INSIDE THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS’ SWAG TENT: CELEB HOLIDAY “SHOPPING”

THEBPLOT = FIVE FESTIVE WEEKS OF LOCAL HOLIDAY FEATURES. SANTA, BABY!!!

A local reader was invited to the American Music Awards’ Celebrity Gift Tent last Saturday (Nov. 21) to promote his new, fab product and wanted to give TheBPlot readers the first scoop. 

If you have not heard, the deal with swag tents basically is that companies offer free product and the celebs whore themselves out for free sneakers, sunglasses, jewelry, etc. by letting their photo be taken with the product.  In the end, if it is somewhat of a relevant celebrity, the companies get free publicity by sending the photos to magazines such as People, US Weekly and InStyle and saying “Look, so-and-so uses our product - will you write an article?”  A lot of the time it works out for everyone. 

Our local inventor / snitch went big-time with the small-time celebs and dishes about swag-hungry, holiday gift-getting celebs, in his own words: 

“Well, being part of the AMA swag tent sure was an experience.  There were about 43 vendors.  I learned afterwards that the top celebs don’t come to the event, but the B C and D-list people do – with their friends.  Plenty of kids under 15 years old do too. 

“One hundred ten ‘names’ attended and I’ve got photos of almost every one of them who took our stuff.  I met many ‘has been’ stars and ‘want to be’ stars, several stars from soap operas, Carnie Wilson, two rappers, a few from TV shows (‘LA Ink’, ‘V’ and a few others), kids from the Disney Channel with their swag hungry parents, the Olympic Water Polo Team, a loooong since retired Hall of Famer from the LA Dodgers. 

“A few film directors came for product, including a major science fiction series director who is about 90 years old and couldn’t hear or see to even know what he was looking at.  Finally, a very famous TV chef - who the fattest guy in the room ran over and hugged for what seemed like forever – was there and loved our product.  

“Max and Tony from ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and Sheila E [photo left] were great and hung out with us for a while.

“Only one celeb objected to photos and still took product – Morena Baccarin from the ABC televisions series ‘V’ [third from right in photo, right].  She’s obviously new to the scene and when this show is over she will be done and not realize how lucky she was. 

“Every other celeb was more than willing to take photos.  We made sure they had fun, and enjoyed the picture-taking – and it shows in the photos.   

“The truth and truly sad fact is that many of the celebs came to get free stuff to give to their friends and family for the holidays.  They’d discuss with their family members openly ‘Okay, I’ll give this to Auntie May, and give that to my best friend Charlotte, and this to ….’  

“The free stuff they were getting from other vendors included really expensive shoes, purses, candy, computer software, earrings, dolls, make-up, perfume and tons more.  

“I’ve been invited to the Oscars in March.  More on that after the holidays.  The word is that more celebs, bigger celebs will attend that gift event.  And I guess they won’t be stocking up on Christmas gifts!!!  Maybe.”

Richard@TheBPlot.com

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“RIDE” AFTER “SANTA SATURDAY”: THEBPLOT EXTENDED INTERVIEW

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I AM BEYOND THANKFUL TO EACH OF YOU - THEBPLOT'S VALUED READERS AND SUPPORTERS. THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR INVESTING YOUR CHERISHED FREE TIME IN VISITING THE SITE AND READING THE COASTER. CHEERS!!!

 

TheBPlot.com presents an extended exclusive Q & A, in which photographer Joe Oppedisano reveals the new gay “look,” tips for making your own racy home movie and more…

Bears, Otters, Wolves, Cubs – it will be an adult version of Animal Planet, Saturday (Nov. 28) at RIDE, a party produced by Brad Hurtado, for the bear and leather communities the evening of the Santa Saturday benefit.

“Thanks to the thousands of men who pour into town for a daytime benefit, the weekend has become a really great time to play in our city” said Brad.  “This year, all those randy men will be at the Stone Pony after the benefit for a night of sweaty fun.”

‘NO FOOD FOR YOU’ SAYS RESTAURANT OWNER TO EMPLOYEES… ‘HONESTY SYSTEM’ ANTIQUE DEALER… FISHY DONATION TO JENKINSON’S AQUARIUM… & MORE GOSSIP IN “YOU SAY WHO” FROM THE GUY WHO CHOOSES ‘SIDES’ OVER TURKEY ON THANKSGIVING

I spoke with Joe Oppedisano, photographer – known for his iconic hyper-masculine images – who will shoot a performance art piece with super-sexy models for his next project in the middle of RIDE.

TBP:  I need to get this out of the way – you worked with one of my all-time favorite people, the gorgeous Amy Sedaris (“Sex in the City,” “Strangers With Candy”) [photo right] whose brother wrote about her hating to look glam in photos.  The photos you took are both glam and awkward.  Tell me everything.

Joe:  Amy and I have been friends and neighbors for 15 years.  She needed press shots to promote her book “I Like You…” so I begged her to let me make her glam.  She came out of the dressing room with an amazing dress and fake flies all over her face. 

She has a great sense of herself and knows what she wants.  That’s why she has the gay boys wrapped around her finger.

TBP:  Levi Johnston (the bane of Sarah Palin’s existence) just…err… famously did his photo shoot for Playgirl.  How would you have photographed him?

Joe:  (Laughing) I think he is heaven.  He came out of nowhere and now is everywhere.  I would like to photograph him on a set like the White House lawn surrounded by political powerhouses in farm-type clothes holding pitchforks and shovels – very American Gothic.   

TBP:  Who is a bigger inspiration to you, James Dean, Joan Crawford or Brad Hurtado? 

Joe:  Brad and Joan are neck and neck…they are both such big b&%$#@!.  

TBP:  Ha.  So, what can we expect with your performance art show during RIDE?

Joe:  Expect a lot honey…and I am going to give you more than that.  It’s going to be hot.  I am bringing at least four models.

One model, a Hothouse exclusive, Junior Stellano, grew up in Asbury Park.  He is the epitome of the Latin-Italian super hunk.  Naturally ripped.  Gorgeous as can be.

Another model who is coming is Chris Raucci [photo right].  He is 25 years old and the 2010 version of a twink and he loves bears.

TBP:  What actually is a bear in the gay world?  Is Brad Pitt with that new shaggy beard a bear?

Joe:  I think a bear is a gay man, over 40 years old, who is hyper-masculine and can’t be bothered spending 15 hours grooming or eating salads.  Brad Pitt is just annoying.    

TBP:  After this weekend, I am betting everyone will have had a lesson in “bear.”

TBP:  You are also a videographer.  Any advice for guys planning on sexting or making an adult film of their own later on in the evening?

Joe:  (laughs) It’s all about lighting.  It’s all about angles…good close ups.  Just have fun…and go for it.  I have done two adult films.

TBP:  Out community has gone through muscle guys, twinks, smooth guys and more.  What is the up-and-coming new “gay look”?

Joe:  I am sooo into the next generation right now…guys who are 25 and under.  There are so many beautiful boys.  The kid Chris I spoke about earlier has the new look – not a twink, green eyes, skinny ripped body – shredded with a great attitude.

Brad’s AsburyParkEvents has more RIDE info.

Friendly reminder:  Saturday (Nov. 28), from 7 to 10 pm, TheBPlot and The Coaster readers are invited to the launch party for the 2010 Asbury Park Firefighters calendar in the Third Avenue Pavilion.  Click here for your invitation.  Which month will your favorite firefighter represent? 

Richard@TheBPlot.com

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MADISON MARQUETTE “SHIFTING FOCUS”: THEBPLOT EXCLUSIVE

Only at the TheBPlot and in The Coaster will you find an exclusive interview with Madison Marquette’s Pasqualina Delucia. 

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE BOARDWALK HOLIDAY EVENT LISTINGS

The fab Pasque took the time to reveal the company’s new focus after the recession, plans for Summer 2010, recent staff changes, with a point of assuaging fan’s concerns about potentially stalled progress on their beloved boardwalk. 

TBP:  With a smaller team (Courtney and Megan most recently gone) working towards Madison Marquette and the beachfront’s goals, boardwalk fans are concerned about the area’s future progress and next summer.   What will change?  What is going on?  

Pasqualina:  It’s true that we are leaner at the moment. We are shifting our focus from construction to programming, marketing and retail operations – making the boardwalk an even more vibrant and exciting shopping and entertainment experience.  To that goal, we will be bringing in additional key members to our staff, such as a Retail Manager and Marketing Coordinator.

In the interim, we have an amazing extended team stepping in to assist with events, marketing and programming. This includes, but is not limited to Jonathan Badaracco, manager of The Beach Bar, Teresa Minnick, manager of Wesley Grove and also strong support for our Washingon, DC group.

Also, we can’t forget Boardwalk tenants and Asbury Park community members who have lent – and hopefully will continue to lend – their support and involvement.  We are thankful for everyone’s efforts.

We will definitely continue to program great events in 2010 - even more than in 2009.  We are committed to doing more with less.  

Not to worry, Madison Marquette is dedicated to ensuring waterfront projects will continue to grow exponentially in years to come.

Read The Coaster every week for the most current news about the waterfront, boardwalk and surrounding cities. 

Richard@TheBPlot.com

THEBPLOT = THE AREA’S #1 FEATURES SITE… WITH MORE REVEALING INTERVIEWS THAN ANYWHERE ELSE