Voices of MainStreet: Lisa Rae Rosenberg

Who Are You Wearing?
Feb. 14, 2011

In my twenties and thirties, the Academy Awards were a holiday. The build-up to the big day started in December. My affiliation with number of entertainment industry unions afforded me free tickets to the movies that were being pushed for nominations. I made an effort to see them all.

There was often an Oscar pool at work, too. I read reviews in the trades and followed the predictions. I never won but it was fun playing the game.

Award day usually found me at my friend Jennifer’s house early in the day for the pre-show. I loved waiting for Joan Rivers to commit a deadly red carpet faux pas. I was never disappointed. Jen and I ate popcorn and judged the gowns and hair.

By the time the awards started, Jen’s living room would be filled with friends. As our pals entered the house, each was asked, “Who are you wearing?” The Gap and Banana Republic-clad crowd filled out awards ballots and each threw $20.00 into the bowl. We ate dinner, made snarky comments and had a grand Hollywood time.

These days my world revolves around my husband and four-year-old son: two guys who could not be less interested in awards shows. I have not seen any of the movies that are nominated for awards this year since I have a tendency to fall asleep when afforded the luxury of sitting down. I still like to tune in for the big show, but now I get all my snarky comments from my friends on Twitter. There will be popcorn and I will be wearing Target and I will have a grand suburban time.

—Lisa is a former comedy writer for television. She now writes about her funny family at her blog Smacksy.com.