Oscar Giftbaskets

[zepka102]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 4:27pm

i'm watching E! live countdown coverage (cuz i'm 1 of those losers that watches it for hours), and i'm just really confused. it has bothered me for years. why do the nominees get giftbaskets?! they get so much in it, this year includes make up worth $30,000 because it has crushed up jewels in it (really... id on't get it).

anyone else find it crazy?

[mabel]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 4:29pm

I thought the main gift basket (for presenters and nominees) was worth something crazy like $100,000!!! Then there are "smaller" gift baskets (like that one they just did a segment on for M&Ms). Either way, it's crazy. I wonder how many auction them off for charity? I remember hearing/reading something about that at one of the pre-Oscar award shows last year.

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 4:29pm

I heard the total is up to 110,000 this year. Teachers (like me) don't make that in TWO years, and these people who SO don't need it get it for thirty seconds of work. It's absolutely ridiculous.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 4:32pm

it's promotional

[mominator]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 5:27pm

It is crazy! Like George Cloony really needs a $40,000 dollar watch.

[cudramacat]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 5:29pm

Yeah, I heard that the nominees who don't win get an "everyone's a winner" gift basket worth $50,000. I would rather lose but that's just me.

[mabel]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 5:38pm

Is that in addition to the $100,000 nominee gift basket??

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 5:38pm

It's purely free advertising on the part of companies that donate products for the bag. If you were a high end company, you'd be clamoring to get your products in those bags, given that you'll have a chance to have your product seen being worn or used by a bunch of multimillionaire, oft-photographed, incredibly popular celebrities. How many millions of dollars of free advertising is it if your watch or whatever is later photographed on the wrist of Heath Ledger or Reese Witherspoon? Resorts offer free trips on the chance that a few of these celebs will take the trip and be photographed there by In Style or People etc......

This is not about pampering celebrities to be nice. They give their crap away in hopes that famous people will be free billboards for them and increase their cache and their business.

Updated On: 3/5/06 at 05:38 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 5:44pm

Really Really Good Swag - one of the best things about being "someone" - you get some of the best stuff at parties and shows for free, just hoping that you will use it or wear it someday. The same is true for the Golden Globes, Grammies . . .

A lot of the launch parties for new phones, game consoles, etc. also give celebrity attendees amazing gifts.

[Burlesquebabe]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 5:47pm

I too watch E! live from the red carpet for every award show, and yes I do find it a little much for all the nominees to get giftbaskets.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 6:23pm

This is an article from last year's show...


http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/movieawards/oscars/2005-02-20-gift-bag-tracking_x.htm


Bonus in the basket

Cashmere PJs, mink eyelashes and weekend getaways are among the goodies coming the way of host Chris Rock and the performers and presenters at Sunday's Academy Awards. The official gift basket is a "thank you" to the unpaid talent. USA TODAY unwraps some of the loot:


• A Krups kitchen set. Not just a coffeemaker, either. This year's gift includes a toaster, an electric kettle and a year's supply of coffee and tea ($700)

• A two-night stay at The Carlyle hotel in New York ($2,300)

• A red leather case filled with Shu Uemura cosmetics, including mink eyelashes ($600)

• A year's supply of Vonage broadband phone service ($500)

• A three-night stay for two at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina ($3,600)

• A two-night stay for two at Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley (Calif.) wine country ($2,500)

• A three-night stay for two (plus a "personal surf-butler") at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, Calif. ($5,900)

• A dinner party at any Morton's, The Steakhouse ($1,500)

• Kay Unger cashmere pajama bottoms ($500)

• An assortment of Manni Oils' extra virgin olive oil ($540)

• An unlimited day of services at Cornelia Day Resort, which just opened this month on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue ($3,500)

• A three-night stay at San Ysidro Ranch, a popular celebrity honeymoon spot in Montecito, Calif. ($3,000)

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 6:32pm

They're doing a report on the Giftbaskets on NBC now. (Although it won't be towards the end of the show, I think).