And the Oscar Goes to...

I am happy to say that I was able to be a part of the 80th Annual Academy Awards! The writer strike ended with just enough time for me to be hired on as the Talent Coordinator for the Oscar's Red Caroet 2008 show and it was an awesome (and somewhat stressful) week.

We had an amazing list of talent in line for the red carpet and the hosts were a blast to work with. One of my duties was to drive Regis Philbin around in a Golf Cart and he was a hoot! He liked busting my chops and I now refer to him as "Uncle Regis." At one point, he took me to see his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. What made the experience even better was that a woman was looking at his star at the moment he walked up. She looked up, then back down at the star, and then back at Regis and was overwhelmed! She screamed with joy, got out her camera, and her day was made!

It was awesome standing on the year's most impressive red carpet and being a part of something that millions of people watched on TV. I even received a credit on the Red Carpet show, which ran right before the big show. :)

Here is part of the crew that helped make our show (and the red carpet in general) a huge success:

I yearn for the day when I can walk down that carpet not as a staff member, but as an invited guest. Hopefully that day is not too far off.

I also received the pleasure of attending the Governor's Ball that evening. It was absolutely gorgeous, the food was amazing, and it was so cool being in the room where every major Hollywood star was shmoozing and having a good time. I looked to my left and there was George Clooney...to my right was Philip Seymour Hoffman...behind me was Amy Adams...and a few steps ahead was the CEO of Disney. And that was just the first 5 minutes of the night! My seat was next to Daniel Day Lewis, who had just won Best Actor, and the whole night was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I wish I had pictures to share of the evening, but pictures were not allowed to be taken at the Ball. At least I have the memories (now I sound like an old man).

Here's to living life to the fullest and making every second count!

Many blessings,

Palmer