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Thursday
12Feb2009

Two Bad Ideas Taking Shape for the Oscars

DateThursday, February 12, 2009 at 3:51AM
I'm not sure the Academy Awards presentation is going to be the same event it normally is. To begin with, the well-documented lack of a major hit in the Best Picture category doesn't inspire a lot of hope, especially on the heels fo the least watched Oscars telecast in history.

Of course, who gets the nominations is not something the show's new producers can control, but they clearly have some sway over everything else, and it has not been the kind of lead-up that makes you think this will be a Academy Awards for the ages.

The transition away from a comedian as the host to Hugh Jackman seems a little Broadway (Jackman hosted the Tonys a few times), and there are two new developments really don't make sense.

The red carpet - destination central for anyone who watches simply for the fashions - may be rolled back up for presenters. Here's the skinny: Producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark are trying to keep the appearances on the show a mystery, so the presenters won't be announced beforehand.

The logic, I guess, is if you don't know who will be on the show, you're more likely to watch. That's like tuning into a radio station because you aren't familiar with the songs. It makes no sense.

Spinning off of that decision, Condon and Mark said in a recent interview, "Of course there will be some presenters on the red carpet for heaven's sake. But there will be some surprises, some presenters who won't be on the red carpet. But it's not like there's some edict going on here."

So not every presenter will be on the red carpet, which again, should make for great TV. Also, the show won't end in the traditional fashion, but instead, Condon and Mark will have the Best Picture presentation followed by clips of some of 2009's films, stuff you haven't even seen in the trailers.

Now, I would guess there aren't too many awards-ready movies in a position to hand over clips, since it's unlikely that Land of the Lost or G.I. Joe will be bucking for Oscar gold next year. I mean, if Spielberg does his Lincoln movie later this year, it would have to be a candidate, right? But it hasn't even started filming yet. So won't that just be a montage of summer movie clips? As the way to end the Oscars? Why not just end it with a recap of 2008? That way you can show more than the 10 seconds of each nominee. End with Slumdog and Heath Ledger. Something.

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AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment2 Comments |

Reader Comments (2)

Another bad idea is chopping up the songs into a medly. Peter Gabriel has already pulled out of his perfomance becuase he says his song would amount to 65 seconds. Not enough time to do the song justice.

Chop out some of the more technical categories. Do I really care who wins best makeup? No.

I'd rather here 3 full good songs vs. hearing another agent thanked and fake crying.

Thursday, February 12, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJen

They've done the medley shit before. The technical categories I don't mind, because now more than ever, the films at the end of the show greatly depend on them, and Best Song really is the least film-related award of the night. It's basically a marketing award, anyway.

Thursday, February 12, 2009 | Registered CommenterColin Boyd

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