Substitute Hostin': Nick Verreos Raffles Gift Packages at the Trevor Project 2009 Oscars Viewing PartyOf course, as we all know, the Academy Awards were Sunday night---I had filmed all my Oscar.com segments for the Oscars Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress and my former Project Runway mentor, Tim Gunn, was given the duties to announce the winner Live on the Pre-Awards Red Carpet ABC Special. I know.... I was "bumped off" for Mr. Tim Gunn, can you believe it?? (He does have a Tide Commercial after all...and his own show).
I was invited by The Trevor Project, an organization to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group, to attend their annual Oscar Night Viewing Party at Here Lounge in West Hollywood. I am a big supporter of The Trevor Project and was happy to attend. I also brought a "date", my good friend Colin, who happily obliged.
Nick Verreos and friend, Colin Murphy, at Trevor Project 2009 Oscars Viewing PartyComedian and "Ugly Betty" actor Alec Mapa was supposed to have hosted it, which was an added "plus" for me to attend, since he is a friend and INCREDIBLY funny! I could only IMAGINE his funny one-liners "no-he-didn't" comments during the commercial breaks. Unfortunately, Alec was not there (a family emergency, I hear) but there were some fantastic Drag Diva performances during the breaks that kept the crowd motivated and happy! (see photos) . Looking around in the crowd, it seemed like a LOGO Network Reunion: I spotted actors from the Logo show, "Noah's Arc" as well as one of my favorite actresses, Ann Walker from "Sordid Lives" (I LOVE that show!!!). She looked EXACTLY like the character she plays on the series, Miss LaVonda. Of course, I was secretly dying!
I love me Some Purple! Nick Verreos poses with a lot of jersey printThere were also great "Ticket Give Aways"--such as tooth whitening, spa services and products galore. At one point, I was asked to help out in the ticket raffle announcing--of course I quickly got up from my chair and was excited to see the sold-out crowd's response as they were happy to see me up there QUEENIN' OUT! (and giving away stuff!)
Bollywood Fierceness: Musical Tribute to Slumdog MillionaireA couple of hours into the Viewing Party, I realized that I had to go home to watch the end, as well as to do my "Homework" for the next day. I was filming my TV Guide Oscars Fashion Wrap with Lisa Rinna and had HOURS and HOURS of red carpet who-wore-what internet viewing.....