Hollywood Secrets: Reality Show Edition

I always love demystifying Hollywood whether it is from the "days of yore" (Guess which show that quote is from) or taking current accepted practices in the entertainment industry and revealing the truth. Today's edition of Hollywood secrets is telling you the truth about reality shows.......they aren't real.  Here are three things to think about:

1. The Kardashian House:  Yes, I try to keep this site as Kardashian-free as possible, but this fact irks me.  The house that they show in Keeping Up With The Kardashians is not even in Calabasas.  It is in Studio City on a heavily-traveled street that not only counts George Clooney as a neighbor, but it is also the exit of a well-trafficked canyon and hiking trail in LA.  This house is so recognizable, I have no idea why the producers tried to pretend that it is their home. (I know the Kardashians want privacy, but this home is SO well-known.)  In fact, they need to figure out what they are going to do for next season because the house is for sale. I hope the new owners negotiate a fat fee to pass their home off as a Kardashian home.  Below are a few photos I took on my recent hike and check out a recent real estate article about this farce.

2.  Housewives:  Let's all just admit it, most of us watch one franchise or the other.  I am a huge fan of the Beverly Hills edition because it is so close to home.  The stories that have evolved from this series are dramatic and often tragic, but they are real.  It's is sometimes hard to remember that what we are watching on camera is a person's real life.  This fact hit me on Friday when I was at the GBK Productions MTV Movie Awards gifting suite when I interviewed Taylor Armstrong who has had a tough year.  In my mind, she is always crying, breaking down, and fighting demons in her life because that is what I have watched on the show the last two seasons.  Well, it was refreshing to see her happy and full of joy during our interview.  She couldn't confirm that they were currently filming the next season, but I can confirm they are.  Let's hope her story takes a turn towards happiness:



If you want to see the Chagoury Couture dress we both wore and mentioned in this interview, click here.


3.  The Bachelor:  This is probably one of the most fake shows on TV.  I used to watch it for the cheese factor, but it is amazing to me how many people buy into this fantasy. If you don't believe me, go visit my friend, Reality Steve.  He will give you the inside scoop on the smoke and mirrors of this franchise.  I honestly think this show needs to fade away, but y'all keep watching.  Stop it!  Anyway, here's a 2010 interview with Vienna Girardi, "winner" of Jake Pavelka's season.  She debunks the fancy food and timeline of the show.  You can see her comments at the 1:14 mark:



What do you think about the "reality" of reality television and why do you keep watching The Bachelor?

Bachelor Pad 2: Vienna Girardi

I've been notoriously critical of The Bachelor franchise, but we all know it is my own fault for even watching the manipulative, scripted (UPDATED:  One of my Bachelor pals corrected me and she would know, there is no scripting whatsoever on The Bachelor franchise.) reality show.  After spending another Monday night wasted on the couch watching Bachelor Pad 2 with the immature shenanigans of Kasey and Vienna, I was reminded of an interview I did with Vienna Girardi in September 2010 during Emmys Week.  I spoke a bit about my interview in a post I did after the event.  Hmmm, after last night's episode, I am not sure my 2010 assessment was correct.  If she hated the manipulation of The Bachelor franchise so much, why is she appearing on Bachelor Pad 2?  If it was so bad, wouldn't you stay far away from ever participating in a reality show again?  Money talks and when Mike Fleiss calls, most former Bachelor contestants say "yes".  Watch my interview with Vienna Girardi and let me know what you think:

Weekly Wrap-Up

I can't believe we are finally here.  It was a cranky week for me and I would love to tell you all of the reasons for wearing my grumpy pants all week.  Hhhhmmm, buy me a cupcake and I will tell you a story fit for the movies.  It's that juicy, but it makes me crabby.  Let's get to some of the good stuff instead!

We have the last of the Emmys Weekend interviews.  You can see the entire portfolio here, but here a few fun treats to take a look at and remember, you can find the behind the scenes stories of the shoot here and here.

Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race:


Whitney Port, The City:


Vienna Girardi, The Bachelor:


Michael Yo, host on E!:


Roxy Olin, The City: (Man, she looks SO much like her mother, Patricia Wettig, of Brothers and Sisters.  Beautiful!)


For my LA readers, tonight is Fashion's Night Out at Saks 5th Avenue sponsored by Girls in Tech LA.  I will be covering the event and hopefully, score a deal or two because I really want a pair of clogs for fall.  If you would like to purchase a ticket, remember that a portion of the proceeds go to Dress for Success.

Also, don't forget about the Web TV Prom on September 22nd benefitting LA's Our House.  I have my dress fitting today and I can't wait to share prom night all of you.  You can purchase your tickets here or enter to win two FREE tickets to the prom.  Winner will be announced on Thursday, September 16th.

More goodies from Fashion Forms to try.

I also want to thank Fashion Forms for reading my post and sending me a huge box of goodies.  My undergarments better not show ever again on the red carpet.  I will try out the new products and let you know what I think.

A different view of the red carpet for me.  I wasn't working tonight, so I caught the action from above!

Inside the Paley Center, Beverly Hills.

For those of you looking forward to the new TV season, I had the opportunity to attend the NBC Fall Premiere Party where I watched the pilots of several new shows.  Here's a quick recommendation:  skip Outsourced as it is nothing short of offensive and full of Indian stereotypes.  Check out The Event, if only for the dashing good looks of Jason Ritter.  He steals the show in this 24-type action/mystery series.

Finally, I am hosting a new 5-minute infomercial that should land on your TV sets soon.  I wasn't able to grab a photo on set, but I think many of you may recognize the product.  Oh yeah, that product.  It was a great day and I will let you know when it is up and running.

Have a lovely weekend.  I have a Pre-VMA party and the closing weekend of the Hollywood Bowl on the schedule, but make sure to take a moment to remember all those we lost on 9/11 nine years ago.  Never forget.

See you on Monday here at Red Carpet Closet!

Emmys 2010: Part 1

Oh, what a weekend!  I have a lot of photos to share with you and hopefully a few stories behind some of the interviews.  The interviews from Mingle Media TV will be posted in the next few days, but here's a head start on what happened this weekend at some of the pre-Emmys gifting suites, parties, and events. I was trying to put them all in one post, but it was too overwhelming, so here is the start of my Emmys weekend:

Reality Cares Benefit: Friday night I was at the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive for the Love Hope & Healing Cancer Benefit.

With the band, Honor Society, who played that night.  They are cute, sweet, very Disney, and friends with the Jonas Brothers.

Max Adler from Glee.  Even though he plays a non-singing role in the show, Max revealed he was a member of show choir back in high school....sequins and all!

Patrick Gallagher of True Blood and Glee.  Is he looking at my boobs?

Guillermo Diaz from Weeds told me his favorite TV character is Mork from Mork and Mindy.  Here we are doing a little  "Nanu Nanu" on the red carpet.

Lots of web series fans will recognize Lauren Mayhew from Private High Musical.  She  couldn't remember who created her dress.  We had to do a little tag checking during the interview.

Okay, here we go.  Vienna Girardi from The Bachelor.  She was the host of the evening and I have to say, she is sweet and much prettier and softer in person.  I don't know what her career plans are in LA, but I think she got screwed with a little Mike Fleiss editing on the show.  I am glad she is away from Jake because I think he is crazy.  Yep, I said it.  Crazy.

Lots of goofing around on the red carpet with my producer, JD Piche, behind the camera.

The wardrobe rundown:

Dress by:  Born Crucial

Shoes:  Stuart Weitzman, Winter 2007 Collection

Necklace/Earrings/Floral Ring:  Roni B.

Smoky Quartz Ring: Rachel Zoe, QVC

Nails:  "Suzi Says Da!", OPI

Clutch:  Target Clearance Sale! $7.98

I will be back with more photos tomorrow and I have lots of good stories from the GBK Gifting Suite with your favorite celebs from The Office, 30 Rock, Mad Men, and Desperate Housewives.  I will also be doing an Emmys event gift bag giveaway, so come back and join me at Red Carpet Closet tomorrow!                          

                                  

   Photos Courtesy of Mingle Media TV and Kristyn Burtt.  May not be used without linking back to the proper sites.  

   

My Tabloid Life

Okay, I'm not really leading a tabloid life, but I need to rant here for a little and some of it is my own fault.  See, I have a bit of an addiction to a little US Weekly and perhaps I have Perez Hilton bookmarked on my tool bar.  I'm part of the problem even though I now refuse to read any Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, or Palin Family articles anymore.  I'm just tired.  Give me scoop on Sandra Bullock and her cute baby or Shiloh's "Montenegro" style outfits, but save me from these famous-for-no-reason-people.  I like light and fluffy, not overexposed, talentless hacks, but lately I can't seem to avoid these paparazzi-on-speed-dial-manufactured-"stars".  Besides my willingness to buy the magazine or click on a link, I blame Alexis Neiers.  Why?  She started my tabloid month.

I was in downtown LA at the courthouse sitting on a bench one day (I'm not a criminal, just helping out someone on a case.) when I see this wild-eyed woman walk past me with a huge entourage.  Holy cow! It's that wacky, hippy dippy mom from Pretty Wild on E!.  I scour the crowd and see her daughter, Alexis Neiers, in the middle of the pack.  Ah, she's turning herself in today.  That's what you get for being part of the "Bling Ring" and breaking into Orlando Bloom's home.  (And Mazel Tov to him for getting married yesterday!)  This encounter led to a series of F-list encounters that comes full circle back to Lindsay Lohan and Alexis.

Earlier this week, I head off to the opening of SPiN Hollywood at the Mondrian.  This is a hip new ping pong bar owned by Susan Sarandon. Great, my reality show luck has turned as I see Susan, her gorgeous daughter, Eva Amurri, and a slew of ICM agents circling the VIP table.  An Oscar winner?  Score.  This is an A-list night.  Well, it WAS an A-List night until they all decided to go to dinner and the riff-raff took over.  Over in the far corner stood The Bachelor's, Vienna Girardi.  She looks much softer and prettier in person, but I just wanted to tell her that Jake Pavelka really did ping my gaydar, so she's much better off.  Then, the ultimate F-lister joins us.  Oh yeah, Michael Lohan.  He had been on every news outlet that would have him crying about how upset he was that Lindsay was jailed that day.  Waaahhh, waaaaahhhh.  Yeah, he's so upset that he HAD to attend the opening of a ping pong lounge.  Would you be out partying if your daughter was sent to jail that day?  Just saying.

Yep, that's Michael Lohan at the SPiN Hollywood party. See how upset he looks?  (Snort)  The best part is the SPiN employee's shirt:  "Balls are my business".  Awesome.


That's when we knew it was time to exit the building.  Susan's out, Michael's in, and with that, we hustled right back out onto Sunset Boulevard.  And Lindsay Lohan?  Well, she's sitting in a prison cell right next to Alexis Neiers.  Yep, Lindsay was a victim of the "Bling Ring" too.  Poetic justice or just another day in Hollywood, kids?

**UPDATE** As of Saturday, July 24th, Alexis Neiers has been released from jail.  Uh-oh, do my tabloid run-ins start all over again?  Stay tuned.......