Red Carpet Closet

Oscars Week: Day 3

2012-02-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

Today was the official unrolling of the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard and in the video below, I give you a glimpse of what it looked like before. We will show you plenty of after shots as the week progresses. I also found my spot on the red carpet and in the backstage pressroom during the official walk-thrus today. We received the usual speech about not photographing your credentials and posting them to the various social media sites. (I talked about it here.) It may sound silly, but it is a rule they take very seriously. Any breech of contract results in a loss of your credentials. You don't want to be that person and I can guarantee you someone has already had their creds yanked by now. Now if the Academy only ran the TSA, we would never see another terrorist in this country again. That's how strictly their rules are enforced.

Later, I went to a fantastic red carpet hosted by TheWrap.com which is one of my favorite awards season sites. (Hit up Steve Pond's column for Oscar insight.) I had the opportunity to interview Acting nominees: Max von Sydow from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Demian Bechir from A Separate Life. I will post those interviews soon, but let me tell you.....the happy crying has officially begun. For whatever reason, year 2 at the Oscars is even sweeter. I feel like I belong.

Oscars Week: Day 2

2012-02-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

Day 2 has come and gone, but man, I am tired! Can you imagine being a nominee during a week like this? I don't know how they do it and still look pretty all week long. Yesterday, I hit Roger Neal's Hollywood Style Gifting Suite and received the celebrity treatment. What is it like to get all of those free gifts? Take a look....

If you read my Day 1 post, I alluded to a bit of show gossip and I hinted that the group I saw getting credentials might mean that there will be singing at this year's show. (I named them in the tags.) I sleuthed around and here's what I am hypothesizing for now....

1. The group will be singing as a part of some tribute, perhaps during the infamous and always controversial "Hollywood Death" segment. Sounds possible, but it's a group of kids singing, that's too morbid.

2. How about this better theory: They ARE featuring the two Best Original Songs from The Muppets and from Rio. My guess is that the Muppets will make an appearance to sing because Miss Piggy and Kermit are already in the building to present an award. The kids' chorus will be a part of the Rio song. This would make me very happy if Theory 2 actually happened.

I did ask my insider sources to confirm this. When I offered up my Muppets theory, the response was met with silence. My other source could not confirm nor deny. Hmmmm, am I on to something here? What do you think, let me know in the comments below.

Oscars Week: Day 1

2012-02-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

It's the last year as the Kodak Theatre. I wonder what the name will be next year?

It feels like Christmas to me and I am bouncing off of the walls. I picked up my credentials today and received my official badge that will get me on the red carpet and in the press room on Sunday. Now, please don't ask to see a photo of my badge. I can't do it. Find out why and what to look for in today's edition of Behind the Red Carpet....

The day was filled with scoop as I sat to get my hair done. I cannot tell you where or who I sat near lest I break the sacred hair salon code, but oh boy, this person has their choice of Monique Lhuillier dress or Badgley Mischka for Sunday's activities and I cannot wait to see them on the red carpet.

Also, I think the producers are misleading us about not highlighting either of the two Best Original Song nominees....or they are featuring music in some way during the show. I saw a group today that involves music roaming around Hollywood and Highland. Mark my words.....we will hear some singing come Sunday night. (And that is exclusive scoop. If you look around, I named the group somewhere......did you find it yet?)

Now watch my one minute video and let me know what you are most excited about this week!

Chelsea Handler Is Pretty Darn Cool

2012-02-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, I posted my interview with Reese Witherspoon from the recent press junket for This Means War for iVillage. I received some interesting reactions to the piece about Reese's behavior on Facebook. I have to be honest...what you see is what you get and it was a little disappointing to me since I have been a fan for a long time. I'm going to chalk it up to a bad day at the office and I will go in with an open mind and good attitude the next time I interview her. We all have off days, right?

That same day, I had the opportunity to interview all around kick ass, cool chick, Chelsea Handler. This interview was exactly what I needed: funny, spontaneous, a bit of dry wit, and an unexpected party crasher. Watch the video and let me know what you think.

Oscars Friday Five

2012-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here's an Oscars Friday Five to help kick off what is going to be a very exciting week in Hollywood. It will be filled with interviews, multiple wardrobe changes in my car (which I am getting quite good at.) and meals on the run. I can't think of a better way to spend my week...

1. News Talk 690: Tim Lewis labeled me a "red carpet diva"-the best compliment ever. Listen to our interview and see the article. Tim asked incredibly insightful questions and I really enjoyed my time on air with him.

2. Red Carpet Report: My insider's look at the Best Actor and Actress Oscar race. Who did I pick? Find out:

3. Kodak Theatre: If you heard the news this week, the Kodak Theatre name is coming down due to Kodak's bankruptcy issues. I am going to refer you to this post I did in 2009 and I mentioned my love of this theatre in my recent feature in The Gold Knight Blog. The theatre has a significant role in my career and I will be sorry to see the name go away.......

4. Chagoury Couture: I'm not ready to reveal my Oscars dress until February 26th (Trust me, it's gorgeous!), but I want to give a little love to Marco D'Angelo and Gilbert Chagoury for continually dressing me every time I have a big event. My Oscars dress last year was executed divinely and my Tonys dress was probably my favorite dress of 2011. Go visit their site and see what everyone is raving about.

5. Reese Witherspoon: Check out my iVillage interview with the 2006 Oscar winner, Reese Witherspoon, about her new film, This Means War. The movie is a fun ride and if you are looking for a fun romp at the movie theatre this weekend, buy a ticket to this flick. (And after seeing her in person, she's definitely not pregnant.)

Where in the World is KB?

2012-02-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure where I am either. Actually, I am in my last few days in Chicago with Toyota Live, but here are a few places where you can find me in the next week or so. Remember, Red Carpet Closet will be the hub for all of my Oscar coverage over the next week, so come back here for all of the awards show magic.

1. News Talk 690: I am on Idaho's News Talk morning show today at 6:45AM PT/9:45AM ET. Click here and find the tab in the upper righthand corner to listen live. I'll be talking about the Oscars for sure and I am going to guess there will be a Whitney reference or two.

2. Driving with Gass: As many of you know, this is my weekly #RadioBurtt appearance. I will be on again on Monday for an in-depth look at Oscars Week. Kevin Gassman has been also kind enough to provide a podcast of my appearance from Monday. We had a thorough discussion of Whitney and the prevalence of prescription drugs in Hollywood. Listen here and give me your thoughts in the comments below.

3. Cocktails and Conversation: I will be making two appearances on the show pre and post-Oscars, so make sure to mark Saturday, February 25th and Saturday, March 3rd at 5AM PT//8AM ET. Listen here.

4. Toyota Live: I have four more days at the Chicago Auto Show, so come on down to McCormick and join us at the top of every hour. Shows begin at 11AM with the last show at 8PM. (There is no 4PM show, a girl has to eat!) We have a few Chicago Bears, Chicago Fire, jellies from the Shedd Aquarium, and Ramblin' Ray from US99 coming through over the next few days. For the full schedule, click here. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to say "hi". It's been so nice to see old friends and meet new friends here in the Windy City.

My News Page will also be updated with the latest appearances, so be sure to check back there often.

Chicago Auto Show 2012: First Weekend

2012-02-14T05:25:00.000-08:00

Here we are again: back in Chicago and up on the Toyota Live stage and on the huge LED wall. This year, our guests include Bears, Cubs, Turtles, Snakes, and Fire. Yes, some are local sports heroes while others are visitors to from the Shedd Aquarium. Either way, the Windy City always provides colorful characters on our stage....especially 1985 Chicago Bear, Steve McMichael. If you've ever met him, you know what I am talking about!

Check out my insider's perspective on the Toyota Prius for the Chicago Auto Show's daily web series. (And holy close-up shot.....back up, camera dude!)

Dancing on the stage at the Charity Preview to the Biebs. "Baby, baby, baby, oh!"

There's a turtle on the stage....we named him "Prius" since he is hydrodynamic like the hybrid which is aerodynamic.

Hanging with Steve McMichael after the show. He's pretty funny and larger than life.

I just have to say that Earl Bennett liked me way better than my co-host. Hahahaha.......

Um, I had the opportunity to wear a Superbowl ring. POW! It was huge on my little fingers. Thanks, Steve!

Behind the Scenes of the Oscar Nominees Luncheon

2012-02-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

Last week was the Oscar Nominees luncheon which is an intimate look at the current crop of Hollywood's finest. I offered my coverage with Mingle Media TV in video form, but I thought it would be fun to give you a look into my notes written in a stream of consciousness form. I cleaned up any spelling or grammar errors since I was typing on my iPad, but it's a true insider's look on how it all went down. Enjoy!

Notes:

Learned my lesson last year. Eat before you go. Starbucks run. Front row this year. Reporter to my left is trying to get the scoop on my marital/dating status, reporter to my right is fantastically wacky. I like her.

11:33AM George Clooney: Go big or go home. Came early for "free booze". Repeated question that each reporter asked--total media pro. It's good to be a friend of George--Viola/ Brad stay at Lake Como. Sam from KTLA wants to know how he can stay here. Ah, the media is so funny. Sooo handsome. Oooo, he dropped an F-bomb. Awesome. Rooting for Alexander Payne. Delicious...reporter next to me giggles because I uttered that comment out loud.

Hear my question at the 5:15 mark.....

11:42PM Rooney Mara: Slight and quite bashful. Ah, my first dress question gets answered. No dress yet. "people send you things and you find something you like. I dont like a lot of color". " Pierced one nipple, not both. She's keeping it for now, doesn't want to pierce it again. "Everything happened so fast., trying to take it all in." Mugler jacket/ASOS jumpsuit which she pronounces as "A-S-O-S".

11:58AM Max von Sydow: What an honor. Media asking who he was excited to meet. Christopher Plummer. He's so distinguished. How about the ladies? asks a reporter. He responds, "Yes, some of the directors too." Ah, a sense of humor. Moves in to hear a question. Standing in front of me. Should I hug him? Nominated 29 years ago for Pelle the Conquerer here. Yes, someone finally asks him a good question.

12:05PM Viola Davis: Hot, hot in hot pink. "if you guys could see me at home with my cornrows...." Great story about getting George's villa for her honeymoon. "Greatest gift anyone could have given us". Lost her hair at 28 after reading bad review about her Broadway show due to stress. "At 46, let so much of that go. Define joy and happiness for yourself. and I've got my hair." She has the room memorized. It's quiet in here. Sign of a star. Wearing JC Abando that day.

12:11PM Jonah Hill/Brad Pitt: Matching gray suits. Brad has shiny hair. Everyone talking to Brad. Jonah is hanging back, kind of quiet. Lots of Latin outlets asking about Demian's performance. "a story of value and getting second chances." (Pitt). Pranks: Brad is the "bobby Fischer is pranks...a masterful art form with this guy", says Hill.

12:18PM Janet McTeer: Wearing a formal suit. Says it was hard "trying to play an Irishman in front of an Irish crew. That was really scary." Their reaction was "what the f--k was that?!". HA! Second f-bomb of the day. Rooting for Glenn. Her cell phone rings. She quickly says "have a little bit of respect for the talent. It's a text". Hilarious. Hid her hands a lot in the film because the are"quite girly". Didn't wear men's underwear in the film. (Just in case you were wondering.)

12:23PM Glenn Close: Hawaiian jacket. "You are one of five...how could you possibly think of yourself as a loser. " Inspiring to hear how she got Albert Nobbs done. 1998 is the year she took out the first option on this movie. You are awesome, Glenn.

12:27PM Octavia Spencer: "It will hit me two weeks later and I will enjoy it......and I am a symbol of hope for all of the other actors that have been doing it as long as I have". "I've mauled everyone" since she's near Brad, Meryl, George. What was it like to maul George? That's what I wanted to ask. Behave. Didn't like people misinterpreting her words during the press junket process for The Help. It's tough, but a part of the process. Waiting for food. No alcohol until then. Smart lady. Sings "Oscar nominee" into the mic over and over.

12:32 Kenneth Branagh: First time at luncheon even though it's not his first nomination. Enjoys working with Dame Judi Dench. Emma Watson in her first grown-up role resonated with him.

12:36. Berenice Bejo: speaks Spanish, talks about life in Argentina. Preparation the same as a film. Experience is different for audience. (I asked her whether it was different for an actor to prepare for a silent movie.) Dress is done. "No, it's like Christmas. You don't say a thing". Guess we won't find out her Oscar designer today. Wants husband to like her dress. Today's dress: Elie Saab

12:39PM Jean DuJardin: Movie poster controversy question. Skip it says the moderator. Yep, keep the questions conservative. Oooooooo...French. Translator is here. The Artist is an LA film. Likes "energy, playing with extras, the food.". (Wait, playing with the extras??) Back to French. Back to food likes cinnamon rolls. Not preparing a speech. He "wants element of surprise".

12:43PM Gary Oldman: Finally an Oscar nominee after all of these years. "it's a fairy tale". "I'm having a ball". He likes hanging out with Brad and George. Me too. Talks about Academy recognizing people in their 20's thru 80's. Interviewed Ben Gazzara about 5 months ago who just passed away. "Oscar is better than the money. The villains are the one you do for money they"re expensive. They will be now." Yes, sir, they will....your agent will be happy too.

12:50PM Lady next to me is wielding an unwieldy pen. I'm wearing a DVF dress, watch out!

12:50PM Melissa McCarthy: Everyone gets excited. Gorgeous in green. Gets teary-eyed looking at Oscar behind her. Ah, I'm afraid she's going to burst into tears. No competition with her friend Octavia. Melissa is smaller in real life. No idea who her designer is, but she's wearing Neil Lane jewelry.

12:54PM Michelle Williams: Very Mia Farrow-looking today. So luminous. Oscar dress question. No dress yet. "should I have?". Her advice for other nominees? "Bring a snack". Word. That is so true. Oscar Day is a hungry day. Dress is awesome. Doesn't know designer of her dress today. So charming

12:57PM Nick Nolte: He is sweaty and very red. Starts out with a joke. Looks like Santa Claus. I am just stunned. Tells a story about leaving a party at 5am and how he needs stricter rules. Story about Jimmy from Pittsburgh. Who is Jimmy? I'm confused. Still going at 1:02. PR Guy makes him shorten story. WTF???

1:03PM Demian Bechir: Like Javier Bardem last year, he gets big cheers. Handsome. He likes hanging with Brad and George too. They're like the cool kids in the club. First Mexican actor nominated since Tony Quinn. Spanish, blah, blah.....I catch every other word. Immigration debate continues due to subject matter on film. "it's a human issue, not a political issue". He's doing a play in Mexico. Flew in this morning. Everyone fighting to be the last question. He's popular.

Photo: Courtesy of A.M.P.A.S.

Rachel McAdams Is Completely Crush-Worthy

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Why do I look like this? Find out below.

Awwwww, I teased you with that title, but it's true. I think I have always had a small girl crush on Rachel McAdams and when I met her two weeks ago for The Vow press junket, it proved to be true. She's sweet, pretty, and down to earth. Exactly what you would expect in the Canadian gal. Oh yeah, Channing Tatum was there too. He's incredibly nice and polite, but I think he even knew it was all about Rachel that day. Here's my interview with them for iVillage. Are you going to see The Vow this weekend?

Also, I had the opportunity to interview a Disney Channel gal who I feel like I have watched grow up. I first saw her on the red carpet for Beverly Hills Chihuahua back in 2008 when she was on Suite Life on Deck. I then caught up with her at the Gracie Awards and Radio Disney's NBT in 2011. It has been such a pleasure to see her take Hollywood by storm and Red Carpet Report caught up with her earlier this week to hear about her new Disney Channel flick, Radio Rebel. See my interview and be sure to enter the Mingle Media TV Network giveaway to win an autographed CD.

Blushington

2012-02-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I am not that good at doing my makeup. I try to imitate all of the makeup artists that do my face for camera, but alas, they are the artist and I am lucky to get my eyeshadow blended. Well, I cannot tell you how excited I was to be invited by Laura Tremaine of Hollywood Housewife to experience a new way to have your makeup done. Blushington is a new hot spot on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood to get your makeup done for that big event: birthdays, weddings, New Year's Eve, etc, all for $35. You get the affordability plus the artistry and no pressure to buy products like you do at the department store makeup counter. If you do like the products they use: Stila, Kevin Aucoin, and Julie Hewett, they are are available for purchase. They also offer everything from classes to parties to makeup for the under-10 set for that budding fashionista. So, be sure to check them out the next time you need to put your best face forward and don't forget you can get a blow out at Dry Bar next door beforehand. Genius, right?

Not my favorite photo, but here's my no makeup look beforehand.....

Me and Emily Button after....phew, it's a way better look for me.

Chatting it up at Blushington. Photo courtesy of Laura Tremaine.

Me and the lovely Laura Tremaine of Hollywood Housewife. Now, go read her awesome blog!

Photo bombing as usual while Emily gets her makeup done. Yes, I am still using my Godspell iPhone case.

The most delicious way to serve champagne.

Me and Emily post-makeover. I have had a lot of inquiries on my necklace, so head over to Jessica Matrasko for all of the details. Dress is DVF. Photo courtesy of Laura Tremaine.

Oscars: Looking At the Best Original Song and Score

2012-02-07T23:29:00.000-08:00

To tide you over until I finish up my insider's view of the Oscar Nominees Luncheon, check out my Behind The Red Carpet look at the nominees......

Let's look at the Best Original Song/Best Original Score Category. There are so many controversies in both of these categories with the voting, the shortlist, who was eligible, and why there were only two nominees in the Best Original Song category. I break it all down for you along with giving you a look at some of the rules at how the nominations happened in this category.

After shooting the video, I was able to interview two of the nominees for Best Original Song: Sergio Mendes and Siedah Garrett for the movie, Rio, at the 39th Annual Annie Awards. Here's what they had to say:
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Kicking Off The Week

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Weird Al Yankovic!!!

Where the heck have I been? Ah, sigh. The old laptop crashed and I've been realizing how much I rely upon my electronics. Well, I'm back on a new laptop and ready to kick off a CRAZY week. Here's where you can find me:

1. Behind The Red Carpet: My weekly Oscar updates are being sent out to media affiliates across the globe. You can find my insider's look at this year's nominees at the following sites:
Movie Geeks United
Fanboy Comics
Forces of Geek
Film Snobbery

2. Driving With Gass: Don't forget my weekly spot on the Driving with Gass show on KWSS.org. I am on Mondays at 6:35PM PT/9:35PM ET. If you missed our recent coverage of the Oscar Nominations, you can listen in here. Don't forget to follow each Monday on Twitter with the hashtag: #RadioBurtt.

3. The Gold Knight Blog: Did you ever want to know how I became such an Oscar nerd? Well, find out in this exclusive article on The Gold Knight Blog. They have got the inside scoop on all of my Oscar activities this year.

Me and Bruce Boxleitner who will next be seen in GCB

4. The Annie Awards: Yes, the 39th Annual Animation Awards happened over the weekend. I told you awards season was busy. It was a fun night that included 4 Oscar nominees, the voice of Winnie the Pooh, and Weird Al Yankovic! Check out my interviews here with Red Carpet Report below:

3 Takeaways From The SAG Awards

2012-01-29T21:50:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that we are rounding the corner to the final award show of the season. With Golden Globes, DGA Awards, and now SAG Awards officially done, where do we stand? Well, here are three takeaways to ponder until the 84th Annual Academy Awards on February 26th:

Photo: Hollywood Life

1. Here are your official Oscar winners in the Supporting Actor/Actress categories: Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer. No one can beat them. It's done and the final Oscar ballots aren't even in.

Photo: Hollywood Life

2. Viola Davis: She proved herself to be a contender tonight, but remember Meryl Streep is a formidable opponent who walked away with the Golden Globe in the same category this year. Many voters feel that Streep is way overdue for another Oscar given the fact that she last won in 1983 for Sophie's Choice and she has a record 17 nominations under her belt. This is a two-woman race for Best Actress at this point.

Photo: LA Times

3. Jean Dujardin: Interesting and unexpected win for him tonight. A two-man race that was being lead by George Clooney and Brad Pitt suddenly became a three-man race for that golden statuette. A good thing to remember is that the Acting Branch at the Academy has the largest membership of any branch. This could sway a race that some thought Clooney had locked up earlier in the awards season.

If you are wondering if The Help now stands a chance to win Best Picture after their ensemble award win at the SAG Awards, think again. The Academy doesn't offer an ensemble category, so the Best Picture race is still The Artist's to lose.

What are your thoughts on last night's show? Comment below and let me know what you think of my awards season assessment.

Calling All SAG Actors!

2012-01-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, tonight is the 18th Annual SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards and likely, the last one with this name attached to it since both boards of SAG and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) have paved the way for a merger of the two unions. I have always loved how SAG opens the show with various celebrities stating "I am a SAG actor" and The Hollywood Reporter often asks actors how they got their SAG card during their roundtable discussions. Well, it's nice, but it excludes the majority of us who represent the union. I, in fact, am a member of SAG, but I am not an actor. I am an entertainment reporter and a host. We even utilized the SAG New Media contract for The Web Files, but I have had my SAG card since 1999 during my days in NY. I'm thinking it's time we honor the little people too, so indulge me on this idea, please.

So, here's my fun project: Tell me how you got your SAG card in the comments section below. I will feature all of the stories at some point this week because it is fun to see what show, commercial, or industrial gave you your official union start and that coveted SAG card. Make sure to include your name and the link to your website. And don't worry, I will be sharing my story too. Stand up and represent, SAG. Let your voice be heard! Ready, set, go!

My Full Oscar Nominations Coverage-2012

2012-01-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

Phew! What a day it was. I was so amped up, that I stayed up from my 2:15AM alarm until about 8:30PM last night. There was so much to do from interviews to writing articles to getting all of the videos shot and ready to go. Instead of sending you all over the internet, you can find all of my coverage here:

Let's start with Starpulse:
My full article on what happened in the theatre is here along with a fun interview with Tom Sherak, President of the Academy. He was pretty forthcoming about the diversity of this year's nominees and the new rules set in place to keep the playing field as level as possible during the voting period.
Starpulse highlight video with Tom Sherak: Click Here.
Starpulse FULL interview with Tom Sherak: Click Here.

For Red Carpet Report:
Here is my Oscar insider thoughts on yesterday morning's nominations:

And I get to pick legendary film critic, Leonard Maltin's brain about the surprises and omissions on this year's list.

Finally, I will be doing Oscar updates each week between now and February 26th for a bunch of media outlets. Here is my Nominations update for Forces of Geek in front of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. (I told you it was a busy day!)

I am also interested in hearing your thoughts on the nominations. I was pleasantly surprised because, for once, the awards don't seem predetermined to a specific film or actor. I feel that almost every category is up for grabs. Now, it's up to Billy Crystal and show producers, Brian Grazer and Don Mischer, to make this show entertaining.

All photos property of Mingle Media TV and Kristyn Burtt. They may not be used without permission. Thank you.

The Winning Dress for Oscar Nominations Day

2012-01-24T12:48:00.000-08:00

I know there has been a BIG debate this year over which dress I was was going to wear. The blue one or the green one? The interesting thing is that everyone was drawn to one or the other and there was no in-between. Those that were in favor of the green dress loved the cut and color. Those that were in favor of the blue dress thought that blue was a better color for me. Several were concerned that the blue dress would be too baggy. That's the beauty of online shopping, you don't know what it's going to look like until you try it on.

So please, congratulate Ali and Julia for picking the winning dress from Bloomingdale's. Yes, the blue dress won. It fit like a glove and it was a fun dress to accessorize. The green dress from Banana Republic was huge on me. I loved the color, but I needed a week with a tailor to remake the dress. That is the one caveat with Banana Republic: if they don't offer it in a petite size, a regular size 2 or 4 is often cut more like a size 6 or 8.

In case anyone wants to know, Julia is 12 years old. I think we have a budding fashionista on our hands.

The details on the dress:

Dress: Aqua by Bloomingdale's. (With coupons and Ebates, this dress was under $75.)
Shoes: BCBG Girl
Ring: Forever 21 (Also seen in this post.)
Bracelet: Gifted from a Gift Bag long ago.
Necklace: Jessica Matrasko
Belt: Roni B (I wore this belt backwards..buckle in the back.)
Hair: Lisa Cavalone

Do More Of What Makes You Happy

2012-01-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at the start of my day, I was having a discussion about career/life goals with a close friend. My friend starting teasing me about a point I made and I told my friend that my feelings were hurt. As the conversation rolled along, it turned into a heated argument. Now, anyone that knows me could vouch that I just don't fight. What you see is what you get. I'm pretty easy to read when I am happy, sad, annoyed, and my calm version of mad. This friend is probably the one person whom I have epic fights with. It doesn't happen often, but maybe once every five years. They know how to push my buttons and boy, did that ever happen. I was so mad, I started crying. (Also not a frequent occurrence.) We made up after about 30 minutes because there is no point to being mad all day at a great friend, but it made me think. While my friend's delivery stunk, I know what they were trying to say: "Do more of what makes you happy.".

Of course, it took a Facebook quote to give me my Oprah "Aha!" moment to realize it. Someone had posted that quote (Thanks, Alli!), but I knew that this quote was the point of the fight. I need this mantra to take me through 2012. Last year's theme was "year of dreams" and I sure did achieve that. While I have started 2012 on the right foot, I still was aimlessly wandering through trying to figure out what I wanted to achieve this year. Here is what has been nagging at me and let's see how well I do by the end of the year:

1. Travel: I love to travel. I want to explore the world and meet new friends, eat good food, and still go back to Paris all at once. My current work travel schedule, even though I cut back, is grueling. So, I need to find a balance of less work travel, more personal travel, and do things a bit differently.

2. Home: This falls right into place with the travel. I love living in LA, I love how I have decorated my home, and I sure have some great friends that I would like to see more. Even better, I have a chubby kitty who loves it when I'm home. I want to sleep in my bed more.

3. Entertainment Reporting: Nothing gives me greater pleasure than my job whether it is covering an event with the Disney Channel kids or hitting the hottest red carpet in town. I get asked this question a lot: "What is your ultimate career goal?" ME: "I'm doing it. I'm in the job I set out to do. Yes, I would like to do more of it and I know who I would like to work for (And no, kids, it's not ET or E!, believe it or not.). This job makes me happy. I'm going to stick with it." (By the way, I will be doing something that gives me great happiness tomorrow, the Oscar Nominations, so please stop by or follow me on Twitter for all of the up-to-the minute scoop.)

Now these goals may sound simplified and they are. I have more detailed ideas in my head and on my dream board, however, I just wanted to share with you what we all should be doing in 2012 on a daily basis. Let's all be accountable and get out there and "do more of what makes us happy". I'm going to do it, are you?

For more inspiration on this, read or visit The Happiness Project. I think my personal copy needs a few more dog-eared pages in 2012.

The Friday Five

2012-01-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

I've been laying low the past couple of days because I know I have a big week coming up with the Oscar Nominations on Tuesday morning. I will be wrapping up NAIAS in Detroit on Sunday and hopping a plane back to my favorite place in the world....home. I miss LA's sunshine and warm weather, I just don't think I am cut out for winter these days. Here's my Friday Five for you this week:

Me, Kenny Wallace, Trackside Tina, Matthew Troyer.

1. Toyota Live: We have a lot of guests that come through our show in different cities, but Kenny Wallace, a Toyota Racing NASCAR driver, easily was one of the nicest and most engaging guests we have ever had on our stage. He took the time to talk with each and every fan before signing autographs and taking photos with them. I love watching people interact with their heroes. It's really sweet to watch.

2. V. Mora: I am excited to be working with Anna Livermore of V. Mora on a new custom-designed red carpet dress. She called me the other night and asked if you could design a dress for me. Uh, YES!! I will keep you posted on all of the details since she will be working on it while I am in Chicago next month. In the meantime, take a look at her designs on Etsy.

With Rafi and Benny Fine, me, and Sandra Payne after the show. If you aren't following The Fine Brothers on YouTube, it's time to subscribe to their videos. They are awesome.

3. IAWTV Awards Photos/Interview: A few more photos have trickled in and I wanted to share a couple of my favorites. The top one is by Bernie Su and the second photo was taken by Gregory Storm. Thank you for such wonderful photos, guys! (Especially since I took only 10 photos of the night on my iPhone.) Finally, check out the red carpet interview with Misty Kingma of Mingle Media TV. Yep, I am on the other side of the mic.

4. Debby Ryan: I first met Debby Ryan back in 2008 at the Beverly Hills Chihuahua premiere when she was cast member of Suite Life On Deck. I managed to catch back up with her at the Gracie Awards and at Radio Disney's NBT finals in 2011, so I am looking forward to talking with her about her new Disney Channel movie, Radio Rebel, coming up on February 17th. Debby is a great role model for tweens and my 12-year old niece loves her show, Jessie. So, look for more Disney coverage soon.

5. Marie Bruns Jewelry: I will be wearing a few pieces of Marie Bruns jewelry during Oscars Week and I am really excited to showcase a few of their colorful items. I am not sure exactly the items I will have, but I did mark these Amethyst Gem Drop earrings as one of my favorites. Take a look at the line here.

Dress Challenge 2012: The Finalists

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, the day has come to let you know who the two finalists are. I have ordered both choices and they will hopefully be waiting for me when I return home. I have no idea which one will be the winner, so you will have to wait until Tuesday, January 24th!

The two dress choices are:

I talked about these dresses in two different posts here and here. The green one is from Banana Republic and I love the color because it is an unexpected one for me. I haven't worn a soft green shade to an event in ages. As for the Bloomingdale's blue dress, I love the possibilities for accessory choices....a belt, a necklace, a hot pair of shoes. So, congratulations go out to Eli and Ali/Julia, you are the finalists in the 2012 Oscar Nominations Dress Challenge! Let me know what you think of the dress choices. Which one do you think I will pick?

My Top 10 Thoughts About The 2012 Golden Globes

2012-01-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Esquire

The show is over and my Top 10 is up! I thought this year was rather snoozy versus boozy. Do you agree?

1. Spray Tan: When you are asked if you want a second coat, just say "no". Oompa Loompa orange is not pretty and we witnessed it on too many last night. Bradley Cooper, Matt LeBlanc, and Rob Lowe, I'm talking to you.

2. Accessories: Every lady will be sporting a sparkly headband on the red carpet this season and men will be sashaying down the press line with a Brad Pitt-inspired cane. Even an injury can be hot when you're shacking up with Angelina and your best friend is Clooney.

3. Please EAT, Julie Bowen:
This is Julie Bowen in 2012:

This is a healthier Julie Bowen in 2011:

I ran into her about two weeks ago. It (her scrawny body) doesn't look pretty in person. Bones aren't beauty. Sorry, Hollywood.

4. Reese Witherspoon: I've called off the Baby Bump Watch. She's not pregnant.

5. Year of the Actress: I've seen just about everything this awards show season and I cannot think of a finer year with standout performances by women: Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Michelle Williams, Octavia Spencer, and Tilda Swinton are proving you don't have to be 25 years old to get the juicy meaty roles in this town.

6. Ricky Gervais: He was funnier last year. Less snark makes Ricky a dull boy.

7. Sofia Vergara: I don't find her that funny on Modern Family with her non-stop yelling and yapping. She keeps on receiving nominations. I said her acting was one note. A pal reminded me her acting is "two note". Yes, kids, she's getting honored for her own Golden Globes. So, while I might find her acting over the top and not award worthy, her dress certainly merited a mention here.

8. Sarah Michelle Gellar: Um.......color is always good on the red carpet, just not like this:

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

9. Lea Michele: This is also a NO. Look, Lea works a mean red carpet and everyone knows it, including Sarah Hyland. Lea takes fashion risks, but they don't always pay off. This was one of those times.

10. The Truth: If any of these red carpets during award show season make you feel bad about yourself, here is the truth. Fantasy: The first photo is of me on Thursday night with a spray tan plus an outfit assembled by a stylist, hair professionally done, and makeup courtesy of a makeup artist.

Reality: This is the REAL me and my pal Julie at our Golden Globes party in Detroit. Feel good about yourself, don't let the smoke and mirrors fool you.

What were your thoughts on last night's Golden Globes? Give me the scoop in the comments below.

The Dress: IAWTV Awards

2012-01-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

Well, that's a first. I'm not sure I got a clean full-length shot of me standing on the red....er, blue carpet. So, I cobbled together what I could for my post on my dress details. So, here we go:

Stylist: Roni B.

Makeup: Aurora Nerone

Hair: Candace Campbell

Colorist: Lisa Cavalone

Dress: Minuet, $47 (Yep, a red carpet look under $50, but don't forget to use your fashion tape to prevent wardrobe malfunctions.)

Shoes: Guess, Winter 2007 collection

Bracelet: Aldo Accessories, Winter 2007 collection.

Ring: Roni B

Earrings: Roni B

I think my dress color has become my signature color. I wore a similar shade to the opening night of Godspell here and to a deeper shade to the Oscar Nominations in 2011 here. I think it's time to retire the color....just for a little while. I love it because it pops on the red carpet, but I am on the verge of overdosing on this look. Nevertheless, I was very comfortable in my outfit at the IAWTV Awards and I wouldn't have done my outfit any differently.

A big thanks to Aurora and Candace who put together my red carpet hair and makeup. We haven't worked together before, but they did a great job making me look like a much better version of myself. It was a wonderful collaborative process and I think they got the look I wanted down perfectly. So, if anyone needs any Vegas referrals, I have two great artists for you. So, thank you to Team KB for putting me all together. You know I couldn't do it without you.....

Photos Courtesy of Mingle Media TV.

IAWTV Awards-We Won!

2012-01-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

Wow. I just spent a whirlwind 36 hours criss-crossing the US to make it to the IAWTV Awards. As I had mentioned during the nomination process, everything was an incredible surprise. Thursday night was an even bigger surprise with 2 wins for Best Hosted Web Series (Taped) and for Best Host in a Taped Web Series. I had not prepared a speech. Seriously. I just didn't think this was our year, so when I heard my name called, my knees buckled, and it took everything in me to climb three stairs to get to the stage. I didn't remember a thing I said, so I went back and watched a replay of the live feed. Okay, I sounded relatively coherent. (See my section beginning at 1:47:11)

Team Web Files: me, Perry Payne, Sandra Payne, Jenn Bobiwash

What was important to me was the show win. Four out of five of The Web Files crew was in attendance, so it was a wonderful way to celebrate together. Without the creative minds of Sandra Payne, Perry Payne, Jenn Bobiwash, and Melissa Anchondo, the show would have never happened. It has been such an honor to work with them and perhaps you will see another episode in 2012.....stay tuned. I had such a wonderful time in Vegas catching up with my web TV peers and enjoying the sunshine since I have been working in gray Detroit. I just felt happy all day. It was such a win for me to be there to attend the show, so the results of the show were more than I could ever ask for. Thank you to everyone who made my day special, it means more to me than you will ever know.

Finally, a huge "Congratulations" to the IAWTV organization and the Awards Committee for putting on a show that the web community deserves. I hope you all enjoyed a cocktail or two....you earned it!

Being interviewed for CraveOnline.com

One of my favorite photos of the night: with Brian Rodda.

I giggled when I saw someone in the forums was looking for a "wardrobe malfunction". Silly rabbit, if you knew me better, you would know I tape everything down before I hit the red carpet.

I love these black and white shots by Kent Nichols.

Always be photo bombing. Me and the foxy Rick Fox with Misty Kingma.

Tamara Krinsky (my buddy from Stagedoor Manor!), Mark Friedlander, me, and Kevin Winston.

My Red Carpet Report cohort, Misty Kingma.

Hamming it up on the blue carpet with Red Carpet Report's JD Piche.

Team KB in full force at IAWTV Awards: Melanie Marquez of M4PR was a red carpet ninja on Thursday night.

I've interviewed her, now she's interviewed me. Paula Rhodes takes over my role on the red carpet. Nice work, lady!

Photos courtesy of Mingle Media TV, Brenda White, Jenn Page, Kent Nichols, Indie Intertube, and Digital Hollywood. They may not be used without my permission.

IAWTV Awards-Tonight!

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post since as I write this I am en route from NAIAS in Detroit to CES/IAWTV Awards in Vegas. Is that enough acronyms for you? Anyway, The Web Files is nominated for 3 awards and the awards ceremony is tonight. If you would like to watch the festivities live, click here to see what happens. Either way, it's great to be nominated. I am just going to relish in the moment of hanging with so many creative and talented people in the web space. I'll be back posting as soon as I hit Detroit (again) with the results and my red carpet look for the night. If you want a sneak peek at my shoes, it's my beloved pair of silver strappy sandals. You know I love to recycle, when possible. Wish me luck!

Dress Challenge 2012: Dress Choices, Part 2

2012-01-11T04:54:00.000-08:00

We are hitting the final dress challenge day! There's still time to enter as long as you get your choice in by midnight ET. I will let you know what the two finalists are this weekend and the winner will be announced on Oscar Nominations Day, January 24th. The entries I have received so far are great, so here's a look at a few more that have come in the last few days. Let's take a look:

This one of three dress that Ali and Julia picked and I love the dress for the rich blue hue which always looks amazing on camera. I do have a DVF dress with a similar design, but it is a very flattering cut on me. This is another selection by Lauren by Ralph Lauren. It seems like Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic are the clear frontrunners for everyone's shopping list this year.

This was also a dress picked by Ali and Julia and I like it because it has an unexpected twist. It's hard to see in the photo, but it is a polka-dotted print. The color is strong for an on-camera look, but it is a bit simple in design. The simple design didn't deter me though because I think this could be accessorized with a belt and a great pair of earrings. This dress is by Bloomingdale's.

Here is a final dress to look at that was selected by Sarah and I think this is a sweet and classic silhouette. Believe it or not, it is a bridesmaid's dress by Alfred Sung in a soft firecracker color. I know this dress would be appropriate for the event, but I have to find out if it is available online since my time frame to order is so short.

Okay, that's a was a quick peek into some of the dresses picked so far. If you missed Round 1, click here. Remember, there is still time to enter. You have until Midnight ET tonight. All of the rules and comment form to enter is here. Good luck and come back this weekend to find out the two finalists!

Hello, Detroit!

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I didn't sleep much this weekend and my 6AM flight this morning solidified the full-on nap I took the entire leg from LAX to Denver. Unfortunately, our flight had mechanical difficulties and then we had jetway issues once we landed in Denver. I had already started to plot how I was going to get to Detroit which involved two more flights, when I discovered there were several United Global Services passengers on my flight with the same itinerary. If you watched the movie, Up In The Air, then you know exactly what I am talking about--that elusive card that gives you multiple flight benefits and carries enough clout to hold a plane. So after running through the Denver airport huffing and puffing due to the altitude, I found out that they held the plane for us....okay, really just for them. I lucked out that they had the same itinerary. Now you know that those secret airplane perks are all true and I just benefitted from them even with my little old Premier Elite card.

I am hitting the first press day tomorrow of NAIAS and I am sure I will tweet all of the updates happening from the show floor. However, my first priority when I landed was eating at Slows, my favorite Detroit restaurant. I stuffed my face with St. Louis ribs, Mac and Cheese, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and a Brisket Enchilada. I know I am supposed to fit into a tiny dress on Thursday for the IAWTV Awards, but a girl has got to eat.

Have a great week, everyone, and don't forget to enter my 2012 Dress Challenge for Oscar Nominations. The last day to enter is Wednesday, January 11th and the winner gets a $25 gift certificate!