August 28 - It's Better to Receive than Give

From Monday August 28’s USA Today coverage of the Emmys came an article titled, “Taxing Times for Award Show Attendees.”

LOS ANGELES — One of the hot topics in Hollywood right now, right up there with Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise, is taxes on the gift baskets distributed at awards shows, following a recent public reminder from the IRS. Emmy host Conan O'Brien joked about the value of this year's Emmy gift basket being $51,000 — including "a $50,000 gift certificate to the Olive Garden"

Several stars said they wouldn't accept, including 24's Gregory Itzin "I refused. I wanted to shortcut that whole problem. It's foolish. It's focused on us because we're so high-profile."

I am sorry to inform Gregory Itzin that all gifts valued at over $12,000 are taxable for everyone, not just “high profile” people.

Incidentally, I had to Google Gregory Itzin, as I had never heard of him. He may want to rethink his self-aggrandizing “high-profile” assessment of himself. Better yet, maybe he could ask for a smaller gift basket at a value for which he feels able to pay taxes.

And people say that Hollywood people are out of touch. Huh.

I believe many Hollywood people need to go on a REALITY show, where they get a dose of reality.

Gregory Itzin

actor, philanthropist, dope