Women Who Behave Rarely Make History

6:36PM - 2009 15th SAG Awards

It's a week later, but I thought I'd finally post about my 4th year working the SAG Awards. Same job - announcing arrivals, pulling winners from the audience if they had to be reseated for another award.

Announcing arrivals - Fun. I'm right where the limos drop off everyone and (as my coworker put it) each car contains a surprise. You never know who's going to be inside. Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and her man, who I loved on a episode of "Undeclared", got there at the beginning and hung around for about 20 minutes canoodling. She's gorgeous, and I love that she looks like she eats more than cocaine.

I think I've become jaded because I wasn't super excited about seeing anyone. Except for "Uncle Jack Bass" Desmond Harrington. I squeed a little when he got there. I had forgotten that he would be with the "Dexter" cast.  Brad and Angie were, again, hawt. Mickey Rourke was high as a kite with a limo full of pot smoke. I was happy to find out Alec Baldwin brought his daughter and not some underage (though very tall) tart as we speculated for a bit.

Most of the women are grossly skinny which really detracts from their beauty, in my opinion. I might understand why they starve themselves, but I find it very sad.

During the show - I didn't do anything. Stood next to Frank Langella and Gary Oldman for awhile. My cohort had to pull Hugh Laurie and Meryl Streep for press. I went to pull Sean Penn, but the show had just ended, and by the time I got to his table, he was long gone. Ended up standing next to Kate Winslet stuck while she was surrounded by photographs. Also, she is stunning.

If you saw the show, you might have seen Meryl Streep running up to get her award like she was the next contestant on The Price is Right. He jubilance continued, and she, and her family, were dancing up a storm at the after party.

After Party - some band with Mickey Dolenz played. They were alright. The food was excellent - or maybe I was just really hungry. No, that Wolfgang Puck mac and cheese is heavenly. Danced a little, had a drink, got my swag bag, then left.

All-in-all - fun and tiring, and if I'm still at SAG next year (please no), apparently, I'm guaranteed my jobs for life.

8:16PM - Tired and Tipsy

I haven't posted anything in forever.

Work has been insane. We're about to enter into negotiations for the Commercials contract and the prep work is intense.
Pros:
I've been too busy to hate my job.
Overtime.

Cons:
I've been too busy to look for another job.
I haven't had any time to relax.

Also, I'll be traveling to New York for negotiations in February. There's a good possibility I'll be there for 2 months.
Pros:
Paid trip to New York.

Cons:
It's in February.
Working.
Will probably last through the end of March.

In other news, one of my cats died. It was (and sometimes still is) very sad. I miss her greatly. I'm going on vacation to Disney World in less than a month! And then I'll be working the SAG Awards once again this year. Wonder what the atmosphere will be with the possibility of a strike. The ballots will be counted just a few days before the awards. Fun times that'll be.

2:46PM - When your body fail you

I had emergency gallbladder removal surgery late Wednesday night. Suffice to say, I've had some interesting days lately. Still in some pain but it's better than the 'oh Gods, kill me now' pain I was in most of Wed. 

At least I'm missing all the strike drama at work. Will SAG strike? Don't ask me. I have my opinions on the matter but I should probably keep them to myself. Since they're still my employer and all. 

I think it's naptime.

12:58PM - Visit #3: Diagnosis – Sane

Okay, maybe not. But Dr. Janet did say I was getting better. She said she could tell that some weight had been lifted. I can agree with that; I think it might just be getting some of the anger and pain out. Just talking and not hiding inside myself as much as I used to.

One of her theories (what I call them) is that I have such a hard time taking pills (horrid gag reflex – though only with pills) is because my voice was squelched when I was little, thus blocking that area of my body.

I’m skeptical of everything, so sure, whatever, but here is what I find interesting. When I was around 12 – 13, which were the years that my psyche got really bad and was the time of my first suicide attempt, I remember wanting to just scream at people to see me and my pain. I did things that were a blatant cry for help. And people heard me. However, I was also quite adept at lying and denial. My parents took me to a therapist; I lied right to his face and he believed me.

I wanted help, but I wasn’t ready to accept it. Even as a young teen, I buried things deep and refused to admit it even as it made me a mess. In short, teenagers are weird and are in no way able to make decisions for themselves.

She only did a half session and congratulated me on my teeny baby steps at changing my diet. I did go to the gym. And she told me to save up my energy since I was having gum surgery again.

I go back next Wednesday.

9:24PM - Visit #2: Soylent Green is Peeeeepppllle

Note: It's been 2 1/2 weeks since I stopped taking antidepressants. I thought I was doing well, but I am feeling the withdrawals today. I liken it to shivering on the inside. It's a very strange feeling. Weird balance and perception issues - such as I turn my head but it seems like it takes a few seconds for the rest of me to catch up. Kinda like slow motion. 

I went back to Dr Janet today. I sent her an update and my food diary on Saturday evening so she could read it in horror without me watching. I'll be the first to say that my diet is horrible. Most of my eating is done between 11 am - 5 pm, and what food is eaten is less than nutritious. 

For example:

11:46PM - Stark Industries

I've just seen Iron Man. And I loved it. A perfect way to start the summer movie season. 

Jon Favreau should be very proud. I can't think of anything I would change. Perfect casting, perfect length, perfect story. And the sequel tease didn't annoy. It just got me excited for the sequel.

I'm so happy Robert Downey Jr was able to return from his troubled times and come back out on top. I've been a fan for so long though I think Heart and Souls is my fave. He was Tony Stark. Great casting.

And Gwyneth did the best thing for her career when she went away for a couple years. I've now forgotten what grated about her and enjoyed her performance.  

11:31PM - 1st Visit - Back in the Garden

Having spent the last 20 years in a perisistent clinically depressed state, and the past few months attempting to determine the best way to kill myself with the least muss, I am now seeing a new doctor. She's holistic and was pretty much forced on me by a coworker. That's not a bad thing. I'm going to keep a record of my visits and hopefully, my progress as well. 

10:43PM - It Ain't Easy Being Green

Back in the Eighth Grade, I had a kinda hippie-ish Earth Science teacher. I vividly remember her slogan: "Earth Day Every Day." She pounded that motto into our head to the point that my BFF and I still mock it to this day. But I would much rather sit in her class than see what's happening almost 15 years later. 

I am so sick of "Green." Like almost everything that starts out with good intentions, "going green" is now more of a marketing ploy than a movement. An overwhelming number of magazines this month have some article on going green. "Go green with Fido", "How to have a green wedding", "Make your home green." I was surprised I didn't see the music mags with "See How Metallica Lives Green."

How about an article separating fact from fiction? One addressing that cloth diapers can often times be worse for the environment than disposable diapers. I was floored when I learned that in college as was the rest of my class. That organic farming requires far more land to produce the same amount of food as conventional farming. And, if the world switched to organic farming, 10 million square miles of forest would need to be cut down. Touting "carbon offsets" while you jet across the world in your private aircraft does not impress me. It's inane.

Don't get me wrong - I recycle. I occasionally take a bag to the grocery store to use instead of getting more plastic bags, though I reuse those for other purposes also. I'm not for world pollution. I'm just about balance. And truth. Or at least weighing both sides of an issue. The world population, especially the US, is incredibly wasteful, and if we don't curtail our actions, there will be consequences. But I don't want to be told that I now need to eat a "carbon-friendly" diet. 

I'd rather go hang with Kermit. 

11:53PM - Short and Sweet

I got my hair did today. I love it. My stylist is the best. I've been very lucky to have found 2 wonderful hairstylists in 2 states since I was a junior in high school. I think my hair is one of my good features. Of course, only I would move to Los Angeles and find a stylist 40 minutes outside of the city.


I don't understand the ads for this new "mini" Scarlet. The tagline's great: "The hot new TV series." Um, okay. It's going to be on in two weeks and there's no mention of a station or time. I'm going to have to do some digging at work for more information. 

9:22PM

I had gum grafting surgery on Wednesday. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't horrid either. Going to the dentist has never bothered me. I pop on some headphones and drift into my own world. I almost fell asleep at my last cleaning. 

My gums have receded. Luckily, this was not the result of something I should've done or could've prevented. It's from having braces, grinding my teeth, and being an aggressive brusher. Okay, I probably could've worked on being a more gentle brusher. The pain wasn't too bad; an Aleve took care of that. I've got pink gum junk covering the stitches until next Wednesday. And then in a few weeks I have to have the other side done. 


I've also decided to begin looking for a new job. SAG was supposed to be a temp job until I got my bearings. I just happened to get the coolest boss ever, and she's the reason I've stayed this long. I'm not looking forward to starting over, but I know this is what I need to do. My depression is getting worse instead of remaining stable or improving and changes need to be made. Not fun but necessary. Isn't that how it always is.

11:11AM - I want a trophy, too

 One positive aspect of living in California: The Oscar telecast starts at 5:30 pm and is over by 9 pm. I hated having to stay up after midnight to watch the whole thing back in Texas. 

This excerpt of a review from Pajiba pretty much sums up my feelings. This town is has such a circle-jerk of self-praise. It's excessive and irritating. I love the pretty dresses and the handsome men as much as the rest of the world. But, there is no need for an Awards SEASON. Awards for TV (daytime and nighttime), film, and stage should cover it. 

But perhaps it's just my cynicism kicking in. I'm getting jaded living out here. 

The Academy needs that satisfaction because the Oscars are, though it’s somewhat redundant to point it out, a celebration of movies picked by moviemakers. In fact, every awards show is just that, a group of people who get together to vote to honor the best in their field. But the Oscars have somehow tricked people into thinking that the Awards are handed down from on high by God or the universe or the ghost of John Ford, when really it’s just a bunch of people who made some movies that have been turned into understandable commercial packages for which votes have been cast in a weird ceremony that uncomfortably blurs the lines between art and competition. The Oscars are a party in honor of the Oscars. 

Pajiba also summed up my feelings over the snub of Brad Renfroe in the Montage of Dead Folk. Not cool, Academy. Not cool.

Perhaps the truest and saddest example of this was this year’s In Memoriam tribute, an annual clip show of actors, writers, filmmakers, and other crewmembers who have died in the past year. The cutoff to be in the reel is January 31, and Heath Ledger’s passing on January 22 guaranteed him a spot in line, though I assume they’d have included him anyway. As the faces of the dead flashed by, the audience applause ebbed and flowed depending on the popularity of the person at the date of their death and their relative star power in general. Ledger, as could have been predicted, was the last to appear, filling the screen in a slowed-down shot from Brokeback Mountain, leaning against a wall in the brown jacket that will forever be married to his memory. It was a weirdly artificial moment, as the Academy put its glorious sadness on display for all to see, and it was only with the passing of time that I and others began to realize that Brad Renfro, who died on January 15, hadn’t been in the package. Was his death too gruesome? Unlikely; Hollywood has never shied away from mourning the passing of its own, no matter the cause. Was his career too old? Again, unlikely; many of the older people featured in the tribute had stopped working long before their deaths, plus Renfro had a role in the upcoming The Informers. For some reason, Renfro was simply overlooked, and though the Academy will probably chalk it up to an oversight and deny whatever intern collated the dead list whatever USC film credit they were earning, it’s hard not to see Renfro’s exclusion as weirdly indicative of the Academy’s whole hang-up with perception. Ledger is just as dead as Renfro, but he’s the kind of dead the Academy wants to hold up to the light. Renfro was a junkie and troubled and dangerous, but Ledger — he’s just classy.

11:15AM - Team Spears! But not that Jamie Lynn cuz she should've known better

I am an unapologetic BritBrit supporter. Girlfriend's nuts, but I just want to take her, bathe her, feed her, and help her get sane again. The first few meltdowns were interesting in a trainwreck sort of way, but I no longer get any joy in watching her stumble through life. Plus, I love her new album. 

I only bring her up because she's spending a lot of time at the Millenium Dance Studio. I enjoy this news because it's down the street from my apartment; I pass it daily. And I wonder why BritBrit would come from Malibu (or wherever she's staying) to crappy North Hollywood for studio time. Maybe they have good rates.

I am glad that the writer's strike is seemingly over. No one wins in a strike. I wholeheartedly support their reasoning and demands. If they hadn't taken a stand now, they would have never gotten jurisdiction over new media. I understand that many feel it's not fair for those not making residuals. I, myself, have mixed feelings on the subject as to who gets them, why, when, etc. But I do agree that if payment is generated for the reuse of work, the money should be spread around. And if shows that are placed on the internet (I'm looking at you Ugly Betty) are purely promotional material, why do I have to sit through four commercials? Ford/Valtrex/Whatever is not getting to play their commercials for free out of the goodness of ABC exec's hearts. Someone is getting that money, and under the current way Hollywood is set up, that money should be spread among those who receive residuals. And if I have to straight out pay to watch something, like on iTunes, that money should also be spread around.

Luckily, my department, Commercials, already has jurisdiction over new media. And there is still bitching on a daily basis between the advertising companies/producers/actors on payment. I get that the industry side is trying to contain costs while the talent side wants fair compensation. Everyone has to give a little to get a little. And the industry's insistence that no one knows what's going to happen with the Internets (as they did with VHS tapes back in the day) is ludicrous. Society is not suddenly going to shut down the internet and go back to 8 tracks. Don't act like the Internet is some mysterious void that no one understands. It's not like Laserdiscs or Clear Pepsi. It's fairly clear that it is a medium that will be around for awhile. And whether it's on VHS tape or Blu-Ray or on YouTube or in my iPod or beamed directly into our skulls, it's not going away. It's going to be interesting to see what SAG does in the upcoming months. 

One caveat: my Soap Of Choice (SOC) is General Hospital. Under the current writing regime, it has been sucking big time. Characters are being brutally killed off at an alarming rate, the dialogue sucks, and the storylines are a joke. But since the strike began, the scabs, nay band-aids, have begun to turn it around. Characters are acting consistently again. No one is getting thrown under the bus for no reason. There's cast integration and continuity. It's not perfect, but it's watchable, which I couldn't say 3 months ago. I am scared what the return of Guza will do. I doubt it will be good.

10:42AM - SAG Awards 2008

Celebs

Brad and Angelina ARE that perfect and beautiful. They are a supernova of hotness. Her dress was gorgeous. Preggers? Looks like it. They were snoogly all night.

I want to marry Ryan Gosling and have a million of his babies. Last year, he and Rachel show up in a Prius. This year, he heard fans screaming his name across the street. He was the only celeb to go across the street and take pics and sign autographs. Also, I don't know who he brought with him (maybe a sister), but she was cute and normal looking.

John Turturro tried to give me his ID; he thought I was checking him in, but I was just directing.

Casey Affleck (Afflack) asked me where the bathroom was and where he could smoke. Blair Underwood asked me where the bathroom was. John Larroquette grabbed and squeezed my elbow as he walked past. I don't know why. It was odd. Marion Cotillard's man asked me where they could smoke. She's very beautiful.

At one point, Vanessa Redgrave and Sally Field were basically standing in line to meet Marion. That was kinda surreal.

For the last 20 minutes of the show, Jeremy Piven stood in front of me. I think he looked at my rack a few times. Or he was just looking down at me cuz I'm short.

As hot/pretty as you think (chicks): Rebecca Romijn, Cate Blanchett (she goes either way but she's preggers and luminous), Amanda Bynes, Olivia Wilde (has a fivehead but her features are stunning), Jenna Fischer, Diane Lane, Carla Gugino.

As hot/pretty as you think or maybe hadn't and were surprised: Adrian Grenier (his eyes are that blue), Javier Bardem (who knew? but he had a hot man presence), Justin Chambers (who was smashed), Ryan Gosling, Denis Leary (huh, and his son is tallll), Josh Brolin (Brand from the Goonies??)

There's so many more that I can't remember. My coworker Loy asked Zac Efron if he could get him a drink, and Zac said naw, cuz he's only 20. Awwww. He was sweet.

Ummm, that's all I got. Until I remember more later.

There were a ton of peeps at the after party. Normally, they leave pretty early. But with the strike, they aren't working. When I left, Sara Ramirez (Gray's Anatomy), Ben Foster (XMen 3, 3:10 to Yuma, Alpha Dog), Zac Efron (High School Musical), and Joey Fatone (N'Sync) were still there.

8:25PM - you can be my wingman

I have a super cute new dress. A slightly tweaked volunteer position. A vague idea of how I'm going to do my hair and makeup. Yet, I'm less than enthused about tomorrow's SAG Awards. 

My back is going to hurt, it's going to rain which will NOT agree with my hair, and it'll be cold. Mostly, I'm just bitchin cuz I'm nervous. About doing my job correctly, not pissing anyone off, and having fun. But there is the one thing I always look forward to - the swag bag at the end. 

There is one thing I'm completely excited about. Crazy Tom Cruise is presenting. Rebecca Romijn will be bringing her husband, Jerry O'Connell. I hope there's a fight. That'd be awesome. As far as being a fangirl, Angelina is supposed to be there and I love her. I want to see Emile Hirsch, Christian Bale, and Ricky Gervais, and Amanda Bynes. And, of course, Zac Efron cuz he's the dreamiest. (I kid.)  

Well, we'll see what my follow-up post tomorrow or Monday says.



Hey there tigress. I got your message. I'll be at the front of the red carpet (where the peeps get dropped off), and then I'll be in the showroom. But, us lowly folk have to wait to go into the partay, so I might be able to find you after. 

3:05PM - Fandom Realizations and What I've Learned

Once I became involved in online and real world fandom, I had many ideas about actors and celebrity. How they should be treated and what they thought about their shows, fans, etc. 

And then I moved to Los Angeles and started working at the Screen Actors Guild. Man, my illusions were shattered. I used to get nervous upon meeting an actor that I really liked. I don't know why, maybe just the excitement of it all. The first time I met Michael Rosenbaum at a Con, I couldn't even look him in the face. And now? Chris Rock passed me in the lobby the other day, and I didn't even blink.

But now, I'm around actors every day. Actors of every level and stature. And I used to think that actors must think about their characters and continuity and every little minutae that we onliners think about. They don't. It's a job. I used to wonder why respected actors took jobs on, what I felt were, lesser shows. At a party one time in Texas, I met Harry Shearer. I asked him why he on Dawson's Creek, a show that I watched but felt was beneath his talent. He said simply - they offered him a job. 

And that's what I've learned. We have around 250,000 people in SAG. Only about 10% actually make a living as an actor. It's not an exaggeration that every waiter and clerk out here wants to act/direct/produce/etc. When I joined up at my gym, the guy asked where I worked. I told him, and he told me he was a member. Who worked at 24 Hour Fitness. 

I've been to countless "Conversations With..." now, a program our Foundation puts on which brings in cast members of various television shows and movies for a screening and talk. Something Jack Coleman (HRG of Heroes) said stuck with me. Someone asked about some of the continuity blips on the show. It was a specific one about when one of the characters flew to Texas, how there weren't any planes that would have flown into an airport that would have gotten them in at that time. He flat out said for the people who care about such things to get a life. And he didn't say it maliciously. 

And I have to say, it's made my viewing experience a lot better. Yes, it still annoys me when there are glaring errors, but I don't get worked up about it like I used to. Am I a better writer than those who work on any given show? Maybe. But I haven't tried to get hired. It's easy to sit at home and bitch. I imagine it's much harder to deal with budgets, time limits, actor's egos (and oh yeah, do they have them), unions and all the other rigamarole that goes into making a piece of entertainment. 

I saw a clip the other day of two actresses from my favorite soap opera. Now, I am obsessive about this show, and pick it apart on TWOP daily. The majority of the time, I truly think one of the smarter breeds of dog could write better. And yet, as much as I complain, I still watch it. I think that makes me the bigger sucker. Anyhoo, these two actresses were asked about their storyline and about a new spin-off show and fellow castmates contracts, etc. And they knew nothing. They had ideas about their storylines but nothing definite (and yeah, that could be due to confidentiality and not spoiling the show), didn't know if the spin-off had even started airing yet, and didn't know whether an actor that one works with fairly recently had been given a contract. 

That's when it really hit me. It's just a job. A job with great pay and some nice perks. But they're just people who chose to act who have lives and families and busy schedules. They don't have the time nor the desire to pick apart every little thing wrong with their show. And that's okay. I can still do it, but now, it's out of fun. That doesn't mean that I don't think shows should be criticized. I just think, as a fan, I didn't truly realize all that goes in to creating something that's broadcast. 

And like US Magazine likes to say, celebs are just like us! They call, and some are nice (I'm talking about you Alexis Bledel), some are unbelievable assholes (can't tell you how many people actually say 'do you know who I am? yeah, I know, and I don't really give a damn), and many more who are just flat out crazy.

I don't know how much longer I'll stay in this industry. My bleeding heart seems to be dragging me back to working with children, but I intend to have fun while I'm here. And if Sam and Dean drive across Texas in 4 hours, or I wonder, why didn't Peter fly off on his own when he went all nuclear, I just relax and tell myself - it's just entertainment. And if I'm eating at Toast (mmmm....Toast), and some random celeb is waiting for a table just like me, I don't stare, and I don't say anything. They have just as much a right to eat without being disturbed as I do. 

But don't think I'm too jaded. I can still be outraged and bitch my co-workers out when they don't call me to tell me they're eating lunch right next to my hero Mandy Moore and Kelly Clarkson. Especially when I made the stupid decision to run to Target that day instead of going to Doughboys with them. So unfair.

6:44PM - TAURUS Stunt Awards 2007

Ah boy, did I have a good time. This show should get the Most Fun Award Show statue. That's live, of course, because I saw the edited and cut for television version of the 2005 show and it sucked. I guess it's more fun to watch Josh Duhamel (good Gods he's hot) mess up a line, Kelly Hu being unable to read the teleprompter, or Christina Milian completely blow her part and have to redo her entrance.

But The Rock was funny and charming, they recognized the awesome Jeannie Epper as well as over 100 other stuntwomen, and to top it off, a good friend was one of the ensemble that won the Best Fight award for Pirates 2. And they even performed a fighting gag in costume as part of the show.  Congrats Buddy!!

The after party was even better this year. I got drunk on 1 1/2 drink (yes, that's sad but I hadn't eaten) within the first 30 minutes and spent the rest of the party eating bread and sobering up because I was the driver. I love the stunt community because, for the most part, it's ego free. They aren't pretentious and are really down to earth. I met a bunch of new folks, reunited with a few I hadn't seen in a while, and most importantly, got my dance on. 

I only saw a few "actual" celebs at the after party. (I guess legends in the industry - Henry Kingi, Donna Evans, Terry Leonard {and his hot son Malosi} and George Fisher - don't count.)  Harrison Ford and The Rock were hanging out. I think I saw Elisha Cuthbert, but I'm not positive. But, as I was hanging out with my boss, I see this guy walking towards me. And I think, "huh, that looks like Michael Rosenbaum's BFF Chris who he is never without. But, no, that can't be him, why would he be here?"  And not two steps behind him was Michael himself. All hot and scruffy. But I was good and didn't follow him around the Paramount lot. I quietly squee'd to my boss.

Got home at 3 am. I'm still recovering.

Stunt Golf Tournament - 2 weeks! Yay!

11:00PM - What I Am is What I Am

Quoting Edie Brickell? What's going on with me?

Anyhoo, the Virginia Tech shooting was horrible. I'm not looking forward to the next week of blame and the whys and hows, and the response from the police, etc., etc. It's extremely tragic, and instead of press conferences where TPTB try to answer questions that have no answers, I wish they would just look at ways to improve student's safety.

But the thing is, these events aren't very predictable. Sure, there are warning signs, but they're usually seen as hindsight. I don't go to work profiling my coworkers to figure out which one might bring in a gun. I've been severely depressed for what seems like the majority of my life, and it has never even entered my head that I would want to hurt someone else to ease my pain. I don't know what the solution is. And I don't know if anyone else does either.

~*~

On another note, I forgot to post this info on its appropriate date. On April 10, it was the 40th anniversary of the court case Loving vs. Virginia, which argued that interracial dating should not be illegal. The favorable ruling in June led to other states striking down their racist marriage laws. (On a sad note, the last state, Alabama, only overturned their laws in 2000. Seriously.)

This new lack of law paved the way for my parents getting hitched and then creating me. I don't identify with one race over the other. It's such a non-issue for me. And yet, I still have people questioning "what" I am. I'm a girl. I have white-girl hair. I have thick lips. I've got a perpetual light tan. And just because I'm biracial doesn't mean that saying words or jokes won't offend me. It also doesn't mean they will offend me.

I'm very much a believer in debate and discussion. You can have opinions and theories and beliefs. Just back them up. You can be a racist. It's not against the law. And I have the right to disagree with you. As long as we don't harm one another in any way - physical, financially, etc. - game on.

I've read some rumblings that Loving vs. Virginia is being used by homosexuals in their attempt to get gay marriage legalized. Go for it. And while the following statement can be picked apart for saying "man" and "woman", I think the sentiment, while maybe not intended, speaks for itself.

From the ruling: 

11:19PM - My Second SAG Awards

The makeup's off, the swag bag has been explored, I have comfy jammies on, and my feet can finally rest. I'm officially done with my 2nd SAG Awards. In some ways I had more fun this year, and in other ways, it was twice as chaotic. I had the same jobs as last year: talent spotter (announcing arrivals) and stage right talent puller (if needed). And this year, it was needed. I had to pull America Ferrera from the audience and escort her to press. She was lovely.

I'm always amazed at people who are okay or pretty looking on tv who end up stunning in person. This year, I was surprised by Cate Blanchett and Demi Moore. I helped out a young girl from Weeds (first awards show, adorable) and got to talk to Michael Urie (Marc on Ugly Betty) at the afterparty. Plus, I got to get a little bit of my groove on with some crazy (but way fun) winner of Top Chef. And we had John Legend playing.

Random celebs: Chad Michael Murray (ChaMM) and his child bride; Lance Bass. Huh??

Best (well, it's relative) part of the night: The last people to arrive drove up in, not an SUV, not a limo, not a Mercedes. Oh no, they rolled up in a black Prius. I already loved them, but that just kicked it up a notch. The couple? Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

My faves won: The Office! Chandra Wilson! Grey's Anatomy!

12:17AM - Another Year Begins

Thanks so much to stormx, hls_kurtle, and icalynn for the birthday wishes! I greatly appreciate them.

10:54PM - I need a Hero(es)

I just got home from a Q&A with the cast of Heroes at my job. I love going to their "Conversations with..." series because it's not your typical venue. It's all actors, and while the audience are most definitely fans of the person(s) work, it's not the fannish 'I love yoooouuuus' or 'In Episode 427, you said blah, blah, blah.' Because it's only focused on the acting experience, the actors are more down to earth and open.

It was no different with this group. The majority of the cast was there: Santiago Cabrera (Isaac Mendez), Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli), Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah Sanders), Leonard Roberts (DL Hawkins), Ali Larter (Niki/Jessica Sanders), Tawny Cypress (Simone Deveaux), Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennett), Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh) and Jack Coleman (Horn Rimmed Glasses Man/Mr. Parkman). The cast watched the episode with us which was cool.

After, they only answered a handful of questions, mostly because each answered and there were a ton of people up there. But here are my impressions. Santiago is cute. Didn't say much, but he's pretty and has a hot accent, so can I really ask for more? I've loved Adrian Pasdar for years (Near Dark, anyone?) and I'm happy to say he's just as handsome in person. Plus, he told a cute story about his son which made us all 'Awwwwww.' And he's married to a Dixie Chick. He rules. Noah is adorable. Leonard will always be "Forrest" to me, and he seems like a nice guy. He has three audition suits (for cop, lawyer, and doctor.) Heh. I couldn't put my finger on Ali. Seems really down to earth, yet...blonde. Don't get me wrong, she seems very cool. Kinda hippiesh. In a good way. Tawny Cypress is 1/2 black. I love her simply for that. Hayden is a little chatterbox. Too cute. Funniest guys of the night by far were Greg and Jack. Both kept cracking jokes. Sendhil's rendition of his interview process was hilarious.

But the funniest event of the night was this poor girl in the audience who started to sneeze. Those cute, brief, kinda quiet sneezes that won't stop. She must have sneezed 15 - 20 times. Everyone ended up staring at her and the Q&A kinda ground to a halt. Poor thing.

I did not win the autographed Heroes comic book. But I guess that's alright. I had oodles of fun anyway.