Theo Von – the host without the most

 By Valerie Milano

Beverly Hills, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/23/13 - The International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel was the site of celebs and celebration yesterday as the 50^th Annual ICG Publicists Awards kicked off with a red carpet affair, luncheon and awards presentations.

 ICG President Steven Poster began the event by explaining the importance of the publicist role while Theo Von (“Primetime and No Time”) hosted the ceremony.

 The lovely and timeless, 96 years young, Kirk Douglas received a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Ron Meyer, president and COO of Universal Studios. Mr. Douglas told a few stories and offered up his 60 year marriage as proof  that publicists have an important place in this industry.

 “Argo” and “Homeland” earned top honors for the film and television publicist showmanship. The Maxwell Weinberg Award for Best Publicity Campaign for a Motion Picture for “Argo” and was presented by Chi McBride who said, “You know, sitting through this award show especially in the beginning, I was reminded of the greatest advice I ever got from a publicist and that was “If your first 10 bad jokes about a Hollywood legend go over like a turd in the punchbowl, by all means shut the fuck up”, referring to non- jokes made by Theo Von over and over again about people always asking if Douglas was still alive.  The attendees  never found that funny. Too bad  Von hadn’t received the same advice.

 There were several surprise presenters including Sally Field who presented her own publicist Heidi Schaeffer of PMK/BNC with this year’s Les Mason Lifetime Achievement Award.

 Robert Downey, Jr. quipped as he gave Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios the Motion Picture Showmanship Award: “I started his fan club.  It is now expanded its base to 2 members. Me and some guy who sent me an amazingly life like portrait of him, or Darryl Hammond.”

 Awards were presented to co-presidents of USA Television Network, Jeff Wachtel and Chris McCumber who earned the Television Showmanship Award; Linda Weitzler was honored with the Bob Yeager Award for humanitarian service. The press award was bestowed upon Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood.

 At the end of the day, guests had the opportunity to turn in luncheon tickets for goodie bags loaded with DVD’s, (the best one being “Flight”) and lots of beauty products.  Many of those which I recognized from the goodie bags given out by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce pre-oscar event the day before.  Hum….