Styles & Scenes

Is "Lost" losing its DVD punch?

Hundreds of journalists who attended last summer’s big “Lost” Season One DVD launch event are still talking about it. Including (full disclosure) me. I covered the bash as a freelancer writing for the now defunct Variety publication, VLife.

First, there were the free flights to Oahu and lodgings at the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore of the island. Then there was the travel intinerary/party invite with an Oceanic Airlines plane ticket for a tram ride to the secret party location, complete with chirpy stewardesses handing out packages of peanuts.

The 'flight' hit a little planned 'turbulence' (a bumpy road and slightly erratic steering by the driver) as the tram performed a rocky landing in the dark jungle. Hidden speakers blasted loud roars and sounds of crashing vegetation as guests and reporters followed the colored lights to a clearing deep in the mangroves.

The centerpiece of the party  was a burned Oceanic fuselage, where a band performed while guests enjoyed Hawaiian fare and tropical fruit drinks, occasionally checking out the penned and totally bored wild boar.

Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Naveen Andrews, Jorge Garcia, Dominic Monaghan, Terry O'Quinn, Daniel Dae Kim and others came to talk to reporters waiting on the red carpet rolled out on the sand. Even the cast was impressed by the elaborate jungle party space, where the sand was specially cleared and cleaned for the event.

With all this planning it's no wonder the event, executed by Paradigm Shift Worldwide, just won the Event Marketer Organization’s 2006 EX Award for “Best Press Event (Consumer/Mass Media).”

“We wanted to create an event that got our talent, guests, and the press to experience ‘Lost’ as if they were really in that environment,” Gordon Ho, Buena Vista Home Entertainment told Event Marketer, a trade publication. “We wanted to enable the press to feel excited about it—to be able to have in-depth conversations with the talent about the DVD and the show, and then translate that to the consumer.”

So how will BV top this act? They’re not even gonna try.

The next “Lost” Season Two DVD Release event is again being held at the Turtle Bay Resort on August 15 for the DVD which will be released on Sept 5. But for starters, the invited press list has been drastically cut.

“We’re only inviting half the press we did last year and the list is mostly broadcast press,” says an inside source. “The red carpet was so long last year that it took the cast members two hours to do the press line.”

And that expensive bungle in the jungle party? It’s been changed to a much smaller party at the resort’s spiffy new 125-seat restaurant, Ola, (meaning life or living), which was under construction at the time of the last launch.

The party is still early in the planning stages and more intricate details about the “Lost” launch may be forthcoming. But it's worth noting that one reason for this year's low key shindig could be that BVHE, a division of financially challenged Disney Studios, may be feeling the Disney purse strings tightening up. Especially since 650 Disney employees were let go yesterday.

Or maybe BVHE is just not willing to pony up to promote “Lost,” which was noticeably – and explicably - snubbed for so many Emmys this year. Does this much smaller and less expensive “Lost” DVD launch signal the death bell of the hit ABC show as a moneymaking franchise?

Let's hope not.

Photo Credit: A close look at the "Lost" DVD Season One launch party in a jungle near Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu in 2005.
Photo by Elizabeth Snead

"Lost" hottie Evangeline Lily will heat up the Emmys

There is now proof positive of the power of prayer and the existence of God.

At least for fans of “Lost.”

After the devastating lack of Emmy noms for the show’s cast, we’ve received confirmation from on high that “Lost” super-sexy tom girl Evangeline Lilly will be a presenter at the Emmys.

Can we get a Hallelujah?

No word on what category she will present. But here's even more good news: her steady squeeze/costar Dominic Monaghan may also be at the ceremony. And while it’s too soon to confirm whether or not the “Lost” man of reason - Matthew Fox - will also be an Emmy presenter, as of post time, he’s a distinct possibility to hand out an award.

Lilly has been taking a break from shooting "Lost" until she’s due back on set in Oahu on August 5. After doing her big Michelle K footwear launch with a big bash at Kitson last month, she headed out on a vacation to parts unknown. Or at least, parts where she’s still unknown.

"The show is everywhere now,” she explained at Kitson. “I was in South Africa last summer and got recognized in a mall! Maybe I’ll try Mongolia or Timbuktu.”

Matthew was definitely not relaxing. He shot two films during his brief hiatus. First up, “We Are Marshall," shot in Atlanta and West Virginia, about a deadly plane crash (oh, no, not another deadly plane crash) that kills members of a football team and its fans and the new coach who keeps the survivors going. Jeepers. Let's hope there are no "others" around.

Fox’s other project is “Vantage Point,” a dramatic thriller (or a thrilling drama) about the assassination of the President told from five different perspectives, still filming in Mexico City.

As for what both of them may wear, I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict that Fox will wear a conservative classic tux. But Lilly? She’s literally up for grabs.

Since she’s one of about oh, about four actresses attending the Emmy Awards who can actually fit into a designer sample size, she’ll be major fashion bait, courted by every house from Armani to Prada, Dolce & Gabbana to Dior.

All I can safely predict is that Evangeline is gonna look hot on the Emmy carpet. And not just because of this ungodly summer heat wave.

Photo Credits: "Lost" hottie Evangeline Lilly - seen at her Michelle K shoe party - will be a breath of fresh fashion air at the upcoming Emmys. She's confirmed as a presenter and a dozen designers will be falling all over themselves to dress this babe.   
WireImage/Albert L. Ortega

"Desperate" Cherry picks PJs and spills secrets

What will “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry wear on Emmy night? Probably pajamas.

Cherry won’t be attending the show. 

“I didn't get invited,” Cherry said at the ABC All Star Party for the Television Critics Association held at Kidspace in Pasadena Wednesday night.

So will anyone from the show go? “I would assume that Felicity will go to present an award because it’s a tradition for the previous winner to present that award. But I don’t know for sure. I haven’t asked the girls if they’re going."

Word is they're not. But obviously, Alfre Woodard - nominated for Supporting Actress - will go.

“Alfre called to thank me for the flowers I sent and I asked her, 'So how many nominations is this for you? Four, five?' And she said, 'Seventeen.' So apparently every time she reads the phone book on TV, she gets nominated," Cherry said. "She is, and deservedly so, beloved by the Academy and a very talented actress. She’s also one of the loveliest human beings you will ever meet.”

Frankly, Cherry is relieved to stay home on August 27.

“I was very honored to be nominated last year but to sit there and lose twice with my mom sitting next to me was excruciating. Then you go to the parties and everyone comes up to you and says, 'You were robbed!' so I was like, 'This is the most annoying evening of my life.' I will be so happy to sit at home and watch other writers go through that.”

But isn’t he bothered about not being nominated?

“Am I a little bummed out? Sure. But my reaction to this is that I have to work harder this year and that’s what we’ve been doing. Listen, I went through a period of being unemployed, broke and having to borrow money from my mother. In terms of awful things happening to me, not getting nominated is pretty easy to handle.”

He was more surprised by other snubs. “To me, the shocker was "Lost." I thought that was odd to the point of 'what the heck is going on with the Academy?' For us, we’ll just work harder. It’s more important for me to feel like I’m doing the best job I can and I don’t think I did that last year. I’ve had my trial by fire. Actually, I feel like I’ve had two. The first year was the extreme phenomena of it all and last year was 'let me try some new things.' Some of those things aren’t working. So this new season, I feel for the first time, now I know what it is I need to do in order to do the show the way I want to do it.”

So what’s going to happen on Wisteria Lane in the new season? Cherry let some secrets slip...

Photo Credits: DH creator Marc Cherry was happy to get dressed up for the GLAAD awards on April 8, 2006. But he's gonna stick to PJs on Emmy night.
WireImage/Steve Granitz

"Lost" star gets into shoe biz

You’re probably wondering how “Lost’ hottie Evangeline Lilly became the new face of Michelle K footwear.

No? Well, even if you aren’t, you’re gonna find out if you keep reading this blather….

“One day, I was walking down the street and I tripped and fell on the sidewalk and when I looked up there were these cool shoes in front of me,” Lilly explained at a cocktail party at Kitson in West Hollywood. “Michelle (Kelchak) was wearing them! So I said, ‘Those shoes are amazing and she introduced herself and told me that she designed them. And that’s how it all started.”

Wow. Seriously? “No, it’s a lie,” Lilly said, flashing one of those adorable shit-eatin’ Kate grins she usually reserves for Sawyer, I mean, Josh Holloway.

Anyway, the “Lost” lassie finally ‘fessed up that becoming the Michelle K footwear girl was all very business-like. Their people called her people, etc. But she really does dig Michelle’s sporty sneakers, sandals and wedges. “I like shoes and clothes that have a bit of boy to them. Michelle’s designs are like that. Very sexy but with a guy edge.”

Kitson - known as Ground Zero for El-Lay Star Shopping Frenzies - was splattered with huge posters of Lilly’s shoe ads that will break in September in glossies like Vogue, Elle, In Style, People and Us Weeky. Lilly's "Lost" co-star Harold Perrineau even stopped by the footwear fete to give his pal some arch support.

Both seemed to be enjoying the all-too brief hiatus from the Emmy-, SAG- and Globe-winning series. “I’ve been in LA for a while doing Michelle’s ads and some press," Lilly said. "Next I’m going to visit family and hopefully fit in a real vacation. But I have to be back in Oahu Aug. 5 for the new season, so there‘s not much time.”

Any particular private get-away in mind?

“I don’t know,” she commiserated. “I mean, where can I go? The show is everywhere now! I was in South Africa last summer and got recognized in a mall! Maybe I’ll try Mongolia. Or Timbuktu. That might do it.”

Not if they’ve got satellite TV and TiVo.

Photo Credits: "Lost" stars Evangeline Lilly and Harold Perrineau and designer Michelle Kelchek step out to celebrate Lilly's lucrative footwear contract with Michelle K.
WireImage/John Sciulli

Rating the hottest Globe bashes

Who cares about the awards show. Let's talk about the post parties!

Film studios and TV networks spend beaucoup bucks on the food, décor, booze and service staff for their official Globe after-parties. But that’s just smoke, black velvet and mirrors. The true test of a party’s hotness is the star power. The after-bash with the hottest gals, coolest dudes, cutest couples and award-clutching stars wins.

Here’s a quick rundown of who-got-who-and-where.

Host: In Style/Warner Bros.

Where: The Oasis, formerly Palm Court. Think a cavernous blue-lit disco space with spiky Giger-esque red glass tumor-lights over an enormous bar, big dance floor and outdoor smoking area.

Difficulty factor: Piece of cake. The best arrival viewing party and a chance for fans to scream at stars, ask for autographs and take photos. Stars DO stop to sign when they come and go. But once inside, good luck getting through the throng of tuxes and gowns to find them. Tip: head for the small outdoor smoking areas. Or try the dance floor, where Bill Macy and his Globe-winner wife Felicity Huffman were rocking out like teenagers at their high school prom.

Star count: George Clooney and Charlize Theron. Need we say more? OK, George was with his publicist, she was with her boyfriend, Stuart Townsend. Other hot couples: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, "OC" cuties Rachel Bilson and Mischa Barton, hardly desperate Nicollette Sheridan with Michael Bolton (creepy), Seal with Heidi Klum (creepier).

This was definitely THE hot babe bash: Jessica Biel, Jenna Elfman, Natasha Henstridge, Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Virginia Madsen and Rose McGowan, Melanie Griffiths’ daughter, Dakota Johnson. And Adrien Brody.

Host: Universal/Focus Features/NBC

Where: An elevator ride up to the hotel’s garage rooftop.

Difficulty factor: From a 10 minute to half hour wait to get in. No one wanted nasty fire marshals to shut it down, which they’d do if the body count went over 800. Linger outside the big tent to catch red carpet action: Keira Knightley, Ang Lee and Rachel Weisz clutching their awards and talking about how surprised/nervous/happy they are.

Star count: Second place for celeb sizzle. Major points for “King Kong” director Peter Jackson.

Hot couples: Former Hobbit Dominic Monaghan and his "Lost" costar-squeeze Evangeline Lily, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Zach Braff with Mandy Moore.

Hot dudes: Eric Bana, Cillian Murphy and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Hugh Laurie, Matt Dillon, Luke Wilson, Patrick Dempsey. Oh, and Adrien Brody.

Memorable moment: Keira Knightley dancing up a storm, spinning around and giggling, while holding a glass of champagne. That’s what we call multitasking.

More parties…

Photo: Hot couple Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend definitely add some sizzle to the Warner Bros./In Style official Golden Globes after-party.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

Is Fox leaving "Lost" for a film career?

Could Matthew Fox be thinking of leaving his Globe-winning hit TV show, "Lost?"

Bob Weinstein was leaving his own post Globe party at 11:30 last night when he spotted Fox talking to a camera crew on his way into the Weinstein brothers' bash at Trader Vic’s.

Turning to one of the young men walking out with him, Bob said, “Am I seeing him tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah,” replied the man. “The meeting’s at 10.”

Bob then touched Fox on the shoulder and pulled him aside. ”I’ll be seeing you tomorrow morning at 10,” Bob whispered.

“Great, I’m looking forward to it,” replied Fox, who looked as startled as he did when he first opened the hatch.

“Have you read the script?,” Weinstein asked.

“Yeah. Yeah, I have,” Fox replied, nodding his head. “It’s good.”

“Great. See you at 10.”

Maybe Fox is simply forging a long overdue film career. Or — are the “others” taking over the ABC hit series? Could Jack actually be in danger of being killed off, like Shannon and Boone were?

Photo: "Lost" star Matthew Fox arrives at the Golden Globes on Monday night. But he's meeting with Bob Weinstein on Tuesday morning to talk about a film project.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)