Red Carpet Closet

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!

The Friday Five

2012-01-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

That was a quick week! I'm now trying to cobble together my life and dust off my suitcases again for a whirlwind month. I'm hoping Detroit is as warm as possible because after the December summer we have had here in LA, I am spoiled. Here's a quick Friday Five to round out the week:

Zadi Diaz and me on set in NYC in the 90's...

On the set of The Web Files in 2010.

1. Cleaning: I spent much of the month home and digging through old boxes and organizing my home. I'm not done yet, but it's a great start and I found some hilarious "vintage" photos that I will post from time to time. I found the above photographs and I recognized someone who is my contemporary out here in LA, but this photo was from an old Pathmark industrial from my time in NYC. Could it be possible that I worked with her in the 90's? Yep, it is. It's Zadi Diaz from Epic Fu. I interviewed her and her husband/collaborator, Steve Woolf back in 2010. We were both nominated for a 2010 Streamy Award and she won! The best part about the photo and the video I recently had digitized is that I remember this day on set. (By the way, we were playing rogue cashiers at Pathmark: she stole a chicken, I stole steaks, and yes, my hair is really that color.) Here's a look back at our interview in 2010: Epic Fu on The Web Files.

2. Press: Jenna of Smarter.com featured Red Carpet Closet for all of the formal dresses and gowns I wore last year. She highlighted my favorite dress of 2011 which was created by Chagoury Couture. Thanks for the shout out, Jenna. To see the article, click here. To visit Jenna's personal blog, Seven Style Notes, click here.

3. iVillage: This is a fun compilation video from all of the entertainment correspondents over at iVillage that asks your favorite celebs about their best holiday memories. I handled the Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Lea Michele interviews. I know I am a little late in posting this and you probably don't want to even think about the holiday season right now. Just think of it as preparation for Holidays 2012?

4. Driving with Gass: Don't forget that I do my Monday night entertainment segment each week at 6:35PM PT/9:35PM ET. Now that we are in full awards season swing, there will be a lot to talk about this month. It's so easy to listen in at KWSS.org. Click on the "Listen Live" tab and you can join us right from your laptop. For those of you on Twitter, I also do an interactive chat during and after the show using the hash tag #RadioBurtt.

5. Team KB: Team KB grew by one member yesterday, so everyone please welcome Melanie Marquez of M4PR. She will be handling all of my media throughout awards season and beyond. This will also bring more video, events, and exciting content to Red Carpet Closet. If you need me for any event, show, press quote, etc, contact Melanie here. My team keeps me together more than you know, so you will probably hear a lot of praise for Mel, Carolina, Roni, Annie, and Maria these next few months.

Have a great weekend, everyone! I will be coming to you live from NAIAS Detroit on Monday.

The Dress Challenge: A First Look (2012)

2012-01-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

The dress choices are rolling in for Dress Challenge 2012 and I thought I would give you a sneak peek at what other have selected for me so far. I am seeing a color family scheme pop up quite a bit. Let's start with the very first entry that came in and a color I really like because it is deep, rich, and something I don't wear often enough:

Bentoboxx selected this one and I love the raisin color. It is by Lauren by Ralph Lauren and it is available at Nordstroms. My one thought is that I might have to hike up the hem to show a little more leg, but this is a very classic design.

Next up is this Banana Republic dress selected by Eli and yes, Banana Republic was the winning dress last year. I think Eli is going for a known winner. This dress is available in four colors and Eli went straight to the Geranium Pink for me, but I think I like it in Fresh Fern. I am posting both photos for comparison. Which color do you like better?

Here is the final selection I am going to show you today, it is from a New Zealand fashion house, but I like the simplicity of the design because it can be easily accessorized and the Berry Red color is one I don't wear too often because red can be hard to wear on camera. This shade has just enough pink in it, that it could work. Thanks for this pick, Donette!

So, do you see anything you like so far? I would love to hear your comments or see your picks for me for the Oscar Nominations. Remember, the winner who picks the perfect dress receives a $25 gift certificate to the store of their choice. To enter, read the rules here and enter the link to your dress here in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Twitter. You have until Wednesday, January 11th to enter. Now, get shopping!

Baby Bump Watch 2012

2012-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

I have been known to be waaaaaaaay off base when it comes to Hollywood news on this site like my story about Susan Lucci--wrong! and my guess on how far along Natalie Portman was at the Oscars--also wrong! Every once in awhile, I get it right like the baby bump on Tori Spelling. YES, she was pregnant in 2011. So, I saw a photo yesterday and I thought, "Baby Bump Watch 2012?" I only say this because Reese Witherspoon is petite and always in shape. This photo makes it look like she is in the beginning stages of a Baby Bump. She does have a hot new husband and she has publicly spoken about wanting to have more kids. So, let's speculate: Baby Bump or Just the Photo? Let me know in the comments below. (Or we can wait for the tabloids.....or just wait 9 months.)

Credit: bauergriffinonline.com via USMagazine.com

Don't forget to enter my Dress Challenge 2012. Help me find a dress for the Oscar Nominations and win a $25 gift certificate!

Oscar Nominations Dress Challenge: 2012

2012-01-03T00:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you are all off to a great start to 2012. I'm two for two on workout days and my house is the most organized it has ever been thanks to my holiday vacation clean out. This week kicks off a whirlwind two months for me. My work will take me to 4 cities all while trying to cover awards season. It makes my head spin, but I am so excited about this year's slate of films and I cannot wait to cover all of the action.

Like last year, I will be covering the 84th Annual Academy Awards nominations live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre on January 24th. I am so excited to be returning for all of the excitement and waking up at 2AM for hair and makeup. YES! Since I had so much fun with last year's dress challenge, I am officially announcing this year's Oscar Nominations Dress Challenge. The rules are similar to last year, but here they are:

1. It is not a red carpet event. So, I am looking for a dress that is simple, classic and understated. Think of a DVF wrap dress or a Jackie O. sheath. I am short (5'3"), so I want to show off my legs versus lots of cleavage (which I don't have anyway) to give the illusion of height. I love shoes, so I want to pick something hot and sassy from my shoe wardrobe. One note from last year, even though I want a dress to show off my legs, please no so-short-I-can-see-your-hoo-ha dresses. The Oscar Nominations are a very conservative event, so I'd like to keep it that way.

2. I will be working at 5AM PT that day. I want a dress that is easy, comfortable, and not fussy. I hate pulling and tugging at my dress because I feel self-conscious.

3. I like color. It looks great on camera and adds brightness to my face since my hair is currently light blonde. Please avoid red or crazy patterns because they have a tendency to moray on camera.

4. The budget is important. Let's keep the dress under $200 and it has to be available online in sizes 2 or 4.

Last year's winner was a dress by Banana Republic in deep violet. It was perfect, comfortable, showed a little leg, and it had pockets (total bonus!). I think we should avoid the same color for this year, but you guys have a pretty good guideline this year for what I am looking for.

The Challenge: Can you help me find a dress? I know so many of you are fashionistas out there with amazing style and taste. Add the links in the comments section below or on Facebook or Twitter and I will post some of the best ones to vote on. (Make sure to post the exact link to the exact dress you are picking for me.) After last year's enthusiastic responses, I cannot wait to see what you guys pick for me this year. Don't forget, the winner gets a $25 gift certificate to the store of their choice. U.S. residents only, entries must be in by Wednesday, January 11th at Midnight ET. The two finalists will be announced on Monday, January 16th and the winner will be revealed on Tuesday, January 24th. On your mark...get set...SHOP!

No Words, Just Photos: 2011

2011-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Photos may not be used without permission from Kristyn Burtt

The Friday Five

2011-12-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe we only have one more day left in 2011. It has been a year of great strides for me both personally and professionally, so I look forward to a new year filled with challenges. My Friday Five today will encompass my favorite five things from this year. It was hard to narrow it down given the fact that I covered two big awards shows, flew on a blimp, went to the opening night of a Broadway show, booked a job in Paris, and received an unexpected nomination for an award.

1. Paris: I fell in love with this city. It's on my list to go back, like, immediately. I think I will be celebrating a friend's birthday in Italy, so I know I'm going to hop on over to Paris before or after.....and maybe to London for the Olympics.....ah, dream big for 2012!

2. Art: I was lucky enough to go to New Orleans twice this year and invest in a few pieces of art by renowned Picasso muse, Françoise Gilot. And then the art gallery invited me to meet her--what an honor! I think my New Orleans visits made my trip to Paris that much more enjoyable, it was a taste of what was to come a few short months later.

3. Dreams: I can't believe how many of my bucket list items were crossed off this year. The little girl from small town Massachusetts got to do this and this. How do you tell your 8-year old self that you will be standing on the red carpet at the Oscars or the Tonys or interviewing Meredith Vieira just weeks before she leaves the Today Show? Unbelievable.

4. Godspell: This show means a lot to me. It is being helmed by two old friends and I cannot begin to tell you how proud and thrilled I am for all of their success. (And opening night wasn't too shabby either....thanks for the front row seats, KD.) It's an incredible cast with killer voices and it's a show you can take your kids to see. You can't say that about much these days, now go buy a ticket to see the show!

5. Disney: Disney World and Disneyland have always given me great joy, so it was a true pleasure to add some of my own Disney coverage to my reporter repertoire. From the Cars 2 premiere to the Make Your Mark contest to the D23 Conference and the wild finale of Radio Disney's NBT, it was a blast covering the latest batch of Disney Channel stars and be a cool aunt to my 12-year old niece at the same time. If you are wondering who the next Miley or Selena is, check out Bella Thorne. Every little girl wants to be CeCe from Shake It Up right now.

I will post a couple of my favorite photos of the year tomorrow, but I will let the photos do the talking tomorrow. I want to thank you for coming here and sharing my experiences and your stories. I look forward to more adventures with you in 2012. Enjoy your last Friday of 2011 and be sure to tell me your favorite things about your year in the comments below.

For Your Consideration: The Web Files

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here we are, the final voting weekend for the IAWTV Awards. I know many of you have already turned in your ballots, but for those of you who are using this last weekend to vote, here is a For Your Consideration post on The Web Files.

Best Hosted Taped Web Series: The Web Files
Best Director (Non-Fiction): Sandra Payne
Best Host (Taped): Kristyn Burtt

The Web Files was one of the first online entertainment shows to feature web series and hear the creators' stories from on location to on the red carpet. The show captured a span of time in the burgeoning web series world. If it has been awhile since you have seen an episode, feel free to watch our episode on Backyard FX which captures the fun tone of our show while demonstrating the insight and education of what was happening with online content. For a behind the scenes look at the making of this episode, click here. Enjoy the episode, thank you for your consideration, and we will see you in Las Vegas on January 12th! (Don't forget ballots are due on January 5th.)

My Top 3 Posts of 2011

2011-12-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

I am a total nerd, but I've known this since elementary school. I love analyzing numbers and seeing what is working and what isn't. I love looking into the psychology of what makes people stop and pay attention. That is why I love analytics for my blog. It is fun to see what makes you come here and read my posts, whether you are a regular reader or you came through a Google search. So, here are my Top 3 posts of 2011. They aren't necessarily my favorites, but they are your favorites. For my regular readers, one of the Top 3's popularity may surprise you, it sure surprised me.

Simone Harouche, one of my favorite stylists on the list.

1. The Stylist Edition: This article was the number one most trafficked post this year. I compiled the list of top stylists for the celebrities from a Hollywood Reporter article. I loved it because it gave us insight into who is consistently setting trends as a stylist for their clients (Rachel Zoe and Anne Hathaway with that amazing tuxedo at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.) and it also made me note who needs to change stylists. (e.g. Amy Adams) This is also a fun one to read because Brad Goreski made an appearance on the list at number 22 while his former mentor, Rachel Zoe, was listed at number 1. Will that change with this awards season and the premiere of his reality show? Only time will tell.

2. Saturn Awards, EZ Curler, and Interviews, Oh My!: This one was a bit of shock to me as it was just a quick "here's what I've been up to" post, but I sure covered my bases on popular internet searches: Anna Torv from Fringe, anything related to The Bachelor, and an infomercial sensation called the EZ Curler. Really, there is something for everyone in this post. Enjoy the photos and video because I'm sure Google sent you here for this one.

3. The Oscar Looks of Elizabeth Taylor: We lost the divine Elizabeth Taylor this year, but there are stunning photographs of her that will live on and endure the test of time. Following her death, I compiled a series of photos from some of the Academy Awards ceremonies she attended. I will let the photos speak for themselves.

So, there you have it, the Top 3 Posts of 2011. Did your favorites make it into the Top 3? If not, tell me what was your favorite article from Red Carpet Closet this year?

The Friday Five

2011-12-23T05:33:00.000-08:00

Here we go right smack in the middle of the holiday season. I have family coming in today, so things will be loud and busy at Chez Burtt. I hope you all have a fun weekend of eating, spending time with family, and taking a minute or two to work out or at least walk it off. (Easier said than done, I know!) With that, let's get right to the Friday Five:

1. Holidays: Oh, this photo was taken just a few years ago....now that you've stopped laughing, you have to love that my mom coordinated my outfit with Santa. In true KB form, I am more interested in striking the right pose for the camera (chin down, eyes up) than I am in Santa. I'm also thinking about that lollipop in my hands. Three seconds to a sugar rush! And, oh yeah, that's my real hair color.

2. The Artist: If you are looking for a movie to see this holiday season, look no further than The Artist. It's a true love letter to the history of film, sound, and music. Be prepared as there is only about a minute of true sound or talking in this film, but enjoy getting lost in the incredible score by Ludovic Bource which tells a dramatic and moving story. I love that a film like this could get made in 2011 given half the junk I have to see for my job involves remakes, guns, 3D, and generally, uninspired writing. I expect a lot of nominations for this film on January 24th, the day the Academy Award nominations are announced.

3. The Dress: Yes, I am going to need a dress for the 84th Annual Academy Award announcements again. For those of you that were around last year, I ran a contest to find a dress for the obscenely, yet exciting, early morning. The rules are going to remain the same and I am posting a photo of the winning dress which turned out to be the perfect example of what I am looking for. I will formerly announce this contest the first week of January, but those of you who want to get started early can either leave me links in the comments section or post a photo on my Facebook wall. Remember, I have to be able to order this online since I will be traveling for most of the month. Again, here are the rules. Happy Shopping, and yes, there will be a gift certificate for the winner!

4. Holiday Greetings: One of the media outlets I work for, Mingle Media TV, came up with a really fun holiday video. It was fun looking at some of the events I covered in 2011 for Red Carpet Report. Watch for me at the 0:06-0:38 mark.

5. The Store: I am happy to say that we have our first donations to The Thirst Project with the sales from the store. There is still a week left in the month, so I will announce the total for December 2011 in a Friday Five during the month of January. Remember, "Water is a human right, join the fight". If you would like to donate, click here.

With that, I am going to wrap it up here at Red Carpet Closet. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannakuh! I will post a bit next with with more of my Best of 2011 lists.

My Top 3 Interviews of 2011

2011-12-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

With 10 days left in the year, I am going to start doing a few "Best of 2011" posts to highlight some of my favorite moments of the year. Today's feature is my favorite Top 3 interviews of 2011. This was a hard one to whittle down since I had everything from the Oscars to the Tonys to countless other red carpets and gifting suites to choose from. The interviews were chosen for particular reasons, whether they were funny or poignant, they just resonated with me this year. Here are the Top 3:

1. Joel Grey from Anything Goes at the Tony Awards: I spoke about this interview at length in this post, but nothing was ever better than having the opportunity to speak to someone who was one of your childhood heroes. I know, I know, I was a musical theatre geek, so I wasn't looking up to Molly Ringwald, it was Joel Grey. Here is the unedited footage so you can see how it all went down at the Tony Awards while I was working for Starpulse:

2. Josh Sussman from Glee at GBK Productions MTV Movie Awards Gifting Suite: I think this was easily my funniest interview of the year, no one made me laugh more on camera than Josh. He's just quick with a quip and he and his super cute girlfriend, Tess, are incredibly nice......even though he still owes me a Justin Bieber movie viewing! You can see it all here on Red Carpet Report:

3. Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds at the press junket for The Change-Up: I don't know if your day can get any better when you walk into a room and two really good-looking guys are waiting for you to sit down. I thought my heart was going to belong to Ryan that day, but Jason was a big flirt who won me over. I should have known better, I loved him on Silver Spoons. Here's my interview for iVillage:

So, there you have it, my Top 3 Interviews for 2011! Who was your favorite out of my Top 3 or is there another interview I missed? I would love to hear from you, so don't forget to leave a comment below.

Holy Crap! Hunter Parrish Is Cute!!

2011-12-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

This wasn't supposed to be my post for today. I had a plan to start my "Best of 2011" today, but I changed my mind when I saw the video of Hunter Parrish singing "Beautiful City" from the current Broadway revival of Godspell. It's no secret that I am involved with the show, but I thought it is the perfect message for this time of year. We get so caught up in the holidays and it can be a very stressful time for so many families. Our country has seen a tough economy continue, we've watched political parties battle each other for their own good, not the greater good, and the United States is anything but united. So, do me a favor, take a moment in your busy day and listen to this incredibly moving song. The reactions I received from posting this on my personal Facebook page included:

"The song is beautiful. I'm listening to it again right now."

"I am not a big fan of musicals, but that song you posted is unreal."

"Beautiful! Thanks for sharing-I can't wait to see the show."

And the best one....
"Holy Crap! Hunter Parrish is cute!!" (Indeed he is and he's in his underwear for the opening part of the show.)

So no matter what your personal beliefs are, I bet you can believe in building a "Beautiful City"

Enjoy this song.....and let me know what you think in the comments below:

To purchase tickets to the show, click here.

To download the soundtrack on iTunes, click here.

Holiday Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-19T02:00:00.000-08:00

One of three holiday collars for my kitty. She looks like she is wishing this mistletoe collar would go away...

I hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend. It's was the last weekend to really get out there and shop for Hanukkah and Christmas gifts. I must say the stores weren't very busy in LA. Hopefully, you wisely shopped online and enjoyed some eggnog and mistletoe instead. I ran around the city shopping, catching up on Awards Season nominee screenings, and dressing my cat up. Yeah, I am one of those crazy people who thinks it's funny to dress their cat up in holiday costumes. Now, I only put on fancy collars on my kitty: no sweaters, shoes, or hats. You might think I need to get a hobby, but it makes me laugh and the cat leaves it on. Who doesn't like to accessorize?

It's time to announce the winner of my Holiday Giveaway Gift Basket as selected by Random.org. Congratulations to #27..........Kelly V!! I will be emailing you today to get your mailing address. Enjoy all of the goodies, I even added a few more things to the basket since the original post.

Beginning tomorrow, I will start my 2011 wrap-up. I am going to change things up a bit this year. Instead of doing just highlights of each month, I am going to create theme posts: my favorite interviews, my favorite photos, my favorite moments, etc. So, come on back and join me tomorrow for some Red Carpet Closet fun!