Producers Produce... Their Own Award Show

For the last few years, every time we've attended the Producers Guild Awards, this time back at the Century Plaza hotel, we have shaken our heads and wondered, how can producers, of all people, not produce a well-run and on-schedule event? Too often we had experienced problems like the cocktail hour being extended so long, they had to bring food out to us to 'tide us over' while they fixed things -- so much so that I no longer wear high heels to these events -- teleprompters that work so poorly that the presenters have no idea what to say, and a variety of glitches that shouldn't happen to PRODUCERS. Happily, this year was different. Last night, we had a nice cocktail hour with enough drink setups that there weren't long lines, we got into the dining room on time, the program started miraculously on time, and the equipment worked. All of it. Amazing. We even got out of there before our bodies were deadened from sitting too long.

The cocktail hours are always the most fun because that's where you get to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, but this year the Awards show itself was amazing. I'll tell you why shortly. But first:

I feel like I've been reading Joe's blog too long, because I found myself taking pictures of the FOOD! I only bring a camera to take pictures of my favorite subject -- me (well, actually my outfit) -- hey, nobody who works in Hollywood is without an ego -- but here I am... shooting food.

So, Joe, if you've decided to visit my blog here again, these are for you! The first course, as we sat down.

And since you are such a gourmet, Joe, I'll let you figure out what we are eating.

The most spectacular presentation this year was The Visionary Award, given to KEN EHRLICH. For those who don't know who he is, he's best known for producing variety and live events, such as Soundstage (the forerunner of shows like Unplugged), Emmys, Grammys, and dozens of single artist specials (examples being with Elton John, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC). He's like Mr. Music in his love of the power of music to provide inspiration.

He also is known for envisioning unexpected combinations of artists to sing duets and persuading the artists to trust him enough to perform the duets. In fact, they became known as "Ken Ehrlich duets". MELISSA ETHERIDGE was tapped to present him with this award and she started out telling us why she is so indebted to him: that when she first came to town as a newbie arrival from Kansas, she had auditioned for Fame and Ken kept calling her back on callbacks until it was just her and... Janet Jackson. Ken told her they were going with Janet but not to give up because she was really good. So now we understood her affectionate tone. She then mentioned somebody wanted to congratulate him who couldn't be here, so seque to the screen where Katie Couric told her story. Which is so common that you barely listen -- pass the coffee, won't you?

Then the incredible happened... or at least something I've never seen before at the PGA Awards. Melissa told Ken to not get up out of his seat yet because somebody else wanted to say something to him. Out comes BONNIE RAITT and she sang "Love Sneakin' Up on You" to him. I have loved her work for many years now so I was quite delighted to be in the room with her singing. When Bonnie was done, Melissa told Ken again to stay in his seat for there was another person who wanted to offer congratulations. Out comes PAUL SIMON who sang "The Boxer" for us.

By this time, we were all incredibly up. To our surprise, when Paul was done, Melissa told Ken once again to stay in his seat, for there was another person coming to pay his respects. Led in was STEVIE WONDER, who performed "Superstition". As you can imagine, that really stirred things up. Not only were people on their feet to give him a standing ovation, but they were rocking out to "Superstition". An odd sight to see men in tuxedos and women in long dresses -- producers of movies and television -- rocking out to the music like they were hippies at a rock concert. And in a typical nod to today, I even saw a woman holding up a cell phone, presumably to record this moment for later replay. Although... Stevie turned her on so much, that eventually she put the phone away and just rocked out.

Could anyone follow that? You guessed it, at that point, they allowed Ken Ehrlich to come onstage and accept his award from them all. It was truly the most exciting presentation I've ever been witness to. Even more fun than the commercial breaks at the Emmys where chosen celebrities had to entertain us in a singing contest and a couple of poor souls had to sing the Green Acres (overwhelming winners, just for their moxie in doing it) song.

Another important moment was the presentation of the Stanley Kramer award, which is given for achievement in illuminating provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating way. HARRISON FORD presented this year's award to producers LAURIE DAVID, LAWRENCE BENDER & SCOTT Z. BURNS for their documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth." Apparently, many thought it a novel, possibly foolhardy, idea to theatrically release a documentary starring a former Vice President and presidential contender and hope that this would help change the global debate on a serious threat to our planet. After the producers accepted the award, they introduced AL GORE to the stage, who told how in the beginning, he couldn't see how they could make a movie from the slideshow he carried on speaking engagements about the global warming threat... and in a way that didn't require his presence -- so much so that the recovering politician was the side show. He was very proud that they did.

TOM CRUISE presented the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures to "Little Miss Sunshine". My friend laughed and said that Tom Cruise was brought in just for me, because for the last several years I've dragged my filmgoing buddies -- often kicking and screaming -- to the first night showings of his films. I do love my Tom. Although after the most recent movies have left me groaning, I don't think I'm going to be battling the opening night crowds for a while now.

I have to confess that "Little Miss Sunshine" was a surprise to me. Not that I didn't like the movie, I did. But my heart is with "Dreamgirls" and that's what I'd expected to win, especially for producing such a marvellously well done film. I like musicals, but they are somewhat hit or miss with me because too often they fall down on the story. "Dreamgirls" has a very compelling, edge -of-the-seat story behind it, even if you already know the story and the players. And has some of the finest performances I've ever seen. On top of that, it's got wonderful music and spectacular costumes. I expect it to do well.

MARG HELGENBERGER presented her boss JERRY BRUCKHEIMER with the Norman Lear Achievement in Television Award and he impressed me by asking everyone to raise a glass to his former partner, now several years dead, Don Simpson. JAKE GYLLENHALL presented the David O. Selznick achievement in motion pictures award to the husband and wife producing team of DOUG WICK and LUCY FISHER. TYRA BANKS presented the Johnny Carson variety show award to the producers of Real Time with Bill Maher. The Non-fiction Award went to the producers of 60 Minutes which was the only show nominated that was not what's been so erroneously labelled, reality shows. PATRICK DEMPSEY presented the Danny Thomas award in episodic comedy to the producers of The Office and SALMA HAYEK presented the producers of Grey's Anatomy with the Norman Felton award in episodic drama. CALISTA FLOCKHART and HUGH LAURIE were on hand to together present the David L. Wolper award for long-form television to the producers of Elizabeth I and MORGAN FREEMAN gave the brand new award in animated motion pictures to Cars. The Vanguard Award went to WILL WRIGHT for his gaming contributions like Sim City.

And I have been saving for the end, the Milestone Award, given to our very own RON MEYER, president and COO of NBC-Universal Studios by TOM HANKS. Tom Hanks showed us a cute little hand-drawn slide show of Ron Meyer's life and then Ron spoke warmly about the various people who have helped him in his career, natch. He ended with talking warmly about his NBC-Universal family. So on Monday, as a lowly part of that NBC-Universal family, will I have the chutpah to send him my own congratulations for his honor? Ah, the 64 million dollar question.