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.
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.
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.
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?
Sooooo jealous!!!!!
Twas fun indeed.
very cool! How’d you score those tix anyhoo?
I heard about it, and entered a ticket lottery on Oprah’s site. Then I forgot about it until I got the congratulations email…
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.
It helps if you have an accent.
Midwestern doesn’t count.
Yes, the accent helps. So does using the word “visceral” in context, without trying, which Firth did at the Oprah taping.
Wow! I am envious, excited for you and thrilled that you shared your experience with all of us!
Thanks for reading about it. I wasn’t sure if readers would be turned off with a different angle…
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)
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…
YOU GOT A SMILE AND A NOD!! You can die happy. I’d have peed myself. Sounds like a fantastic time.
🙂
OMG, OMG, OMG, you had a moment, I mean an honest-to-god moment, with Colin Firth!!!
I need some more moments. 😉
We need a new moniker for you and Mr. Firth, a la Bennifer….maybe Colanne?Leain? Let me ponder this awhile…
Clever. Though Collori likely has a better ring to it.
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.
Delicious = good description
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
Too much fun! I loved living vicariously through you as you wooed The Mr. Darcy. Love it!
Thanks for reading the swooning parts…
Awesome! First we where in the Metro together, then we both had spots on the CBC Eyeopener! Great Blog!
So true. Clearly you should have gone to Oprah, too!
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.
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: $.
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.
I was partially looking forward to you and Elena fighting it out if my sister couldn’t go. Though I’m glad she did!
How exciting. I would have licked any of the seats because I am shameless like that. Probably a good thing I didn’t go.
You would have been at home there!
*swooning!!* you SPOKE to him? egads!
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.
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.
Great comments in the heat of the moment. I would have said something really silly or stuttered.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
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.
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? 🙂
About the picture…
tres cool as we say in Canada!
Merci!
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!
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
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.
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?
What an amazing trip!
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.
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 🙂
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.