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Blogging The SOG Awards Red Carpet
The 14th Annual SAG Awards shall be known this year as the SOG awards thanks to a rainy LA weekend. It will be interesting to see just how many celebrities brave the weather to attend. Read on to find out about the behind the red carpet reality of an awards show. 2:00 pm: I can't remember an awards show where I have ever been this cranky. It was pouring rain when I got in my car to come here. Apparently, parts of the red carpet area were flooded. When I finally arrive to the Shrine it has stopped raining and the sun is peaking through the clouds. The aftermath still remains. The red carpet is all wet and soggy.
2:30 pm: I just arrived to the red carpet where I have to climb over a hedge to get to my position. They literally have us in front of a pole. To make matters worse, every two seconds I feel a drop of rain on my neck. Can I go home?
3:00 pm: The SAG awards red carpet has officially just opened. The first celebrity to arrive is Nikki Blonsky from "Hairspray" and Christina Applegate who is nominated for her role on "Samantho Who?"
3:05 pm: Sara Ramirez from "Grey's Anatomy" arrives and I wonder if she will be the only cast member to make the red carpet trip. We are so far down the line I can't even see them.
3:06 pm: Who the hell is Phoebe Price and how does she get invited to these events? She looks like a statue in her gold dress and not in a good way. Somebody IMDB her for me and tell me what the heck she has done.
3:10 pm: Wait I need another IMDB. Who was the cute kid who played Jack's son on "Will and Grace?" He is standing right in front of me. I just watched him in "Sky High" on Disney Channel in my hotel room last weekend. Yes, I'm that pathetic.
3:15 pm: It's all about the bit players in these earlier minutes. Brenda Strong and Andrea Bowen from "Desperate Housewives" are here. So is Angela Kinsey from "The Office." Later, I talk to her. She is glowing and six months pregnant.
3:33 pm: The highlight so far is when I spot Mrs. McCluskey from "Desperate Housewives". My producer informs me that her real name is Kathryn Joosten. I'm about to go live and she could be my first "get." Yes, I know its pretty bad down here at my end. Meanwhile up at our platform with Nancy O'Dell are bigger names like Christina Applegate and Debra Messing, who have just arrived.
3:37 pm: Here comes the rain again!!!!!!! Ugh. Nightmare.
3:38 pm: Connie Stevens comes walking down the carpet. No one seems to notice her. I ponder how strange it must be for this woman, who is a legend, to be utterly ignored and passed over for younger stars. One day in twenty-five years or so stars like Teri Hatcher or Ellen Pompeo, who have just arrived, will probobly know this feeling too.
3:45 pm: Finally, some bigger names start arriving. Eva Longoria Parker shows up without her husband Tony Parker. Last year at SAG he was playing at the Staples Center and ran over from the game and snuck in through a back entrance where I happened to be standing. This year he is playing out of town.
4:00 pm: Becki Newton and Ana Ortiz from "Ugly Betty" cop attitude for some reason and blow off the back half of the press line.
4:05 pm: Mickey Rooney, yep… he's still alive, arrives.
4:15 pm: I talk to Jon Hamm from "Mad Men" on our live feed and accidentally leave the microphone off. My producer whispers in my ear and I turn it back on the in the middle of the interview. Oops. Casualties of live streaming. He and his girlfriend Jessica Westfeldt are lovely and humble (despite their new found success) - the way I wish all stars would be.
4:18 pm: Ashley Tisdale and her boyfriend Jared Murillo breeze by. I just missed seeing her new nose. Damn!
4:20 pm: I talk to Nicolette Sheridan who tells me she rolled out of a bed and got ready in an hour. She did her own hair and makeup and frankly she looks pretty good.
4:25 pm: I'm alerted that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have arrived. They skip the press line interviews after posing for the photographers and head straight in. Nancy O'Dell later informs me that Angie was wearing a very flowy dress fueling rumors she may be pregnant again.
4:30 pm: Ellen Page of "Juno" meets Dwight Shrute. My brain freezes up and I can't remember his real name. Later, I remember he has a cameo as a convenience store clerk in "Juno," so they already knew each other.
4:35 pm: People are being rushed through quickly to get to their seats. Sophia Bush declines an interview saying she was afraid they would lock the doors on her. It's 25 minutes before show time. Clearly she hasn't been to a lot of award shows.
4:45 pm: Bright colors everywhere. Kyra Sedgwick looks incredible in blue and Vanessa Williams is stunning in yellow.
4:48 pm: Zac Efron's appendicitis surgery hasn't kept him down. He walks confidently down the carpet looking cuter than ever.
4:50 pm: Just as I'm signing off saying no stars are left on the red carpet, America Ferrera walks behind me. Oops! Guess she was stuck in traffic.
Laura thanks for your play by play of the red carpet action, I always love reading them. To bad we dont have many award shows this year.