George Clooney walks the Red Carpet at the BAFTAs

With the Oscars almost upon us, The Guardian takes a look at the fine art of “The Red Carpet Interview.”

These interviews always crack me up. They’re designed not to offend, include bland generalities about the honor of being nominated or the mere thrill of attending, a word or two about dresses or tuxes and then it’s off to the next star.

Writing this morning, Peter Bradshaw opines that “the choreography of the interview is shaped by the British royal walkabout,” and it’s about as tightly controlled as your average presidential event:

Here’s the nut graf:

“But there is a reversal: the royal prerogative of speaking first and asking questions (of the most gentle sort) belongs to the humble interviewer for whom phrases such as “Who designed your dress?” is not so far from the Queen’s anodyne: “Have you come far?”

Read the full story here.