2008 oscars (84 posts)
Exclusive
Carrie Prejean: E!'s Oscar Underwear Babe Circa '08
Carrie Prejean wasn't always a scandal-tinged beauty queen. And we knew her when!
The still reigning Miss California USA struck a pre-Oscar pose for us in 2008 as a lingerie model for E!'s Countdown to the Red Carpet, which preceded our usual Academy Awards coverage hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic.
Prejean, who was 20 at the time, donned a lacy bra-and-pantie set by Cosabella for the cameras, which captured the San Diego native from head to toe.
During her time on the carpet, she shared a hug with E! correspondent Ben Lyons and, in a different segment hosted by Debbie Matenopoulos and Kim Kardashian, modeled a pair of sassy stilettos.
We feel Donald Trump would have approved.
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Oscar-Winning Once Couple Together No More
Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová may play together, but they haven't stayed together.
The former couple won an Oscar last year for their song "Falling Slowly" from the film Once. Hansard, a member of the Irish band the Frames, and Irglová starred in the movie as well, playing an Irish busker and a Czech immigrant who meet, make music together and fall in love.
During their Academy Award appearance, it seemed life had imitated art, but the romantic aspect of their relationship was not meant to be.
"It did become a real relationship," Hansard tells Australia's Sydney Morning Herald, where the duo is performing together at the famed Sydney Opera House. "I think it was just a very natural part of what we were doing together. We had made the film. We had gone through so much with the Oscar...
"It was a very necessary part of our friendship, but I think we both concluded that that wasn't what we really wanted to do. So we're not together now. We are just really good friends."
John Dodges Date Q's but Says, "I Love My Situation"
John Mayer gets flirty with E!'s Giuliana Rancic at the Met Costume Institute gala Monday evening. Decked out in Giorgio Armani, the Gravity singer chats about his sense of style but plays coy when it comes to his love life.
When pressed on the Jennifer Aniston question, he only says, "I'm smart enough to know cause and effect and if I stand here and say, 'Oh, yeah, yeah,'—cause and effect, baby. I love my life and my situation."
You're still speaking volumes, John.
Catch more from the big event on E!'s Live From the Red Carpet: Met Gala, Thursday, May 8 @ 8 p.m.
Julia and George Glam Up the Met Gala
Good friends Julia Roberts and George Clooney walked the red carpet together Monday night at the Met Costume Institute gala—with none other than fashion legend Giorgio Armani in tow.
Check out E!'s Giuliana Rancic putting gorgeous George's Italian-translating skills to the test—and for more celeb antics, don't miss E!'s Live From the Red Carpet: Met Gala, Thursday, May 8 @ 8 p.m.
10 Things You Don't Know About the Oscars
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Barry King/WireImage.com
There aren’t many people who know what really goes on backstage at the Oscars. Bruce Vilanch is one of the few who does. The funnyman has been a writer for 19 Academy Awards.
And talk about a rush job. “Last week was nuts, because I was in Las Vegas until Thursday doing Bette Midler shows, because I really thought that the Oscars would be postponed a month to the old date at the end of March,” Vilanch says. “But I was wrong. So, I had many balls in the air. I came in from Vegas and sort of like plummeted into it.”
But now he has some time to sit back and relax. I got the chance to catch up with Vilanch earlier today to give you my second annual list of 10 Things You Don’t Know About the Oscars.
10. No Country for New Jokes: The strike prevented Jon Stewart and his team from creating more elaborate hijinks. “They had a film piece, but it involved Javier Bardem, and he wasn’t available,” Vilanch says. “They just couldn’t put it together in two weeks. That’s what happens when my guild strikes.”
9. The Write Stuff: More than a dozen writers worked on the show. “There were four of us on the West Coast, and John had his squadron of 10 or 12 who came out from New York,” Vilanch says.
8. America's Most Wanted Jon: Stewart’s debut as Oscar host in 2006 may have gotten less than stellar reviews and ratings, but no matter. “I always thought they'd ask him back," Vilanch says. “I thought he was nervous...but I think he did fine."
7. Moore Not Less: Vilanch says he and the rest of the writing crew were disappointed that Michael Moore didn’t win Best Documentary for Sicko. “We were counting on him to come up and do something incendiary,” he says. “It would not only liven up the show, but it would also be something we could use as fuel for the rest of the evening.”
6. Carrey-ed Away
Vilanch & Co. had a similar letdown when Jim Carrey wasn't nominated for his portrayal of the late comic Andy Kaufman in the 1999 flick Man on the Moon. “We had a hysterical thing all worked up with Tony Clifton (a fictional character Kaufman often played in his act) crashing the Oscars,” Villanch remembers. “But then they ignored the picture totally, so the sound of flushing could be heard throughout the land.”
J.Love's Wedding Hiatus, Klum's Special Sauce and a Star Is Hot for Jonas Brothers
Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com
The Oscars and the parties may be over, but there's still tons of scoop out there. I've got lots of bits from the glitzy awards extravaganzas to give you. Read on for more about Jennifer Love Hewitt, the Jonas Brothers, Heidi Klum and one of the new celebrity contestants on Dancing with the Stars.
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Jennifer Love Hewitt hosted AIDS Project Los Angeles’ annual Oscar viewing party at the West Hollywood gay bar the Abbey. The Ghost Whisperer star said she and her fiancé, actor Ross McCall, haven’t been focusing on their wedding just yet. “I’m very excited, obviously,” she said. “We’ve talked about little details here and there, but now with [Ghost Whisperer] getting picked up, we have to wait until our hiatus.”
A way underdressed Dennis Rodman was a surprise guest at the event. “I wanted to come for one thing: the people here, the gay community,” the hoops star said. “You know what I’m saying?”
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Kate Beckinsale has the hots for a trio of guys—and we're not talking about her hubby, director Len Wiseman. During the Film Independent's Spirit Awards on Saturday, I commented to Beckinsale (we were guests at the Motorola table with Aaron Eckhart and Josh Hartnett, among others) how handsome Piaget Producers Award winner Neil Kopp was. The Snow Angels starlet cracked about the young Kopp, “He doesn’t even look legal!”
But then she quickly swooned, “But what about the Jonas Brothers? I took my daughter to one of their concerts, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God! Hot!’”
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New Dancing with the Stars contestant Shannon Elizabeth took some time out from rehearsing to hit the Silver Spoon gifting suite at Kress in Hollywood and grab a new Jawbone Bluetooth headset and more from Cosmetology makeup and the Single clothing collection.
Elizabeth doesn’t see herself taking home the disco-ball trophy: “I think [singer] Mario and Kristi Yamaguchi are going be like shoo-ins for the finals.”
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Did Elton John Drop His Pants for Charity?
©Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com
Sharon Stone sure knows how to get people to pay up.
She was a guest auctioneer at Elton John and David Furnish's Oscar gala benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. And while coaxing one fella to bid $1 million for a 1971 Stingray Corvette donated by her family, Stone sneered, "Don't be a p--sy!"
Sir Elton joined Stone onstage to try to get even more money for it. "Elton and I will sing a duet," Stone joked.
Better yet, John announced, "I'll take my trousers off."
Also up for bid was a rare black-and-white print by the late photographer Helmut Newton. X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner bid first with $150,000. When bidding hit a high of $900,000, the auctioneer pleaded with Ratner to go for a million. "You have the money," the auctioneer said.
Ratner didn't bite.
Around 9:50, John started the night's performance with "The Bitch Is Back." Here's what else went down...
Whoopi: Oscar Diss Hurts
Get this: Whoopi Goldberg has emceed the Academy Awards telecast four times. She was the first woman to do so and the first African-American. Heck, she even has an Oscar of her own.
So, why was she nowhere to be found in the lingering clips of memorable hosty moments during Sunday's telecast? (As was, for the record, Steve Martin.)
An emotional Whoopi opened up about the snub on The View today, discussing the great-hosts montage with her cohosts. "Undoubtedly, I pissed somebody off yet again," she said, before nearly and clearly choking up.
What do you think? Was this a goof or a snub? Vote below, and sound off in Comments.
Burning Oscar Questions—So Answered!
Dustin Snipes / Sharp Shot
You people have so many questions about Sunday's Oscars. They've created an avalanche in my in-box, so let's dig out, shall we? Mostly, you're pestering me about Brad Renfro and Miley Cyrus, but I'll do you better. I'll nail all your answers here in a special Academy Awards Lightning Round from E! Online's Answer B!tch.
Why are certain nonmovie stars, like Sean Combs and Miley Cyrus, invited to attend or present at the Oscars? Shouldn't this prestigious event be just for those nominated and industry heavyweights?
—Julie, New York
Cyrus recently released a film version of her concert, and that technically makes her a movie star. ("Other than that," an Academy spokeswoman says, "I don't know what to tell you.") She also attracts a young audience, something the Oscar producers probably wanted. (Not that the strategy worked. The Oscars were a ratings nightmare.) Hence Cyrus' position as presenter. As for Combs, I suspect that the diamond-seeking sensor array implanted in his brain drew him to the corner of Hollywood and Highland, and the security people stood aside to prevent any gem-related violence.
Who was that cute little girl sitting next to Viggo Mortensen at the Oscars?
—Ruth, Miami
That is his niece Sydney.
Why was Brad Renfro not mentioned in the annual montage tribute to those who have passed during the 80th Academy Awards broadcast?
—Juice, Fresno, California
I quizzed a spokeswoman about this, and here's what she said...
Hot Clip: Bardem a Winner with Cruz, Too?
Big winner/handsome man Javier Bardem may have brought his mother to the Academy Awards, but he wisely swapped out arm candy before a night of partying. Here, he's leaving Villa nightclub with his brand-new Oscar and, of course, Penélope Cruz. Earlier, the two were spotted dancing and snuggling at Prince's postshow party.
Exclusive! Madonna Oscar Party Scoop
Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder. Fonder for parties, that is.
I hear one of the highlights of Madonna's post-Oscar party with Demi Moore and Guy Oseary, held at Oseary's L.A.-area manse, was the Le Tourment Vert absinthe. Yes, absinthe! (Yep, the strong green stuff's legal again.)
While the party was superVIP and closed to the press, I've got some more details for you.
Among the guests were Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Cameron Diaz, Forest Whitaker, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Piven, Wesley Snipes and, fresh from their megastar AIDS fundraiser with Chopard and VH1, Sir Elton John and David Furnish.
No official word on this, but I hear Kate Hudson wanted to bring more than one guest to Madge's bash. A source tells me the starlet was told she'd have to personally call Moore to ask. No word yet if Hudson ever made it to the party or bothered to call.
Most of the party was in Oseary's tented backyard. The tennis courts were covered and transformed into a lounge area.
—Filed by Marc Malkin
Hot Clip of a Hot Item: Penn + Petra
We hit you with scoop of this new couple earlier, but play the video above to get an even more intimate look at love in bloom. As in, the night's Best New Item Sean Penn and Petra Nemcova leaving Elton John's Oscar party to a flurry of flashbulbs, in the wee hours.
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