First…forgive me NOW because I love Oprah and I love the Oscars… so this post is L-O-N-G! I wanted to capture all of my favorite moments…and I fear I may have even left some out. So, grab a drink and sit down…we’re going with Oprah to the Oscars!
This is an EXCITING Behind the Scenes taking us through the Oscar Show process and this year, we get an extra look because O is presenting too! How cool is this? But always a reminder that she is one of us…Oprah starts out this week asking if she’s “just one of those mother’s who thinks her child is so darn cute?” Maybe…but Sophie does steal the show when she’s in the room. Just saying, it could be a whole new adventure with Sadie. “Her father and I think there’s nothing like her,” Oprah shares. Proud mama. Totally understand!
For the Oscars, Oprah tells us that years ago, they decided that they LOVE going to the show and doing the after show. So, knowing that this is the last time the Oprah Winfrey Show would be there…they know that this one has to be the biggest and the best show ever!
Asking the questions that all of us would like to know, Sheri Salata asks Oprah, “How did you find out you were nominated?” Oprah tells us that “I was at AM Chicago…25 years ago.” She tells us how when she went to the Oscars oh so long ago, she failed to try on the dress before the show. As she tells it, “I had a guy do the dress and when I finally tried it on before the Oscars it was like 2 inches too tight on either side. They had to lay me down on the ground, press my butt down. I had to have Gayle and Andre stand me up…when I finally got out of the gown, they had to cut it off of me…lesson learned…never go to any event without trying on first what has been especially made for you.” We’ll just jot that down in our book of Oprah lessons…who knows, someday it may come in handy!
This year Oprah is presenting for Best Documentary. Maybe Oprah will be there next year WITH a best doc nod…who knows. GO OWN Doc-Club! Anyway…critical to this shows success is Cindi Mori, Director of Booking & Talent Relations. To make sure that stars are lined up to come back to the Kodak Theater to talk to Oprah the next day is grueling and emotional we find out tonight. Almost as grueling and emotional as finding something to wear! Kelly Hurliman, Oprah’s Wardrobe Stylist, has the wonderful task of helping Oprah choose what gown to wear for both presenting at the Oscars ceremony and for her show the next day. Looking over sketches by Fashion Designer, Zac Posen, Oprah points out what she likes and doesn’t like. YEAH, we have a designer!
As we get closer to the Oscars, just four days before the Oscars, Rep, Robert Brotherton and Couturier, Camilla Huey from Zac Posen arrive for Oprah’s fitting in Chicago. Always with a critical eye, Adam Glassman, Creative Director for O Magazine is there to help the process along and give his attention to the dress. But really, Oprah knows what to wear, what looks good and what feels right and this dress is just beautiful on her. Bravo Zac Posen.
As Novana Cruz, Oprah’s Executive Assistant makes sure that Sadie and her boss are ready to get on a plane and go, Kelly Lucey from the Booking Department is working each angel to make sure that everything is lined up with the nominees. Harpo is buzzing…and busy! Finally in Los Angeles, Harpo sets up offices in the Renaissance Hotel (Harpo-West) next to the Kodak Theater. Another buzzing office all ready to go!
Taking us through the Oscar rituals, Oprah tells us she went through two facials, nails, hair and a must trip to Anastasia Soare to get her brows done. Lots of work to be beautified! Love it! Such a girly thing! Kelly tells us that her wonderful job as Oprah’s stylist also means that she gets to go with Oprah to LA to help her get ready for the night and for the other couple of “Oscar things” that she’ll be doing. But for the promo, they don’t see eye to eye. Kelly wants Oprah to be in a nice set of pajamas…but Oprah wants to wear her nightgown/sweats. Oprah, either would have been fine…you are right…just something that is genuine. We can smell ‘fake.’ Here’s a tip – put Sadie in the shot. She’ll steal the show! 🙂
And the countdown begins…4 hours before the show Oprah is with Gayle getting her hair done. 3 hours before Erin Sermeus, Manager of Booking and Talent Relations arrives at the Harpo-West all “Oscarfied” and looking marvelous. Erin reports they are all good – everyone’s lined up. 2 hours before Oprah shows signs of getting sick. Andre has to tell her that the Echinacea probably won’t work this late in the game…but we all have to believe. 30 minutes before the ceremony, Oprah reports that she is “full on sick.” “I was back in my hotel in my pajamas before the Oscars went off,” Oprah tells us…watching with Sadie. Love it!
Funniest thing…Oprah tells us that as she is presenting at the Oscars, she starts feeling a little woozy and realizes Hugh Jackman is sitting right in front of her. “I looked down and saw Hugh Jackman and I actually had the thought while I was still reading ‘If I pass out, Hugh will jump up and he will continue reading the nominees,’” Oprah says. “If you pass out or you fall, stay down. Stay down. Let them drag you off. They’ll go to commercial. Hugh will carry on with the nominations and it will be fine. You’ll be all over YouTube but you will be fine.” Oprah…now that would have been a TRUE Oscar moment. And Gayle would have caught it on her FlipCam!
Solid on the show, the winners and the segments, Oprah heads off to sleep…then, the drama begins. An Emergency Booking Meeting starts in the morning and Cindi Mori and Andrea Wishom are a little upset! Natalie Portman cancels. Her publicist made the dreaded call saying that because she is pregnant and exhausted she’s not coming. Ever calm Sheri puts it into perspective. “Let it go….You know, Oprah is not going to want anybody to come that doesn’t want to come,” Sheri tells them. Sheri reminds us that this is the toughest show for the booking team…so, it is emotional. As a viewer…let me tell you all – didn’t notice because the rest of the show was AMAZING! And getting Katy Perry to show up – how wonderful was that part! Bravo Harpo Oscar Team! Now, you just need to get Rosie to carry on the tradition…because seriously, what are we going to watch next year after the Oscars?
As Oprah gets ready for the show, Amy Coleman, Supervising Producer and Julie Simpson, Senior Producer, ask Oprah her take on Natalie Portman’s cancellation. “Good for her,” Oprah says. “I can’t tell you the number of times I have said ‘Yes’ to something then the hour arrives and I didn’t want to do it.” Oprah actually felt better she tells us…because it allowed her to not be so rushed. “I never sweat anything…” Oprah says. “If that doesn’t work out, something else will show itself.” Another lesson…thank you Oprah.