Paula, Miss America & Eva... Oh My!

I remember last year when the whole controversy over her bizarre "the moth, the melon and the cornflake" comments went into overdrive. I asked the other judges about it a few months later. They explained that it all started because they play this little game where they give each other phrases they have to use somewhere during the live show. Paula admitted that this little game has tripped her up many times, "Yeah, I want to go on record, guess who started the game, the most mature one. The grandfather, Simon. And we get, he says you're gonna get in trouble if you don't do it. I got in big trouble for doing it. Because everyone alludes to what in the heck is she saying? She's not making sense."

So this begs the question of whether or not the game will continue this season. You can count on it says Paula, "Oh no, the game still goes on."

Paula also weighed in on whether or not she thinks she and the other judges are getting meaner, "People ask me is Simon anymore mean then he usually is? Come on Simon's, we were actually going back and picking out things that he said that have been horrible and he's been way, way meaner in some of the things he's said. But Simon's pretty much right on cue. He's off to a good start."

Straight from the Paula interview, I hopped on a midnight flight back to LA and hours later was on the red carpet at the SAG awards. I was on fashion patrol, which when I first started my job at Access Hollywood was always my beat. So, it was nice to go back down that road for a little bit. I was most impressed with the dress Laura Leighton (best known from Melrose Place) was wearing... a black vintage 3/4 length gown she picked up off the rack at a second hand store called Paper Bag Princess.

By far my favorite moment of the night was when Eva Longoria whizzed by me. I asked if she would be willing to talk fashion with me and she said, "I already talked to Access Hollywood." Then she ends up standing about ten feet away from me for a good five or six minutes either talking on her cell phone or sometimes just kind of hanging out looking around. Then I realize why she was standing there for so long when I turned around and noticed her fiancé, Tony Parker, was being escorted through the back entrance by two police offers and her publicist. Tony (a San Antonio Spur) had rushed over from his game playing the Lakers at the Staples Center which was nearby. The two had a cute reunion right in front of me on the red carpet and then walked over to pose for the photographers.

The next day it was back to Las Vegas for the Miss America pageant. I had an exclusive invitation to hang out backstage during the live telecast. Yes, I too was like every little girl who believed they were going to grow up to be Miss America. I even participated in several beauty pageants in college. So, I felt right at home watching the chaos backstage. The girls were literally running in five inch heels back and forth between wardrobe changes, ripping out their earrings and undoing their dresses as they ran. When it gets down to the ten finalists they literally have about 5 minutes between each segment to change. So, the second they leave the stage (after smiling and waving and acting all poised) they then book it off stage out the stage door to a tented dressing room. They rip off their dress and throw on their swimsuit, check themselves in the mirror.. maybe make a hair change and then book it back to the stage. I was exhausted for them.

Just minutes after Miss Oklahoma, Lauren Nelson, was crowned I was waiting for her backstage for the first interview. Of course, I couldn't resist saying the following to her as she walked up to me, "there she is Miss America." You have to say it.

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in this business, I forget that not everyone is dialed into what is happening in entertainment. So, I had to laugh when I emailed my brother to make sure he watched Access Hollywood tonight to see my interview with Miss America. He lives in Vermont with his wife, Kim, in their log cabin. I'm kidding it's not a log cabin but he does enjoy the woodsy, vegan lifestyle. I just thought I'd share his return email which brought me back down to reality.

I was reading your email and thinking:

A. They still have a Miss America? Is she still relevant to anything ?(i.e. wholesome American girl).
B. Although I have never seen American Idle [sic], from your description on your blog (that I actually did read, something about parents and the way their kids are treated on the show), I realized that it is just a hyped-up version of the Gong Show and it would be more entertaining to have Net Flix send me the complete first season to enjoy while I eat deep fried tofu-dogs on the couch and try to fit in with what the rest of the country must be doing every night (is it on every night?).
C. As I was thinking these "Wamp-wa" thoughts and realizing that I had just written one long run-on sentence, I got a call from Kim's Aunt Susan in Harrisburg screaming that my sister is interviewing Ms. America RIGHT NOW and I must turn on my set. However, we have only one TV in the house and it has no satellite cable or other service so I couldn't watch you.

American Idle? Is there really anyone in America who does not watch this show? That shocks me.

Finally, while we are on the family subject I'm going to make a shout out also to my dad who is retiring tomorrow after more than 40 years of lawyering. This will just give him more time to concentrate on his music. He's a big star down in retirement mecca, Florida, with his band "The Noteables."

How cute is that? Go dad!