Jesse Eisenberg: The Worst Press Junket Interview Ever?

By now, many of you have seen the above interview with Now You See Me star Jesse Eisenberg and Univision reporter Romina Puga. If you haven't seen it, watch the awkward interview before you read some of my thoughts.

I've talked a lot about press junkets in the past. It is seriously speed dating for reporters since we get a timed 4-10 minutes (about 15 minutes if you are a big outlet like E!) to ask every question about the movie while trying to navigate asking a personal question which is often forbidden.  On average, you are in the room with the celebrity for 4-5 minutes.

The stars are often tired and cranky if your interview time is in the afternoon. The junkets can often be two to three days of reporters marching in and out of your room. Some interviews can be fun, but I know they hear the same questions over and over again. It's tedious...however, they are paid very well to act in the film, so part of the job is to promote the film. It comes with the territory of being an actor.

Some celebrities are masters at make each interview seem fresh and interesting. My recent interview with Gwyneth Paltrow is one example. On the other hand,  I struggled through an interview with Reese Witherspoon even with her America's Sweetheart image. (Although that reputation took a hit recently.)

In some ways, I watch this video and think Eisenberg is being a big old jerk in answering some of these questions.  He possibly had a very long day of interviews, but he's an actor. He can fake it even if he doesn't like the questions.

On the other hand, I know I am watching a young, inexperienced reporter just by her questions. She went in with a gimmick and it didn't work. A more experienced journalist might have been able to save the interview and gone back to more basic junket questions just to get the footage they needed. I'm not sure if Puga reviews her questions with an editor or a producer beforehand, but it is always good to have another person review your junket questions before you go in the room. It's just a good reminder for entertainment journalists to always be prepared with a Plan B if your original set of questions is bombing. Remember, you need to make those 4-5 minutes count!

While I think this video is a great learning tool for all of us in the industry--entertainment reporters and actors, I don't think it did either Eisenberg nor Puga any favors. It makes him look obnoxious and it makes her look incompetent at her job.  I don't think I would have released the video, but Puga and her outlet did. She also wrote a blog about it as well....and it makes me sad to hear how awful she felt in that room. No one deserves that--ever.

Watch the video and give me your thoughts in the comments below!

My interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for Iron Man 3...Part 2

If you missed the first part of my interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for the Iron Man 3 press junket for iVillage, click here. She talked about how she explained the Boston bombing to her kids since we were in the midst of the aftermath.

In part 2 below, she talks about donning the Iron Man suit this time around, love in Hollywood, and how to deal with the goop haters. She's pretty honest and refreshing in this interview.  You can also read the article here.

Are you headed to Iron Man 3 this weekend? Let me know! It's kind of awesome. 

Iron Man 3: The Gwyneth Paltrow Interview

Gwyneth Paltrow has been in the news nonstop over the last six weeks for things like her $450,000 spring wardrobe suggestions, selling string bikinis for little girls on her site goop, and talking about her bushy bikini line. Yep, she's a pop culture headliner.

I had the opportunity to interview Paltrow during the Iron Man 3 press junket for iVillage. I actually found her completely the opposite of what those headlines assumed about her. She answered all of my questions openly and honestly as she sat with her shoes off and relaxed in her chair.

You can see the article my iVillage colleague Ali Gray wrote about this interview here.

Watch the interview and let me know what you think!  See Part 2 here.

Media Mondays

It's a Gluten Free brownie!!!

Hello from the Big Apple!  I arrived this afternoon to lots of rain and of course, my umbrella is back in LA where I don't need it.

I will be covering the Tony Award nominations tomorrow morning, so if you are a musical theatre fan, be sure to look for my coverage on Twitter.

Here is where you can find my media appearances from last week:

AfterBuzz TV DWTS:  All of last week's thoughts, insights, and show are here.


Video streaming by Ustream Eat. Taste. Live.:  I was lucky enough to be a guest on this delicious Gluten Free cooking show. Chef Andrew Doyle whipped up a strawberry quinoa salad, ceviche, quesadillas, and brownies. I walked out super fat, but super happy. We had so much fun with Joel Bryant and pitching every product sponsor.

Joel Bryant showing off his strawberry quinoa salad.

Tom Barnard Podcast: Oh, I talked about the year Steven Tyler showed up to the Oscars in a white bedazzled jumpsuit...my favorite part of Armageddon. Listen in beginning at the 13:00 mark.

The Radio Dish: I talk with the ladies about poor Hugh Jackman. He's been dealing with a stalker who hates his beard. She threw a razor at him. I kid you not. I come in at the 20:45 mark.

SheKnows: My favorite articles from last week:
Gwyneth Paltrow talks about her bushy bikini line--It's exactly what you think.
Justin Timberlake on marriage: "It suits me"--Finally, a celeb who likes to be married.
Jason Segel adds a new job to his résumé: Author--This could be an interesting series.

Media Mondays

I didn't take any photos in LA last week. In this day and age of all digital, all iPhone, all Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, I find that hard to believe.  Okay, I do have a few DWTS photos, but I posted those with the Sharna Burgess interviews.  So, I pulled out an old photo from a night out with my pals Jenine Mayring and Kelly Stables from 2004-ish. If Kelly looks familiar to you, she's currently starring on The Exes on TV Land.  The best part of the photo is that I'm wearing a sheer lacy shirt and I have a really bad haircut. Awesome!

Here are a few of my media appearances from last week:

DWTS:  You can find everything here.

SheKnows:
Gwyneth Paltrow's spring fashions total over $450,000--Um, someone might be out of touch with reality.
Selena Gomez: Wingman for her dad at Hooters--Because you just can't make stuff like this up.
Holly Madison: "I was laughing as I was pushing"--She also named her kid Rainbow Aurora. Yikes!

The Radio Dish:  Justin Bieber is a punk. Is it the beginning of the end?  Listen in at the 19:45 mark.

It's Monday, so you have two opportunities to catch me on the air today:
1:30pm PT Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekley
7:35pm PT Driving with Gass on KWSS.org

The Fashion Hits and Misses at the 2012 Met Ball

I feel like the last two weeks have been a fashion bonanza with the Correspondents Dinner and now the 2012 Met Ball.  The Met Ball is its own beast because people take serious fashion risks that sometimes are successful and other times, they are huge disasters.  Let's start out with the pretty first:

PRETTY:

1.  Amy Adams:  I cannot believe this lady is two-for-two with beautiful gowns.  She's still with the same stylist, but they are dressing her like the goddess she deserves to look like.   Dress by Giambasttista Valli. Jewels by Fred Leighton.  

2.  Cameron Diaz:  I have always loved the collaboration between Cameron and Rachel Zoe.  They work very successfully together and tonight was no different.  Dress by Stella McCartney.

3.  Dianna Agron:  Oh, we've seen our Glee star looking a little undressed in photos like these, but she's turning into quite the red carpet fashionista.  She looks young, fresh, but in command.  Dress by Carolina Herrara.

4. Diane Kruger:  I think the hair is a little messy for such a formal affair, but I couldn't resist this royal purple dress with the feathered train.  It is flowy and comfortable for such a stuffy night.  Dress and Clutch by Prada. 

5. Emma Stone:  Hollywood's It Girl looks great in this color and she wore it to the Oscars too.  She definitely took a risk with a shorter dress at the Met Ball and it pays off.  Dress by Lanvin.

6.  Gwyneth Paltrow: Her body looks flawless in The Avengers, it looked flawless at the Oscars, and it looks flawless here.  Enough said.  Dress by Prada.

7.  Nina Dobrev:  There is just nothing wrong with this photo:  beautiful dress, sublime train pooling behind her, and a complete red carpet look.  Dress by Donna Karan. (Kind of an unexpected look from Donna, no?  Love it.)

Now for the fun part, the really, really ugly that crossed that red carpet tonight at the Met Ball and, kids, there was a lot of ugly this year.  I didn't pick any of the models that attended.  Instead, I looked for celebs because seriously.....they know better to wear such ugliness on camera.  Let's take a look:

UGLY:
1.  Chloe Sevigny:  What was she thinking?  It doesn't even look like she tried. I think she just rolled out of bed and stumbled into the Met Ball.  Dress and clutch by Miu Miu.

 2.  Christina Ricci: This girl is so tiny in real life and she is so overwhelmed by the ugliness wrapping her body. Why? Why? Why?  Dress by Thakoon.

3. Florence Welch:  She wore a color similar to this to the 2010 Academy Awards.  This time around she has a ton of fabric and accoutrement on the dress to distract the eye from her Heidi braid on top of her head.  I know she's a musician and she wants to be edgy, but this wasn't it.  Dress by Alexander McQueen.

4.  Eva Mendes:  She is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and she comes dressed in this?  Was Rachel Zoe too busy dressing Cameron Diaz and Karolina Kurkova to pay attention to her other client?  What is up with that skirt of fabric covering her hips?  Dress and Clutch by Prada.  Jewelry by Fred Leighton.

5.  Elizabeth Banks: She's not known for fashion, so I think she should have stuck with a more safe gown.  What mirror did she look in and think "I look good"?  Shame on the stylist who put her in this.  Dress by Mary Katrantzou.  
       

 6.  Kristen Stewart:  She's always so miserable.  Why is she even there?  Dress by Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere.

7.  Sarah Jessica Parker:  What happened to our fashion icon from SATC?  She looks like my childhood bedroom drapes.  Dress by Valentino and Shoes by Manolo Blahnik.

8.  Julianne Hough:  She is going to be a huge star once Rock of Ages comes out, but this is not what a star wears to the Met Ball.  This is what a girl wears to her prom.  Dress by Carolina Herrara.

9.  January Jones:  Our girl is back from maternity leave and she is still dressing herself.  A worst-dressed list isn't complete without January.  Dress by Versace.  Jewelry by Cartier.

10.  Mary-Kate Olsen:  Ummmm, if you are wearing a dress from your fashion line, don't you want to look your best?  I guess not. She looks straight out of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows flick opening this weekend.  Dress by The Row. Jewels by Fred Leighton.

Do you agree with my fashion picks?  I would love to hear from you, so join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, or Google Plus.

Make sure to see my 2012 Stylist List so you are in the know about Hollywood stylists and who they dress.

All Photos by Getty Images.

My Favorite Celebrity Interviews

Lately, I have been getting asked this same question over and over.  I think it is a natural question given the nature of my job.  Can you guess what it is?  The question is "Of all of the celebrities you have interviewed, who is your favorite?"  I always feel like I disappoint people because the answer isn't the person they expect.  I think they want me to say Ryan Reynolds or Gwyneth Paltrow or Jeremy Piven.  While they have all been exciting people to interview, it is the people who have touched my life in some way that usually stand out in my mind.  People like Michelle Kwan, the two-time Olympic medalist who had me obsessed with the sport of figure skating for a decade and who, at the time, was flirting with a final comeback.  Or Dick Van Dyke of Mary Poppins who obliged me with a little soft shoe dance step on the red carpet. I mean, he's the guy who sang "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Or even, Keith Dorrington, the Academy Award nominated writer of The Fighter. We are both from neighboring small towns in Massachusetts and we were standing together on the red carpet at the Oscars in February.  It was hard not to get choked up as he talked about the overwhelming night and how his dreams were coming true.  This doesn't happen to you in small town Massachusetts, so I was with him every moment of that big night.

Yet, those incredible interviews don't hold a candle to the exchange I had with Joel Grey, the legendary Broadway performer, whom I had the opportunity to speak with on the red carpet at the Tony Awards.  I was sixteen years old all over again and I did my best not to cry my fake eyelashes off. When I have a discouraging day, I remember this exchange because it reminds me of where I came from and how far I have come.  I've shared this video before, but since it answers the top question I get here at Red Carpet Closet, I am sharing it again.  This is the raw footage from my interview with Joel Grey:



Who are some of your inspirations in your life? Let me know in the comments below.