Ill admit itIm an award show junkie. I plan little parties around them, spend $150 dollars at the grocery store buying prosciutto and figs and avocados and cheesecakes and invite my posse round to watch the Globes, the Emmys or the Oscars. Typically the evening devolves into me shrieking at my friends for inevitably growing weary of the 4 hours of red-carpet and 3 hours of actual show. When non award-show words like healthcare system and Darfur start popping up, I shut that conversation down until I hear everyones take on the state of Helen Mirrens breasts in her gown or the fact that Kate Walshs voice is irritating and reedy or that even though Eva Longoria is on a gigantic hit television show, shes not actually famous and most of America couldnt identify her.
My friends, as you might imagine, hate me.
But Im slowly realizing that they might be on to something when they roll their eyes at my Emmy Party E-vite. Sure, its mostly because I demand that every guest don a gown or a tux, but this year I finally understood that its more than that.
Namely, that award shows are ..what is it?
Ah, yes.
BORING.
Throw one in a theater in the round! Invite everyones favorite animated evil-baby and talking-dog to open the show! Create a sing-off between two guys andget thishave the NON-singer win! Throw some wacky outfits on Seacrest!
No.
It still doesnt work.
And thats because its boring. And THATS because famous people, when not given scripted things to say, are dull. Even Ellen goddamn DeGeneres hid behind her award-show cam and turned us on our ear by filming US! Oh, the cleverness! I mean, when the interestingness of the entire 3 (plus) hours lies in trying to figure out if we just saw some inadvertent Joely Fisher areola, you know things are going downhill.
Well, that might be fascinating regardless of the event, but still.
Now, because Im a girl and this is what girls do, I feel its important to notate a few salient details in the gown/hair/makeup category.
Warning: The following list is about ultra shallow girl shit and I might use words like updo or cut on the bias so all you ultra-ironic hipsters who are far too cool for school might want to go listen to a Decemberists song or something.
Please feel free to join us when youre ready.
1. Ellen looked about as comfortable wearing that tassel necklace as Jodie foster does saying my boyfriend in The Brave One trailer.
2. Hasnt Helen Mirren won roughly 17 Emmys this year alone? One might think she could hire a professional instead of cutting her own hair with a Flowbee.
3. Its almost TOO obvious, but was that some JBF hair on Kate Walsh or did her stylist have a stroke? I know shes a newlywed and all, but copulating in the limo is in poor taste.
4. Rebecca Romijn (OConnell) looked like a man. If a man dressed up like a girl trying to look like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. I mean, I know she plays a tranny on Ugly Betty, but this is taking Method acting to a new level.
5. Ellens current live-in lover, Portia di Rossi, is really bordering on Catwoman lips.
6. Dont hate me, but I really dug Vanessa Williams dress. I know that shes usually totally insane, and that fright wig fiasco was something out of National Geographic, but amidst all those safe and/or boring gowns, I really thought this feathery, mint number was fun. Plus its fun to call a color mint.
7. Mariska Hargitay enjoyed top honors for the worlds most vile haircut.
Tied only by Diane Lanes recent liberating chop. Actually, now that I research Di-Dis do, I think she takes the taco. And please dont tell me its for charity. World freaking PEACE isnt worth that heinosity.
8. Ben Vereen wore full-on dangly earrings. He was one of the 98 people on stage for Roots. Didnt know which one was him? Heres a hint: HE WAS THE GROWN MAN IN A SUIT WEARING DANGLY EARRINGS.
9. Much as I adore Tina Fey and much as I fully applaud and agree with her win for best comedy, the poor girl looked like her own grandmother. I mean, a low, curled bun and a black dress with a neck sash? Really, Tina? I know youre smart but shouldnt that mean youre smart enough to hire a stylist?
10. Dear Kimora Lee Simmons and Carson Kressley: You are both has-beens and no one cares about either one of you. Which is particularly impressive for you, Kimmy because this is only the second time Ive ever seen you on television. Love, Audie.
Ok.
Done.
Boyscome on back!
So lets see. Tony Bennett is 100 and only getting pity Emmys, Jersey Boys not only has nothing to do with The Sopranos, but they would be exactly the kind of Fanooks that Tony, Paulie and Christopher would beat the shit out of, and Ryan Seacrest is gay.
I mean, why doesnt he just BE gay? His compliments to various women on the red carpet were so amazingly awkward that it was painful to watch. They went something like this:
Famous Person: Hiya, Ryan!
RS: Oooooooh, girlfriend, you are positively POURED into that dress and Im absolutely LOVING it!
FP: Gee .thanks?
RS: Is that Badgley Mischka? Wait, no. Its GOTTA be Dior. HuneeeeeIm never wrong when it comes to fashion. (snaps his fingers in a wild, horizontal snap)
FP: Good luck hosting, Ryan. Gotta go!
RS: What I wouldnt do with an hour with you in that fabulous (sssss) dress!
Does he really want to rip her dress off? Or maybe just tailor it for her. Its unclear. I just know that in the past hes done a semi-decent job at not trying to act ultra straight to make up for his obvious gayness but Im afraid he really slipped.
Nevertheless, he is the hardest working man in show business.
Also, can people who make shows stop trying new shit? Fifty different party suites didnt work for the VMAs and a 360 degree stage doesnt work for the Emmys. Stop trying to re-invent the wheel and just make your boring, typical show the same boring, typical way you always make it, and let us be bored in the typical way we want to be bored.
And in conclusion, what was Al Gores award for? Biggest carb-face? I was really trying to understand but darn it, that errant areola ruined my concentration for the rest of the night.
RileyStClair said:
how did you not mention the monstrosity that was hayden panettiere's dress?
if i were her, i would be firing my stylist this morning.
also, the office ttly got robbed.
A. Hayden was too obvious to discuss. Also, she's a mere child and I found excoriating an infant to be in poor taste.
B. The Office was robbed of nothing--it's an unfunny rip-off of the funniest show in television and I'm tired of Steve Carrell thinking he's hilarious.
ok but i still think she's old enough to know the difference between an evening gown and gift wrap.
and no! the american office has grown into its own show and is not the ripoff it was first season. there's just no way the british version could do everything the american version has done in such a small number of episodes. i still love it, but dwight > gareth, sorry.
Haha! That dress is appallingly bad.
I usually watch award shows with the mute button on or either not at all. I did see Portia de Rossi (real name Amanda Rogers) warbling away in her ultra strong american accent, I had remind myself she is Australian. A stark contrast next to expat Rachel Griffiths.
An award show party sounds like a great idea and being inebriated would be the only way I could sit through one. I'm still holding out for a Eurovision Party, the pinnacle of award show parties!
Great article! Love the Al Gore biggest carb-face award.
AudieBird
Sherman Oaks, CA
August 2007
SEP 17, 2007 11:21 AM