Pop Culture

As Award Shows Go Virtual, So Do The Gifting Suites

All of popular culture has gone topsy-turvy in 2020 due to the relentless coronavirus pandemic. Some things are impervious to change, however, and among them is the gifting suite.

This sacred chamber, in which a nominated celebrity enters empty-handed and emerges with a swag bag of high-price gifts from brands eager for an endorsing photograph (or maybe just the promise of good word-of-mouth), requires more than an infectious disease to slow it down. As detailed in The Hollywood Reporter, the time-honored exchange of clout for commercial goods will enter the virtual space as quarantine continues, and has already had a successful trial run.

At the 47th Annual Daytime Emmys, which took place in late June, P&L Media created a gifting lounge in cyberspace. Since brands couldn’t interact with the stars directly, they hired known on-air hosts, including Jennifer Lahmers from Extra, Keltie Night and Nischelle Turner from Entertainment Tonight, Victoria Recaño from Inside Edition, and Jason Kennedy, Justin Sylvester and Nina Parker from E! News. They provided commentary on the available products that lucky celebs were able to view privately. The guests were then able to make a wish list and build themselves a care package.

It is unclear who actually took advantage of the offer, but THR reports that invitations were given to many of the big names in daytime television. Gifts included trips to Barbados, artisanal honey, a wireless hair dryer, and an “ultimate vlogging set.”

This time-honored tradition of awards-show gifting suites came to a more general awareness thanks to the The Sopranos when Michael Imperioli’s Christopher Moltisanti, in one of his most not-nice moments, mugged Lauren Bacall, playing herself, on the way to her limo.

[embedded content]

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

— Cover Story: Viola Davis on Her Hollywood Triumphs, Her Journey out of Poverty, and Her Regrets About Making The Help
— Ziwe Fumudoh Has Mastered the Art of Putting White People on the Spot
Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries: Five Burning Questions Answered About Rey Rivera, Rob Endres, and More
— Watch the Celebrity-Filled Fan-Film Version of The Princess Bride
— Carl Reiner’s Fairy-Tale Ending
— The Secrets of Marianne and Connell’s First Sex Scene in Normal People
— From the Archive: Uncovering the Secret Snaps of Sammy Davis Jr.

Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

Princess Wow Guests On “If These Walls Could Talk” With Hosts Wendy Stuart and Tym Moss Wednesday, March 27th, 2024
Rocky Kramer’s Rock & Roll Tuesdays Presents “March Madness” On Tuesday March 26th, 2024, 7 PM PT on Twitch
M’Zayy Releases Cinematic Video for Single “Of Course”
Wendy Stuart Presents TriVersity Talk! Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 7 PM ET With Featured Guest Kerry Thomas