up call to the 3:30 AM breakfast to the Academy Award Announcements themselves at 5:38 AM, I cannot believe I managed to stay awake.  Okay, I did go to bed at 5:37 PM the day before.  It was a thrill of a lifetime to cover this event and I cannot believe it is about to get better with my upcoming red carpet coverage and backstage press room opportunity on Oscar night.  I could just scream with excitement.  I worked for several media outlets yesterday including Mingle Media TV, Starpulse, and then a guest appearance on Minnesota's 107.1 FM's Lori and Julia Show.  Phew!  It was a long and crazy day, but here is where you can find all of the links and photos to yesterday's events"

1.  To read my insider thoughts on what happened at the theatre yesterday morning hour by hour, head on over to my Starpulse article here.  I had a great time writing this article because you never really know what happens inside the theatre until you are actually there.

2.  To hear what I had to say with Lori and Julia on 107.1FM (My favorite radio duo when I lived in Minnesota.), head over here.  See the "What You Missed Section", click on "Hour 2", and then hit "Listen Now".  My favorite highlights include the ladies asking whether Mo'Nique shaved her legs for the event and what was up with that awkward kiss with Academy president, Tom Sherak?

Nancy O'Dell makes her official debut with ET replacing longtime host, Mary Hart.

3.  Mingle Media TV:  If you missed yesterday's announcement, you can find it here along with my commentary at the end of the video:



4. Photos from inside the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre courtesy of Mingle Media TV can be found here.


Photo 1:  Courtesy of Mingle Media TV.