Share This Article

GM TEN PLUS

This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!

Published on Sun, Feb 25, 2007

By: The LACar Editorial Staff

GM TEN PLUS

By JOHN GRAFMAN

This is the time of year when Hollywood asserts itself to levels beyond compare. The town is a magnet for anyone who is looking to get some face time with the media. The Academy Awards brings everyone together. Even the Presidential candidates are using the opportunity to get in on the act, so to speak. They might deem their appearances as merely coincidental to the Oscars, but that is a stretch. At least General Motors has the right idea: Be honest and open, if you want to catch fish, go to where the fish are. If you want to be seen with the hottest celebrities, go west, go to Hollywood!

GM does catch some fish to be sure. The GM Ten event this year is being held on the back lot of Paramount Studios. How often can you say that the red carpet rolls out the length of a city block? GM can certainly claim that honor - A-listers all the way. GM has managed to again seduce the best in acting, music, sports and modeling out to the annual affair. The mainstay of the affair is a fashion show with some dazzling cars from General Motors and numerous celebrities. What can be better?

Possibly you've heard of a few of these talented artists. Roaring down the runway in the best of designer fashions are featured celebrity models Academy Award nominees Jennifer Hudson, Jackie Earl Haley, Mary J. Blige, Katherine Heigl, Leah Remini, Hayden Panetierre, Adriana Barraza, Denise Richards, Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka, Mario Lopez, Donald Faison, Pete Wentz, Mekhi Phifer, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Sisto, Shane West, Christina Milian, David Boreanaz, the glowing Roselyn Sanchez, Hayley Bennet, Sarah Wayne Callies and Jack Coleman. New to the list of runway models, Chris Kattan's charisma can only be rivaled with Jeremy Piven's from the prior year. Chris alongside the incredible-looking new Cadillac CTS has even this jaded crowd transfixed on his strutting down the catwalk.

Complementing the models for the night is a wall-to-wall sound stage filled to the brim with celebrities. Attendees filling the seats are T.R. Knight, Anthony Kiedis, Jenna Elfman, Orlando Bloom, Zach Braff, Cheryl Tiegs, the now regular attendees Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Penelope Cruz, Kirsten Dunst, James Blunt, Bruce Willis, Lauren Conrad, Matthew Rhys, the always mesmerizing Stacy Kiebler, Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Russell Simmons, Zee James, Perry Farrell, James Blunt, Steven Colletti, Jason Bateman, Nick Cannon, Adam Brody, Lil Jon, Giovanni Ribisi, Jason Lee, Eric Szmanda, Scott Speedman, Danny Masterson, Guy Oseary, Brett Ratner, Dave Annable, Eva LaRue, Ashley Scott, Vincent Gallo, Reggie Bush, Terrell Owens, Melissa Rivers, Eva Pickford, Josh Henderson, Ione Skye, Ben Lee, Ken Davitian, and Joy Lauren.

Perhaps the best perspective is shared by the actress Bai Ling. World class entertainers and autos share the night, but for Bai it's about having a good time. She has the right idea, and GM does know what matters in putting together a bash like this, and they didn't forget the music. The evening reflected various periods that have been so symbolic of this country, and dare I say, General Motors. Pounding sounds from Iggy Pops's Search And Destroy during the show to the after-show featured performer Beck reinforced the history of the company and its future.

Southern California is known not just for the stars, but also the cars. General Motors did bring some showstoppers. The line-up consists of two genres overall, the greener/fuel friendly vehicles and sexy performance machines. Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Electric Vehicle, Chevrolet Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Chevrolet Sequel Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Saturn VUE Greenline Hybrid, Saturn Aura Greenline Hybrid, and a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid offer up the former. The visual stimulation is left to cars like the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept, '59 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, GMC Acadia, Custom Jay-Z GMC Yukon Denali, Saturn Sky RedLine, Saturn Astra, Cadillac CTS, Saab 9-7X, Custom Pontiac Solstice Buick Lucerne, and Buick Enclave. A crowd pleasing '54 Custom Buick courtesy of Dean Bryant, shows that the company's rich history is just as iconic as some of the incredible cars they are developing right now. With GM's West Coast design studio in North Hollywood, the location seems to take on even more importance in absorbing the magic tonight. Present on the red carpet sharing the limelight with the invitees are the fabulous GM EcoJet, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Chevrolet Tahoe E85, Chevrolet Z06, and Custom Chevrolet Camaro.

Like anything in life, some get it and some don't. As another media wag asked in an honest and uncertain roundabout manner, what is this affair all about? The simple answer is, it's complicated. But to comprehend this is akin to understanding why millions upon millions are spent on automotive designs. Does this really make a difference in operation of the car? Being very objective, only somewhat. But humans aren't objective when it comes to cars. We are subjective. People are influenced by everything from shape, to color, to new car smell. To understand great cars is to understand the influences that create them, and beyond any doubt there aren't too many influences bigger than the entertainment industry.

The GM Ten does have an almost palm reader's ability to forecast Oscar winners. In the prior GM Ten events, we have been treated to the presence of actors like Adrian Brody and Jamie Foxx, who only days afterwards walked away with the golden statue.

Lately, GM has been delivering a better-than-anticipated performance in so many way. Maybe this is its year. And the award goes to...

Dance into www.gm.com for more products.

You Might Also Like These Articles:

image of girl with mock binoculars

How to Teach Kids to Balance Their Power Wheels

image of an old steering wheel in a Chrysler

A Short History of Chrysler

BMW 760i seen from the outside

BMW 760i xDrive

aerial top down view of a car driving through the woods

Add These Tasks to Your To-Do List for Your Next Family Road Trip

aerial view of Newport Beach California

Tips for Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer in Newport Beach