From The Straits Times    |

Regular viewers of E! News would probably recognise these two familiar faces. Jason Kennedy and Catt Sadler are none other than the popular hosts of the entertainment news channel and the duo are also regular features on red carpet events during awards season.

CattSadlerJasonKennedy

Ahead of the 84th Annual Academy Awards, happening on February 26 (US time), we get a sneak peek at their awkward red carpet moments, who’s the most difficult person on the carpet and a whole lot more star-studded goss.

What is the best advice you’d give for newcomer celebrities on the Red Carpet?

Jason Kennedy: Just to have fun with it and be open with us. Those are the interviews that I enjoy the most. I think the best example is George Clooney because you never know what the guy is going to say.

Catt Sadler: A perfect example is Sofia Vergara because she lets loose and doesn’t take herself too seriously. She’s having fun, so the reporters and viewers have fun too – everybody wins.

You can see a contrast when somebody else walks on the carpet after that and is reserved. An example is Rooney Mara. She’s incredibly talented, sweet and warm but as she’s new to this, she may come across icy and reserved.

Have either of you had an awkward Red Carpet moment?

JK: Of course. There was a particular actor who did not want to do interviews but I felt like I wanted to do it with him no matter what. So I walked out to the carpet and did everything except bear hug the guy because I didn’t want to get arrested. In the end I got nowhere and looked like a complete idiot.

CS: Another difficult part of our job is that you have to know a little bit about everything. I was covering New York fashion week at a Calvin Klein party and Alexander Skarsgard was on the carpet. But I don’t watch True Blood and when I went up to him and started asking about the show. He took one look at me and said, “You don’t know what show I’m on, do you?” The worst part was, my recovery was terrible. I just apologised and sauntered off like a little sad dog because it was just embarrassing.

Do you think celebrities owe it to fans to answer some personal questions?

JK: I think there are some questions that go overboard but fans want to know about it. So research comes into play and you have to be creative on how you’re going to portray that question. I think they definitely should answer questions when asked in a less sensitive way.

CS: At the end of the day, you can always ask, but they might not answer. If the celebrities want to protect their privacy, they can eloquently tell us that without being awful.

What’s your pick for the top five nicest and worst celebrities?

CS: Meryl Streep is my new favourite. I’ve waited my whole career to sit down knee to knee to knee across the room from her. Denzel Washington is always incredibly charismatic, thoughtful, sharp and funny.

Johnny Depp will be third. He’s the ultimate and again, he can be a difficult interviewee because he’s shutdown. Sometimes he’s eccentric and doesn’t make for a good sound bite. But I respect him so much – his roles and his ability. He can also be very gracious and goes around the room and shake everyone’s hands and looks them in the eye. So the room is enthralled with him every time.

JK: I’d say Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Will Ferrell and Robin Williams. Robin Williams is the type of person you don’t really need to have anything prepared because it doesn’t matter.

Worst interview? I don’t want to get in trouble here but there is someone who was a tough experience for me when I first started at E! – James Caan, the legendary actor. You’ve got to really be on your game for him.

CS: Tommy Lee Jones goes down as my worst. Anyway that was a long time ago so I’m just trying to get over it.

What do you talk about backstage or amongst yourselves?

JK: I just talk about sports.

CS: Jason and I share an office so we are very close.

JK: We talk about how the interviews went the night before. We pick apart the interviews and are very invested in how each other did. It’s the same for all the other reporters and hosts on E! News. There’s so much preparation and we’re just curious to see if you got the good scoop.

CS: It’s nice to have the support because Jason, myself and everyone at E! are a family and we bounce ideas off each other. We are truly all passionate about what we do. We are in this industry because we do love film, cinema, music and television!

What are your tips for making a four-minute interview work?

JK: For me, it is two questions about the movie off the top and then you go right for the personal questions after that. You want to appease people in the studios by asking those movie-related questions. Fans watching our show don’t care as much about the movie for the most part. Sometimes they do.

Do you love your job?

JK: This is the best job in the world. I’ve been here for seven years. It’s a great team and every single day is different.

CS: It’s hard to call it a job and that really is the truth. We are aware that people around the world would love to be sitting in our chairs so I practice gratitude every single day. It’s like going to the playground for me. It’s fun and we are very close.

JK: Not many people can say we are on a show that’s in over 120 countries. The tweets we get from around the world are unbelievable – it’s definitely special.

Catch the following Oscar specials at the times below:

Live From The Red Carpet: The 2012 Academy Awards premieres live on Monday, February 27 at 6.30am on E! (StarHub Ch. 441).

Fashion Police: The 2012 Academy Awards premieres on Wednesday, February 29 at 9.40pm only on E! (StarHub Ch. 441).

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