He spoke about this dream gig and more. Here are some excerpts from the Advocate:
You’re the successor to Army Archerd and Robert Osborne as the Academy Award’s official red carpet greeter/interviewer. How did this come about?
It was as much a surprise to me as everyone. A month or two ago I was asked by the Academy to help them with programming on their “Road to Oscars” series on Oscar.com. I helped put together these two minute long packages about each of the 10 best picture nominees. About two weeks before the ceremony I got a call asking if I’d be willing and interested to be their official greeter. It’s a position I’ve known about and dreamed about for years. The first year I went to the Oscars was 1998, which was the year Titanic won. I remember walking down the carpet and seeing Army Archerd and thinking that one day I would absolutely love to do that. And later Robert Osborne, who is someone I know and look up to and I cohosted a weekend of Turner Classic Movies with him. To follow in the footsteps of Army Archerd and Robert Osborne, are you kidding me? It was an honor.
I’m sure it’s harder work than it seems. Did you manage to have some fun?
I had such a blast. It was truly one of the highlights of my career. There were 722 people in the bleachers and they were like an audience on Oprah’s “Favorite Things.” I thought their heads would start exploding when I announced Sandra Bullock or Colin Firth or Celine Dion. They went bonkers. I loved it.
Which celebrity most surprised you last night?
Russell Brand. He was out of his mind. I loved every second of it. It’s the Oscars so most people are in serious mode. He grabbed the microphone out of my hand and started addressing the crowd. It was hilarious. Another surprising moment was Eli Wallach. He also took the mike out of my hand and started speaking to the crowd. It’s moments like that on the red carpet that I live for.
What was the gayest moment of the Oscars last night?
James Franco in drag No, Iain Canning, one of the producers of The King’s Speech, thanking his boyfriend. I loved that. That’s terrific. No wait, the gayest moment was me interviewing Tim Gunn on my platform on the carpet. [Laughs]
In your opinion what was the biggest Oscar snub this year?
Ryan Gosling not being nominated for Blue Valentine. That’s ridiculous to me. I’m very biased. I loved that movie and I haven’t shut up about it since I saw it. It doesn’t make sense how they can recognize Michelle Williams and not Ryan Gosling because the movie was so much about the two of them. It just does not make sense.
Many people were surprised that Burlesque failed to receive nominations for song and costumes. Do you think this was a reaction to the controversy that Screen Gems flew Golden Globe voters to Las Vegas to see Cher?
I don’t think most Oscar voters follow that stuff. I think they just didn’t like the movie. I was surprised that that song didn’t get nominated. I don’t think the movie overall was perceived as being classy enough to get an Oscar nomination for best costume. If you look at the films nominated for best costume, such as Alice in Wonderland, I Am Love, and The King’s Speech, they have a little more pedigree. The best song omission surprised me. I liked Dianne Warren’s “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” and I thought Cher just killed it.
Go to Advocate.com to read the entire interview.
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