Earlier today, TVgasm reader GiadaFan wrote to us saying that he'd be going to a book signing by the one and only Giada De Laurentiis. He offered to take pictures of the event and relay any noteworthy stories. Needless to say, GiadaFan went above and beyond the call of duty. Enjoy this photo recap of the Giada Experience.
Arriving at our local Borders, we were bummed to see the long line of people outside.
However, because I was smart enough to call the store yesterday, they informed me that wristbands wound be passed out at 9:00 am in order to secure a place in line. Different colors meant that you'd stand further and further away. The Borders manager said the wristbands would simulate how Southwest Airlines boards their planes in groups. I don't remember Southwest passing out wristbands.
As you can see, Giada was happy I got a red wristband because you get to be near the front of the line.
We're near the front, for all the Red Wristband holders. Giada shows up at 7pm. These folks got here at 5pm. The lady at the very very front brought some red roses for Giada.
What you don't see is a Borders employee coming around with some Post-it notes to write out the bookholder's name so that Giada could spell it correctly. The guy directly in front of us (not shown) had two books, one for his wife and one for his wife's friends. When his turn came, he only got Post-it notes for those two women. About ten minutes later, he was begging people for a pen so he could, we surmised, add his name to the Post-it. He must've overheard us talking about how cool it would be to get her to sign a greeting to the both of us in Italian. Sure enough, my wife and I pretended to read out recipes aloud as she leaned over to see his name scrawled on the Post-it next to his wife's.
These folks were the start of the Orange Wristbands; each color contained about 60 to 75 people. As you can see, the lady in the yellow shirt was there early enough to get a stepstool as a chair, but not early enough to get a Red Wristband. Hah!
The Yellow Wristband folks, after the Orange people. Coincidentally, they were stuck in the Food and Cooking section.
Outside the store were all the Green Wristbands. I ran into a friend in the parking lot that was a holder of a Green Wristband. I let her know that all the First Class citizens got Red Wristbands. She didn't think that was funny.
Take note of this bag. Two guys were in line behind us had two big bags all full of Giada's books. Or, one book on top of several new blouses for Giada to try on. Strangely enough, the guy in the jeans to the right thought I was taking a picture of his crotch as I zoomed in my camera (to shoot the bag of course).
Unfortunately, the Borders Patrol forced picture-takers to stand behind a thin fabric dividing line. Woman in Green was one of the unhappy people telling us to where and when we could take pictures.
They threatened to kick anyone out of the store and revoke their booksigning privileges if they took pictures while waiting in the booksigning line. Apparently, at an earlier event this week, people at the front of the line kept taking pictures of GDL. That angered the people at the back of the line since it was taking too long. They must have had Green Wristbands. Anyways, this Borders decided to ban all photography for the evening except for the little area directly in front of GDL.
As you can see, Giada really does smile like that in real life! (Not just on TV or a book cover!) I'm a little torn about the back drop - should they have kept the multi-book display of Giada's smile, or use just one big 10 foot poster of her? Same effect either way, no?
Here, she's recreating a face from the "Great Giada Disaster of 2006." Either that, or turning up her nose at the woman's unfortunate choice of clothing and purse. At least the colors are patriotic.
Remember that bag I told you about earlier?
Giada does not look happy! "What am I going to do with all these books?"
"Are you effing serious I gotta sign all these? Holy spa-ghee-tee!"
Someone from the peanut gallery standing next to me yelled out Giada's name so of course she looked up. She really is quite attractive!
Look at all those books! Some people's children!
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Comments (23)
Man, she's hot, but also funny stuff! Your recap abilities are admirable ... the color-wristband class struggle is one that we americans must take on. where's our wristband gandhi?
1 of 23 | Posted by j.packhouse
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Posted on May 5, 2006 12:28 AM
Hottie, hot, hot! She should definitely wear her hair down. It softens the enormity of her cranium.
Great job Giadafan. You must have some kind of "favuh" to wind up in the lead pack of orange wristbanders. Oh, and good call on the fashion victim in front of you. Yikes, don't people have mirrors?
2 of 23 | Posted by Lizardqueen
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Posted on May 5, 2006 3:55 AM
Ha that was great—thanks for posting. Now I wish I'd taken pictures at the Martha Stewart signing they did here in New York a couple months ago. She was nice, but I feel like if I'd pulled out a camera she would've stabbed me in the eye with her pen.
3 of 23 | Posted by m_ruv
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Posted on May 5, 2006 5:29 AM
oh wow, this was great stuff!
thanks for posting it, and also, you seem like my friends mother who takes pictures like ALL THE TIME. i would have been too shy to take pics like that of all those people.
as for the hoi polloi sitting in coach class lines, i say screw 'em.
4 of 23 | Posted by the_qwertz
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Posted on May 5, 2006 6:19 AM
Wow, the facial expressions in those pics are 100% dead on what she looks like on the show.
You know, you could probably stitch those last 2 pictures together and have a complete Gaida.
5 of 23 | Posted by BigTeebo
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Posted on May 5, 2006 6:57 AM
Excellent-amundo coverage of the event! Giada is a hottie with a body. She’s completely replaced Rachael Ray (just edging out Paula Deen) as my favorite Food Network babe. I turned on R-squared when she joined the creepy Oprah cult. If Rachael does for cooking what Dr Phil did for psychiatry, we’ll all soon be dining on Alpo.
6 of 23 | Posted by conrad5
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Posted on May 5, 2006 7:20 AM
That's a great story.
7 of 23 | Posted by Scribhog
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Posted on May 5, 2006 7:42 AM
I suspected R2 was becoming Oprah II with her many shows..
Giada is beautiful, truly photogenic..Seems Giadfan was torn about the backdrop at the book signing..but there is something snarkily funny about multiple images of her book cover with that awkward mid-taste expression. I HATE having my picture taken while grazing.
8 of 23 | Posted by dredge
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Posted on May 5, 2006 7:53 AM
I applaud this photojournalism. I'm actually really glad to know she's nice even though I tend to yell and laugh and her whenever she comes on my tv screen.
9 of 23 | Posted by Leah3t
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Posted on May 5, 2006 9:00 AM
thx for sharing that story, Giadafan---i've grown to like Giada a bit more than i used to. Nice to hear from some1 who's met her & could testify 2 her sincerity & genuine nice personality. Admittedly, there is s'in pretty about her, despite the undeniably ginourmous cranium, she looks really pretty in some of those pix. the hair down def'ly works 4 her. Nyhoo, i'll take her ovr R2 ANYDAY!! migod, R2 is gettin worse---she practically snorted the other day while cooking!
10 of 23 | Posted by Tati
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Posted on May 5, 2006 10:12 AM
I like Giada's shoes. :)
Thanks for the story/pictures, Giadafan!
11 of 23 | Posted by stacyrocks
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Posted on May 5, 2006 11:14 AM
This is fantastic! Worthy of b-side himself.
12 of 23 | Posted by Victoria
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Posted on May 5, 2006 12:57 PM
Lucky! Giada is so hot. Great pics and story!
13 of 23 | Posted by Tree
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Posted on May 5, 2006 2:03 PM
ooh -- excellent write-up, Giadafan. Love your attention to detail (pic of her shoes) and snark about the others in the queue.
I'm with you, dredge (#8) -- HATE that too! The mid-bite photo is so obviously staged (natch) but her eye make-up is smokin'!
What camera did you use for these fantastic shots?
14 of 23 | Posted by Donna Martin Graduates!
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Posted on May 5, 2006 3:58 PM
Faithful TVgasm readers: Thanks for all the positive comments!
Lizardqueen - Luckily, I had no favors to fill with anyone to land a spot in the Red Line. I forgot to shoot a pic showing how the Red Wristband line snakes around the side of the room and paralled the Orange Wristband line.
DMG - I just shot with a little Canon Digital Elph, it's amazing what you can pick up with those things. The Borders Patrol was very strict about "no flash" and I could understand why: despite the full house, Giada took time with each fan to say a few words and answer questions. I am sure the flash-popping would've been distracting.
Dredge - I definitely agree that it seemed odd to have all those teeth behind her as she signed her books. I was worried the whole shelf would come crashing down and leave bite marks everywhere.
And yes, the hair down added to her radiance. If she showed up with a bun in her hair, a la "Everyday Italian," I probably would've added more snark.
15 of 23 | Posted by GiadaFan
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Posted on May 5, 2006 4:22 PM
Donna (#14)...right on with the staged mid-bite (definitely an oral fixation but is it mine..or hers)...sooo crunchy.
..and the smokin' eyes..growl..sooo creamy!
16 of 23 | Posted by dredge
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Posted on May 5, 2006 4:33 PM
dredge (#16) Wipe your chin - there is a little drool on it.
hb
17 of 23 | Posted by HoneyBunny
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Posted on May 5, 2006 4:49 PM
The Svan appreciates the work.
It still amazes The Svan that her father owned the club that Maradona made famous. Wow.
18 of 23 | Posted by The Svan
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Posted on May 5, 2006 4:58 PM
She really is pretty in those pictures.
Was that the Torrance Borders?
19 of 23 | Posted by monkeypeanut
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Posted on May 6, 2006 4:54 PM
Hi Monkey Peanut -
Yes indeed, it was/is the Torrance Borders. Were you at the booksigning?
If you are one of the people in my pictures, then it's not the Torrance Borders.
20 of 23 | Posted by GiadaFan
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Posted on May 6, 2006 7:08 PM
Ha ha! No I am not in those pictures. I live in the area and it looked familiar. Hope you had fun!
21 of 23 | Posted by monkeypeanut
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Posted on May 7, 2006 9:03 PM
Love ,Love Love,Giada.
Food network got LUCKY with Giada......
$$$$in the bank*...
What a personality!!!!!
Love her recipes and sweet contagious lovely smile...
smile,
cookies4andi
22 of 23 | Posted by cookies4andi
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Posted on May 19, 2006 4:26 PM
LOVE,LOVE,LOVE, Giada....
FOOD NETWORK GOT lucky WHEN THEY HIRED HER..
$$$$ IN THE BANK.......
WHAT A PERSONALITY,AND A CONTAGIOUS SMILE WE LOVE..
HER RECIPES ARE YUMMY.
smiles,
Cookies4andi
23 of 23 | Posted by cookies4andi
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Posted on May 19, 2006 4:31 PM