Worst Oscars Ever?

[maggiethecat]

A quick and highly personal rant here, but 30 seconds into last night's Oscar telecast I was shrieking, "Bring back Billy Crystal!"

Ellen Degeneres was . . . not good. Not funny. Strained and trying too hard, especially during her little forays into the audience. The one-minute intro Jerry Seinfeld gave to the ducumentary film category was priceless, however -- why didn't they ask him to host the show?

As for the winners, well, Helen Mirren has won so many awards playing the role of the Queen that you shouldn't expect her to be spontaneous, and she wasn't. I always suspected from the few times I've seen him interviewed that Forrest Whittaker was an egotist and a jerk, and last night he proved it with a speech that went on and on and on and practically covered the entire history of acting. And all the while poor sweet Peter O'Toole was sitting there looking frozen and disappointed -- really do wish he'd won.

Some nice dresses, though.

Anyone else watch?

[shmeep]

I didn't hate Ellen. I get a kick out of her at times and I think they wanted her because of how Jon Stewart didn't exactly fit in last year. She's a safe choice because she won't offend anyone. I personally loved Jon Stewart hosting last year, but it was awkward to watch because he got so many blank stares in response to some of his more cutting-edge humor. Hollywood wants to be fawned over at the Oscars and he doesn't do that.

I didn't get to the end of the Oscars yet because I had to go to sleep before it was over so I taped the last hour. Unbelievably long! I was shocked by that. It's usually a bit over three hours, but this one was four! Crazy! And what was the deal with that guy giving a never-ending speech in Italian...and Clint Eastwood suddenly becoming an interpreter? I'm sure it was planned in advance, but it came off so awkward and for a moment it looked like Clint Eastwood was surprised by the Italian but then he was translating and...it annoyed me and made me giggle all at once. I'm glad they honored the guy, but...a montage, a song sung by Celine Dion (Eeek!), AND a long speech in another language that's miraculously interpreted by Clint Eastwood? That was the low point for me.

The sad thing for me this year is that I wasn't watching the Oscars to see who won. I didn't really care, since I hadn't seen most of the movies. I just wanted to see the montage honoring those who had died. I went to bed at nearly 11:30 and they still hadn't shown it.

The high point for me was the song about being a comedian at the Oscars. I just found this blurb about that part:

Actor Will Ferrell came out between awards during the Oscars, singing, "A comedian at the Oscars, the saddest man of all; your movies make millions, but your name they'll never call."

The skit perked up the award show as Ferrell was joined by all around actor, singer and performer Jack Black who added his influence in the song, daring actors to a throwdown.

Jack, in classic Tenacious D form, was threatening to fight all the nominees. To Peter O'Toole, "I'm going to beat you down with my Nickolodeon award." Black added, "Mark Wahlberg, I'm not going to beat you down. You're actually kind of bad-ass."

Mags, excellent idea, getting Jerry Seinfeld to host. He has it all. He's genuinely funny but he knows how to be non-offensive and he would really bring something special to a ceremony like that. I'm amazed no one thought of that before. He would be perfect.

[housemouse]

I did not watch a single second of the Oscars. This from a woman who used to make sure to see all five Best Picture nominees and as many of the acting performances as humanly possible. I used to make a special Oscar dinner and force Ron to watch with me.

Funny how kids change things.

[Chris]

I didn't watch it either - it aired in the middle of the night here. They will send "Highlights of The Oscars" tonight though and I might watch some of that.

I am thrilled to hear that the German movie "Das Leben der Anderen" won for best Foreign Language film, it is a great movie and I highly recommend it.

There were even a Danish film nominated in that category and I still hoped for "Das Leben der Anderen" to win.

As for Ellen Degeneres hosting, well I am not a big fan of hers but I'll give her a chance tonight...
- Chris

[Deleted]

I could care less, to be honest.

[carl1951]

ditto Barb:

But, I do have to make this comment: Was it just me. Or was Clint Eastwood pretending to translate from Italian to English, irritating?

Chao! baby

Later, Carl

[hoosier]

Boring...with a capital B! I felt for Ellen because no one can top Billy Crystal. I hate all the 'filler'. Why can't they just get on with it! I went to bed after the special Oscar was given so all I had seen were the suporting Oscars being awarded. Each year it seems to drag on and on and on......

[Duchess of Lashes]

I thought Ellen DeGeneres did a fine job of hosting what was an absolutey terrible program - long, boring, predictable, pompous. I hated the change in order of the awards - blame that one on the producers!!

Her bit with the Electrolux at the end of the show was absolutely priceless! Her trying to end the show at 11:30 (Oh, my bad!) was even better, although that seemed to be the point that things finally picked up and they actually got through the last 4 awards in record time! Too bad the rest of the show didn't move at that pace.

Why I force myself to watch them year after year is beyond me - I really don't care!

[Chris]

In the "Highlights of The Oscars" program they had made here, we only saw Ellen Degeneres' in the opening, doing a little house-keeping and at the end saying goodnight, so I couldn't really comment on her as a host.
Her opening of the show was a bit tame though, and like Maggie said, Jerry Seinfeld might do a better job hosting this show.

Clint Eastwood interpreting from Italian was really weird. Clint Eastwood looked somewhat surprised, as did everyone else until he decided to interpret..
I saw someone interpreting for Morricone while he was sitting in the audience, why didn't he bring that guy to the stage and have him interpret???

Loved Martin Scorsese he was so happy and didn't really believe that he had actually won

Forrest Whittaker - would someone please shut this guy up or provide him with a (short) script and then he could memorize his speech as he would lines for a movie

- Chris

[inuvik]

I recorded it as I do every year. It is the only awards show I watch, and I really do enjoy it! I always record all the preshow stuff and red carpet too.

I'm sure I won't be watching it for a while though, at least until some shows start going into hiatus. I already know who won the major awards so no hurry.

I usually treat myself to some junk food and have a great time!

[Colorado girl]

I'm not going to care about the Oscars until Ron Eldard is nominated. Then I will really show some interest. Same with the Emmy's, Golden Globes and the Tony's.

[doobrah]

maggiethecat said:

A quick and highly personal rant here, but 30 seconds into last night's Oscar telecast I was shrieking, "Bring back Billy Crystal!"

Ellen Degeneres was . . . not good. Not funny.

Uh, THANK YOU!

My rant: Why do they cut off the speeches, but let Ellen ramble for 15 minutes?

They used to open with the award for best supporting actress, but this time we were, ahem, "entertained" with best sound editing, best coffee, and best makeup? OK, I made up the part about the coffee. But still. I was asleep by the time they got to the real awards. Whose brilliant idea was that?

And I love Cirque du Soleil and Mummenschanz (anyone else remember them?), but the weird troupe acting out the nominations was a waste o' time.

There. I said it.

[maggiethecat]

I do not know how I managed to miss your post, doobrah, but may I say that your tart and funny perspective has been missed around here?

Karma for everything you said, darlin'. This years's Oscar telecast could serve as a non-narcotic replacement for Ambien, as in "Don't watch the Oscars and drive." Heh.

Start the chant now: Billy Crystal, Billy Crystal, Billy Crystal . . . .

[inuvik]

I had my own Oscar party last night with three guests (me, myself and I) and so now I can comment.

I thought Ellen did a fine job, but then again I have always liked her sense of humour. She is like Seinfeld, very down to earth. ("We don't mind long speeches, we just don't like boring speeches", "I don't have a joke, I just thought the ladies at home would like to get a look at you"). But like others, I long for one of Billy Crystal's satire montages of the films. It is about the movies, people! That's where the focus should be.

I LOVED the dancers doing the sillhouettes of the movies. They recalled the early James Bond openings, perhaps it was because of the new Bond movie this year.

Happy to see that "The Danish Poet" win--it was a Canada/Denmark co-production. I have seen it, it's a great little animation. I'm a little confused about Canada's "Water" being nominated this year in Best Foreign Language category. I saw that in the theatre at least two years ago! (Just checked IMDB, it came out in 2005).

It struck me in the writers in the movies montage how much more fun it was in the past to portray writer's block. You can slam the carriage, rip paper out and crumple it into a ball, and throw it across the room. It's not as much fun when the writer is at a computer.

So worst oscars ever? No, not by a long shot. That "honor" for me remains with Whoopi, definitely.

I thought the red carpet pre-show stuff was pretty dull this year though--worst red carpet ever! (I saw our Canadian one of course, so maybe the one on the American network was different).