Emmy Awards on The Huffington Post

Beverly Wettenstein: No Women Featured in NY Comedy Festival! No Joke!

2009-10-11T13:38:57Z

We're With The Banned: Cracking The Crass Ceiling

The New York Comedy Festival ad features ten men and no women.

Broadly speaking, comedy is, obviously, still a male-dominated bastion within the entertainment business. The Primetime Emmy Awards showed that women writers on a comedy or variety series are a rare and endangered species. Only seven of the 81 writers were women. There are no women writers on Leno (of 19), Letterman (of 14), and O'Brien (of 16). Colbert has two women of 14 writers. The Daily Show has one of 16. Samantha Bee is a busy worker bee and a "correspondent." "Saturday Night Live" has five women of 22 writers.

LOL: Larry Summers School for the Advancement of Women

Historically, some men have difficulty accepting women comedians. The Larry Summers School for the Advancement of Women should hire Tom Shales, Christopher Hitchens and Jerry Lewis, to teach "Why Women Aren't Funny." The three wise men opined as much in the Washington Post, Vanity Fair and at the Aspen Comedy Festival, respectively.

Shales, Washington Post TV critic, wrote that ex-SNL "Michaela Watkins may have been just too classically pretty to be hilarious." Lewis told the Aspen audience in 2000, "I don't like any female comedians" and couldn't think of one who was good. He only viewed women as baby-making machines.

SNL announced two new women for the 35th season to much press attention: Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad. Just hours later it was reported that Casey Wilson and Michaela Watkins were gone. Does SNL have a female quota? Is their comedy calculus: addition = attrition? The two new women are "featured performers," rather than full repertory players.

Kristin Wiig was SNL's MVP Iron Man last season, earning the most screen time of any cast member, with 124 sketch appearances. She is currently the only official woman cast member.
Plus, she has seven feature films in development. And she is beautiful. Please explain, Mr. Shales.

Having joined as a staff writer in 1997, Tina Fey's term as SNL's first woman head writer (1999-2006), coincided with the most women cast members in regular performing roles in its history: Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Rachel Dratch. Much to her credit, Fey teamed with Poehler, to create the groundbreaking "Weekend Update" all-women anchor team in 2004. The dynamic duo proved they were not "Mean Girls" and sparked no cat-fight messages in the media. When Fey started on "Update," there hadn't been a woman anchor since Jane Curtin in the late 1970s and she was not afraid to promote her BFF Poehler. In fact, the two newest women are troupers from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, co-founded by Poehler.

Kudos to Fey and Poehler for empowering women, following decades of male-dominated sketch comedy. Fey and Poehler know that women succeed when they are responsible for their own material. They play comedic roles, perform standup and write and direct films and TV shows. Fey's "30 Rock" was nominated for a record 22 Emmy awards. She was named the AP Entertainer of the Year in 2008 for the greatest impact on culture and entertainment. Poehler is the lead star on "Parks & Recreation."

Timing is everything in comedy and in life. SNL mirrors the advances of women in society. In 2002 Ana Gasteyer was their first on-air pregnancy. The TV management "suits" have matured since the 1950's when the word "pregnant" was forbidden and Lucille Ball was asked to hide behind furniture, which she refused to do. The fact that nine-months pregnant Poehler posed as Hillary Clinton was a non-issue. Her absence and baby's birth were announced on "Update."

Now that SNL has accepted the pregnant pause, perhaps they may consider hiring a Black woman to play Michelle Obama and other women newsmakers and celebrities? Do they think it adds to the levity to dress men in drag or is there a women shortage? I don't communicate with Eleanor Roosevelt very often. But I do think of her and her personal equal opportunity employment act when I see a man playing a woman on SNL. Upon learning that women reporters were not admitted to the National Press Club where newsmakers spoke, Roosevelt held regular news conferences exclusively for women reporters and photographers, thus creating jobs for women. You go, girl!

Actually, in the first season in 1975, the original SNL cast was equal with three women (Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner) and three men (John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Garrett Morris) and Chevy Chase was promoted to "Update" anchor from writer. By 1993, the ratio was three women to eight men. Janeane Garafalo quit halfway through the '94-'95 season because of the male writers who "didn't write for women."

Chicago's Second City improv-sketch troupe, an SNL talent feeder incubator, only allowed two women on a six-person improv team into the '90s. Fey and Poehler are alumnae.

This is Wanda Sykes' banner year. Her HBO special just aired and "The Wanda Sykes Show" will debut in November, at 11 PM, against SNL. Sykes was the featured entertainer this year at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. This annual event honoring the president is a prestigious gig with the nation's dignitaries.

Traditionally, even though women were fully-accredited White House reporters and members of the association, they were barred from attending the dinner. Prompted by Helen Thomas, for the first time in 50 years, women were finally admitted in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy agreed not to attend unless the women did. Thomas was inducted as the first woman WHCA president in 1975.

The old boys club network is alive and, well, begrudgingly coming into the 21st century at The Friars, the premiere club for professional comedians and entertainers. Founded in 1904, Liza Minnelli was admitted as the first official woman member in 1988. This followed the Supreme Court upholding a New York City statute that barred discrimination at large private clubs. Previously, women couldn't join or enter the Townhouse before 4 PM to attend the notorious stag roasts.

Sally Jessy Raphael was the first officer (Prior) in 1999. Previously, women were honored but could not join. Sophie Tucker was the first woman roasted, in 1953; followed by Martha Raye, 1954 and Lucille Ball, 1961.

Joy Behar was the first woman Roastmaster, at a tribute for Danny Aiello in 1997. Rita Rudner was the first woman performer at a Roast for Chevy Chase in 1980. Phyllis Diller, dressed as a man in a suit, wig and mustache, attended the 1983 Sid Caesar Roast, because women were not allowed. She was outed at the end of the event and honored at her own roast in 1985. Diller was the first woman inducted into the California Friars Wall of Fame in 2001. Last year, at the behest of Behar, the Friars named one of its chambers for a woman, Lucille Ball. Currently, women comprise 20 percent of the Friars membership.

Women need to showcase their talent to survive and succeed in the comedy business. Barbara Walters first saw Joy Behar at a benefit for Milton Berle's 89th birthday at the Waldorf Astoria. Walters then invited her to audition for The View. Behar just debuted her nightly talk show on HLN. Her co-hosts on The View include comediennes Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd, who stars in her own show on Lifetime. Goldberg was the first woman and fourth honoree to win the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2001; Lily Tomlin won in 2003.

More Than Chick Shtick: "Seinfeld" Without Elaine? Get Out!

Imagine Seinfeld without Elaine. Get out! Actually, Elaine was not in the first show but executives insisted they add a woman to the cast by the second episode. Would an all-male cast have become the same audience success story without her? Not!

Liz Lemon told Oprah on 30 Rock that she hates her feet. Nora Ephron told the world that she hates her neck. It took Elle Woods' life experience in Legally Blonde to solve the murder case. Her Harvard Law colleagues didn't have a clue about women's hair treatments. Chris Rock parlayed that message into a feature film. Maybe the sexes can learn to live together and better understand each other through humor and women comedians?

One of the challenges for women comics is that society expects good girls to be well-behaved and to act lady-like. Comedians have to be aggressive and take control of the audience. The boys who were the class clowns and spent more time in the principal's office than the library are now making big bucks for their antics. Not to pooh pooh Winnie-the-Pooh, but the first new authorized female character believes that everyone should follow the correct etiquette. Lottie the Otter will be more like Martha Stewart than Martha Raye.

It's easier for women to get to the moon than to get a network late-night talk show. Conan O'Brien and Craig Ferguson had no experience as late-night talk show hosts when they were given their shows. Ferguson had not performed stand-up for ten years and had a strong Scottish brogue. O'Brien was an unknown SNL comedy writer with little performing experience. Joan Rivers was the first and only permanent host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. When Rivers learned that she wasn't on the list to replace Carson, she accepted the offer to host her own late night talk show to launch the Fox Network in 1986. She was fired six months later.

The talk show format is a cheap alternative to scripted TV and yields self-contained YouTube-friendly takeout promos. As viewers migrate away from appointment network TV, cable should create new opportunities for women. But the old boy network ways persist. The Daily Show was co-created by Lizz Winstead and Madeline Smithberg in 1995. Winstead was also the head writer. Then host Craig Kilborn made an offensive remark about her in Esquire in 1998. He was suspended for a week. She left the show soon after. Chelsea Handler has her own late night talk show on E!

Only two women comedians were listed on the Forbes "100 Celebrity" list: Ellen DeGeneres, Power Rank #40, $35 Million Pay and Tina Fey, #86, $7 Million Pay.

She Who Laughs, Lasts: "50/50 in 2020"

Last month more than 200 women met to hear a panel address and outline a "50/50 in 2020" initiative to advance women in the theater business. Three sponsors are taking the lead: the League of Professional Theatre Women, the New Perspectives Theatre Company and the Women's Project.

In 2007 Oxygen presented the "50 Funniest Women Alive." There are women who are ready, willing and able to perform at comedy festivals. They can turn the world on with their smile... and spunk.

Stand Up For Women In Comedy! Parody and Parity Proposals

1. Action! Organize a meeting during the New York Comedy Festival, November 4-8, to focus on "The State of Women in Comedy Today," to become part of the media coverage and raise public support. Since there is no professional organization for women comedians, create one or develop a Comedy subcommittee of the "50/50 by 2020" project or another industry-related association.

2. Produce a counter "Funny Femme Festival" during the New York Comedy Festival to showcase talented women comedians, become part of the media coverage and raise public support.

3. Distribute this treatise and contact the New York Comedy Festival.

4. Submit your comments and suggestions here.

5. Stay tuned. Watch this space for announcements and progress reports. Thank you.

See Beverly Wettenstein's PBS interview on youtube.com.

See Beverly Wettenstein's Letter in the NY Daily News, Sept. 4, 09
nydailynews.com/opinions/

See Beverly Wettenstein's Letter in the NY Times Science Times, July 21, 09

_________________________________________________________________________

"Celebrate Women Every Day!"

October 13

B. 1901 Edith S. Sampson First Black woman elected judge, in Illinois, 1962.
First Black woman named UN delegate.

1905 English suffragists Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney arrested.
Women over 30 got the vote 12 years later; all women in 1928.

B. 1925 Margaret Thatcher First woman Prime Minister in England and Europe, 1979-1991.

B. 1969 Nancy Kerrigan Olympic silver medalist, 1964; Oksana Baiul, 16, won gold medal.

1986 Rita Levi-Montalcini earned Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Source: Beverly Wettenstein's "Women in History and Making History Today
- 365-Days-A-Year Database"

Arrested Development Movie Script In Works

2009-10-04T20:57:00Z

"Arrested Development" creator Mitchell Hurwitz and his co-executive producer James Vallely are working on a screenplay for the long-debated feature version of their short-lived Fox series.

Michealene Cristini Risley: Emmy Awards and the Demise of Television as We Know It

2009-09-24T13:18:52Z

Amidst the ticket stubs and litter-strewn garbage on the infamous red carpet, I watched Monday as the production grips and gaffers hustled to dismantle the dreams and the disappointments of the 61st Annual Emmy Awards. Through their methodical breakdown and equipment removal, one burning question remained in my mind.

Snapping pictures of the disassembly, I wondered if I was actually witnessing the demise of the institution of television. Certainly we have seen the decline of network ratings for years with the advent of cable and pay per view. When Walter Cronkite moderated the moon landing, and television was at its peak, an estimated 500 million people worldwide watched that broadcast. When the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan over 73 million people watched. (Remember at that time, the number of households that owned television was significantly less than today.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most watched_television_broadcasts#United_States

February 28th, 1983 105 million people watched the M*A*S*H Finale. This was over 60% of households that had television. Even American Idol, at its most viewed show on May 21st 2003 was 38 million people: a whopping 462 million less than the lunar landing. If you look at a few examples contributing to the erosion of viewership, it is hard to argue against the shift in television habits.

There are certainly many more choices today and that affects the ratings of television shows. I can hear radios collective on-air gulp at the advent of the motion picture. I can feel the motion picture business "group quiver" when the little black box arrived. The invention left studio executives wondering if anything else would remain in the theaters besides remnants of candy and buttered popcorn.

So, does television, with the advent of Internet, cable and mobile content simply disappear? It seemed to be a reoccurring theme at Sunday's Emmy Awards. Who knows really what is going to happen. Yet, in somewhat of a desperate state, we see more and more lowest common denominator shows. Years ago a Victoria's Secret television show would have been laughable. It's true, when the infamous catalog arrived at Studio office, one hundred doors closed in unison, with catalog in hand, yelling "Hold my calls."

Another example of the lowest common denominator approach was at the Emmy's. During the nominations for Best Family Programming, an animated Stewie from Family Guy asked his dog Brian who he is voting for and when the dog lists another show that he is going to vote for, Stewie beats him up. It was violent and bloody and years ago, that would have NEVER made it on the air. I watched the audience's reaction near me, and no one was laughing. In fact, a few heads were shaking in disbelief. Yet this type of writing has become a common occurrence in television. When sex and violence stop being used as a centerpiece for the audience grab, we might get some creative juices flowing again. Well-written, clever shows that don't use a body to sell the storyline -- unless of course that is the storyline -- which then begs the question, do that many people focus on sex for that much time in a day? Err, then again...

Legitimate, illegitimate, fear or truth, all of these shifts in technology and acceptable content have largely given the audience, the user, and the consumer more choice. That is the good news.

The bad news is these tectonic shifts have highlighted cost concerns, and helped to dumb down the fare that is created in broadcasting. Yes, there is more choice and more competition yet this has resulted in less creativity and quality. You have heard this before; the lowest common denominator has become the easy tool for writing because sex, misfortune and violence sell.

We can blame the additional choices that consumers have for the demise of television or take a deeper look at why so many people have stopped watching television. I must admit the production of this years Emmy's was terrific. The best I recall in years, thought it might be just be another example of too little, too late.

eSarcasm: Best & Brightest: The eSarc 50

2009-09-22T20:55:31Z

The film industry has the Oscars. TV has the Emmys. In high tech, the closest you generally come to that level of glitz and glamor is a bunch of geeks getting up on stage to demo their products for five minutes in front of a room full of other geeks.

Which is why the most promising startups in the world of high tech gathered to demo their stuff at eSarcasm 50, held at the luxurious EconoLodge Motor Inn and Day Spa in heavenly East Pompano Bay, Florida.

Unfortunately, some of the hottest start-ups we invited chose to attend a competing geek demo fest instead, the TechCrunch 50. (Note to those companies that blew us off: We know where you live. After copies of NAMBLA Journal and Boys in BVDs start showing up in your mail rooms, you'll be lining up to kiss our asses.)

A total of seven companies showed up; two of them were actually looking for a Dustbuster convention but were at the wrong hotel. (We forced them to get on stage and do a demo anyway. They were totally awesome.) Here then are the best of the ~~eSarc50~~ eSarc7:

HipHype. You say you're a jowly middle-aged executive struggling to get funding for your start up after you got canned from your corporate job? Don't have a coronary, Gramps. Using Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts, and edgy blog commentary, HipHype can make it look like you're really a bunch of 24-year-olds in Chuck Taylors and designer eyewear. For an additional fee they will impersonate you at meetings with venture capitalists and help you pick up chicks.

PTrollr 2.0. The software uses a patented search algorithm* to help you locate overly broad patent filings, purchase them for a pittance, then sue the pants off companies that build products using technology that vaguely resembles the patents you now own. Recent discoveries include patents on how to boil eggs, operate a zipper, and use Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

TwitWit. Even successful comedians find it challenging to be funny in 140 characters or less (@danecook, this means you). TwitWit promises to turn the most mundane tweets into wryly amusing bon mots, Seinfeldesque observations, and sidesplitting jokes. Your retweets will shoot through the roof, though your life will not change in any other measurable way.

RMNGL. Got a Web start-up with a boring name? The boys at the Random Meaningless Name Generation Labs can produce a new one using 100-percent organic techniques. For example, the microblog "Plurk" is named for the sound of an overripe banana hitting a cement traffic barrier at high speed. Or "Bing," which was generated by firing frozen betel nuts at a bronze bust of Steve Ballmer. RMNGL's fees will vary depending on the type of name requested, but discounts are available for companies that supply their own fruit.

The SuckMaster 5000. This industrial-strength shopvac can take the chrome off a bumper at 10 yards. It's especially well suited for removing forensic evidence at crime scenes, disposing of annoying family pets, and cleaning up after drunken, vomit-enriched tech conferences. Comes with Personal SuckMaster grooming attachments for removing unsightly moles and performing a 'Brazilian' with minimal pubic abrasion.

Of course, it was no contest. The SuckMaster Maestros won our $50 cash prize for best product and most convincing demo. That woman from Pensacola is still wondering what the hell happened to her Schnauzer.

* That patent is held by Google.

For more Geek Humor Gone Wild, visit eSarcasm. You'll be glad you did.

Mr. Skin: Rated TV-MA: How Sex Came of Age on Television

2009-09-22T14:33:06Z

Sunday's 61st Primetime Emmy Awards saluted television's finest accomplishments this year, and it was a daunting task, to be sure -- but perhaps not in the way it seemed for most of the previous six decades.

For whereas FCC chairman Newton Minow famously declared the medium a "vast wasteland" all the way back in 1961, today's TV landscape has blossomed - here a Lost, there a Mad Men - to supersede movies as popular culture's premiere venue for, indeed, culture.

Or, as Newsweek noted: "Film has always been The Four Seasons to television's Motel 6. Not anymore."

Another way of looking at it is that TV long ruled as the "electronic babysitter", programmed to pacify while mom and dad enjoyed a night out at the theater.

Now television is what adults stay home to do while the tykes get their brains blown out by the latest CGI humungous at the multiplex.

TV has grown up and, as with all maturation processes, a lot of that has to do with sex.

Of course, sex has illuminated the boob tube -- pun, of course, intended -- probably since the first Miss America Pageant aired and most notoriously during the 1970s "jiggle TV" phenomenon of Three's Company and Charlie's Angels.

But consider that point of view -- leering, giggly, adolescent and, it seemed at the time, permanent.

By the 1980s, sitcom couples, married or otherwise, could share a bed (a hard-line taboo in the days of I Love Lucy and relegated from there to The Munsters and The Flintstones until, in the revolutionary year 1969, Mike and Carol snuggled a blow for liberation on The Brady Bunch).

Broadcast outlets kept sex in the background while pay cable channels such as HBO and Showtime put it sharply in the forefront, first with subscriber-baiting softcore concoctions such as The Hitchhiker and Red Shoe Diaries and, then, in the programs that have come to define the great mass-consumed art of the modern era.

You know: the ones that contain nudity.

Many cite HBO's 1999 debut The Sopranos as the genesis of this modern, previously unimaginable phenomenon. And it's certainly hard to argue against what that moment made possible: The Wire, Six Feet Under, Big Love, Damages, Entourage, In Treatment, Sons of Anarchy, and so on.

And in a clear case of competition proving to be a good thing, the networks followed suit with House, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, 30 Rock, Gossip Girl, etc.

Now think about the quality of Hollywood movies congruent with that same decade. We can even extend that challenge even to independent and foreign films.

Can you name one title that you'd group in the same league as those programs? Indeed, what was your last experience in a theater that moved you in a manner typical of what one can find these days with a remote control?

Has there been a suspense film as nerve-rattling as 24? A comedy as uproarious as Curb Your Enthusiasm? A police saga as intense as The Shield? A chiller as sardonic as Dexter?

As for the heady pleasures of on-screen sex and nudity, cinema is not the place to look. At least not at those prices! So let's follow the money.

Observers point out that big-screen movies cost so much that studios dare not diminish the size of the largest possible (paying) audience. Television, by contrast, can afford to take risks. It can fund creative visionaries (Aaron Sorkin, David Milch, Denis Leary) and their often palpably adult visions (The West Wing, Deadwood, Rescue Me).

In the event of failure -- which almost all TV shows prove to be -- reality programming saves the day and keeps the machine fueled, literally, by cheap thrills.

Another issue arises as to what it precisely is, then, for which we wish to pay.

Movie-going today is very often about experiencing sensory overload: astounding visuals and gut-shaking sound-effects that are not possible on even the most elaborate of home theaters. Explosions and mechanical mayhem have supplanted plot and character at the movies and, thus, the simple art of storytelling has moved into living rooms (and bedrooms).

And where plots develop and characters grow, sex happens (particularly when there are no giant robots rampaging in the way).

Underlying all this is that all on-camera erotic entertainment -- from hardcore porn to Baywatch -- has been automatically consumed at-home since advent of the VCR a quarter-century ago.

Just compare the prospect of paying to view a fleeting nude scene in public, surrounded by strangers, to the same opportunity at home, behind a closed door, with fast-forward, pause, and rewind buttons.

Nudity is no longer a draw at the box office, but it does remain a tantalizing sales-point when a customer considers making the leap from basic to premium cable.

As such, naked vampires on True Blood will grab more eyeballs (and dollars) than any equivalent playing at a theater, even if Kate Beckinsale were to lose her leather catsuit in those Underworld movies.

This circumstance also indicates why the film Powder Blue (2009) - which contains the debut nude scene of universally lusted-after A-lister Jessica Biel -- just barely warranted a theatrical release in three small markets, and why it is guaranteed to run on cable in perpetuity.

Had the former TV sweetheart of Seventh Heaven deigned to first bare flesh on an episode of Entourage, for example, her revelation would have generated record ratings and word-of-mouth on par with, say, Sharon Stone's leg-crossing in Basic Instinct from all the way back in the olden days of 1992.

In time, TV nudity will doubtlessly be supplanted by technology that may very well beam images of unclothed starlets directly into our brains.

But that's then. TV is now. And it is the height of what's hot to remain tuned in and turned on.

Zorianna Kit: The 2009 Emmy Awards Gifting Suites

2009-09-22T00:26:12Z

Gifting suites leading up to the Emmy Awards this past Sunday began as early as six days prior to the event and continued throughout the week. Although there were far too many to account for, below are some highlights.

Madison & Mulholland Charitable Gifting Suite at the London Hotel in West Hollywood.

Highlights: This gifting suite saw celebs going around from vendor to vendor collecting products which they - surprise! - did not take home for themselves. Rather, each bag was put together personally by the stars to go up for public auction with proceeds benefiting a charity of the stars' choice. The auction will go up live on CharityBuzz from September 23 to October 13.

The suite also held an exclusive Hollywood Stylist Breakfast hosted by the Accessories Council. There, celebrity and wardrobe stylists from different network shows had one-on-one face time with gifting vendors to make mutually beneficial connections. Stylists left with gift bags containing product that you just might see popping up on your favorite characters and TV hosts.

Cool items: S.T. Dupont's luxury lighters, pens and leather goods, leather handbags from Coccinelle, Lacoste Eyewear, Johnny Vincent Swimwear, Salt of the Earth clothing apparel, shapewear from TC Fine Intimates and Hip Heirlooms Jewelry among others.

Practical items: SmartMouth Mouthwash, Root Essentials to cover up gray hairs, Carmex lip balm, Hands 2 Go Sanitzer and Denta Bursts' Brush and Go disposable teeth cleaners.

Eco Emmys Celebrity Green Gifting and Wellness Chateau at a private estate on Fremont Place which benefited several charities including GreenWish, SPCA, I Am That Girl, Free the Slaves and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Highlights: organic make-up from Nvey, toxin free baby clothes from Biobaby, ultra-cool t-shirts from Disciple, Beth Springer handbags, eyebrow threading by Marco Ochoa, tunics from Single Dress, TIGI's latest green hair care line - Love Peace & the Planet.

There was plenty to nosh on as well including cupcakes from Luscious Organic Desserts, baked goods and meals from Bod Nutrition, while Forty Oaks Farm was making pizzas right next to their Molokai salt and rice oil tasking bar.

Awesome item: Cecelia Bythewood's "Green & Glamorous" jewelry line. Now you can take all your broken earrings and necklaces that are too pretty to throw out but totally useless to wear and send them to Cecelia. She'll take those baubles and creates you a one-of-a kind hand-encrusted wearable piece. Now all those gaudy pieces you inherited Grandma (and feel too guilty to get rid of) can be put to good use!

Practical item: Ditto Hangers, which are 100% recyclable. A must-have in today's world where 8 billion unrecyclable plastic hangers are land filled every year. At least Joan Crawford was right about something: "No more wire hangers ever!"

Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge at Zune L.A. benefiting Save the Children:

Highlights: Skincare from Sanitas, flat irons from GHD, fitted flannel shirts from Vintage Havana and a complete anti-aging skincare system from StemCell. Also, diamond encrusted jewelry from Hershey's Kisses, wellness books from Life Extension Media and T-Mobile Sidekicks. Footwear included ballet flats from Lindsay Phillips with interchangeable snaps that allow you to change the look of your shoe, while Reebok's Retro Sport had celebs picking up retro looking gear featuring logos of their favorite football teams.

Awesome item: A shopping bag full of products from GNC's newest "WellBEing" line designed exclusively for women. Goodies included the Health & Beauty Vitapak, a detox kit, an exercise enhancing turbopak and nutritional bars among other items.

Practical item: Lutron Electronic's latest dimmers. Their Occupancy Sensor saves energy with a motion sensor to turns lights on and off automatically as you leave the room. Meanwhile, Lutron's Eco Minder dimmer contains an LED that changes from red to green as you dim to indicate you are saving energy. Since lighting accounts for about 20% of an average household's electricity bill, these dimmers are pretty much a no-brainer to have!

WOW! Creations Gifting Lounge at the Penthouse in the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Highlights: Kroma make-up, tanning certificates to Infinity Sun, bath salt blends from the Joyful Bath Co, Bota Box wine-in-a box, Avitae Energy Water which has an infusion of caffeine for energy yet remains flavorless. Stat Key Company gifted stylized keys in different shapes and designs including houses, grenades, horses, butterflies and chess pieces. The company also accepts custom designs so celebs could create their own one-of-a-kind model. No more confusion as to which key is for what lock.

Awesome item: A two night stay for two people at the Royal Hawaiian resort in Waikiki; a one year gift-card for unlimited free food at Johnny Rockets for up to four people.

Practical item: Socket Sense Surge Protector, which expands to allow your oversized power adapters to plug in without blocking extra sockets.

The Silver Spoon Buffet at Adrienne Maloof's Estate in Beverly Park to benefit the Noreen Fraser Foundation, which focuses on finding a cure for women's cancers.

Highlights: Held on the Maloof backyard and tennis courts, this suite had Sketchers offering up pairs of shoes from their new Shape Ups collection, hair care products from Ovation and Nexxus, jewelry from Lois Hill and Skineez Skincareware undergarments. Also, shoes and purses from Menbur, stationary from Tiny Prints, Emile Sloan Totes and glass pens & photo coasters from Beau Coup.

Awesome item: Women's sexy Halloween costumes from Seven 'til Midnight including a sexy police officer, a sexy race car driver, a sexy hippie and more.

Practical item: If you love wine, then opt for wines from Cleavage Creek Cellars, which pictures breast cancer survivors on the label of each wine bottle. Their individual stories are told on the company's website. Talk about putting a face on cancer.

ALIVE Expo Green Pavilion/MixMedia Luxury Lounge at the Sofitel Hotel:

Highlights: Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Brian Smith's set up a portrait studio where celebs were photographed for "Art & Soul," a coffee table book benefiting Project Green and the Creative Coalition.

Goodies included Aubrey Organics make-up, hair, body and skincare products, Kathleen Kirkland shape wear and gift certificates from eco-friendly cleaning company Property Maid. There was plenty of green greeting cards and jewelry made from recycled material like Ann Made's soda can tab pendants, We Pilates Clothing, Fuzzy Green Monster organic children's apparel, all which tucked in a tote from Tuwa Elements of Earth. And for those needing a little sparkle for the red carpet, lab generated diamonds and jewels from The Nexus Design Studio (no blood diamonds here!) were going out on loan.

Awesome item: Dr. Garth Fisher's latest line of products from his new Cellceutical Skincare collection.

Practical item: For those watching their diet and health, Egg Whites International was sending guests a months supply of pure pasteurized liquid egg whites that are double filtered to have the smooth consistence of milk. That means no matter how you mix it, you can't taste any egg.

The SLS Hotel and The Secret Room Events "Think Pink" 2009 Emmy Awards Style Lounge benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Tiger Lily Foundation.

Highlights: Julie Hewett Los Angeles make-up, Lexli aloe skincare products, flat irons from ISO International, t-shirt and hoodies from Secret Mind and jewelry from Breezy Jewelers. There was dog food from The Good Dog Company, Bare Sole shoes with interchangeable straps and a make-up enhancer kit from Geri G. Cosmetics.

Other goodies included Gold Canyon candles, Moonlight Pillows for post-surgical breast support, sterling sliver calendar keepsake charms from Not Just Any Old Day and reversible handbags and children's apparel from Luvali Convertibles.

For those with a sweet tooth, Tasty Clouds spun cotton candy in such unusual flavors as Lemon, Pina Colada and White Vanilla Licorice. Cake Pops provided bite-size cakes on sticks in all sorts of flavors including chocolate, carrot and red velvet.

Awesome item: Caribbean Magazine handed out week-long trips to the Caribbean.

Practical item: Sol Beads - ultraviolet light detection beads that change color in the sun, alerting the user of UV ray exposure; MobiGrip, a bungee-cord type leash that mounts to your cell phone, MP3, etc. and wraps around your finger to prevent accidental drops.

The Suite Life Skybar Emmy Suites at the Mondrian Hotel's Skybar Hut:

Highlights: Joe's Jeans, Kid Dangerous T-shirts, funky blazers from Moods of Norway, unisex skincare from Fenix, Smashbox Cosmetic, teeth whitening certificates from Beverly Hills Oral Spa Dentistry, a collection of tanning products including pressed powder bronzers and self tanners from Fake Bake tanning.

Awesome item: A-List Tan's Pashia Fisher and Tamara Czartoryski offered their mobile tanning services in the comfort of guests own homes. Each gal comes equipped with her own foldout tent and Fake Bake's unique tanning solution that is half bronzer and half self-tanner. The result is a long-lasting, even, golden glow.

An honorable mention must go to Sonya Dakar Skincare Specialists, who held a product launch at Spa Intercontinental to debut 2 new products: the Hand Spot Lightener & Firmer with SPF 30 and the Neck & Décolleté Firmer & Spot Lightener wit SPF 30. Guests were treated to hand and neck treatments with the products and were able to take them home as well.

Emmys Worst-Dressed 2009: See Who Bombed On The Red Carpet (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-09-21T17:00:50Z

Every red carpet has its hits and misses, and Sunday's Emmy Awards was no exception. While some stars stole the show (see the Emmys Best-Dressed), others fell flat. From an Obama dress to whatever Phoebe Price had going on, see who had the most head-scratching dresses and vote for who takes the cake.

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Emmys Best-Dressed 2009: See Who Aced The Red Carpet (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-09-21T17:00:07Z

On the red carpet for Sunday's Emmy Awards, some stars sparkled, and some felt flat (see who made the Emmys worst-dressed list).

Check out our best-dressed picks below, and vote for who you think was worthy and who should have been left off the list. And who did we miss? Weigh in below.

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Bare Back At The Emmys: Who Has The Hottest Rear View? (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-09-21T15:16:05Z

Skin was in at the Emmys this year and many stars showed some from behind. Whether they went entirely bareback like Padma or just opted for a reverse scoop neck, these ladies were smiling for the cameras over their shoulders. Who pulled off the bare look best? You decide.

PHOTOS:

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Blake Lively's Emmy Party Outfit Change: Which Look Do You Prefer?

2009-09-21T15:12:57Z

"Gossip Girl" Blake Lively found time to change between the Emmy Awards, at which she presented, and the HBO post-Emmy party.

She lost the plunging red Versace in favor of a black sequined Balmain dress. She even changed her jewelry and her shoes, but kept the hair braid.

PHOTOS:

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Ed Martin: Neil Patrick Harris Triumphs in a Much Improved Emmycast

2009-09-21T13:29:09Z

Congratulations to CBS, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, producer Don Mischer and producer-host Neil Patrick Harris for putting together the most entertaining Emmy telecast in memory.

That said, the future still looks bleak for this beleaguered awards franchise. Even at its best it seems to run on forever, especially for viewers who don't have a professional interest in the show.

Sunday's telecast was a hit with critics and everyone else who has anything to do with the television business. But we seem to exist in a different dimension than ordinary citizens. I cannot name a single friend or family member outside of the media who had any interest in the Emmys whatsoever (even the Lost fans). Most of them chose not to watch. Those who did bailed by the end of the first hour, including the people I watched with, who left me alone in the room to go watch the Giants-Cowboys game or kill time on their computers. This happened despite a number of exciting new additions to the Emmys, including a dazzling technology rich set that visually enhanced the proceedings, a charismatic host who opened the evening with a fun musical number in which he implored viewers to put down their remotes and pay attention, the very smart decision to group the awards by genre and generous servings of clips from popular shows, including those largely ignored by the Academy.

There was even a series of surprises that added some suspense to it all, at least until the end when several of last year's big winners repeated themselves. Kristin Chenoweth of Pushing Daisies, Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men, Michael Emerson of Lost and Cherry Jones of 24 were all honored in supporting categories, each of them defying popular predictions from critics, bloggers and other industry observers. (Personally, I was thrilled for Chenoweth and Jones and happy to see Cryer receive some long overdue Emmy love. I would have preferred to see Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad included in the winners' circle, though I can't complain about Emerson having his moment in the spotlight.)

Tellingly -- and perhaps unnervingly -- the most entertaining segment of the show was the surprise appearance by host Harris and the wickedly funny Nathan Fillion as their combative characters from Joss Whedon's Internet sensation Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog. Mad-scientist Horrible hacked into the telecast during the usually windy explanation of the official voting procedure and declared that television is dead. "That's right, sofa monkeys," he cackled. "No more corporate entertainment! No more self-congratulatory award shows with athletic yet luminous hosts! The future of home entertainment is the Internet!" His message: Why watch TV on spectacular flat screen TVs when you can watch it in tiny little boxes on your computer? While Horrible was boasting about the medium that made him a star the picture periodically froze and went into all-too-familiar buffering mode.

Dr. Horrible's nemesis Captain Hammer then stormed in to clobber the TV doomsayer. "I've mastered this Internet and I tell you it's nothing but a fad!" Hammer declared. "TV is here to stay . . . like the Ottoman Empire, the music industry and Zima." Horrible seized control back from Hammer and began to rant about controlling the Emmys, only to realize that the battery on his computer was about to die. "Noooo!" he cried as the picture broke up and disappeared. The Emmy telecast resumed just as the accountants were finishing their explanations. (By the way, Dr. Horrible won the Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program at last week's Creative Arts Emmy Awards. "We are honored to accept the award for the most incomprehensible category," Whedon joked as he was handed his first-ever Emmy.)

For what it's worth, the least entertaining segment was the stupidly violent Family Guy skit in which Stewie beat Brian the dog to a pulp. It drove the last hanger-on at my sad Emmy gathering from the room.

So what could the Emmy telecast include that might make it more appealing? How about a song or two by popular American Idol veterans or a dance number that includes past celebrities from Dancing with the Stars? Creative music performances have pumped up ratings for other awards shows in recent years, from the Grammys to the Tonys to the Academy of Country Music Awards. It couldn't hurt for the Emmys to try.

Then again, more entertainment might not be the answer. I guess there's just no getting around the fact that most of the television audience does not watch or maintain any interest in most of the programs that take home the biggest awards, some by the bushel. This year that group included Mad Men, 30 Rock, Breaking Bad, Damages, United States of Tara and the hot HBO movie of the season, Grey Gardens -- all of them deserving of the top honors they received and most of them superior to the majority of feature films released in recent years, including those honored with Academy Awards.

The only suggestion I can make at this point, beyond the broadcasters bailing on Emmy and a number of basic cable networks teaming up to simulcast the show, would be to remove the pace-killing movie and miniseries awards from the main event and add them to the Creative Arts ceremony, which takes place one week earlier. Even if the big Emmy show were to continue in broadcast rotation, perhaps moving movies to the Creative Arts event would make the latter more desirable as a possible live telecast in its own right on a basic cable network. (E! recorded this year's Creative Arts ceremony and ran it on a Friday afternoon!) HBO might also be interested. Surely the pay-cable giant would consider freeing up its signal for one night so that all cable subscribers would have a chance to see so many of its own programs honored.

I'm good as long as the Emmys don't end up online. One big buffer and I'd be out of there.

To communicate with or to be contacted by the executives and/or companies mentioned in this column, link to the JackMyers Connection Hotline.

This post originally appeared at JackMyers.com.

Emmy Ratings Up In 2009 On Neil Patrick Harris Hosting

2009-09-21T11:28:23Z

NEW YORK — Neil Patrick Harris did for the Emmy Awards what he did for the Tonys earlier this year: increase the award show's audience over the previous year.

The Emmys on Sunday rebounded from last year's all-time low viewership total, adding a million more people to a total of 13.3 million, according to The Nielsen Co. Harris, from the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," drew raves for his work, with The Associated Press' Frazier Moore declaring the Emmy telecast "maybe the best ever."

Emmys Acknowledge Tough Times For TV Industry

2009-09-21T09:18:31Z

LOS ANGELES — "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" led a pack of Emmy winners who successfully defended their titles Sunday, but the snappy ceremony and a star turn by host Neil Patrick Harris made the evening far from a rerun.

AMC's glossy 1960s Madison Avenue saga "Mad Men," which last year became the first basic cable show to win a top series award, won the best drama trophy for a second time.

Kristin Chenoweth's Migraine Puts Pause On Emmys Celebration

2009-09-21T07:53:43Z

LOS ANGELES — A publicist for Kristin Chenoweth says paramedics checked out the actress after her Emmy win, but that she's doing fine.

Meghan Prophet says Chenoweth felt a migraine coming on after winning an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a comedy series and doing press interviews. Prophet says Chenoweth laid down and onsite paramedics checked on the former "Pushing Daisies" actress.

Kanye West Wins Award For Most Mocked At 2009 Emmys

2009-09-21T00:03:18Z

Since Kanye West got up on stage during the 2009 VMAs and interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech he has been the butt of many, many jokes. But there's nothing like a televised gathering of celebrities to reignite a fire that was just beginning to cool down.

As Justin Timberlake and Tina Fey took the stage to acknowledge their wins for Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in Comedy Series, Justin approached the mic first telling Tina "I'mma let you finish," West's infamous words that now have their own Website.

Host Neil Patrick Harris didn't shy away from the topic saying, "All right, it's my job to keep things moving tonight. I'm here to ensure everything runs smoothly. Here's hoping Kanye West likes '30 Rock.'" The NBC show won best comedy series for the third year running.

Ken Howard, accepting the award for best supporting actor in a miniseries or a movie told the audience, "I will make my speech as brief as possible in the hope that it won't be interrupted by a congressman or a rapper," mocking both Joe Wilson and Kanye West for their recent outbursts, but failing to work Serena Williams into the mix.

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Best Supporting Actress Nominees Sport Odd Eyewear For Emmys (PHOTOS)

2009-09-20T23:16:45Z

The ladies nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy banded together tonight to sport silly glasses (or an eye patch in Poehler's case) as Jon Hamm and Tina Fey read their names during the 2009 Emmy Awards. Vanessa Williams did not participate, either out of annoyance or as the punch line to a quirky joke. Tell us who you thought looked the best!

Sarah Silverman's Mustache: Comedian Dons Fake Facial Hair During Emmys Broadcast (PHOTO)

2009-09-20T22:54:03Z

Comedian Sarah Silverman donned a faux mustache tonight during the Emmy awards as Justin Timberlake read the nominees for best actress in a comedy. When the camera cut to Silverman, who faced off against Toni Collette (who ultimately won for her work on Showtime's "United States of Tara"), Tina Fey, Christina Applegate, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Mary-Louise Parker for the honor, she had an unexpected surprise for the audience.

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