Los Angeles, March 2, 2007 – Host LL Cool J let slip that organizers of this year’s NAACP Image Awards got the celebrities into their seats on time by shutting down the red carpet a full half-hour before the show started, forcing late-arrivals to give up face time in front of the cameras. Just after they'd instructed us all to head inside the Shrine Auditorium, Tracee Ellis Ross arrived and was told that the red carpet was closed. “No it’s not”, Ross insisted, and forced her way through, and marched over to greet Kerry Washington, who was further down the carpet. (Where could Diana Ross’ daughter have learned such diva-like behavior?)

The team of people following Tyra Banks at all times during the evening made for quite a traffic jam: she would stop for a photo op, the assistants would make sure that Tyra’s hair, makeup and dress were arranged just so, and then move her along a few feet, and do the whole thing again for the next photo op.

Backstage in the press room, controversial Grey’s Anatomy star Isaiah Washington did not react at all when a photographer cracked, “Look straight ahead for GLAAD!” Best supporting actress in a comedy Vanessa Williams was annoyed that she was backstage with us, and so had to watch on a monitor while her Ugly Betty cast mates all went onstage without her to claim their outstanding comedy series award. Williams said that this was the second time during this year's awards season that this had happened. But the rest of the excited Betty crew caught up with Williams for group hugs.