Oscar Night 2022, The Nights of Stars, Thanks to Cedric the Entertainer & Eric Benet, It's Winning Time with Debbie Allen, Norm Nixon, & Cheech Marin.

 By Laura Medina

Oscar Night has always been a tradition of "The Night of 1,000."  It has always been the night when Hollywood gets the excuse to clean up then dress up in their finest.  Yes, the Oscars Awards Show gives legitimate reason and excuse to get pampered to glam up then party in the glamorous settings, feasting on the finest food and drinks.

Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and brought to you by Beam Suntory/Courvoisier®, the GRIOT Gala will transport VIP guests into Parisian splendor with the ambiance of Moulin Rouge, by way of its luxurious indoor/outdoor atmosphere, designed & produced by Dwight Eubanks & Annette BibbyOliver/Dreamhouse MBG. The GRIOT Gala will honor the extraordinary accomplishments of award winning stage, television and film actress Phylicia Rashad, revered for her portrayal of Claire Huxtable on the Cosby Show, Cheech & Chong’s Cheech Marin, and the Have & Have Nots Reneé  Lawless  — all industry greats who represent diversity and inclusion and who authentically contribute to the world becoming ONE. Each honoree will be presented with a prestigious award to commemorate their exceptional career in the entertainment industry!  Post award ceremony, guests will dance the night away to live entertainment and celebrity DJ sounds, while sipping on Beam Suntory/Courvoisier® signature libations! Tastemaker palates will appreciate BOA's tray-passed aperitifs, delectable hors d’oeuvres and tantalizing food stations!

Oscar Night 2022 was "Winning Time" when Debbie Allen showed up with her husband, LA Laker, Norm Nixon.  Great timing, HBO's comedy-drama mini series on the rise of the LA Lakers, "Winning Time," has their son, DeVaughn Nixon, playing his dad in the mini-series, playing while telling his dad's early days as a swinging single, debonair playboy, overcoming insurmountable odds to become the all-star point guard of the Lakers. He expertly maneuvers the complexities of NBA stardom… until talented young rookie Magic Johnson arrives in L.A.

Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and brought to you by Beam Suntory/Courvoisier®, the GRIOT Gala transported VIP guests into a Parisian splendor with the ambiance of Moulin Rouge, by way of its luxurious indoor/outdoor atmosphere, designed & produced by Dwight Eubanks & Annette BibbyOliver/Dreamhouse MBG. The GRIOT Gala honored the extraordinary accomplishments of the award-winning stage, television, and film actress Phylicia Rashad, revered for her portrayal of Claire Huxtable on the Cosby Show, Cheech & Chong’s Cheech Marin, and the Have & Have Nots Reneé  Lawless  — all industry greats who represent diversity and inclusion and who authentically contribute to the world becoming ONE. Each honoree was presented with a prestigious award to commemorate their exceptional career in the entertainment industry!

Post Academy awards ceremony, guests danced the night away to live entertainment and celebrity DJ sounds after walking an incredible tiered custom designed purple carpet, while sipping on Beam Suntory/Courvoisier®'s signature libations! Tastemaker palates appreciated BOA's tray-passed aperitifs, delectable hors d’oeuvres, and tantalizing food stations!   VIP rooms had different experiences for guests to be gifted and pampered throughout the venue including Kush Boys, Courvoisier private tastings, to French mimes serving custom cocktails from a designed French bistro next to a constructed Eiffel Tower. Griot Gala is an Annual Oscar sought after and coveted event that never disappoints. 

Oscar Night and the Oscar Awards itself, actually started at 2pm when the red carpet opened, what people really, really, want, an haute couture runway show where their favorite celebrities model the best haute couture in imaginable ways.

This is when celebrities and guests start filing in for Charmaine Blake Red Carpet Oscar Viewing Dinner for Faber Ryan Youth Foundation, Home - Faber Ryan Youth Foundation (fryf.org), hosted by Eric Benet.

Of course, the foundation's namesake, Dr, Jay Faber, showed up at his own Oscar viewing dinner.

Actresses, Christina DeRosa and "The Young & The Restless," Kate Linder may had provided the runway show to Charmaine Blake Red Carpet Oscar Viewing Dinner, but they were more excited to rush in then settle in, to watch the actual Oscar Awards' fashion show, the Oscar Red Carpet.  It's a fashion sport.

Since the Oscar Viewing dinner party is also a fundraiser, guests can buy a souvenir during the auction, such as a gift basket that was created for the late Chadwick Boseman, just 2 weeks before he passed away. Other auctioned items include an original etching by Pablo Picasso, a Norman Rockwell painting, and a Magic Johnson portrait.

Special guest Eric Benét did an amazing job hosting the event. The auction was filled with priceless pieces of art from Picasso to Norman Rockwell. One lucky attendee went home with a unique Michael Jordan piece that had rings from Jordan’s championship seasons with the Bulls. There were live performances along with a delightful three-course dinner from Top Chef Elijah Brown from Las Vegas, NV. The HUSL displayed their NFTs along with their HUSLVERSE that is soon to be released on March 30th! There were past and present Oscar nominees in attendance with a large red carpet. Eric Benét introduced Jason Derulo who was unable to leave Dubai in time.

Oscar Night 2022 was Winning Time.