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Leanne Shirtliffe

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Oprah's After Oscar Party

Perhaps it was Thing 1 and Thing 2 in my purse. Perhaps it was my sister’s Canada mitts. Perhaps it just was.

This morning, my sister and I were ushered to second row seats at Oprah’s After Oscar Party in the Kodak Theatre. Apparently we were seated where Justin Timberlake sat at last night’s Academy Awards. I didn’t lick the cushion, but if it were Colin Firth’s seat, who knows how low I would’ve stooped.

The pre-show view from our seats (no zoom lens necessary), including sparkly stairs

Just before the taping commenced, one of the producers asked if we’d go on stage to dance and get the crowd going. So, together with her and fifteen other women, we ran up those flashy Oscar stairs and danced with wild abandon to the Black Eyed Peas. Thankfully, the audience joined in, and I didn’t fall and break a hip. After ten minutes of dancing, we returned to our seats, many of us in need of a defibrillator.

The show started, revealing a set that changed colour. Within moments, Oprah was joined by three men from The King’s Speech: the dapper and funny and handsome and witty and intelligent Colin Firth, the charming Geoffrey Rush, and the impressive Tom Hooper, winner of the Oscar for Best Director.

Although we weren’t quite upgraded to Firth’s lap, we were close enough to chat with Oprah and her guests during commercial breaks. During one such casual moment, a woman yelled, “We love you, Colin!” To which I added, “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” I got a smile and a nod. The man knows the opening of Pride and Prejudice.

Step 1 of Operation Firth-dom: The on-the-floor color
Step 2 of Operation Firth-dom: get escorted to a chair with this sign on it
Step 3 of Operation Firth-dom: wear bright colours

Anne Hathaway, the youngest Oscar host ever, floated out later, followed by Melissa Leo, winner of the Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Fighter.  During another commercial break, I held up my sister’s Canadian mitts and invited Oprah to Canada. She said, “I’m coming.” It’s easy to get someone’s attention when they’re less than twenty feet away.

The YouTube sensation, Staten Island’s PS 22 choir, performed Katy Perry’s Firework with a full orchestra, and before long Katy Perry herself joined them, backlit by actual fireworks inside the Kodak Theatre.

I am the blond; my sister is to my left

It was a party. We didn’t get swag and – although my husband told me not to come home unless Oprah gave me a new car – we’re leaving tomorrow. Mr. Darcy may not be with me, but at least I spoke to him.

Thanks for following our adventure in Hollywood. See you in Canada, eh?

Filed Under: On the Move Tagged With: Colin Firth, Kodak Theatre, Oprah, Oprah's After Oscar Party, Oscars

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leah says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    Sooooo jealous!!!!!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:20 pm

      Twas fun indeed.

      Reply
  2. doublethefun says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    very cool! How’d you score those tix anyhoo?

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm

      I heard about it, and entered a ticket lottery on Oprah’s site. Then I forgot about it until I got the congratulations email…

      Reply
  3. educlaytion says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    It is a truth universally acknowledged that we couldn’t be happier for you. 2nd row. Unbelievable. You are so much closer to Kevin Bacon now than you were last week. I mean, Timberlake’s seat? That’s even cool.

    Let me run this back now: “dapper and funny and handsome and witty and intelligent.” So that’s what I need to shoot for to basically cause women around the world to swoon.

    Great stuff. Congrats on a once in a lifetime trip.

    Reply
    • Meet the Buttrams says

      March 1, 2011 at 8:38 am

      It helps if you have an accent.

      Midwestern doesn’t count.

      Reply
      • Ironic Mom says

        March 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm

        Yes, the accent helps. So does using the word “visceral” in context, without trying, which Firth did at the Oprah taping.

        Reply
  4. Paige Morgan says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    Wow! I am envious, excited for you and thrilled that you shared your experience with all of us!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:03 pm

      Thanks for reading about it. I wasn’t sure if readers would be turned off with a different angle…

      Reply
  5. chibichunsa says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Sounds like this was an amazing/exciting trip (even without jumping into Colin Firth’s lap or getting a new car)! Congrats! (Maybe Oprah will bring some swag to Canada, you never know)

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:05 pm

      When I was transiting in Vancouver, I bought a Tim Hortons Roll-Up-the-Rim-to-Win tea. I planned to win the car, in place of the swag we didn’t get. I only won a coffee…

      Reply
  6. Susan says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:00 pm

    YOU GOT A SMILE AND A NOD!! You can die happy. I’d have peed myself. Sounds like a fantastic time.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:05 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  7. Keenie Beanie says

    March 1, 2011 at 12:06 am

    OMG, OMG, OMG, you had a moment, I mean an honest-to-god moment, with Colin Firth!!!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:06 pm

      I need some more moments. 😉

      Reply
  8. Lori Dyan says

    March 1, 2011 at 5:15 am

    We need a new moniker for you and Mr. Firth, a la Bennifer….maybe Colanne?Leain? Let me ponder this awhile…

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:06 pm

      Clever. Though Collori likely has a better ring to it.

      Reply
  9. Belly says

    March 1, 2011 at 5:18 am

    Like the others, I’m swooning at the smile shared with Colin Firth. Isn’t he delicious? Second -row in the presence of royalty (well, Oprah), too.

    LOVE that the mitts made the journey and that they have a part in this story.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:07 pm

      Delicious = good description

      Reply
  10. writerwoman61 says

    March 1, 2011 at 7:32 am

    What…no swag? Your comment to Colin was probably one of the most witty he’s ever received! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us, and for making Canadians look good, Leanne!

    Wendy

    Reply
  11. Meet the Buttrams says

    March 1, 2011 at 8:39 am

    Too much fun! I loved living vicariously through you as you wooed The Mr. Darcy. Love it!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:07 pm

      Thanks for reading the swooning parts…

      Reply
  12. calgarydaddy says

    March 1, 2011 at 9:24 am

    Awesome! First we where in the Metro together, then we both had spots on the CBC Eyeopener! Great Blog!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:08 pm

      So true. Clearly you should have gone to Oprah, too!

      Reply
  13. julie gardner says

    March 1, 2011 at 10:00 am

    So. Jealous. And excited for you. Sorry about the lack of car-gifting, but the rest sounds simply fabulous.

    Thanks for taking us along for the ride. I almost feel like I almost sat in Justin Timberlake’s seat.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:10 pm

      Of course, I came home to a new problem with our hand-me-down, 13yo green station wagon: a massive crack in the windshield. I’m not sure cars get any uglier than that… Newish one might have to come the old fashioned way: $.

      Reply
  14. Trish Loye Elliott says

    March 1, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Amazing! So jealous! I love Colin and you actually got a moment with him. Very cool and very witty too. I would have been the bubble-head just screaming inanely and incoherently. You repped us well.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:10 pm

      I was partially looking forward to you and Elena fighting it out if my sister couldn’t go. Though I’m glad she did!

      Reply
  15. Jen says

    March 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    How exciting. I would have licked any of the seats because I am shameless like that. Probably a good thing I didn’t go.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:12 pm

      You would have been at home there!

      Reply
  16. madmothermusings says

    March 1, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    *swooning!!* you SPOKE to him? egads!

    Reply
  17. Renée A. Schuls-Jacobson says

    March 1, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    You. Are. So. Cool. You are so cool that you are officially kewl. I know you said you were going to Oprah’s after show, but I kind of thought you were joking. What an amazing hoo-ha. Did “O” give away any free stuff? Like cars? You. Are. A. Rock. Star.

    And I almost know you. Kind of.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:13 pm

      No freebies. The PS 22 choir all got phones.

      By the way, I’ve never been called kewl before. I think I’ve made it.

      Reply
  18. Lisa says

    March 1, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    Great comments in the heat of the moment. I would have said something really silly or stuttered.
    Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:14 pm

      It was one of those rare moments in my life where I thought of what to say “on time” instead of 2 days later, which is my normal speed.

      Reply
  19. Kasia says

    March 1, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    Gosh, I am so glad I asked you to bring back Colin’s autographed picture dedicated to me… Can’t wait to see it tomorrow… You do have it, right? 🙂

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:20 pm

      About the picture…

      Reply
  20. jan markley says

    March 2, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    tres cool as we say in Canada!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm

      Merci!

      Reply
  21. Aalia says

    March 2, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    WOW! I just googled Oprah’s After Oscar Party to find some coverage on it and I found this! Fellow Canadian Oprah audience member! I was in the front row with my sister right across from you guys! Remember I asked where you were from because we came to LA all the way from MTL. Wasn’t the show amazing! I saved all the memorabilia too and I took video blogs the whole way to the Kodak Theatre, I’m putting them together right now. Well, awesome blog! I’ll be following you on Twitter 🙂

    PS. Do you think they posted the warm-up dance?! Now that’s a keeper!

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 11, 2011 at 2:58 pm

      Aalia, sorry for the late response; somehow WordPress directed your comment to my spam folder.

      Thanks for commenting. Montreal is a fabulous city. I’ve been trying to find the warm up dance, with no luck. I’ll let you know if I do. Have you posted your video yet? I’m heading to your site now!

      Leanne

      Reply
  22. jesswords10 says

    March 2, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    I think this is the coolest thing ever. Colin Firth smiled and nodded at you. Even I want to be in your dreams this week! lol.

    Reply
    • Ironic Mom says

      March 3, 2011 at 7:32 am

      Of course, the dreams I’m having are anxiety dreams, where I’m cooking for 30 people and everyone else is having fun and not helping me. Dr. Freud?

      Reply
  23. thoughtsappear says

    March 4, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    What an amazing trip!

    Reply
  24. multitaskingmumma says

    March 16, 2011 at 10:16 am

    I’m overly excited for you.
    You must have ridden that high forever!!
    Wait! Are you still riding it?
    Did her boobs look as big in that red dress on stage as it did on tv?
    Is Ann Hathaway beautiful
    Is oprah pretentious during commercials or nice?
    I may be slightly obsessed with this.
    And now you.

    Reply
  25. nada says

    April 13, 2011 at 7:02 am

    Nice work ladies- I am a Canadian who traveled with Oprah to Australia in December-An official Ultimate Viewer! The wholee experience taught me that dreams really come true! I do believe that Oprah is coming to Canada soon-wouldn’t it be great if it was in the form of a show? An audience filled with Ultimate Candian Viewers? Sounds like you had an amazing time 🙂

    Reply
  26. Amba says

    February 25, 2013 at 10:54 am

    That sounds like a blast! 🙂 I can’t believe this was the year that poor Anne Hathaway was abandoned on stage by Franco LOL! You literally spoke to Oprah and Firth-your day, no actually life, is made! LOL! I would kill to see Firth in person.

    Reply

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