The Oscars were in full swing and
there have been a lot of stories about will smith and that slap on the stage.
But we need to talk about the goods,
including the goods that certain nominees received in the form of a goody bag?
This is something that always fascinates me because these aren't normal goody
bags that you get at like a kid's birthday party, okay.
There's no cheap made in china garbage in there, they're getting money or
certificates for like liposuction and things like that.
And so we've learned some more details about what they received in these goodie
bags this year.
And apparently they're worth $140,000 and
include 53 insanely luxurious and also kind of needless items so
let's give you those details for the 20th consecutive year L A.
Based marketing company, distinctive assets, is distributing its
famously expensive everybody wins gift bags to select nominees.
This year's bag is valued at just over $137,000 and
includes items ranging from designer popcorn, which I'm here for that for sure.
To a voucher for $12,000 worth of liposuction
I just that the liposuction thing, is that okay?
I mean, if you're a celebrity and you got that bag,
would you be like, thanks for the the voucher for liposuction.
You trying to tell me something like what's going on?
It's a weird gift to get, but I'm sure it was appreciated I mean,
$12,000 for a procedure like that is pretty good money.
>> Is it transferable?
Because if there's any celebrities out there that don't need it,
I can give you my address, I will come out there.
I could probably use your 36 $48,000 because of it I'm not gonna, be coy about
it I'll do it I have no problem with that do they have coupons for hair restoration?
Let me know I will start starring in movies tomorrow just to
get these goodie bags but no, is it is nuts.
It is absolutely ridiculous, the value of these things and
just the variety like you said, I go to conferences quite frequently.
You get little bags, you get a book, there's some squishy things in there
sometimes your stress balls, always a T shirt and.
>> They're always love to give out t shirts it's like their favorite thing in
the world like go to an event, get a gift bag, there's a t shirt in there for shirt.
And you never see anybody wearing the shirts either can you all stop with the t
shirts just enough with it if you want to start putting in, t shirts for your dog,
I'm totally into that.
That's a better idea than throwing t shirts and
goody bags give me something for the dog and I promise you it will get used.
Yeah look, I have to be fair, a lot of people love the t shirts, right?
It really depends on the event and like if I know I know t y T has had events
in the past where we've given out goody bags and
their T shirts in there and people like it, so, but like I'm not a teacher person.
Yeah, for sure, but I want to get to other details because the bag had more than just
a $12,000 voucher for limo.
Apparently the most expensive item in this year's bag was
a $50,000.03 night stay at Turin castle in Scotland
inspired by Denzel Washington's best actor nomination for.
The tragedy of Macbeth, I guess, who accept the offer will
have full access to the 17th century castle complete with Butler Service and
a bagpiper welcome when they arrive, which sounds fun.
I mean that to me was the most appealing thing in that bag but
other things include a $12,000 celebrity arms
liposuction procedure from cosmetic surgery, hold on.
So you don't even get to choose where the Loop happens it's
got to be in your arms like so weirdly specific, right?
The title of Lord or Lady of Glencoe along with a small
plot of land in Scotland, they're giving them land
in Scotland just $25,000 worth of home renovations.
Okay now we're having a conversation from Los Angeles based mason
construction, a $15,000.04.
Night stay for two at the golden door luxury
resort because the one vacation in Scotland wasn't enough you
got to have another luxury vacation in Escondido California.
A small batch t gift set from Oprah approved the chai box,
which is probably the most down to earth gift in there and
then a $1200 life coaching session with wellness expert, Coyote, Joseph fun.
I mean I have, a coach, I love her her name is Susan, so
I can't say anything negative about that but
honestly the celebrity arms liposuction is the most fascinating part.
>> What, gets me about the whole thing though is,
how do you get to be the one to be featured in the bag?
Right? I mean,
can I submit like a best of ring of fire DVD to be given out at
next year's Oscars and everybody's bags and make everybody go home.
And watch our videos because that to me is a huge thing for these people and
maybe we ought to start opening up, maybe the Oscars needs.
To look at it and say, hey,
maybe we can start promoting some small businesses in here.
Maybe there is a way to not only give these people these wonderful,
gifts of liposuction and the title Lord or lady, but
also say, hey, joe's donuts down the street.
Good, locally owned business is a coupon,
go get yourself some donuts too show up at this place make everybody's day when,
brad pitta walks in for a donut, everybody's gonna freak out about it.
You really could have an impact with these bags if you so chose to do it and,
maybe throw a couple of people of bone every now and then that would,
that would be kind of cool.
>> No, I kind of love the fact that you're trying to find a way to like co
opt these gift bags as like a marketing ploy, for independent media.
I think that's actually really smart I don't know if they're gonna buy it,
I don't know if we could actually pull that off.
But what was interesting about this is not everyone who went to the Oscars got
this gift bag, it was only given to some of the nominees, so
not all of the nominees got it.
I'm guessing the nominees for the biggest categories received it and
I just love that they call it everybody wins because it's like
the participation trophy for wealthy celebrities.
It's amazing but honestly, I would love it I mean, I would not be
complaining about it if I received this thing but there is a catch and
I think this catch is kind of hilarious and also the right thing to do.
Listen, we're talking about a gift bag that's worth nearly $140,000 and
it's considered taxable income so
the recipients aren't technically paying for any of the gifts.
The value of the goods do count as taxable income according to the I R S so
they will have to pay taxes on it.
The reality is if you do get to go on a $50,000 trip and
all you have to do is pay a tax percentage of that value you're obviously.
Still getting a pretty good deal no one wants a deal more than rich people and
that's the other thing right?
Like we've heard countless stories about rich people refusing to pay a decent
tip two servers, they're usually nickel and diming everyone including the I R S.
And the federal government and so
it's just not surprising to me at all that like they would want a good deal.
And they might see the downside of having to pay taxes on this,
but who's going to complain with a $12 voucher for arm liposuction am I right?
>> [LAUGH] And it is a good thing too because obviously these businesses
they do it because bringing a celebrity and
is obviously going to be huge for your business.
But there's no such thing as a free lunch right?
So if you want to cash in that $12,000 you got to pay your
taxes on it I'm sure that the tea set and things like that.
The popcorn probably not much tax to be had there but yeah, so
yes, they're wealthy yes they get to do all these things and
they can afford to do it otherwise, but they're not getting it all for free.
They do have to pay taxes, which is more than we can say about a lot of the folks
in corporate America to not to make this political, trying not to totally not
a political segment, but at least they're paying something right?
>> Yeah, it's true and look, there's politics in everything and by the way,
just a quick update on the whole, will smith debacle.
It turns out that the academy actually did ask him to leave after he slapped,
Chris rock on the face on stage and he kind of just refused to do it.
And so they're continuing on with this, investigation I mean, I don't,
there's really that much to investigate if you ask me, but they're trying.
To figure out what the consequences will be, including a potential ban from
the Oscars, which I don't really think is gonna happen.
I don't think they're gonna ban him, so we'll see what happens with all of that I
honestly, aside from making the point that assault is never okay and
we shouldn't be supportive of that.
I think we're done with that story, it is what it is you guys know all the details
you need to know and it's very likely that will smith did get this fancy bag,
complete with all of those goodies that we mentioned.