HSN Is Taking Us To Disney’s ‘Oz,’ And Hottie James Franco, In March

HSN is partnering with the Mouse House in a promotional extravaganza for Walt Disney Studios’ “Oz The Great and Powerful.”

In this latest HSN marketing collaboration for a movie, the home shopping network will be offering an exclusive collection of fashions, jewelry, beauty and home accessories based on the film, it announced this week.

To promote the collection and the movie, HSN has developed a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes a special two-day live event that can be viewed across all of its platforms — TV, HSN.com and HSN mobile.

“Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by horror film maestro Sam Raimi (we hope there’s no gore in this), stars hottie James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz (married to hottie Daniel Craig) and Michelle Williams. The screen story is by Mitchell Kapner and the screenplay is by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. The film opens in theaters nationwide March 8.

Here’s what the home shopping network said in its press release:

HSN designers have created a curated assortment of exclusive products reflecting the spirit of the film. The apparel, accessories, jewelry and beauty pieces reflect the essence of the movie’s three, witches Theodora, Evanora and Glinda, drawing inspiration from their sense of style, personality and unique color palettes. The home and culinary items mirror the discovery the viewer feels while traveling through the world of Oz.

Stud muffin James Franco in Disney’s new Oz movie, Nice hat

“We are so pleased to collaborate with HSN on another amazing film project,” Don Gross, vice president of global promotions for Disney Studios, said in a canned statement. “The smart, savvy and creative team at HSN have demonstrated their ability to connect and resonate with our core audience, and with this newly announced collection for ‘Oz The Great and Powerful,’ we know the buzz around this exciting new film will continue to grow.”

And our homeboy Bill Brand also weighed in.

“HSN is an entertainment channel that indulges and engages consumers via unique retail experiences,” said Bill Brand, HSN’s executive vice president of programming, marketing and business development. “Disney is known for its masterful storytelling and we are excited to work with such a world-class brand to bring a compelling story like ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’ to life through amazing products and rich content.”

Jewelry, fashion, beauty products and home accessories including exclusive pieces from Naeem Khan, Badgley Mischka, Adrienne Landau, Raven Kauffman, Urban Decay, Be&D and others will be available for sale during a special live 48-hour event on HSN on March 1 & 2.

You can shop the collection on HSN.com starting February 14.

Celebrity Stylist June Ambrose Joins Giuliana Rancic For HSN’s Fall Fashion Event

Celebrity stylist June Ambrose is the latest fashionista to join HSN’s lineup Sunday as kicks off its fall fashion series, “Ultimate Trunk Show,” the home shopping network said Thursday.

“June Ambrose has elevated the style of some of today’s biggest celebrities,” said Anne Martin-Vachon, HSN’s chief merchandising officer. “We are thrilled to have June join HSN and offer her unique perspective on style during our biggest fashion event of the season.”

We hope June Ambrose doesn’t wear this hat on HSN

HSN’s roster for its event includes Louise Roe, Giuliana Rancic and “how-to” videos from respected beauty experts Trish McEvoy, David Evangelista, Deborah Lippmann, Philip B. and Vincent Longo — all on HSN.com, HSN mobile and HSN’s social platforms on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.

HSN’s Fall Fashion Series highlights the season’s newest trends in fashion, footwear and accessories including the launches of G by Giuliana Rancic, the first ever apparel collection by Rancic exclusively for HSN, and top industry make-up artist, Trish McEvoy.

There will be items from Badgley Mischka, Carlos Falchi, Carol Brodie, IMAN, Louise Roe, Adrienne Landau, Robert Verdi, Serena Williams, Stefani Greenfield and Queen Latifah as well as new on-trend jewelry from designers R.J. Graziano and Iris Apfel; and beauty products from some of the world’s best known artists including, Deborah Lippmann, David Evangelista and Philip B.

HSN is giving amateur stylists a place to curate their ultimate wardrobe for Fall with the ‘Pin to Win: Dream Wardrobe’ contest on the social pinboard, Pinterest. Running from Sept. 10 to 17, “pinners” will be asked to submit their pinboard by picking at least 10 items — a minimum of five items from HSN.com and five or more from anywhere on the web – and tag boards with #HSN and #FallFashionElle.

Pinboards will be judged by Rancic, Roe and Ambrose on their originality, continuity, thoughtfulness and attention to detail. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 in merchandise from HSN to help them create their dream wardrobe for Fall.

Fashion Mavens Robert Verdi, Hal Rubenstein To Preside Over HSN Dress Event, With Vicky Tiel Debut

HSN is hosting a Spring Dress Event next Wednesday, with fashion mavens Robert Verdi and Hal Rubenstein in the house, the company said Thursday.

The Vicky Tiel Collection by Vicky Tiel will launch then, and featuring the French couturier’s “original patterns with a modern twist,” or so says HSN.

Tiel began designing clothes 40 years ago, and is the longest surviving female designer in Paris.

Here is HSN’s spin:

An “it” girl of the 1960’s, Tiel’s signature dresses have been sold exclusively in Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus for the past thirty years and worn by everyone from Elizabeth Taylor, to Goldie Hawn, Halle Berry and Kim Kardashian. From flirty tiered dresses and long maxi dresses perfect for spring and summer, flattering jersey wrap dresses and the ever-popular color block dress.

The dress event will also spotlight styles by American Glamour Badgley Mischka and Liz Lang, as well as the debut of the Ahhh Dress line by Rhonda Shear. Other HSN favorites include new pieces from Diane Gilman and Tiana B with accessories by RJ Graziano and Big Buddah Handbags.

Making appearances throughout the event as HSN’s style expert, fashion authority Verdi is one of the most highly recognizable faces in the world of fashion today. Verdi is the go-to style guru for celebrities like Eva Longoria, Bethenny Frankel, Kathy Griffin and Kristen Wiig.

Verdi is known for his appearances on “Full Frontal Fashion,” “Fashion Police” and E! Entertainment News Red Carpet. Robert will be giving the HSN customer the most coveted fashion tips and tricks while also engaging with fans on Facebook and Twitter.

Additionally, Rubenstein, will join HSN for the first time with his highly acclaimed book, “100 Unforgettable Dresses,” a must for all fashion enthusiasts, movie buffs, and celebrity watchers.

HSN And Kelly Ripa’s ‘Homemade Millionaire’ Debuts Tonight On TLC

HSN’s collaboration with Jersey Girl Kelly Ripa and TLC, “Homemade Millionaire,” will premiere at 10 p.m. tonight.

The show pits female entrepreneurs against each to land a spot on HSN to sell a product they’ve invented.

Future episodes will feature veteran HSN vendors such as jean queen Diane Gilman, Jennifer Stallone, Badgley Mischka and Cajun kook (that’s no typo) Emeril Lagasse.

A panel on TLC's "Homemade Millionaire," with Kelly Ripa in the center and the designer team of Badgley Mischka on the right

On Thursday New York Daily News TV critic David Hinckley reviewed “Homemade Millionaire,” and he liked the program. He wrote that Ripa “whips up a lively and fun show by selling big dreams in a small, simple package.”

See what you think. We’ve had some inquiries from women who’d like to get on “Homemade Millionaire,” and we are looking into that.

So here’s the answer on getting on “Homemade Millionaire” this season: It’s too late, baby.

“We conducted try-outs last summer for this current season,” a TLC spokeswoman said Friday. “Unfortunately, this season is cast already.”

The Wall Street Journal On HSN Honcho Mindy Grossman, Why Home Shopping Is Hot And ‘Pooh-Poohing’ Designers

Did you realize it’s “The Golden Age of TV Shopping”?

We know, we’ve been telling you that for more than a year now, but The Wall Street Journal made it official Thursday, with a big feature with that “Golden Age” headline.

It looks like Journal reporter Elizabeth Holmes actually plopped her butt onto a plane and made the trek to St. Petersburg, Fla., to find out exactly why the hell upscale designers such as Reem Acra (who is so high-end we had never heard of her), Mark Badgley and James Mischka, and Naeem Khan are now selling their wares on HSN. In the past, they were selling their duds to celebs like Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry.

The Journal story mainly focuses on HSN and its evolution (which has some irate customers wanting to start a revolution) under the helm of CEO Mindy Grossman. But it also references the market’s dominant player, QVC, and its hip vendors such as razor-thin celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and “Mad Men” costume designer Janie Bryant.

Your's truly with designing team Mark Badgley and James Mischka, who are a big part of The Journal's home shopping story

As usual in one of these home-shopping-networks-are-no-longer-downscale stories, we have the usual quotes from Acra and Khan (who has designed for First Lady Michelle Obama) knocking electronic home — that is before they swallowed the Kool-Aid.

“I never watched it before,” Acra told The Journal, referring to HSN. “I pooh-poohed it. But now look at it. There are items I would want every single day.”

Ah, a true believer now.

Naeem Khan's $870 bag for HSN

Then the story gets to the obvious: High-end designers have gone to HSN because they can move a hell of a lot of product on it, which is pretty crucial when sales for upsale goods have crashed. Mischka told Rupert Murdoch’s financial rag that Badgley Mischka sold 18,000 units of one particular jacket on HSN. It would take a lot of couture gowns to ring up that kind of revenue. Volume, volume, volume.

We did learn a few things from The Journal, like that HSN keeps track of sales by the minutes, and uses that “intel,” as Jack Bauer would say, to guide hosts. The story says that when HSN host Bobbi Ray Carter mentioned the quality of one of Acra’s jackets, it’s sales shot up. So HSN had Ray talk in more detail about the material in the piece.

HSN chief Mindy Grossman

The article talks quite a bit about Nike veteran Grossman, who came on board to HSN in 2006 and began making it more fashion-forward by courting a host of big-name designers.

Grossman did her research, asking people about HSN, and told The Journal she got three responses, “Some who shopped, some who didn’t, some who did but they whispered that they did.””

We never whispered, Mindy! We were always loud and proud about our HSN and QVC purchases, despite being surrounded by snobby Manhattanites (most of whom where transplants from the Midwest).

The Journal story goes on about Grossman, saying, “The new CEO cleaned house, shedding brands that she didn’t think made sense for the network.”

We guess the “shedding” refers to the exits of vendors like Suzanne Somers, Terry Lewis, Beyonce’s mom Tina Knowles and a parade of others. The departure of Terry Lewis and her Classic Luxuries line still has some HSN shoppers calling for Grossman to be drawn and quartered.

We did get a kick out of the anecdote in the story about Mischka “falling off the stage” the first time he and his partner Badgley appeared on HSN. But unfortunately for viewers, the camera wasn’t on him when that little mishap took place.

Perish The Thought: Is Cable King John Malone Looking To Merge QVC And HSN?

Mr. Malone, your highness, please don't merge QVC and HSN

Well kiddies, is QVC really looking to buy HSN? Que horror! That’s the New York Post’s take on Liberty Media’s announcement Monday that it plans to spin off two of its companies, Liberty Capital and Liberty Starz. That leaves Liberty Media with its Liberty Interactive unit, which includes QVC, as “an asset-based stock,” Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei said in a prepared statement.

You can read the boring details of the news here. Thank God we’re not at a trade paper anymore where we have to write that boring financial crap.

Because cable cowboy and legend John Malone is chairman of Liberty Media, anytime the company burps the press is on it like flies on dog doo. So Monday’s announcement got lots of ink. And the cable industry fawns over Malone and thinks he walks on water.

The interesting angle here is whether this complex financial transaction and spin-off is a prelude to Liberty Media, which already owns 35 percent of HSN, trying to acquire the rest of the Southern Channel. Or maybe Liberty Media will go after struggling ShopNBC, which is rumored to be up for sale. After all, NBC Universal is dumping its stake in the ShopNBC, No. 3 home shopping net.

We know one thing, which is that home shopping aficionados wouldn’t welcome a merger of QVC and HSN. Many fans buy from both networks, and like having selections from two channels. People who don’t watch QVC or HSN may think they are the same, but the networks have distinct visions and are quite different.

Since we are jewelry addicts, we love HSN and its willingness to mark down items. We also like what HSN CEO Mindy Grossman is doing to the network, bringing in top name designers such as Badgley Mischka.

As for QVC, we enjoy (or used to, before layoff) its Affinity Diamonds and Artisan Crafted jewelry.

And we want our Colleen Lopez on HSN and our Rick Domeier on QVC, please.

The Post’s Claire Atkinson, a vet of our former sister publication, B&C, plays up the QVC-HSN merger angle in her story. The New York Times even picked up her article.

The Post story in the newspaper has one of those great Post photoshop graphics: Malone’s head superimposed on the body of a guy wearing a Liberty sweat shirt, standing in front of the company’s headquarters in Colorado carrying two shopping bags: One says QVC and the other says HSN.

Atkinson writes that “speculation” is that Liberty is seriously going after HSN. That’s a much sexier story than writing what Maffei actually said on a conference call yesterday, which is that Liberty is not pursuing HSN.

“The market doesn’t believe us; watch August come and go,” Maffei said. “There’s no plan or intention to do anything other than to keep our options open.”

Our former colleague at Multichannel News, Mike Farrell, wrote about Maffei’s denial of the HSN rumors. According to Mike, while the new Liberty Interactive structure makes it easier for the company to go on a buying binge, Maffei said HSN is not a target right now.

“We’re certainly not going to chase HSN stock,” Mike quoted Maffei as saying.

Malone tried, and failed, to merge QVC and HSN back in 2007.

If he’s got any sneaky plans to go after HSN again, we hope he fails this time, too.

And liar, liar pants on fire if Maffei’s denials turn out not to be true.

The Homeshoppingista Gets A Peek At HSN’s New Manhattan Penthouse Offices, And We Meet Mindy

Artist Michael Vollbracht, who created a clothing line for HSN, did four paintings for its New York offices that feature a flower motif from one of his scarves for the home shopping network

We got to visit HSN’s spanking new offices in Manhattan, and they are some pretty stylish, should we say swank, digs.

HSN had off-the-record meetings with the press Thursday, us included. HSN EVP of programming, marketing and business development Bill Brand invited us in.

Brand is a broadcast/cable veteran who got his programming chops at local TV stations, as well as both VH1 — working for Jeff Gaspin, who is now chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment — and at Lifetime Television.

Brand was hired by HSN CEO Mindy Grossman shortly after she arrived at the home shopping channel to shake it up.

We can’t tell you the content of what Brand told us about HSN’s plans (as we said, it was off the record, and if anyone else writes it, we’re coming after Bill). We’d love to relate what Brand had to say about the second network that HSN is launching, the just-announced HSN2. But we can’t. But Brand said we could blog about the new offices.

Bill Brand

Just a few weeks ago the No. 2 home shopping network moved its Big Apple staff from the quarters of the channel’s former owner, Barry Diller’s IAC, to a building on 55th Street, right off Madison Avenue. The building, across the street from the legendary Friar’s Club, is being renovated. The construction permits were in the lobby window.

Brand got programming experience under now-NBC honcho Jeff Gaspin

HSN’s corporate headquarters and TV studios remain in steamy St. Petersburg, Fla., land of the large flying water bugs and hair-frizzing humidity. That’s why we no likey Florida.

But HSN has always had some staff in New York City, and the airy new space with the Madison Avenue address (even though the entrance is on 55th) will serve as a fine venue for the network to host product previews for the press and to meet with its growing list of Manhattan designers and vendors, people like the red-carpet Badgley Mischka team and Iman.

HSN’s got the building’s penthouse duplex, with a great view of the city and a huge terrace.

The space is wide open, and everything is white. There is some artwork on the walls. Four paintings by artist Michael Vollbacht, who has done a clothing collection for HSN, hang near the entrance of the penthouse. But furniture and other decorations are still being brought in.

As we chatted with Brand, HSN CEO Mindy Grossman stopped by. It’s the first time we met her, and she was very gracious, not mentioning the times we’ve poked fun at her (describing her as “cleavage-baring” and all that) in this blog. She’s obviously a pro who knows how the game is played. Any press is good press.

We finally met HSN CEO Mindy Grossman

We know we shouldn’t comment on an executive’s appearance (it’s sexist, some would say) but Grossman is striking looking. She has great style and was dressed all in black, the Manhattan uniform. She was wearing great jewelry, including two huge cuffs from Iman’s Global Chic HSN line.

Brand also introduced us to HSN chief financial officer Judy Schmeling, who is always on the network’s earnings calls. Most of the top executives at HSN are women, not middle-aged white men, as is typical in most of corporate America.

After a lot of chatter and a very quick, but delicious lunch, we were ushered out as the next group of reporters was coming in for their HSN meet-and-greet.

Our only regret is that we didn’t grab a few blondies to eat on the DeCamp bus back to Montclair.

Badgley Mischka’s HSN Collection Gets Spotlight In New York Daily News

The New York Daily News Monday is featuring a host of low-priced fashion items, including five pieces from Badgley Mischka’s HSN collection.

The story, headlined “New York’s Best For Less: Designer Duds, And The Prices are Right On Target,” notes that red-carpet designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka are doing a line called “American Glamour” for the No. 2 home shopping channel.

The two-page spread, which must have HSN PR in ecstasy, has photos of three of the collection’s fashion jewelry pieces.

The pair’s $79 medallion necklace is shown.

The other Badgley Mischka jewelry items depicted are a $99 faux turquoise stretch bracelet, and big $79 drop earrrings, which have faux turquoise and citrine-like stones.

Also featured are a pair of $120 sequined flats from the collection, as well as a $150 patent leather tote.

Badgley Mischka Returns To HSN March 18 For 12 Hours, With Today’s Tuxedo Special

The Today's Special is on the far right

The red carpet design team Badgley Mischka will be back on HSN in mid-March, on for a good 12 hours on March 18 when they will have the Today’s Special.

We got a gander Thursday at the design team’s spring American Glamour collection for HSN, and we were eyeing the TS long before it we even knew it was going to be the TS.

And the handbags, jeans, blouses, sandals and fashion jewelry that Mark Badgley and his partner James Mischka have lined up are pretty eye-catching.

During the breakfast press preview Mischka explained that the vendors that do the goods for the design team’s luxury lines, which sell in stores like Neiman Marcus, are the exact ones who are making the merchandise for HSN.

“All of our partners that do our couture range – like the jewelry, the handbags, the scarves, the shoes, the apparel – they’re the same teams that do the HSN projects,” he said.

Badgley Mischka is creating six collections a year for HSN, which is quite a commitment.

The TS for March 18 is a knit tuxedo jacket with removable jeweled belt loops that comes in a variety of colors, including black and a gorgeous turquoise that drew it to us as soon as we walked into the showroom. It will sell for $109.90, and is modeled after a suit that Badgley Mischka did for its couture collection.

The upscale design team also had some stand-out purses for HSN on display.

“Our handbags are one of our strongest categories with HSN,” Badgley said. “They’re just really fun and really chic….We made a conscious decision with them (HSN). We wanted to do fine quality leathers with them. We weren’t interested in… just throwing out a faux bag.”

When they were on HSN in November, they had a $500 snakeskin purse that sold out in a snap. That purse in the Badgley Mischka couture collection would have cost $1,600, according to Badgley.

Soft Napa tote

His favorites in the collection for the spring were a slouchy Napa leather tote with for $329, and “this studded bag has about 500 hand-done studs…I love this bag.”

Then Mischka chimed in, “We’re going to actually count them for you on the show.”

Chunky bangles, $79

Badgley Mischka is know for its bling, and they are bringing chunky gemstone cuffs and a sea life collection – necklaces adorned with rhinestoned starfishes, coral and shells – to HSN this spring.

“I love the jewelry,” Badgley said. “James and I are freaks for stones and vintage jewelry. Jewelry always inspires all the beading, all the artwork, on our evening gowns. So the jewelry is really one of our favorites.”

Badgley Mischka is also doing jeans for HSN this go-around, including a pair of straight legs that we have our eye on now.

“It’s such a super important category for HSN,” Badgley said.

The 5-way maxi-dress for $129.90

And Mischka added, “Our couture customer wears them at trunk shows. She comes in with a Chanel jacket and a pair of jeans on. It’s the dominant category for HSN, too.”

The other items that caught our fancy included a cowl-neck jersey-like top that has a removable necklace; real snakeskin flats; and a georgette maxi dress that can be worn five ways.

We’re not shoe whores, but Mischka pointed out a pair of cork platforms with a fabric “fun and flirty” flower. The runway version of that show was called one of the season’s best shoes by The New York Times, according to Mischka.

Badgley and Mischka will have a jewely show on HSN March 17, and them will dominate March 18. Their shows that day will be from midnight to 2 a.m.; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Jewelry Hour); 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and 10 p.m. to midnight.

For The Record, QVC, HSN And ShopNBC Aren’t Funding Us: We’re Proud To Say We’re Not Getting A Dime To Write This (Mmmm, Time For A Business Manager)

We've commented on HSN CEO Mindy Grossman's cleavage, and you think she's paying us?

We’ve had a number of people, those who’ve had the integrity to ask us right to our face, if we are getting paid to write this blog. We guess the assumption on the part of some, obviously those that don’t know us very well, is that one of the home shopping networks is paying us to write this blog.

Let’s clear the air. Remember that old chestnut to the effect of when you make an assumption you make an ass of yourself. That applies here, folks. Anyone who thinks we’re getting a single dime from QVC, HSN or ShopNBC esta loco, and estupido.

We guess we shouldn’t be bragging about this — since it’s not helping our bank account — but we are not selling ads, offering product placement or in any way, shape or form or getting compensation from anyone to write this blog.

Then why do it, some people ask us, in disbelief. Well, we are looking for a full-time job, and we consider this our living resume and writing sample. It you’re an employer and you don’t like our style, or think the billion-dollar home shopping industry is frivolous, or don’t like snarky commentary, we guess that we are not the right fit for you.

But if you are looking for a reporter/writer who can cover a beat (home shopping); come up with stories and post items on a daily basis; and uniquely combine writing about pop culture, celebrities, news, finance and the inside-gossip of QVC and HSN, then we’re on.

But home shopping, people ask? We’ve said this several times, but we’ll repeat it for newbies to this blog: We love jewelry and gemology, have since we were a kid, and QVC and HSN are the biggest jewelry retailers in the country. We don’t give a crap if Gawker or The Wall Street Journal make fun of the networks.

Yes, we own lucious jewelry from luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Roberto Coin, but we’ve gotten gorgeous things at the three electronic retailers, as well.

The fact that high-end names like Robert Lee Morris, Bobbi Brown, Judith Ripka, Gucci, Godiva, Tag Heuer, Ann King, Barbara Bixby, Stephen Dweck, Badgley Mischka, Dennis Basso and Naeem Khan are selling on QVC, HSN and ShopNBC now makes the case for the networks far more eloquently than we can.

We’ve dinged all three home shopping channels, as well, numerous times. We’ve written about HSN CEO Mindy Grossman’s cleavage, how QVC hired an alleged embezzler who now stands charged with robbing it, and taken ShopNBC to task letting veteran host Charla Rines go. We’ve made fun of QVC and HSN’s PR departments.

Immature? Perhaps. Have some our blogs been silly? Yes. Are we having fun writing them? You betcha.

We like to think we’re doing for home shopping what Joe Flint at the LA Times does for media in “Company Town.”

And so these home shopping channels that we’ve poked fun at — while also covering them as a business reporter would follow any beat — are the same guys you suspect are paying us to write Homeshoppingista? Wrong.