Show Called off the carpet Monica Corcoran Los Angeles Times What if the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences threw an Oscar show and not everyone came early With last years year's audience for the telecast at a historic low of 32 million the academy has devised a new strategy for enticing more viewers on Feb 22 Ask presenters to eschew the show pre-show red carpet so people will tune in to see who's handing out the awards or at least to see what they're wearing Several publicists all of whom asked to remain anonymous said last last week that the academy had requested that their firms' firms clients who are presenters use an off- off camera entrance this year Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger denies talk that the request has gone out to presenters across the board but confirms that there is a hope that some of the people who present will be a surprise She adds I can tell you that there will definitely be actors and actresses on the red carpet Limiting the exposure of its presenters would be a t calculated risk on the part t of the academy On one u hand it might leverage the presence of superstars such as Tom Hanks Nicole Kidman Julia Roberts and Tom Cruise as well as pleasers crowd-pleasers like Johnny Depp and Cameron Diaz But it would do so at the cost of upsetting those who feed and benefit from the red-carpet red economy Because one question that probably wont won't be asked from the Oscar stage is Who are you wearing From a business point of view how likely are we to see sec fashion credits if I 1 t these people dont don't walk the red carpet asks publicist Marilyn Heston whose Media firm represents popular designers such asElie as asElie asElie Elie Saab and Acra And if not what's the point of all this effort and great expense in having a girl wear a dress Theres There's alot a alot alot lot involved Certainly the 20 nominees will swan down the carpet for the two-hour two shows pre-shows on TV Guide E Entertainment and ABC the network that broadcasts the Oscars The first official Oscar show pre-show was hosted by Geena Davis in 1999 and last year ABC drew an audience of viewers for its show pre-show half Ryan at E and Lisa Rinna at TV Guide host the cable networks' networks fare and ask for the requisite rundown of designer names and outfit details E El's Els s 's program has hasa screen a glam to pinpoint a fashion foul like too much draping at atthe atthe atthe the waist or chipped toenail polish I have heard that some presenters will not walk the red carpet but were we're not hurting for star power says Gary executive producer of Es E's Live From the Red Carpet pre- pre show The nominees are the faces that our viewers about car U e Iv Half the time we cant can't even get to half of the people says TV Guide Networks Network's senior vice president of programming and production Matthew r At the end of f the day there are plenty of f great stars for everybody Indeed the nominees arc are red carpet gold from a style 5 perspective Contenders s include Penelope Cruz Anne Hathaway Amy yr Adams and Kate all fashion magazine cover T girls But the wattage in the e 4 presenter ranks definitely enhances the carpets carpet's glitter If you show only half the people who are going to tobe tobe tobe be at the Oscars beforehand on the red carpet that's not nota a very good commercial for the the show says photographer Jeff Vespa founder co-founder of photo service Wire Image who will be covering arrivals on that night How do you have havethe havethe havethe the largest red carpet in the world and put less on it Some publicists are in ina a pickle Do they comply with the academy's wishes and deny their clients the global exposure that comes with an Oscar red carpet appearance Not to mention the opportunity to plug a movie It depends on who the client is says Shawn Sachs principal of public relations finn firm Sunshine Sachs Associates which represents Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Affleck The red carpet is amazing visibility but not everyone is a glutton for press The same cant can't be said for the fashion designers and jewelers who vie like Olympians to dress a star such as Natalie Portman or adorn with diamond chandelier earrings Jeweler Neil Lane who outfitted Jolie with carat 5 diamond earrings for the recent Golden Globes is torn tom I understand their point of view because when I was a kid there was no red carpet You got the glamour and the awards because you yo saw the dresses and jewels during the actual show N Now ow the Oscars have to compete with the glamour And dont don't most people only watch the show pre-show anyway |