Greg's List: Events of 2007
The coolest part of my job is getting to go to all kinds of events that I'd never otherwise be invited to like the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys, the Golden Globes and on and on. It was not easy to narrow down my favorites but I gave it a shot. Here is a recap my top five favorite events of 2007. The selections are based soley on how good a time I had.
The Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon: One really cool thing about the Oscar nominees luncheon is that there is no pecking order when it comes to seating. Nominees are spread out throughout the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom which means there is no single table dedicated to "The Departed" or "Babel" etc.
So this is why I found myself sitting right NEXT to Jennifer Hudson at lunch. You know, "Can you pass the butter?" close.Then the table right next to us fills up and i realize I am sitting back-to-back with Leonardo DiCaprio...Even though I have covered the industry for going on eight years, I realize that this is a really singular experience for me and I try and take it all in. But I'm also hungry so I'm not so overcome with awe that I don't dig into an appetizer platter ...;
The 2007 GLAAD Awards: Neil Patrick Harris seemed very at ease as he did interviews on the red carpet. When he got to me he said: "It's enjoyable. This is my first GLAAD Awards and everybody's really nice and it's representing good positivity so I'm all for that."I asked him if being out publicly has changed his life much. "Oh, not at all. But I was never really skulking around so it's all kind of interesting." I met Matthew Rhys (Don't we look cute together? Take THAT Scotty!). When he started talking to me, I had to stop and laugh. I said, "I've never heard you talk with the accent! I've never heard your real voice." The Welsh actor, who does a superb American accent as Kevin, cracked up. Mathew walked the red carpet with co-stars Ron Rifkin and Patricia Wettig and the three of them were having a ball. That must be a fun set. Then a serious question for Mr. Rhys: who is a better kisser? Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) or Chad (Jason Lewis)?
"It's like choosing between a Porche and a Mercedes. But Jason Lewis has very soft lips."
Also gabbed with Loni Anderson about "So NoTORIous," Dave Annable and Jason Lewis about "Brothers & Sisters," Garry Marshall about "Beaches" Darryl Stephens and the cast of "Boy Culture" and John Amaechi and Dave Koz about being out and proud. To read all about my red carpet encounters on that night, click HERE.
The Advocate 40th Anniversary Party:I was invited to anniversary gala for The Advocate as a guest and wanted to enjoy the evening just meeting people and hanging out. But at the last minute, I stick my tape recorder in my pocket (just in case) and I dash out the door. When I got to the party at Republic near West Hollywood, I saw a red carpet and headed straight to it instead of the guest check-in table. I had stars to interview! Had not reserved a space on the red carpet but just crashed it. Just sorta got right in there and stuck my recorder in Nikki Blonsky's face! Got all kinds of great interviews that night including chats with TR Knight, Katherine Heigl and James Marsden. Click HERE for the full recap!
LA Gay & Lesbian Gala: Jenifer Lewis got three standing ovations, Lorri Jean inspired everyone, Alec Mapa had more costume changes than Diana Ross, Shirley MacLaine was in a playful mood, and Linda Ronstadt performed a lovely version of "Time After Time" with the Gay Men's Chorus without telling the audience how sick she was.It was the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Gala and Auction at the Century Plaza Hotel. It was my first time at this event. I've attended many center events over the years that night was the first time I really got it. I got how good this organization is, how important it is and how much it means to so many people. To read a more extended version from that evening, click HERE.
Outfest 2007: Why does the Los Angeles LBGT Film Festival mean so much to me? It is such a pleasure to be able to see people like me up there on the screen in so many different genres and in well-written, well-acted quality films of substance. I was sititng with a twentysomething friend at one of the screenings this summer who was feeling sort of over everything.
And I said to him: "You know why I'm not over everything? Because I remember what it was like to live in the closet, to not have many gay movies to see and many of those out there were about painful subjects like AIDS and living in the closet. There were so few stories with hope and that really shapes you when you're a teen and in your 20s. You wonder, "How can I ever have a happy life?"
But Outfest is about more than seeing terrifc movies (I took in about 30 this year between screenings and screeners) and meeting stars and directors and writers. It's about having fun with friends and making all kinds of new acquaintances. I've gotten so many nice e-mails in recent days from people saying: "What are we going to do now that Outfest is over?" Mainly, it's just the whole experience of being with thousands of people for nearly two weeks and having so many shared experiences - kind of like an alternative universe of gay people.
Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily
News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession
with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen
at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never
seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.