Random thought - The Oscars, the red carpet, and Ryan Seacrest

The Oscars are always a very glamorous and traditional affair. Having this be Oscar's 80th anniversary and an awards ceremony which almost didn't happen because of the writer's strike, this was particularly a highly anticipated evening. It is also among the various times of the year where people can critically and openly make the biggest fuss about who's beautiful designer gowns and gagillion dollar jewels each starlet is wearing, what their hair looks like, and if their over all image and style was a hit or miss.

Oh woe is Hollywood....

Instead of sharing with you my personal thoughts on which stars "hit or missed" their red carpet appearance, I thought it would be worthwhile to talk a little bit about how I thought Ryan Seacrest embarrassed himself in front of live national television and the horrendous job he did attempting to interview celebrities on the red carpet for E! Entertainment.

Having missed the first 20 mins of his live coverage, I tuned in just in time for his never to be lived down moments interviewing Jennifer Garner, Miley Cyrus, and Jessica Alba. Recap...

Ryan Seacrest awkwardly tries to get Jennifer Garner's attention on the red carpet as she is immersed in conversation with fellow nominee Laura Linney. When he finally does, Gary Busey interrupts Ryan's interview, caught off guard and trying to regain composure, he introduces Busey to Garner and Linney. Where Busey then plants an unnecessary kiss on Garner's neck and exits the scene. With all three of them frazzeled Ryan tries to once again regain composure for a dry and irrelevant interview.

Then Miley Cyrus stops by for a quick interview, where he asks the usual "who are you wearing?", makes a comment about how she's the biggest teen sensation right now, and goes to ask her to elaborate on a comment she made earlier this year about how she feels like she does not have any friends. How is that relevant to anything?

But the all time interview would have to be with Jessica Alba and fiancee Cash Warren. Having not asked her anything about her career the following is the sequential order of the questions he managed to squeeze in his 5 min interview with Alba. How many months she's pregnant, when she's due, who she is wearing, forgets to ask what jewelery she is wearing, instead turns over to the camera to say he is unsure about how to ask the next question, then boldly blurts out the question of whether or not she will be breast feeding.... Looking stunned and embarrassed Jessica Alba diverts the question.

Bottom line is, Ryan Seacrest pretty much made all the stars he interviewed at the Oscars feel embarrassed and awkward. He was not articulate, not professional, once again... awkward, and provided the viewers with no more then what you would get out of reading a celebrity gossip mag. Clearly he needs to work on his impromptu speaking and work extra hard on performing background research on all celebs to ask relevant and intelligent questions.

Hosting the Oscar red carpet live is not for everyone. Especially those who made careers off hosting reality TV shows, reading screen prompts covering Hollywood entrainment, and scripts for radio shows.