What Does the Oscars Red Carpet Really Look Like?

The express lane in the center of the red carpet.

This might be one of my favorite videos this year because we decided to give you a full walk through the red carpet.  Did you ever wonder how long that red carpet was?  Well, it's 500 feet filled with media, cameras, and reporters all waiting to interview the celebrities. Did you know there was an express lane on the red carpet due to the crowds and traffic jams?  That express lane leads right to Tim Gunn's spot for the ABC show. So, come join me on the walk from arrivals tent to the grand staircase up to the theatre.  It's a long way in five inch heels. (And I was wearing my super tall Jessica Simpson shoes that day.)  Take a look and let me know what surprised you the most on that red carpet walk:

Bachelor Pad 2: Vienna Girardi

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

Cady McClain Questions

It's amazing, I write one or two articles about the ABC Daytime cancellation of two iconic shows and then an interview falls right in my lap.  I am thrilled that people are paying attention to my coverage and the importance of what is happening in this arena of television.  I will be interviewing Cady McClain AKA "Dixie Martin" from All My Children on Friday morning for Starpulse.  Here is your opportunity to ask Cady your questions.  She's returning to AMC and in fact, she filmed her scenes this week.  Does Dixie return as a ghost?  What's the mood like on the AMC set?  What are her personal thoughts on the end of the long-running show?   So, get those questions in before tomorrow.  I will take all questions until 9AM PT.  Fire away in the comments section below.  Ready, set, go!

Make It Or Break It

As I sit here waiting for another episode of ABC Family's Make It Or Break It, I cannot believe the continued response to my soap articles: the original one I wrote and the call for quotes for my upcoming article about the second phase of the daytime fans' fight against ABC.  I admire their fortitude and call to action throughout this entire process.  I'm not sure it is going to work out the way they want now that Susan Lucci is going to Desperate Housewives.  I just don't see All My Children surviving without Erica Kane.  I am sure all of the news will be announced and confirmed at the ABC network upfronts on the afternoon of May 17th.

In the meantime, here's my article on Ayla Kell who stars as Payson on ABC Family's Make It Or Break It that I wrote for Starpulse.  Since I love the show, I totally geeked out when show creator, Holly Sorensen, pushed out my article on Twitter yesterday.  Thank you, Holly!  Also, Ayla Kelly is a total doll who gave me the inside scoop on what it is really like behind the scenes on the show.  You have to give that cast kudos because they are required to be athletes and actors.  While they rely upon former elite gymnasts to perform their stunt doubles, they still have to act, move, and train just like their real-life counterparts.  As anyone knows, it isn't easy faking Olympic gymnastics.

Starpulse article:  Ayla Kell from Make It Or Break It.


*UPDATE*:
Ayla Kell and ABC Family kindly mentioned my article on Facebook and Twitter today. Yes!

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Susan Lucci Signs a Deal With 'Desperate Housewives'

We interrupt the weekend with a special Red Carpet Closet announcement.....

I have been following the whole ABC Daytime drama by engaging in a dialogue with the soap fans and then writing an article for Starpulse about the whole debacle.  In my original article, I mentioned the rumor posted on Blind Gossip about Susan Lucci joining the cast of Desperate Housewives.  Well, turns out the rumor is true and Blind Gossip has confirmed that the deal will be announced next week.  The best news about the deal is that Susan will continue with All My Children until the end of its run and still star on the Sunday night drama with Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross.  While this does not bring AMC back into the daytime fold, I consider the wise usage of Lucci's talents and fans one for the win category, especially since Desperate Housewives has been struggling in the ratings.  ABC was smart not to let her out of their network since she was bound to be snatched up quickly by a competitor.  Now, we just have to wait for the weekend to pass and the news to be officially announced.

Now that the rumor is true, what do you think?  Weigh in here, daytime fans!

Many thanks to Blind Gossip for the scoop!

Hey Soap Fans, This One is for You!

Last week, I wrote a post asking soap fans, "What the Heck Happened?".  After ABC's decision to cancel All My Children and One Life to Live, the viewers rallied across the internet, created petitions, and shouted loud enough for advertisers to respond.  After getting tremendous response to my post and capturing the voices of the daytime community, I finally gathered all of my material and wrote a lengthy article for Starpulse.  I also want to thank Spin's Vixenella on Twitter for spearheading all of the fans to come to Red Carpet Closet and share their thoughts on the cancellation.  Now, I want to know what you think of the article.  Remember,  I love to read your feedback!

Starpulse article


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Reminding Me Why I Love The Princess Diaries...

When The 83rd Annual Academy Award hosts were announced, I was initially lukewarm to the idea of having Anne Hathaway and James Franco lead the evening's events.  Yes, the Academy wants ratings, they want younger viewers, but most importantly, they need to shake the formulaic formula up.  A good way to do that is to change up the expected idea of a host.  We expect comedians, but it is a night that the entertainment industry takes very seriously.  What we saw Ricky Gervais do at The Golden Globes this year would never be done at the Oscars.  So, often times, comedians can't be funny in the way we expect/want them to be.  So, enter James Franco and Anne Hathaway and the new promos for the upcoming show.  The first piece is my favorite, but watch Anne's outfits in the promos, they scream Rachel Zoe all the way.  I am "bananas" waiting to see Anne's entrance on the red carpet on February 27th as I'm sure a pregnant Rachel Zoe will hold off on childbirth just to see her client's big moment.   Either way, the promos are well-produced which I think is a good sign for this year's Academy Awards. (And I reminder that The Princess Diaries is a classic to watch on TBS over and over again. Long Live, Princess Mia of Genovia!)

What do you think of this year's hosts?





Photo Used with Permission from AMPAS.
Photo Credit:  Bob D'Amico / ABC

PaleyFest: Fall TV Preview Parties: ABC

Last night, I made it out the Paley Center for Media for the preview showings of ABC's new fall slate.  New shows like No Ordinary Family, Better with You, and My Generation plus the season premiere of The Middle were shown along with several cast members of each show participating in a Q & A session throughout the evening.  While the evening was filled with free drinks, popchips, and TV Guide, it really was a mixed bag on the boob tube.

The red carpet from up above.  I had the night off!

First up, was the highlight and the surprise of the evening, the sitcom, Better with You.  The show stars Debra Jo Rupp from That 70's Show, Kurt Fuller of every show of the last 25 years, and Joanna Garcia of Reba.  I am not a huge fan of the sitcom.  In general, I find it a tired format that suffers from the formulaic plot and a laugh track.  However, this show took off right out of the gate and the always amazing, Debra, knocked it out of the park.  This show is definitely worth a look on your DVR.

I was dying to see No Ordinary Family as I went to NYU with Julie Benz and I performed way back in the day with Michael Chiklis in a local production of The Nutcracker. (Yes, I just said The Nutcracker and Michael Chiklis in the same sentence.) The piece de resistance for me was the addition of Stephen Collins, the hot reverend from 7th Heaven.  Sigh.  It wasn't the show I wanted it to be.  Honestly, it is hard to imagine a guy like Mike married to a hottie like Julie.  It just doesn't exist in our world, even in LA.  It's basically The Incredibles brought to life, but without the Pixar heart.

My customized photo.  DJR=Debra Jo Rupp, KF=Kurt Fuller, AS=Atticus Shaffer of The Middle, HOT!=Stephen Collins, ?=Some guy from one of the new shows, but he wasn't very memorable.  Anyone know who he is?

The other two shows are barely worth a mention:  The Middle, a second season show with few laughs and My Generation, a new show this year that is a better idea as true life documentary versus a fictional documentary.  The show follows a whole generation of kids to adulthood from 2000-2010. Surely a busy decade with 9/11, Katrina, Enron, a rigged election, a war, and a recession, but the John Hughes stereotypes prevail:  the jock, the princess, the misfit, the nerd, and the criminal. Watch at your own risk, but you've been warned.

Parting shot of my BCBG suede ankle boots in eggplant and grey.  Yes, I bought both colors.  Yes, my friend, Maria, did too.  Yes, we both wore then on the same night.  Yes, we called to make sure we didn't wear the same color.  The End.

P.S. I might have a mini-crush on Stephen Collins, but it goes a long way back. Check out my interview with him for Focus Hollywood and a little behind the scenes scoop from our time on the red carpet.