Dish of Salt

Hangin' at the "Hairspray" premiere with HSM!


Comments (11)

Nights like last night are why I got into the entertainment news business. Normally, at a red carpet premiere you are smushed in next to dozens of other camera crews. It's so tight you can barely move and you are stuck behind a station, leaning over to get the interview. It's a frustrating experience to say the least as the studios have little respect for the media's space. Plus, I'm claustrophobic so that doesn’t' help. Last night was different. It was more like an award show with the national shows each getting their own platform. This meant their was no space restriction and the stars just walked up a couple of steps to a 8 x 8 carpeted riser. I did feel bad though heading towards our nice cushy spot as I passed all the other crews smushed in together. Seriously, it's getting a little out of control how much media covers Hollywood events. From Internet movie sites, international outlets, local news, MySpace TV and even QueenLatifah.com. It's overkill really. I'd hate to be a celebrity who has thirty interviews to do.

While Tony Potts did the interviews, I stood back and took it all in. Truthfully, it's a little awkward these days for me in my dual job as a field producer for Access Hollywood to have to take a back seat. It's especially difficult to stand there taking notes when I see young stars like Ashley Tisdale and Zac Efron who are used to me interviewing them for Accesshollywood.com. They kind of give me an odd look. I'll probably get in trouble here for revealing this but hey I'm nothing if not honest. I wish more people in Hollywood had that same ethic. However, it was fun to be able to just check out what people were wearing and see who they arrived with without having to think about what questions I was going to ask.

At 49 years old, Michelle Pfeiffer is absolutely stunningly beautiful. She puts most twenty-five year olds to shame. What's amazing about her is how real she is and down to earth. When our audio guy Kevin went to snap a picture of her and Tony she remarked to him, "Oh, that’s the iPhone. Did you have to wait in line like everyone else?" While Kevin explained how he got one she listened with obvious, real interest. I can't recall a time when a celebrity has taken the time to even acknowledge the crew on a red carpet.

Poor Queen Latifah nearly flashed the entire crowd of fans when her strapless Carmen Marc Valvo gown slipped down as she walked up to the platform. She laughed it off to Tony, "You got a little more then you needed there!" She complained that her platinum blonde wig was getting in her eyes and called her hair/makeup people over. It sort of took me back when they referred to her as Dana. I forget her real name is Dana Owens. Her hair lady told me it's strange to her when people call her Queen Latifah. Go figure!

When we told Michelle Pfeiffer about the near flashing incident she playfully joked, "A little excess Access!"

Of course, I was excited to see all my “High School Musical” pals who came to support Zac Efron, who co-stars as Link Larkin. His HSM and rumored real life interest Vanessa Hudgens arrived early and posed for photos but didn't do any interviews. I couldn't quite figure out if she didn't want to do any or if she and her publicist were concerned the media might not be interested in talking to her.

Ashley Tisdale happily worked the carpet in a cute grey Claire La Faye mini-dress and gold Giuseppe Zonotti shoes. She told Tony she had recently seen a screening of HSM2 and it was looking good! Ashley was the very first celebrity to hit the red carpet. She did about ten or twelve interviews. Then when she saw Vanessa the two friends hugged, grabbed hands and sauntered toward the theater together.

Zac Efron told Tony he brought a huge entourage of friends from back home with him and was hoping to introduce them to John Travolta at the after party. He's great in this film and you get to hear his real singing voice. It's not dubbed over like it was for the first HSM.

A bunch of people have emailed me asking about where he got some of his clothes in the currently airing HSM2 music video. We asked him but he wasn't sure. I'm still digging around for you though! Don't forget our HSM2 footage starts airing every Friday beginning July 13th and look for exclusive web only stories all month long.

11 Comments

lola said:

Hey thanks for writing about this! I love all your posts-they are amazing. You have an awesome job! Did you see any more of Zac and Vanessa together at the premier?

Jen said:

EXCUSE ME, BUT ITS MEAN FOR YOU TO SAY THAT MEDIA WEREN'T INTERESTED IN VANESSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS RUDE!

Rachel said:

Thanks for writing this! Gosh you are so lucky you get to meet all these people. Your a life saver for telling us what designers Ashley was sporting. Do you happen to know who the designer of Vanessa's shoes was?

Dish of Salt said:

It's not rude. It's simply an observation. I found it very strange that a young, up and coming star like Vanessa would not want to talk to the media at a huge premiere. It didn't make sense unless maybe she blew off interviews because she was afraid people would ask about her relationship with Zac.

Tracy said:

what do you mean by odd look that Ashley and Zac gave you??

jojo said:

i just read this today
after the media frenzy i dont blame vanessa
it was zac's day and she respected that
at the tca both zac and vanessa were drilled on their relationship
i love vanessa and her privacy should be respected
plus laura saltman did say she was an ashley girl so
what can i say
i'm a vanessa girl

Alexandrine said:

hi Vanessa and Zac u look cute together!! I'm your huge fan V. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo love u all.......

Alexandrine said:

hi Vanessa I'm your huge fan!!!! love u guuys MWAH! XXXXXXX

graice said:

hi vanessa zac and ashley you guys rule i cait wait for hsm2

Joanna [Poland] said:

It's a really cool article, thanks for writing this. I really enjoyed reading about HSM and Hairspray stars! Especially about Zac & Ashley. They both are really cool. And honestly... I don't know if Vanessa wouldn't want to do interviews, but it's kind of obvious that she's no so popular like Zac or Ashley. Anyway she's a sweet girl.

someone special said:

i heard now that zac n vanessa broke up...oh n by da way im a highschool musical fan+freak i so totally love the movie but i think zac fits with adrienne bailon...

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