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CNN Live Today
Hollywood Prepares For Oscar Night
Aired March 22, 2002 - 13:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To help us preview Sunday's big event in Tinseltown, once again, Daryn Kagan live from the red carpet outside the Kodak Theater, a new location this year in Hollywood. Back to Daryn right now. Hey, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. You know, Sunday's show is not just about the show, but it's goes really long and people have to get ready really early in the day. At the end of it, the most important man in Hollywood is with me right now, Wolfgang Puck, chef to the stars. It is his job to feed everyone who goes to the Academy Awards afterwards. And he is here to give us a little preview. Hello.
WOLFGANG PUCK, CHEF: Yes, and hungry they are. You know, these people didn't eat since the early morning or the day before, so, especially the ladies that try to fit in the tight dresses.
KAGAN: You are telling me.
PUCK: You would fit in easy. Look how loose. You could eat two desserts.
KAGAN: I intend to when we're done.
PUCK: You can start today, I think, just to fill it up in a week. But I think, you know, they are all so hungry and I was actually surprised, the first time we did that I thought maybe people are not going to eat.
KAGAN: Because it's Hollywood and people...
PUCK: Yes, I saw all these people, but they all sat down and really eat. I mean, I am so surprised. They clean the plate. They take the desserts, eat the desserts, take the Oscars and take them home or eat them there. So it's really amazing, because we make all these chocolate Oscars.
KAGAN: Yes, we're going to show those in just a second. First, tell me what is for dinner on Sunday night?
PUCK: We're going to have, first when they come out, they get a lot of hors d'ouevres like potatoes with caviar and we have tempura shrimps, and naturally, our pizzas because they always ask for them anyway, even if we don't make them. And then for the first course, we serve some smoked salmon with caviar and a lobster ginger salad and our roasted beets (ph) and hazelnut salad. And then for main course, we have a little surf and turf, roasted salmon...
KAGAN: Surf and turf?
PUCK: Yes, surf and turf. They know that everywhere in America, I think so. Even the big stars eat surf and turf. And it's a roasted salmon with sesame seeds, some mashed potatoes, a little port wine glaze. And our Chinua (ph) New York steak on stir-fried vegetables with a light pepper sauce around.
And for dessert...
KAGAN: Now this is new this year. Let's show what you do every year. And this is the little gold Oscar.
PUCK: This is the little gold Oscar. Does he come out?
KAGAN: Yes, he'll come out. Watch out. Oh, no, this gold dust gets everywhere. OK, here is the little gold Oscar.
PUCK: So, everybody is going to get one. But this year, we're going to wrap it up so people can take it home as a souvenir. And everybody is going to get this chocolate mousse cake where it has the center (UNINTELLIGIBLE), a vanilla creme brule. And here, we have a white-chocolate elephant on top.
KAGAN: And explain why this is special this year?
PUCK: The elephant -- this is actually the symbol of this whole development here of Hollywood and Highland. It's the Babylon court. You know, it's from the D.W. Griffith movie "Intolerance." And they had part of the set here and they have this huge, white elephants on top of the building. You can tell, it's in...
KAGAN: I don't think we can see it from here, but...
(CROSSTALK)
PUCK: So, I think -- so that's why we get -- that is how we get the idea to put that on top, because this is really the new home now for the Oscars. Oscar never had a permanent home.
KAGAN: Well, and this is good news for you. In terms of what does it to mean to Wolfgang, you have a brand-new kitchen.
PUCK: I know. I have a brand new kitchen, a brand new ballroom. And, you know, before we had always had the field kitchen we set up in a parking lot downtown at the Shrine Auditorium and cooked outside. And we had to have trucks schlepping our food back and forth. So it was really complicated.
Now, we have a big kitchen, modern equipment, beautiful refrigeration. So, this year it is going to be better than ever. KAGAN: Looking forward to it. And we're going to take a little bite of that in just a bit.
PUCK: OK.
KAGAN: I would, but my hands are full. Wolfgang Puck...
PUCK: OK. I will feed you.
KAGAN: OK. Can I have a little bite?
PUCK: OK.
KAGAN: Oh, that is huge.
PUCK: No.
KAGAN: All right. Here we go.
Mmmm.
PUCK: Mmmm. Isn't that delicious?
KAGAN: That is good stuff. That is good. And, Bill, this little Oscar here, it is gold dust, but he is chocolate. You can take a bite out of him too. There you go.
PUCK: A headless Oscar now. Look at that.
KAGAN: Yes, poor Oscar.
PUCK: That's all right.
KAGAN: OK.
PUCK: I am sure he is happy that you beat him up.
KAGAN: Well, Wolfgang, there you go. Bill, help me.
HEMMER: Yes, you got it. Tell Wolfgang hello and we'll look forward to your show on Sunday night, Daryn, OK.
KAGAN: Sunday night, 7:00 p.m., Leon Harris and myself. Great.
HEMMER: You got it. All right, super. Thank you, Daryn. Daryn Kagan out there on the red carpet in Hollywood.
Daryn and Leon, again, Sunday night at 7:00 Eastern time, 4:00 on the West Coast from Hollywood. Oscars roll on this weekend.
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