Katy Perry Lights Up the Stage at CW Upfronts
The singer performed to a quiet crowd at the 2010-2011 upfronts for the CW Network.

The four-season-old network and teen dream The CW lived up to its younger, fresher, hipper, let's-give-them-something-to-tweet-about demo with one of the livelier upfronts of the week. Having no idea who would be there, it didn't take long to figure out what, or who, would be kicking things off at the Madison Square Garden Theater Thursday morning once the live band took the stage.
Complete with backup singers bound in tight, fluorescent dresses and a guitar player wearing a conspicuous LED light-up tie — the male formal-wear counterpart to the much-ridiculed Lite Brite dress Katy Perry wore to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala a few weeks ago — you could feel the inevitable "I Kissed a Girl" joke being written on a cue card backstage before it was ever uttered.
Yup, she-of-the-shorty-bangs, Katy Perry, tried to get the bleary-eyed suits out of their seats and grooving along to her two-song set comprised of her past hit, "Hot and Cold," and her new single — and, not so coincidentally — the CW anthem of the summer, "California Girls," off her upcoming album, Teenage Dream. Apparently "upfront" is the code word for guilty-pleasure concert viewing this year, and Perry is a smart fit for a network that boasts the youngest median audience on television (33, if you're wondering).
Everyone's favorite retro poptartlette also proved to be a good sport, keeping her energy high and attempting to razz the sedate ad crowd into action, bellowing, "Is it too early to ask that you get out of your seats?" during her 10 minutes on stage. (It was; hardly anyone stood up.) For this show, the recently engaged star ditched the fruit rompers of yore and hit the stage in a colorful sequined tank dress with an outline of palm trees — an ode to that West Coast skyline — flamingo pink flats, and a pair of sparkly striped sunglasses that one could envision were bought on a shopping spree with her rumored BFF Rihanna.
After her set, Perry handed the mic to the Executive VP of Marketing and Sales, Rob Tuck, who, yes, made an eye-rolling "I Kissed a Girl" reference before launching into a presentation that included the obligatory parade of CW stars awkwardly bantering with one another onstage, which included the tasty Chace Crawford, smoldering Ian Somerhalder, Robert Buckley, CW newbie Ashley Tisdale, 90210's AnnaLynne McCord and Superman himself, Tom Welling. As Maggie Q, star of the new drama Nikita, deadpanned when she stepped into the spotlight, "That's one good-looking room back there."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
-
Why Prince William's Exes Attended His Wedding to Kate Middleton
The exes were invited "due to a more peculiar upper class British tradition."
By Amy Mackelden
-
Why Prince William "Stepped in" for King Charles at the Pope's Funeral
The seating plan was described as a "master plan" of "big egos."
By Amy Mackelden
-
A Vintage Fendi Baguette Is Bella Hadid's Plus-One
The model paired her skintight capri jumpsuit with pointed-toe heels.
By Amy Mackelden
-
Leighton Meester's Music Climbs iTunes Chart After She Loses Home She Shared With Adam Brody in California Wildfires
The 'Gossip Girl' star is following in Heidi Montag's footsteps.
By Amy Mackelden
-
Why Heidi Montag's 2010 Album 'Superficial' Is Having a Celeb-Fueled Revival in 2025
Everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Paris Hilton has helped the underrated record top the iTunes chart.
By Amy Mackelden
-
Rihanna Hints She's Retiring From Music and Moving on to More "Authentic" Projects
"I always say music was the thing that got the attention, but God had other plans for me."
By Amy Mackelden
-
Megan Thee Stallion Pays Homage to Britney Spears at the 2024 VMAs With a Snake—That She Demanded Be Taken Off Her
The rap superstar hosted this year's award show and called back one of the pop icon's most memorable performances.
By Sadie Bell
-
Pink Calls Gwen Stefani "The Coolest, Kindest" After Their Joint Concert Appearance
A mid '00s dream.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Harry Styles Stopped His Concert So a Pregnant Fan Could Go for a Pee and "Not Miss a Thing"
I'm DYING.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Miley Cyrus Heartbreakingly Admits That She Carried "Guilt and Shame" After Her 2013 Twerking Controversy
She's let those feelings go now.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Miley Cyrus' Song 'Flowers' Was Originally Going to Have VERY Different Lyrics, She Reveals in 'British Vogue' Interview
This is unexpected.
By Iris Goldsztajn