Bargaining With The Ladies of "Grey's" and Hangin' with Spielberg

Once I got there the press corp. was told one question about Isaiah only (to the actors or Shonda.) We all agreed. Besides it was obvious they had been prepped on what to say beforehand. First from Grey's on the carpet was Kate Walsh. She's tall, she's graceful, she's smart and, for some reason, she makes me nervous. You could tell she had her guard up and was fully prepared when I hit her with the, " Were you surprised that Isaiah was fired?" Her short, curt response was, "Yes. I was surprised." She closed her mouth and pursed her lips as if to say move on. I got the sense that she is one of the cast members who thought Isaiah got a raw deal which was confirmed when Kate told me he is irreplaceable and she wouldn't want anyone else playing Dr. Burke. End of interview. Gulp. I was the second interview on the carpet. I can only imagine how she handled the other 15 or so people.

Sara Ramirez who plays Dr. Callie Torres arrived next. She makes me way less nervous than Kate Walsh so I just launched into my question, "How will the dynamic change around the set next season without Isaiah?" She too had been prepared but was much more willing to talk, "I wish Isaiah the best, I really do. I think its time to get back to season four and have a good time and enjoy ourselves and keep on keeping on. Certainly like we have always said before in a family there is going to be ups and downs and you just grow stronger I think."

By 8:00pm when the dinner started Shonda had not picked up her tickets. Most of the press corp. gave up but our competition stuck around a little while longer determined to get the story. 8:15 we were informed she was here but not walking the press line. So, our show would be the only one to get Shonda backstage. Phew. The onus was off me. For what she told Shaun Robinson about the situation click here. http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah5751.shtml

Then we were escorted back into this little green room where a hair and makeup artist were patiently waiting for people as they went on stage to present or receive awards. I'm used to seeing people surrounded by publicists at events. What surprised me was to see all these legends and industry veterans by themselves. No entourage. Just them with a speech in their hands. They were nervous too. Diahann Carroll, the second African-American actress to star in her own TV series ("Julia") was presenting to Shonda. She put her reading glasses on and nervously paced back and forth go over her speech. Then the very regal Blythe Danner, who sadly most folks would know as Gwyneth Paltrow's mom, breezed in. She was presenting an award named after her late husband, The Paltrow Mentorship Award to producer Kathleen Kennedy. A brilliant award winning actress was frantically reading her note cards right in front of me? This is crazy to me.

Then came the real shocker. I'm bored and begin to pace myself and happen to walk by the bathroom and at that very moment out walks Steven Spielberg. My guy friends would be down on their knees saying " We're not worthy. We're not worthy!" Me? I just kind of stared at him. He too was there to present to Kathleen Kennedy. He looked more nervous than Blythe as he scanned his note cards furiously while he paced the room.

All this pacing was making me have to use the bathroom too... you know the same bathroom that moments earlier Spielberg had walked out of. I guess it's true when people say we really are all the same no matter our status in life. Steven left the toilet seat up.