Covering Hollywood's red carpets has definitely taken a toll on Steven Cojocaru, the flamboyant fashion reporter usually endured on Entertainment Tonight.
The style sniper used to be a dead ringer for hip hairstylist-to-the-stars Sally Hershberger.
But at the recent Emmys, Cojo appeared to be morphing into talk show hostess Ellen DeGeneres.
And you thought Joan Rivers was scary…..
Photo Credits: WireImage
Poor Kathy Griffin.
Her garish clown-face at the recent Emmy Awards was a major makeup disaster that could so easily have been avoided.
If only she - and, let's be honest, a few other Emmy attendees with overdone, poorly blended makeup - had gone to the L’Oreal flagship boutique in the Beverly Center.
All they had to do was step into the store’s custom-built “immersive light environment,” aka the Light Pod, a cubicle-sized white room with mirrors and switches.
Inside, with just the flip of a flip of a switch, the actresses could have checked out their makeup in various lights, from a soft candlelit dinner to a dimly-lit club all the way to the retina-searing revelations of the red carpet.
Inside the Light Pod, any woman can instantly see how essential blending and correct color selection is for walking the red carpet. Just press the 'Red Carpet' button and prepare yourself for a shock. Every flaw, every wrinkle, every red spot (past, present and future) is visible with the flood of flash. Slightly crooked lip liner, smudged eyeshadow, harsh blush? Your face looks like a billboard of makeup blunders.
There's no charge to use the room and check out your face. The most commonlyused settings are 'Daylight', 'Overcast' and 'Open Window.' The L’Oreal girls will even give you a how-to tour. But if you want a makeup artist to do your makeup inside the Light Pod at a particular setting, it costs $30 and takes about an hour. Best to call ahead 310-360-6555 to sked.
But here’s the really cool part. 
Say you’re meeting friends at a hip Hollywood nightspot and you really wanna look hot, like ‘Dude-I-so-gotta-get-her-number’ hot.
The L’Oreal makeup artists can flip a switch from their "Hotspots" lights such as Lucque’s, Spider Club, Koi, The Belmont, Concord, A.O.C, The Bel Age, Eye Candy or Geisha House. Then they'll make you up accordingly.
Doing a double or triple-header? You can make sure which nitespots you're guaranteed to look good in and steer clear of the rest. “No, I don’t wanna meet you at Koi. And don’t ask me why.”
Since hotspots go in and out of style faster than hemlines go up and down, new clubs are being added. And sadly, some will be deleted, depending on whether Lindsay and Nicole are still showing up. “We’re updating all the time,” explains L’Oreal’s Erin Doolan. “We’re going to get Mood, Joseph’s Café, and I think Teddy’s.”
How does L’Oreal duplicate the light levels at these happening spots?
“They go there and use some kind of light measuring machine, and capture the light levels and then put it into a computer,” says Doolan. “Some really smart people do it.”
Let’s just hope some really smart actresses – like Tyra Banks, who stopped by L’Oreal’s Light Pod a few weeks before the Emmys – will use the Light Pod during the next Awards Season.
Photo Credits: Perhaps better lighting would have helped Kathy Griffin's harsh Emmy face.
WireImage/Jeff Mayer
Photo Credits: Clearly, Tyra Banks found the perfect light for her winning Emmy look.
WireImage/Steve Granitz
In response to my query about what the double finger salute from by the perpetually partying and late-to-the set actress Lindsay Lohan and her "I scowl, therefore I'm tough" DJ pal Samantha Ronson at the Entertainment Weekly pre Emmy party really meant...
Turns out It's not a new millennium Peace Sign or a modern V for Victory double digit flash.
An HB reader writes "The "peace sign" Lohan's friend is giving you is the British version of the finger, meaning "Get Stuffed" or, translated, "Up Yours."
Just to refresh, here are the girls flipping us off. Gosh, their mothers must be so proud.
Neither Prince nor Pink performed at the lavish HBO Emmy bash at the Pacific Design Center. They were busy at their respective gigs – the ET/People party at the Mondrian hotel and the TV Guide bash at Social Hollywood.
But some of the dancers gyrating to the pulse-pounding, percussion-heavy disco tunes (think “Jungle Boogey”) at the HBO Emmy bash were reportedly pros hired to get the party started.
And it worked. Aida Turturro, who plays Tony’s sister on “The Sopranos,” was the first to do a victory dance for HBO’s 26 Emmy wins. She also tried (unsuccessfully) to drag Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen on the floor but the adorable Skater Girl was too busy doing HBO star-gazing.
And there were plenty of luminaries, honchos and Emmy winners to watch in the clear plexi-tented sprawling patio party, decorated with starfish squiggled carpets, pinky orange lights, bubbling water fountains and buffet tables piled high with beet salad, chicken, pork chops, spicy seafood, and dessert tables littered with tiny crème brulees and baby brownies.
A red-gowned Edie Falco was enthralled with a man performing sleight-of-hand magic tricks at the “Sopranos” table while Lorraine Bracco –in glittery gold - chatted with a pal from Miami, where the show has - and will continue to be – shooting. Stevie Van Zandt – not a bit surprised that “24” won big and pleased about “The Office” acclaim - chowed down at a table next to his jovial "Sopranos" co-starJames Gandolfini.
Warren Beatty looked engrossed in deep conversation with New York Times film writer Sharon Waxman while his “Mrs. Harris” Emmy nominated wife Annette Bening talked about her daughter’s fashion sense with a friend she’d not seen since Carrie Fisher’s birthday party.
A few folks looked up briefly when cameras flashed as Paris Hilton slithered by the “Sopranos” table, but they quickly went back to celebrating. Candy Spelling and her son Randy arrived together but quickly seemed to go their separate ways.
Lisa Kudrow didn’t get a gold statue but she still reveled in the validation from her nomination for “The Comeback.”
“It does feel sweet that we got three nominations and so much good press,” she admitted. As she thanked a People scribe for complimenting her black Valentino dress, Kudrow’s handsome French hubby Michel Stern piped in, “It is the back that is even more gorgeous. That is why I wanted her to get onstage, not to pick up that silly thing, but to show the gorgeous back!”
Okay, sweet. But no more Moet & Chandon pink bubbly for you.
“Ray” director Taylor Hackford congratulated an overwhelmed Kelly MacDonald ("The Girl in the Café”) while his Emmy-winner "Elizabeth" wife Helen Mirren, heavenly in a white chiffon Morgana Le Fay gown, hugged her Emmy-holding co-star Jeremy Irons. And it's not easy to hug when holding an Emmy. You could easily put someone's eye out with that sharp winged thing.
Across the room, HBO’s other Jeremy - Jeremy Piven - was literally holding court, his “Entourage” Emmy safely standing on his table. Wearing his now loosened up ascot, Piven was getting high fives, backslaps and hug-it-outs from Kevin Connolly and Nicky Hilton, Adrian Grenier, Perrey Reeves, friends and fans while his Emmy date – his exhausted mom – sat staring at her empty plate with her hands cupped over her ears.
There’s only so much disco a mom can take. Even for her Emmy-winning, ascot-wearing actor son.
The only person enjoying Piven’s win more than Piven was Ari Gold’s assistant Lloyd, played by Rex Lee. So is he worried about Piven’s ego explosion after getting a shot of Emmy gold?
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Lee confided. “And even if the worst thing happened and he got a big head and became insufferable, I could still – if I wanted to – avoid him when we weren’t working. But I get the best of him at work. He’s brilliant and kind-hearted and it’s a blessing to have such great onscreen chemistry.”
At midnight, the party was barely beginning to thin out. Exhausted Emmy host Conan O’Brien was outside talking with Megan Mullally, holding her Emmy and talking about her new talk show, natch. O’Brien’s wife had taken her high heels off and was teetering in her bare feet waiting for their car at the backed-up valet.
Grenier - without any entourage at all – ran down the street and hopped into a small car, probably to whisk over to a hotter party around town. But Lee ran outside to tell departing pals, “You go on. I’m staying here at HBO.”
Wise move, Lloyd.
Photo Credits:
Adrian Grenier's only faux pouting about Jeremy Piven's Emmy win at the HBO shindig. I think.
WireImage/John Sciulli
Lisa Kudrow arrives at HBO's bash with husband Michel Stern. And he's definitely watching her back!
WireImage/Mark Sullivan
Photo Credits: The queen and her consort - Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons - put their heads together at the HBO Emmy party
WireImage/John Sciulli
Even counterterrorist agent Jack Bauer would have had trouble with the nuclear explosion of congrats showering “24” star Kiefer Sutherland Sunday night.
The actor, still clutching his winged Emmy victory statue for Outstanding Actor in a Drama, sounded overwhelmed, using words like “humbling,” “grateful,” and "thankful,” when he finally made it to the Fox party at Spago in Beverly Hills.
But everyone at the bash agreed: the Kiefer Kudo Attack was long over-due. Sutherland was nominated for the role for five years and rumors were floating around town early Sunday afternoon that this could be the actor’s big night.
After hugging the actor, even Jon Cassar, the Emmy-winning director of “23,” admitted that he’d felt pretty darn sure Sutherland would take home a gold statue.
Inside the packed party, guests including Dennis Haysbert, Jaime Pressley, and Wentworth Miller, who had waited patiently for Sutherland to make his way from the Shrine, had been feeding like locusts on Wolfgang Puck’s spread of seafood, sushi, spring roles and platters of pizza.
Photo Credits: Emmy winners Kiefer Sutherland and "24" director John Cassar have two big shiny gold reasons to smile at the Fox Emmy Party Sunday night.
WireImage/Alexandra Wyman
A few stray stars showed up for the Academy of Televison Arts and Sciences party to honor the Emmy nominees at the Pacific Design Center Friday night.
"Rescue Me" star Denis Leary wandered in with his wife Ann. The couple looked around horrified and grabbed a quick nibble from the seafood bar. Cloris Leachman did a longer seated chow down and Jane Kaczmarek ran in and out at the last minute.
This made the highlight of the party the official Emmy sponsor Dove Chocolate display – spinning chocolate trays and a box that opened like a snapping treasure chest – complete with bags for guests to scoop up lotsa chocolate and take it home to stuff their faces.
The far more star-studded affair that night was the Gersh Agency’s annual Emmy nominee bash at the Sunset Towers, sponsored by the numero uno high-end tequila Grand Centenario.
Held out by the pool overlooking the twinkle lights of LA, the movers-and-shakers mixer honored Gersh’s big E nominees Debra Messing, Chris Meloni, Elizabeth Perkins, Kyra Sedgwick, Megan Mullally, Kelly MacDonald, and Jeffrey Tambor, along with several "Project Runway" designers such as Nick, Santino, and Raymundo.
Also enjoying the view:, Mary McCormack, Holland Taylor, James Vanderbeek, Balthazar Getty, Kevin Bacon, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Nealon, Jonathan Silverman, Robin Tunney. Blythe Danner, who’s not even with the agency, came by to catch up with Messing. Which makes sense. Remember she played Will’s Mom on “Will and Grace” and they’ve both won Women in Film Lucy Awards.
Messing, chatting with Santino, introduced the fledging fashion force to Warren Littlefield, former head of NBC, saying, “And now I want you to meet the man who responsible for my entire career.” At which point, a grateful Santino hugged Littlefield.
Gosh, moments like those are just priceless.
"The Girl in the Cafe" nominee MacDonald ("Nanny McPhee") told me that her dress that night - a sweet, old-fashioned beige frock - cost just $9.99. Turns out it was purchased in a little clothing shop in New Mexico and reworked by costume designer Mary Zophres on MacDonald's just-wrapped Cohen brothers film, “No Country for Old Men.”
The film, based on a Cormac McCarthy novel, stars Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones and Woody Harrelson. “Yeah, I know,” Kelly said, with that adorable Scottish lilt. “What a bunch of no-talents.”
At the Emmys, Kelly will wear a slightly more upscale frock from Elsie Katz Couture. “They were so lovely and showed me two dresses. The first was kind of a white flapper dress and it was very pretty but the alternate was the one I really loved.”
And no, I’m not going to spoil the surprise and give away any more details. You’ll just have to watch the show to see it.
Photo Credits: Denis Leary and wife make a pit stop at the official Emmy nominee party Friday night.Apparently, no one told that that one goes to it.
WireImage/Mark Sullivan
Photo Credit: Kelly MacDonald - seen here at the London premiere of "Nanny McPhee" - will wear an Elsie Katz design to today's Emmys.
WireImage/Ferdaus Shamim
Top LA hair colorist Negin Zand’s clients include oh, just a few famous females with fabulous hair: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson and Mariska Hargitay.
So she clearly knows a little something about coloring hair but keeping it healthy. Her trademark is highlights and color that looks completely natural using Bailage, not foils.
So what’s going to look new on the Emmy carpet Sunday?
“I don’t think any actress is going to make a big change right before a big event or an awards show. It’s not the time. Plus it’s the end of summer and not yet fall so it’s a strange time for a color change.”
But Zand, who works at Sally Hershberger's Salon on Melrose Place, does suggest John Frieda’s new Luminous Color Glaze, the first and only at-home glaze treatment that adds a touch of color, a boost of shine and a smooth silky feel in just three minutes.
“It’s genius,” Zand raved Thursday at the John Frieda Pre Emmy Suite in the Roosevelt Hotel penthouse suite, where she’d been glazing Jaime Pressley, Ming Na and Tia Carrera’s hair.
“There’s never been a product like this for home use. It will keep your color fresher longer with just a hint of color and a lot of shine.”
So now you know why Pressley's hair will look so darn shiny on Sunday. She's been glazed!
Photo Credits: Jaime Pressley gets glazed by top colorist Negin Zand at the John Frieda Pre- Emmy Suite on Thursday.
WireImage/Lester Cohen
I know you've all been holding your breath until you found out which actresses may wear Jimmy Choo heels to Sunday's Emmy Awards and the after-parties.
Here is your long-awaited list of Choo-Junkie nominees, presenters and guests:
Kyra Sedgwick, Ellen Pompeo, Katherine Heigl, Heather Locklear, Calista Flockhart, Evangeline Lilly, Kelly MacDonald, Cheryl Hines, Candice Bergen, Jaime Pressley, Jaime King, Megan Mullally, Jenna Fischer, Leslie Bibb, Jacelyn Smith, Tina Fey, Kelly Carlson, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Judy Reyes.
Hopefully, some of these gals will be sporting those shorter skirts we've been hearing about so we can finally see these darn expensive, sexy shoes.
Photo Credits:. Kyra Sedgwick looks elegant at the Loverboy premiere in New York in June. Bet she looks even better at Sunday's Emmy Awards. But wear a short skirt, we beg you.
WireImage/Jim Spellman
Keira Knightley may not be nominated for an Emmy. But the young Oscar nominated actress is definitely hitting the Emmy swag circuit.
Yesterday the "Pride and Prejudice" star surprised everyone by showing up at the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet where she picked up a new pair of dangling diamond earrings by Arezzo (a mere $7,500) from the folks at the Diamond Journey booth.
The stones are arranged from the smallest to the largest to sympolize how love becomes more intense and meaningful over time.
Or not.
Keira told the diamond girls, "I love the concept of Journey because it symbolizes the exciting things that have happened in my life and how far I've come."
You have come pretty far, Keira.
But you've arrived at an Emmy pampering/shopping suite along with Tara Reid, Ellen Barkin, Lacey Chabert, Caroline D'Amore, Jason Davis and Kathy Griffin.
Now run for your life. And save your ever-lasting soul.
Photo Credit: Keira loves her new diamond danglies from the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet. Wonder if she had to fight Ellen Barkin for them.
Photo by Paige Mycoskie
