Media Mondays

 Totally excited by my new iPad Mini to carry me through the rest of awards season.

Last week felt busy and not so busy all at once.  Does that make sense? It was rainy in LA and a lot of my work involved my laptop, writing, broadcasting, and sitting on the couch.  I wore pj bottoms and then would have to do hair, makeup, and wear a cute shirt for my Spreecasts. I was a hot mess of contradictions.

Here's what happened in the media last week.

Full spread of lobster, caviar, and truffle mac and cheese at 9am.

Governors Ball Preview: If you missed my coverage of the Governors Ball Preview--the official party of the Oscars, head here.

Slamdance Film Festival: If you want to see my fun interviews with the filmmakers of Slamdance, click here.

Kate Danley:  I had the opportunity to interview author, Kate Danley, who has done extremely well with her fantasy-genre novel, The Woodcutter.  She gave me the inside scoop on big and small screen plans for the book as well as Maggie for Hire.  You can watch the Spreecast below:



Tom Barnard Podcast:  Holy cow!  This was a crazy show.  Tom had comedian Steve White on the show and I am not sure I got a word in edgewise.  That's okay, White ruled the show....he's funny.  Listen at the 20:00 mark.

Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekley:  I am proud to announced that I am joining the WCHS family in West Virginia on Mondays at 1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET for a weekly entertainment segment.
You will be able to listen live here.

SAG Awards:  I may never do this again, but I revealed my votes for the nominees in the movie categories.  I then broke down the red carpet with my Top 11 thoughts.  Finally, you can watch my Spreecast with James Molnar of The Gold Knight about what the SAG wins mean to the Oscars.



SheKnows:  Some of my favorite stories from last week.
Adele to perform "Skyfall" at the Oscars--Will all 6 James Bonds appear too?
The Oscars will honor the movie musical--Will Jennifer Hudson sing?
Natalie Portman says "au revoir" to the US--She's moving to Paris!

The Radio Dish:  Oh My!  This was one hilarious appearance. We talked about the lack of underwear in Hollywood and Jon Hamm's uhhhhh.....gifts?  Check it out.

I also hit the press junket for Safe Haven with Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough, but those interviews will hit the week of Valentine's Day.  

You have 3 opportunities to join me today:
1:30pm Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekley
5:00pm Spreecast with DWTS Troupe Member Henry Byalikov
6:35pm Driving with Gass on KWSS.org

All times are PT.  Hope to hear from you at one of my media appearances!

My Top 11 Thoughts on the SAG Awards Red Carpet

It's my annual Top Thoughts about the SAG Awards--this year, you get 11! It was a strange red carpet..what happened to poor Giuliana Rancic during the E! Red Carpet show?...total meltdown. It was a bizarre night, but one that brought lots of snarky comments.  Here we go!

1. Helen Hunt:  Like Jodie Foster, (almost) 50 looks fabulous!  She's also fab in The Sessions, don't miss it! Dress by Romona Keveza.

2.  Julia Stiles:  When did Julia Stiles become a Midwestern housewife?  You are 31, get out there, be young, show off your figure, and get a new hairdo.

3. Bradley Cooper: I'm not a fan of scruff on men, but I like Bradley Cooper better with a little stubble. He looks naked without it.

4. Ariel Winter:  I've had to cover her custody case story a lot over the last six months.  I've interviewed her many times.  She's lovely.  I'm so happy to hear she's thriving and doing really well under her older sister's watchful eye.  She deserves a happy childhood.

5. Julianne Moore:  Just because you are at the SAG Awards, doesn't mean you bring the SAG with you.  Who dressed her? (As of 2012, it was Leslie Fremar.) For shame.

6.  Amanda Seyfried:  I love her.  She's snarky in interviews.  I can't wait to sit one-on-one with her in the future...when snark meets snark.  Best Dressed of the night.  Gorgeous Zac Posen dress in the color of the night:  navy blue.

7. Marion Cotillard:  She had the flu.  The next time I have the flu, I want to look like this.  Stunning in Christian Dior.

8.  January Jones:  My awards season posts are NOTHING without a mention of January.  She styles herself, kids.  She's always a wild card, but I think she looks pretty tame compared to this or this.  Dressed in Prabal Gurung. Thoughts?

9.  Nicole Kidman:  I yelled at you throughout the 2011 awards show season.  I am so proud.  You look beautiful and only mildly over-Botoxed.  Dressed in Vivienne Westwood.

10.  Kiernan Shipka:  I feel like a proud momma.  I interviewed her when she was 10 years old.  Here she is at 13...all grown up.  Sweet girl with tons of talent.  Oh yeah, barely a teen and in Oscar de la Renta!

11.  Kaley Cuoco:  My mop broke.  I know where it wound up.  On her head.  What the???

Okay, give me your thoughts, I want to know what you have to say!

Below is my Spreecast with James Molnar discussing the SAG Awards results and what it means to the Oscars,

Oscar Round-Up

With only twenty days until the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, I am furiously gathering dresses, shoes, clutches, and hair styles together so I look somewhat assembled on the big day.  If I am worried about my ensemble, can you imagine being a nominee?  The pressure is on!  Here are some great articles, photos, and news floating around the interwebs to catch up on:

Photo:  Ruven Afanador, Los Angeles Times Magazine

1.  Mila Kunis:  She has looked divine all season long on the red carpet.  It's hard to even believe she is only 5'3" tall because that girl looks downright statuesque in each outfit she adorns.  Check out this fantastic LA Times Magazine article on her and the equally stunning photos by Ruven Afanador.  

Photo:  National Photo Group, People Magazine

2.  Oscar:  Okay, I am not a mama, but don't tell me Natalie Portman is four months along in her pregnancy.  I know a third trimester when I see one. I think we are seeing what I call "Oscar Math". Let's pretend the front runner for the Oscar is only four months along lest the voters do the real math and realize that her fiancé might have overlapped with the ladies.  Yes, it is gossip, but Natalie is not giving birth this summer, it is going to be much sooner than that.  Or, as my friend, Ali, says, "The baby will be 8 lbs. and two months premature."

Photo:  MFL/ZUMAPRESS.com for US Weekly

3. Red Carpet Dress Etiquette:  I've taken some heat for my red carpet dress opinions for The Golden Globes and The SAG Awards, but I still stand by what I said.  The Hollywood Reporter wrote a great article about "The Psychology of The Golden Globes Dress".  Also, Giuliana Rancic, host of E! News, runs down what it is like to prep for the red carpet as a TV host.  It isn't as simple as hopping in a gown and showing up to work.  A lot of thought and consideration goes into choosing a dress even for the red carpet presenters.  I hope this gives you some more insight on what I am talking about in my other articles.

Okay, so now it is your turn.  What are your thoughts on Mila Kunis, Natalie's sketchy math, and all of that darn wardrobe etiquette?  Chime in below.  I am on my way to the Nominees Luncheon today, so I will have all of the scoop from inside the pressroom tomorrow.

2011 SAG Awards

This award show season in the fashion department has been a wild ride of "What the heck?" to "Whoa!" to "Okay, now that is pretty."  Nothing has wowed me beyond belief, so I am hoping everyone is squirreling away the best dresses for The 83rd Annual Academy Awards.  Otherwise, I am worried about the state of fashion in Hollywood.  A couple of the categories from The Golden Globes are carrying over to this year's SAG Awards.  Here we go:

1.  Flesh:  Okay, are your stylists watching Fashion Police on E!?  It is very rare that Joan Rivers or Giuliana Rancic ever rave about one of these nude dresses on the red carpet.  In fact, they even called Leighton Meester's dress a "sister wife" dress from The Golden Globes.  Find a color, kids. Go back to your Crayola Pack of 64, pick your favorite crayon, and wear it in a dress.

2.  Mother of the Bride Dresses:  What happened to you, Nicole Kidman?  You used be a fashion icon, everyone wanted to dress you.  Now I want to run from you. Your fashion choices scare me lately.  Just because you moved to Nashville, does not mean you have to add tassels and frou frou to your elegant red carpet wear. Simplicity is king on the red carpet. Leave your Bedazzler at home.

3.  Get A NEW Stylist:  Amy Adams.  I can confirm that Amy Adams does work with a stylist.  I do not know who it is specifically, but my friend, Ali, and I have decided that her stylist hates her.  Why?  She continually takes one of the most classically beautiful women and cuts up her figure, smooshes her boobs, or dresses her to look chunky. (Amy has a beautiful figure!) She always looks a bit "off" and her stellar career deserves more.  It's just time to spend a few extra dollars on an A-List stylist, Amy.  You've earned it.

4.  Most Improved:  January Jones.  I knew you could do it!  While I don't think this look is flawless, it is a strong start to improving her red carpet look.  Carolina Herrera designed this dress for the Pre-Fall 2011 collection.  January's hair is a bit severe, but her body is divine in this piece.  I think she might have her look polished in time for the Emmys next fall.

5.  The It Is NOT Your Night Award:  Angie Harmon.  You are not a nominee, you did not star in Black Swan or Pink Swan.  Leave the feathers at home.

**UPDATE**:  I love that I have to write an update a 6:35 AM. Thank you, because it thrills me when my posts elicit a response.  I think the Angie Harmon fan club has stopped by, so I am going to print my response to one of them in regards to Angie's dress from last night because I failed to explain myself well in my #5 above.  Here it is:


Annie wrote:  Pfft. Angie is gorgeous.


ME:  She is. No doubt about it. The problem? There is a hierarchy to the red carpet on how you dress if you are a nominee, an entertainment reporter, or just attending. She was doing coverage for TNT, but she was dressed like a nominee. It may not make sense to you, but it's like wearing a wedding dress to someone else's wedding. Great dress, wrong night to wear it.   I'm giving my insider's perspective on this one.

What were you thoughts about the SAG Awards?  Other than the red carpet, were you as bored as I was?  It's the same format as The Golden Globes, but without the fun or spontaneity.  You know the drill, give me the dish below.

PS  Despite the snark scooped out above, I am a proud member of Screen Actors Guild.