Cancel your Friday night plans, America. That’s because live at 9 PM ET, VH1 will be airing The Critics’ Choice Awards, which promises to be the most fun, lively, anything-can-happen awards show in 2010. And we’re not just saying that because we work here. Hosted by the uber-talented Kristin Chenoweth, presenters for the evening will include Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Zac Efron, Vera Farmiga,Ed Helms, Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Lambert, Tobey Maguire, Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler, Zoe Saldana, Susan Sarandon, and Sarah Silverman, among others. (Read that list again, and then try living with yourself if you miss this show.) There are fabulous performances planned… by house band Nick Jonas & The Administration. Indeed, there is no Hollywood A-list leaf unturned for the 2010 CCMAs.
We had the pleasure of catching up with CCMA host Kristin Chenoweth at a studio in Los Angeles, as she taped some upcoming (hilarious) sketches for the show as some of the most recognizable movie characters from last year. (See also, Orphan, right) We happened upon her in her New Moon get-up…
Michelle: How’s today been going for you?
Kristin: It’s so fun! Because of the variety of characters I’ve gotten to play. They keep thanking me for doing this work, but it’s a two way street cause I get to do it.
Michelle: Are you excited to host the Critics’ Choice Awards on Friday?
Kristin: Oh my God… I can’t wait. This is the first time that a woman has been asked to host it, so I want do to right by us. Mainly I just want people to have fun. I’m not trying to be the Oscars or anything.
Michelle: The Oscars could use you! If there’s one things the Oscars need its someone adorable, great personality, to come in there… the Oscars have gotten very stuffy, off the record. (Ed. Note: I chose to keep this on the record.)
Kristin: They have! But this has been really fun, I’ve got some cool things planned.
Michelle: Do you have a big musical number?
Kristin: I’d be a liar if I said I probably wasn’t going to sing, but I don’t know what I can say. It’s gonna be different from anything they’ve ever had.
Michelle: I loved you on Glee.
Kristin: Thank you. (Ed. Note: She said this phrase with more sincerity than anyone has ever said it previously.)
Michelle: I listen to “Maybe This Time,” let’s say, 6 times a day. I don’t want to overshoot it. People are obsessed with Glee. What’s it like being on the set there?
Kristin: You know what I love? A lot of the kids are so, not green — I used to not like it when people said that about me. But they don’t know what they don’t know yet. This is not a job. They’re having fun. It’s a great reminder that THIS IS FUN. You get to come to work and do this. They inspire me. They said “You inspire us!” And I said “No, no, you inspire me.” It’s a real gift to be on that set.
Michelle: Give ‘em 5 years. Kidding! Now America is dying to know: Is there going to be a Pushing Daisies movie?
Kristin: It’s funny. One of the writers that we all hired for the CCMAs was a writer for Pushing Daisies. We talk about it all the time. [Creator] Brian Fuller, who I have the utmost respect for and love for, threatens to do it. So I’m gonna hold him to it. I think all of us in the cast would love some closure.
Michelle: A lot of shows are doing it now.
Kristin: Arrested Development…
Michelle: The Sopranos… that would be amazing.
Kristin: I’ll be there.
Michelle: I want James Gandolfini to be as fat as can be. You know on TLC when they wheel them out on the bed?
Kristin: 700 lb Virgin!
Michelle: Exactly! Now how many outfits do you have scheduled for Friday?
Kristin: What I want to do is have on a different outfit every time you see me.
Michelle: Yeah! Pull a Cher. You have to, this is it.
Kristin: Listen, if I can do it, I’m pulling it off.
Michelle: Your getting your finger cut off now for the New Moon sketch… And then you’ll be painted blue for the Avatar shoot. Did you see Avatar?
Kristin: Not yet! I’m gonna go this week.
Michelle: (Judgmental intake of air.) This is… a shame.
Kristin: I’m going to see it before Friday… I’m almost done!
Michelle: You don’t have time!
Kristin: No, no… I’m seeing all the movies nominated, and I’ve got two left.
Michelle: Avatar is great, but block out a good 6 hours, because between standing in line to get seats and sitting through it… It’s a whole day, really. It’s the Malcolm X of Sci Fi movies.
Kristin: I always thought that Zoe Saldana, isn’t she beautiful? And she was a ballerina and I love that about her.
Michelle: She was beautiful as a blue person.
Kristin: How do you look beautiful blue?
Michelle: I feel like that sounds racist… but trust me, she’s a beautiful blue person. So will you be painted blue for this Avatar sketch?
Makeup Artist: It’s just her face.
Michelle: That’ll be good. As long as you can go home and not find blue in every nook and cranny like 3 months from now.
Kristin: We tested it out. And look, if I have a pale tint of blue on my skin Friday night, you’ll know. It’s not your TV screen people!
Check BestWeekEver.tv all day and night on Friday, January 13, as we bring you coverage LIVE from the show, starting at 9 PM only on VH1!
