Randy Olsen Blog

I thought it appropriate to start my blog with, what seems to be, the subject I am most often asked about. Oscar Night®.

Perhaps a bit of an irony that the most inquired about event is among one I am most committed to maintaining confidentiality about.

I can talk in "broad strokes", however, about my involvement with the Oscars® and Oscar® after parties over the past 20 years. Which I will do more in upcoming blogs.

Starting over two decades ago valet parking cars for the Academy Awards® I got my first taste of Hollywood's biggest night.
After a short while I was put in change of valet and limousine arrival / return. Before the arriving celebrity would hit the red carpet, cameras franticly flashing, I (along with my, well briefed, team) would quickly get to the limo door telling the arriving passenger... "hold on to this claim ticket! It's the way you'll get your limo back at the end of the night". You see, with hundreds of limousines it's impossible to have them all "standing" curb side. We had come up with a system to call limousines, via two way radio, when the emerging actor was ready to depart the awards venue and head to the various after parties around town.

Working the red carpet for those few years, I met everyone, everyone. The funny thing was, not being big into movies or "Hollywood", I often did not recognize the celebrities I would talk with. Phil Collins was one such person. I remember asking him, as he was out front getting some air, if he was in a movie. He humbly replied, "I'm just a singer". We chatted for a while. Phil was a delight to visit with. As he walked away, one of my associates approached me and asked "wow, what were you talking to Phil Collins so long about?"

It was actually nice to get to know many of the attending actors, producers, directors, and the like, with out the bias of already knowing who they were.

Now, I must admit, to this day someone still has to occasionally whisper the name of the newer talent, into my ear, as they approach.

In more recent years, creating awards events, competing for press attention, and "wowing" a crowd that's seen it all, has been much more challenging than, the early days of, coordinating their arrival and departure.

Thankfully I've learned to slow down, and enjoy the moment... even on Oscar Night®.

Here (above) I am pictured, a few years back, with Chef Wolfgang Puck and his his wife Barbara, at Spago's Oscar Night® party.

And (above) pictured more recently, with three-time Oscar® winner Oliver Stone, at one of the celebrated Academy Award® after parties produced by, our team, Celebrity International Entertainment, Inc.

ACADEMY AWARD(S)®, OSCAR(S)®, OSCAR NIGHT® and OSCAR® statuette are copyrighted property of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

It would be hard to count the number of Hollywood award shows and after parties I have attended, and been involved with, over the years.

The Golden Globes®, Academy Awards®, Directors Guild Awards®, Producers Guild Awards®, People's Choice®, American Music Awards®, Grammys®, Country Music Awards™, Emmys™, SAG Awards™,... have I forgotten any? Likely.

The most wonderful thing about all of these award shows, for me, are the parities that follow. This is were friends are made, conversations are spun, fun is had, and, most often, good food abounds! That's Jamie Lee Curtis' arm you see making rabbit ears behind Ellen's head, while we were all having fun at the Golden Globe Awards®.

I'm not sure I've ever sat all the way though any award show. Has anyone?
In fact I'm cretin I have not. The times when I was simply attending the show I've always managed to find an excuse to wonder into the lobby to chat, find my way back stage, or slip into the press room. But often I had the best excuse, I was busy producing the event or coordinating publicity.

These pictures show me and some of my award show night friends. Sometimes I was having fun, making sure things flowed smooth, or orchestrating the, crucial, publicity "moment".

GLODEN GLOBE statuette is copyrighted property of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association; and OSCAR® statuette is copyrighted property of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

I have attended many an event, award show, and tribute over the years but none, in recent memory, were as moving as The Tribute to Mike Douglas yesterday.

For two decades The Mike Douglas Show was an institution on American television. In those 20 years virtually all the great performers, actors, comics, singers - and many sports figures and statesmen appeared on the show. Even Presidents would grace Mike's stage.

The beautifully organized event was held at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, home of the Emmy ® award. And attended by hundreds of television industry folks including former guests of the show, co-hosts, heads of studios, producers, show staff, and press.

From the testimonials it quickly became clear how deeply this kind and gentle man had touched so many. Here show creator Woody Fraser and former show producer, now head of Fox Television, Roger Ailes reminisce about Mike Douglas.
Over and over I heard what a thoughtful, generous, honest, and all around nice guy Mike Douglas was. He made all feel welcome, at ease, and important. Always taking time for everyone and open to giving a chance to new talent. During the speeches one commented that, "Mike Douglas was a moral compass for all of us in television, for those years"... going on to say that he set a standard of integrity and fair treatment. Mike gave equal opportunity to all, a pioneer of equality, opening the door for many whom had found it closed in the past.

I am honored to have been a part of this historical and memorable event, thankful to television producer, creator of such shows as Hollywood Squares & CHiP's, and former producer of the Mike Douglas Show, Rick Rosner for involving me. Rick is seen here with actress and singer Della Reese.

I am pictured here flanked by prominent television executive and head of the Television Academy, Alan Perris and writer / motivator / pro athlete, Kamy Bruder (on the right). It is worth noting Kamy's touching and moving recounting of his experience attending the Mike Douglas Tribute in his blog entry.

More Photos from the Tribute...

The Emmy ® statuette is the copyrighted property of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS/NATAS). ATAS/NATAS also own trademarks for the Emmy ® name and the Emmy ® statuette.