1000 Awesome Things Blog Author Neil Pasricha Mulls TV Gig

Neil Pasrichas at the 14th Annual Webby Awards

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Blogger Neil Pasricha, the mind behind the positive-thinking site 1,000 Awesome Things, said his blog has already inspired book and now he's in the process of creating a TV show.

"I think it's just awesome that something like the Internet, that costs no money, can reach millions," Pasricha said on the red carpet before the Webby Awards Monday night to close out Internet Week.

The blog author began the site in June 2008 during a turbulent time in his life that included his wife filing for divorce and his best friend committing suicide.

Now, Pasricha posts one positive post per day and bases each entry on personal experiences and those of friends and strangers alike. He had no idea the popularity of the site would skyrocket.

"I now get letters from people saying that my site helped them when they were thinking of committing suicide," Pasricha said.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

Lisa Kudrow Gives Advice to Recent College Graduates

The amazing Lisa Kudrow at the Webby Awards.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

Actress Lisa Kudrow recently spoke at the commencement ceremonies at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. While most graduation speakers talk about what lies ahead in the students lives, Kudrow focused on what lies within each of them. She attended the Webby Awards last night and talked about what she felt was the best thing for young people to remember.

“I told them that everyone has their own path,” Kudrow said. “I wanted them to remember that their 20’s is a time for them to encounter crossroads, but it will all work out.”

She said that her speech focused on letting the students know that they aren’t alone in what they face after graduation and even though it may not all be easy, “moments of doubt are just moments.”

Kudrow graduated from the college, with a degree in biology, in 1985. She won this years’ Webby Award for Best Comedy: Long Form or Series, for her web series, “Web Therapy,” which is currently in its third season.

Inside the Exclusive Webby Awards Gala After Party With Ne-Yo

Ne-Yo performing at the Webby Awards after party.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

Here is my gallery for NBC from the Webby Awards after party:

NitePics: Inside the Exclusive Webby Awards Gala After Party With Ne-Yo

"The Office" Star B.J. Novak: Working With Steve Carell Is the "Greatest Privilege"

B.J. Novak, aka Ryan from The Office, was the host of this years Webby Awards.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
"The Office" star B.J. Novak, who hosted the 14th annual Webby Awards in Lower Manhattan last night, said working with sitcom co-star Steve Carell is the highest honor in the business.

"Working with him is the greatest privilege in comedy," Novak said on the red carpet at the Webby Awards.

The actor, writer, and comedian confessed he was nervous to fulfill his hosting duties for the award show that closes out Internet Week because celebrity critic Roger Ebert was in the audience.

"I'm so scared to host tonight because Roger Ebert is going to be in the audience," Novak said. "The entire time, I will be watching his thumbs for any movement in the right direction."

He added, "I will be composing his review in my head so my mind will be going."

Hosting duties at this year's award show isn't the only recent connection the actor has had with the Internet. On this year's season finale of NBC's "The Office," Novak's character, Ryan, decided to create a social networking site called "Woof" that links up all other social networking sites for a monthly fee of $12.95.

"It's the worst idea I've ever heard," Novak said, laughing. "But he's a smart guy and it will be good for him."

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

PS-22 Chorus Named Webby Artist of the Year

PS-22 students got a standing ovation.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
The school chorus from PS-22 in Staten Island -- a group that boasts millions of YouTube page views -- was honored as Artist of the Year last night at the annual Webby Awards.

The fifth graders, whose renditions of pop hits like Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" have made them viral video wunderkinds, performed Ne-Yo's hit single, "Closer," on stage after being presented with their award by the R&B artist himself at the ceremony held at Cipriani Wall Street.

"We lost hours of time at work watching these kids online," confessed award show host and "The Office" star B.J. Novak.

The cast of the reality web series "The Specials" also won big last night, taking home the honor of Best Reality Web Series. The group traveled to New York from the U.K. just to accept their Webby.

Critic Roger Ebert won Person of the Year -- and kept his speech brief. "Veni. Vedi. Vici," he said, meaning I came. I saw. I conquered.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

The 14th Annual Webby Awards

Lisa Kudrow (FRIENDS), Dylan Ratigan (MSNBC), and Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post) on the red carpet at the Webby Awards 2010.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

I attended the 14th Annual Webby Awards last night for NBC. I was at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan for the red carpet and the award show. I also went to the Webby Gala After Party, held in the Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel.

This was a phenomenal event and I met some amazing people, including Lisa Kudrow, B.J. Novak, Buzz Aldren, Amy Poehler, Roger Ebert, Ben Folds, Gilbert Gottfried (with the Aflac duck in his arms), Neil Pasricha, and the band OK Go!

My stories about this event will follow...