What started out as a simple “thanks for coming” gift basket to presenters and nominees has since evolved into a multi-million-dollar advertising opportunity for many businesses. One published shot of a famous celebrity holding their product could mean a sharp increase in sales soon!
So what kind sweet gadgets are they getting? One of the most luxurious is the special edition of the Kodak V570 digital camera for the Best Actress nominees. Each of these Kodak is encrusted in 75 Kwiat diamonds, and every camera has the diamonds uniquely positioned to form the initials of the nominees’ names. The one pictured above is likely to be meant for Reese Witherspoon. Each of these cameras is estimated to cost a whooping $20,000!
Next, we have the gunmetal-gray edition of the Motorola PEBL. These come with a H700 Bluetooth headset, a unique keepsake box and three months of free service from T-Mobile. For those not nominated for Best Director, Best Actor/Actress or Best Supporting Actor/Actress, guess you’re out of luck, as it’s rumored that only those will get to keep the PEBL.
Not every tech gift is as lavish of course. For those arriving to Oscar in low-emission vehicles, all they’ll get is a Solar Charger from SolarStyle. And for the Oscar losers this year, they get a GPS/car monitoring device from Drive Sync. As for the presenters, such as Nicole Kidman, they’ll supposedly bag a Vonage VTech Broadband VoIP phone system.
And the list goes on, including toys like iPods (not surprising eh?), Blackberry handhelds, Firefly Mobile, Canon photography suite, Netflix and more. That goes to show, that the rich only gets richer.
March 8th, 2006 at 12:23 am
Seriously. This is sick. Always has been, always will be. I can’t do anything about it, but I can at least post the opinion on everyone elses mind.
There are a few of us that aren’t into the celeb hype and will refuse to buy a product simply because the company in question is doing such a devious thing.
Geez, celebrities. I just don’t get it. I just don’t care about other peoples lives enough to want to buy a 20k camera just beause they have one.
It’s a sad world.
March 8th, 2006 at 2:52 am
I have to agree with you “Sickened”. It makes me sick too to see how the rich get richer. Like they can’t afford a $20,000 camera on their own??? They could probably buy friggin Kodak the company if they wanted.
Anyway, being just another common human being and not a celebrity, its easy for me to ridicule them. I’m sure if I was in their position i would be loving it and probably wouldnt think twice about taking free gifts.
I guess thats how “the other half” live. nice life
March 8th, 2006 at 4:15 am
Wow, this is just terrible. It’s one thing to give the celebrities a free $300 camera, but to encrust it with $20,000 worth of diamonds? Give me a break. Not only can I not do anything about it, but chances are most of the celebrities can’t either. It’s a curse, really.
March 8th, 2006 at 8:58 am
i heard they also got coupons for free breast implants…. that borders on immorale doesnt it?
March 8th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
I suppose it is a little over board, but when you think of the advertising dollars the event brings in, those gifts are practically a drop in the bucket. Would you prefer they give the money to you? Ha, probably.
It’s always funny to hear people wining about being a “common human being” and the fact that the “rich get richer”. You know, there’s a reason the rich get richer. Its because they have worked there ass off to get where they are and continue to do so. The left just doesn’t understand this. You put yourselves in “rich” people’s shoes and think you would just stop working and live off your riches and give it to charity. Well, that makes me glad that you aren’t the ones that are rich because then the money would probably be sent out of this country’s economy or stuffed under a mattress rather than invested in the American economy. Haha. Let’s see what kind of response this post gets
March 8th, 2006 at 11:38 pm
Sure actors work their ass off what with all the singing/acting/dancing etc… its a curse being able to be so multytalented and keep the “little people” amused. ITs a dirty job but someons got to do it?
March 9th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Sure “it’s sick’ … we live in a strange time… excuse the rant I am about to have…
Probably most of the people in the film industry do work hard… but at the top level they are paid such ridiculous amounts of money for just one film, that it would take more than a lifetime of an average American family’s income combined to equal it! Many people work hard… not everyone gets paid proportionally.
These are the some of the highest paid and privileged people on our planet…and for each of them there are at least hundreds of others who weren’t related to someone with influence (the rampant nepotism of Hollywood) or lucky and persistent enough to make it. Meanwhile, all of us (little people as previously described – you’re as little as you think) are so engrossed with the ‘lifestyles of the rich and famous’ that they have parties and make plans to sit and watch as ’stars’ (what misuse of a term with such cosmological proportions) are given more adulation and praise? I really don’t care who wins what… I have watched parts on occasion and have liked some of the comedy and the film clips, but I see pro sports the same way, I just don’t care. It’s one team of millionaires opposing another… with no bearing on our lives in any way…
Remember , these are the same people who help to perpetuate the myths about youth and beauty that confuse us all. Why is it that almost all of the big stars have blue eyes and no gray hair? Perfect teeth and no blemishes?? Look at the magazines and the models they use. You should be offended… it’s all a lie… an illusion… and what about Western women today… how real are they… fake breasts and miracle bras, liposuction, fetishistic high heels to add artificial height, and to top it off they have made an ‘art’ out of using makeup and dressing in a way that would have branded them prostitutes not too many years ago…but don’t worry even in 2006 men almost always pay for the dates. It amazes me what we see as normal.
Go talk to your children or make love to your significant other or show some love for your parents or friends… who cares what happens in sports or on an award show… or “reality” tv?
{Suggestion to apathetic people who can’t find something to get excited about} Try voting in the next election or write a letter to a local politician about an issue of concern… Maybe even speak up when you see injustice… GET INVOLVED!
…and try watching PBS for a change.
March 10th, 2006 at 5:51 am
“fromtheright” i cant understand why anyone would post something like that especially when the entire website feels diffrent other than to just create controversy and come on the next week and see who tries to argue with you. i think you are wrong. the majority work to aquire their status, but it is not sicking how they work to get there, it is sickining to see how people such as yourself feed off of other peoples sucess. pretty much im telling you to stop worshiping cleberties and make somthing of your own life, or keep crying on your pillow because “Friends” is off the air.