Tattle: Italy a gem of an assignment for QVC host

WHEN TATTLE met QVC host Lisa Robertson last year for a story that unfortunately never got into the paper, she said one of the best parts of her job was getting to go to Italy.

It's that time of year again for Lisa, who will be selling Vicenza Style, fine Italian jewelry, live from Villa Arvedi in Grezzana, starting tonight at 9.

Lisa, one of the most recognizable faces at QVC, came to the shopping network 16 years and hundreds of hairdos ago.

She had done pageants growing up in the South, but never prepared for such a career.

"When I was a girl," she said, "this industry didn't even exist, so no one grew up thinking I want to grow up and sell things on TV."

But Lisa's quick wit, girlfriendy demeanor, "Gorgeous!" catchphrases and the ability to get unabashedly excited over products such as handbags, earrings and eyeliner have made her a natural.

After years of public-speaking experience, she can ad-lib just about anything.

One product that stumped her: A hot-dog condiment holder . . . that sang.

"If I understand the product, I can talk about it forever," she said. "But that was one of the few instances when I looked at something and thought, 'I got nothing.' "

If she doesn't like the product? If that necklace is really and truly hideous?

"Maybe it's perfect for someone else," she said diplomatically.

What about all the skin-care products she's tried over the years?

"I'm actually 85," she said, "but holding up beautifully."

Like everyone who works at QVC, Lisa understands her audience as if they were galpals going shopping together, because, in effect, they are.

"A woman who shops with QVC is a woman who loves shopping," she said, making sure to differentiate between shopping and "buying."

And men?

"Men are not sport shoppers," she said. "We might as well be speaking Greek."

Tonight, Lisa will be speaking a little Italian.

She said she got to make the first trip to Italy 14 years ago because she was a relative newcomer and QVC "wouldn't risk taking senior hosts off the air."

"I just lucked out. It was a new venture and no one was excited about me going except me."

"Mom always said I'd never get a job shopping and talking on the phone," Lisa added. "It was the only thing she was ever wrong about."

Tattbits

 * Billboard.com reports that Jill Scott will tour behind her forthcoming fourth album, "The Light of the Sun," with the Jill Scott Summer Block Party. The Party kicks off July 28 in New York and hits Philadelphia Aug. 6.

The trek will also feature soul singer Anthony Hamilton and R&B veterans Mint Condition as openers, while DJ Jazzy Jeff has signed on to provide beats and Doug E. Fresh will serve as the tour's official host.

Tickets can be purchased through both LiveNation.com and MissJillScott.com.

* Jane Lynch ("Glee") will hostthe Emmy Awards, airing Sunday, Sept. 18, on Fox, live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

"Jane was my first - and only - choice as the host for this year's Primetime Emmys, and I am glad she said 'yes,' " said first-time Emmys executive producer Mark Burnett. "She has incredible comedic timing and is a charismatic, talented actress whose energy leaps off the screen and stage. I am thrilled and excited to have her as our host."

Lynch is the third woman to host the Emmys alone, following in the footsteps of Angela Lansbury in 1993 and Ellen DeGeneres in 2005.

* Lindsay Lohan's attorney

says the actress has experienced a wardrobe malfunction - her electronic monitoring bracelet went off Monday for no reason and has been replaced.

* The Hollywood Reporter says

Jennifer Hudson has been cast in the Farrelly Brothers' production of "The Three Stooges."

Wow, Curly sure does look different.

Actually, Jennifer will play one of the nuns in the orphanage where the Stooges spend time.

* The "Jeopardy"-playing IBM

computer Watson has been named person of the year by the Webby Awards.

Whoa, man and machine are now one.

The Webbys, which honor Internet achievement, announced their special honorees yesterday - on their Webby site.

The recently disbanded rock group LCD Soundsystem has been chosen artist of the year. The band presented its final concert at Madison Square Garden in a live webcast.

"It Gets Better Project" founder Dan Savage will be honored for special achievement. Savage's online-video campaign has urged young people to stand up to bullying against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender teens.

Director Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, co-founders of the comedy website FunnyOrDie, will be honored as film and video person of the year.

Awards will be handed out June 13 at the 15th annual Webby Awards, hosted by Lisa Kudrow.

* NBC is reviving "Fear Factor."

The new twist will be that each week one NBC programming executive will be terrified by the network's fall schedule and await the call from Comcast boss Brian Roberts seeking an explanation about how they've spent millions on new show development and they're reviving "Fear Factor."

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Email: gensleh@phillynews.com.