The Oscars: 5 Things You Didn't Know

As you know, I've been around Oscar activity all week long. I've been sleuthing around trying to find a few details about the show. Here's what I dug up so far.  Remember, things could change at the last minute because there is a rehearsal tomorrow morning, but as of Saturday afternoon, this is what I heard:

1.  Barbra Streisand is performing the Marvin Hamlisch-written "The Way We Were" as a tribute to the deceased composer and all of the other artists we lost in 2012.

2. Barbra is being dressed by her longtime friend and designer, Donna Karan, who has been buzzing around the star's house getting her outfit red carpet ready.

3.  They are restaging "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago with Catherine Zeta-Jones leading the way. (One of my favorite numbers ever in a musical theatre piece.)

4.  Seth MacFarlane will be crooning at some point during the show. Rumor has it, he sounds just like Frank Sinatra.

5.  The orchestra will not be housed at the Dolby Theatre. There just wasn't enough space for them. They will be playing at the Capitol Records building down the street. (This has been confirmed by WSJ  Online.)

I also released the names of the SYTYCD kids who are performing at this year's show.

For more inside scoop on this year's show and the behind the scenes shenanigans, watch my appearance on Film Snobbery.

Fashion Fridays: Rough Justice Sunwear

I'm a big fan of sunglasses and I am one of those who is often guilty of wearing them inside, but sometimes I don't even notice I am wearing them.  You'll often see me sporting my glasses on the red carpet on those bright, sunny LA days, so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to test drive

a few new pairs from the fall line of Rough Justice.  

Rough Justice is a California-based foot, sunwear, and accessories company that follows the motto, "Love the life you live, live the life you love."  Since that is always a great phrase to live by, I thought this brand might be a great fit for my crazy, but fun lifestyle.  

My favorite pair is definitely an homage to the classic Wayfarer style which is making an amazing comeback in fashion this year.  It's the Divalicious in my favorite color, Brown Tiger.  They have just a touch of animal print designs at the corner of the frame, but it's pretty subtle as you can see from my personal photos.  The opaque colors are made from recyclable materials which is always a win in my book and there are two other colors to choose from including Opaque Black and Opaque Grey. Most importantly, you will get 100% UV protection with these shades.  I have worn these jogging the bay in St. Petersburg and on the water in Chicago, so they are definitely versatile and sexy shades.  The sunglasses retail for $129.

The second pair I tried was a bit more casual, sporty, and colorful.  I have a tendency to be drawn to more earthy colors when it comes to sunglasses, so I had to be a more creative with this pair.  The Lustrous style in Ice Blue is also available in a fresh Lime Stone color and it is created in an Aviator design.  I love the splash of color throughout the frames because it isn't expected, it's just fun and perfect for that upcoming winter beach vacation. It's the pair that perks up your drab wardrobe with a bit of personality.  Like the Divalicious, this pair retails for $129.  

Each pair also comes with a sparkly gold cloth case that securely zips up and protects your sunnies from any lens scratches.  To learn more about the Rough Justice line (including shoes!), be sure to check out their website here.  

Disclosure:  Two pairs of sunglasses were provided to me by Rough Justice/Shine A Light PR, but all opinions are my own.  

Falling Into Fall

Last night on AfterBuzz TV......

I am slowly making my way back into work mode after a trip to Europe and a quick jaunt to Chicago.  I have a lot of irons in the fire this fall and things will be changing a bit around here, but it's all moving in the right direction after ending my road warrior status last spring.

Some of the things in the mix that I can talk about right now include:
AfterBuzz TV:  SYTYCD (ends September 18th with choreographer, Spencer Liff)
                          DWTS (starts the week of September 24th)
                          The New Normal (Tuesdays at 10PM PT--See our host photo here.)


Cocktails and Conversation:  Talking VMAs, SYTYCD, and Hollywood divorce.

I will also be going back to my roots with an appearance on one of the electronic retailing networks in October. Can you guess which one?

Finally, I will be doing an Emmys week countdown with Stuart Brazell on Spreecast, so there will be a lot to keep up with this fall.  Be sure to check my News/Appearances page for the latest updates.

Enjoying the Chicago skyline from the Trump Tower.

Munich: Photo Of The Day

I have safely arrived in Munich after a 13-hour trip from LA to Chicago to Munich.  I am a big fan of public transportation, so I looked up my hotel to see how easy it would be to get from the airport to the neighborhood I am staying in. Since the Munich Airport is farther out compared to most European cities, I had to hit the train and a bus.  A girl came up to me in the airport and handed me a free bus and train pass for the day and told me to "pay it forward" since she was heading home back to the States. Score!  My first ride through Munich was going to be free.

I have to admit I have been a bit intimidated by the German language since I only know how to say "hello", "thank you", and "awesome".  It's much easier in the romance language countries since I know enough Spanish and French to have a conversation, not so much here.  I was worried I was going to wind up in the German countryside versus my hotel, but I am happy to report that their signage was perfect and I made it safely to my home for the next week.

I managed to grab drinks and food with my colleagues today and actually have a bit of a post-mortem meeting on the event I hosted last week in New Jersey.  It's kind of weird to meet up in Munich to talk about a NJ gig, but I am not complaining.  I am still amazed people are willing to fly me all over the world to host a show for them.  Tomorrow begins my first day of rehearsal with a bit of sightseeing mixed in.  I will be updating this site each day with a photo.  Today, I leave you with my travel outfit.  I honestly hate it when people take photos in the bathroom, so hopefully, this is my last, but I couldn't resist.......I looked like a homeless Olsen twin.

Where In The World Is KB?: Summer 2012

Many thanks to Roni B. for making sure I had my signature hat for my trip!

Around this time last year, I was off to Paris, thanks to a really amazing client who hired me to host a game show (Or a quiz show for you dignified Europeans.) for them.  They kindly also sent me to Orlando, Chicago, and New Jersey over the past year. (Don't knock NJ, I had the opportunity to meet this guy.)  This year, they are shipping me off to Munich which means I won't be drinking beer now that I am officially Gluten Free.  (Ah, better to miss the beer than to endure a migraine.) I plan on having a blast and posting a photo each day, so I hope you join me on this adventure.  I will also be hitting one other country after the job is over for a little R&R.  Gute Reise!