New York, March 17, 2008 – Funny man Graham Norton was more nervous about hosting the 19th annual GLAAD Media Awards, which is a private dinner, than doing his BBC show in front of millions.  “It’s a big live event, and I don’t know this audience, so I’m sort of out of my comfort zone”, Norton told us at the Marriott Marquis Hotel before the GLAAD gala.  Norton confessed that he didn’t do much preparation for the event. “You can’t really rehearse; in the end, all I’m really doing is walking on and reading."  His shiny, gold-toned suit, he said, was by Gucci.  “But it is last season’s.  How embarrassing!” 

Project Runway guru Tim Gunn said he’s very touched that people respond so positively to him as an openly gay man, and that he’s happy to be a role model.  In his other job at Liz Claiborne, Gunn told us he’s looking forward to working with Isaac Mizrahi, who starts in July, when his contract with Target ends. 

Gunn surprised us all by revealing which Hollywood star he’d like to make over.  “She’s an Oscar winning actress, she’s incredibly talented, she’s gorgeous, she has a great figure, and she doesn’t want to own responsibility for her fashion.  And I want her to”, he said when asked.  After a pause, Gunn muttered, “And it’s Meryl Streep.” 

Alan Cumming recalled that the last time he was at the GLAAD Awards, Jessica Lange gave him an award.  “I loved working with her”, said the actor, currently appearing on Broadway with Diane Wiest.  “You know, I feel very lucky to get to work with people that I’ve admired since I was basically a fetus”, he told us.  “No, I don’t mean that, but for a long time.  And then when you get to meet them, you’re not disappointed.”

Barbara Walters, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann, Randy Jackson, Loretta Devine, Cheyenne Jackson and Anika Noni Rose were among those who participated.