Candice Bergen | 02/22/2009 10:35 am

Candice Bergen Live Blogs Oscar Night

Blackberry in hand, a real Hollywood icon tells it as she sees it during the Academy Awards

Thank God I’m not in LA. That’s one thing. To be in LA during Oscar Week is some teeny kind of hell. Well, unless you’re nominated and then it’s some sweet kind of chaotic incessant insane physical maintenance/psychological waterboard thing. OK. That was too glib. But you get the idea. Not that I would know because the one time I was nominated, it was for best supporting actress for a film called, "Starting Over" and I was up against Meryl Streep for "Kramer vs Kramer". Since our site is for the older demographic, I assume some of you might have heard of one of these movies. In any case, needless to say, I lost to Meryl. That award is always given early so it was quite nice to kick back and enjoy the show except for my mom, who was my date, who kept nattering loudly about fashion faux pas.

Which brings me to my next point: how very much I MISS the legendary fashion faux pas. Oh GOD such a loss, now that everyone — including the guys — has a stylist. Except for one I’m sure we can count on to titillate with his fashion choices, Mickey Roarke, who may bring a chihuahua as an evening bag … and, who may very likely win.

Maybe it's too soon to retire. This is a great job ... the older I get, the more miraculous it all seems.

What I mean is, in the Old Days, no one ever had a stylist. Didn’t happen. And no one lent or gave outfits. Almost never. You were on your own, which was what we, happily watching at home in our jammies, lived for. Oh my God. It was heaven. There were mostly nightmares. Outfits, evening dresses that were just beyond eccentric or tacky. They were the occasion for huge whoops and hollers. So much fun. Except for a very, very few. They, of course, stood out in their innate elegance and tasteful simplicity. There were always women you could count on to always look outstanding. Anjelica Huston. Sharon Stone. Faye Dunaway. But basically, it was over-the-top-heaven.

Now, the entrances are starting. Dadadum. It is 3:30 in LA. They have been grooming since, what, noon? At least. Plus you can’t drink anything after 12:00pm because peeing is out of the question.

Taraji P. Henson — an adorable girl nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Benjamin Button. Looking sooooo fine. An unbelievable antique diamond necklace. Huge. Gorgeous. She was on "Boston Legal" for a season, which is how I know her.

43 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Candace and her mother looking otherwordly elegant at the Oscars. Candace, always admired your classy Mum.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/211170983_6c8d93dca7.jpg

It’s always so thrilling to go nuts over the Oscars….thanks for your interesting words.

Hollywood! How lucky we are and how dull it would be without that fairytale machine in the world.

By Rose ~~ on 02/23/2009 12:01 pm

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I was thinking that they have been introduced to the glitz and glamor…. so here’s the thing: They have been shown what they may not ever be able to achieve again. So now that the film industry is done with them, they just go on back to the slums? Seems pretty harsh to me..

By Harley Gramma on 02/23/2009 12:10 pm

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i too was thinking why they have to go back to the slums. i read that their schooling will be paid for until they are 18. with all the $$ this movie has made (i myself saw it twice!), why in heaven can’t their families be moved out of the slums if they so desire. i read that danny boyle said that they wouldn’t know what to do with so much money. well then, put the mney in the hands of a trustee to oversee the use of it. why should these children still be living in squalor if there is a way out. after all, they and their soulful eyes helped make the movie the sucess that it was. i think we should all give a shout out to the producers to do more ! will you join me?

By M. Starr on 02/23/2009 10:43 pm

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BTW, thank you Candace………..i enjoyed your blog.

By M. Starr on 02/23/2009 10:45 pm

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where do we start?

By Harley Gramma on 02/24/2009 12:45 pm

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thanks for asking…….here’s the latest info……..last night on ‘nightline’ they did a piece on the children involved in the movie and they said that the families were being moved out of the slums into apartments………either they read my mind (and others, i am sure) or they felt compelled to do more…………i will keep on listening and googling and forward the info via wowowow………….

By M. Starr on 02/24/2009 2:34 pm

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Candace, I actually enjoyed your writing about the event even more than the actual event. Very in-the-moment and enjoyable. You are a classy dame, if ever there was one.

By Susan Gabriel on 02/23/2009 2:31 pm

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Thank you, Candice. I enjoyed your description far more than the actual event.

By Meg Umans on 02/23/2009 3:16 pm

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Lovely, ya big Swede….

By Mugsy Peabody on 02/23/2009 4:08 pm

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Brava, Candice Bergen. Thank you for taking us along for the insider’s view of one of America’s most spectacular homage’s to artistic creativity. You are quite the clever writer, my dear.

Peace and grace

By beth willis on 02/23/2009 6:22 pm

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That was a fun read, thanks!!

By Rain in Minneapolis on 02/23/2009 6:43 pm

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Candice—No. 1, I’ve always enjoyed your acting and I’ve always wanted to look like you, but alas that never happened. (I’m not that much younger than you.) No. 2, please don’t retire if you can still find a good role. No. 3, I’ve enjoyed your writing since your piece on Oscar Levant, and I bought, read, and thoroughly enjoyed your book, "Knock Wood." No. 4, thanks for sharing your view of the Academy Awards. No. 5, when will your second book come out? And last and certainly least, No. 6, please don’t hold it against me that I’m from Dan Quayle’s home state. For the record, I never voted for him. Thanks again for the Oscar blog.

By Peggy Newton on 02/23/2009 9:27 pm

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I didn’t see this admirable show and I thing I didn’t miss anything of it, because your comment is more fun, than whole this evening. And I very miss the old times, when on red carpet walked great movie legends with royal elegance and nobleness… In my country movie actors are awarded by Czech Lion, but I don’t like this performance. Organizers try of something like would-be artistic impression.

By Sabina Šmatová on 02/24/2009 1:05 am

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Thanks Candice, that was a real treat!

By Jane Cougar Melonhat on 02/24/2009 5:01 am

Candice…..The Wind and the Lion is still one of my all time favorite films. You and Mr. Connery were simply sizzling in the desert. Swords and horses certainly put high pulse into a drama/romance! The music by Jerry Goldsmith is on my ipod and it still sends me over the moon every time I listen. Thanks for so many wonderful performances.

By Rhonda C. on 02/24/2009 7:38 am