Whoopi Goldberg's omission from a video montage of the greatest Oscar moments was just one big oopsie, the show's producer told People magazine.
"No harm was intended, and I feel very, very badly that she was left out," Gil Cates said. "I'm going to call her and tell her that."
Whoopi, the Academy Award's first black female host, teared up on "The View" earlier this week, after suggesting she was purposefully left out of the montage.
— Korin
(Marion Cotillard)
This year's Academy Awards only went a half hour over schedule. Not bad!
Here's a recap--you can find more results and our comments as it all happened below:
Highs
* Marion Cotillard's acceptance speech
* Jon Stewart's hosting gig (second time's the charm)
* Marketa Irglova's acceptance speech for Best Song (after she was originally cut off by that darn music)
* George Clooney
Eh
* Red carpet fashion — nothing too daring; nothing too stunning
Lows
* Multiple performances of juvenile songs from "Enchanted"
* Blink-and-you'll-miss-it mention of Heath Ledger's death
* Video montages of 80 years of Oscar award winners before each major category
* Photos of all the winning (and losing) Oscar moments
* Photos of Oscars red carpet fashion worst and best here
* Videos of Oscars red carpet fashion worst and best here
— Korin
Hooray for Ethan Coen's short and sweet Best Director speech.
The director had already snagged Best Adapted Screenplay alongside his brother, Joel Coen.
When he accepted his second award, Ethan said simply, "I don't have a lot to add to what I said earlier ... Thank you."
His brother was a little more chatty the second time around, but left the talking to their co-workers after Best Picture was announced.
- Korin
(George Clooney, right, with girlfriend Sarah Larson)
Well, George Clooney called it.
Daniel Day-Lewis took home the gold for his lead role in "There Will Be Blood."
The actor took moment to give Clooney a man hug before heading to the stage to accept his award.
Last week, Clooney, a fellow Best Actor nominee, told Time magazine that he expected Day-Lewis to win. "It's like being Hillary Clinton," he said. "If it weren’t for Barack Obama, it would have been a very good year. ...I thought Daniel Day-Lewis had the best performance of the year."
The "Juno" writer (and ex-stripper) just won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
She gave a cute shout-out to the movie's star, Ellen Page.
(Yay, "Juno"!)
- Korin
Seriously.
We'll buy what he's selling.
- Korin
Does everyone in America know that "Juno" writer Diablo Cody was once a stripper? I had no clue.
Turns out the ex-stripper's real name is Brooke Busy-Hunt.
If everyone already knows that, too, well, then ... shoot.
- Korin
Heath Ledger briefly appeared at the end of the traditional Academy Awards tribute to notable actors who died during the year.
What do you think? Was it a fitting tribute to him? Should he have been mentioned at all?
- Korin
Patrick Dempsey just gave away the ending to "Enchanted."
Darnnit, McDreamy!
Dempsey introduced yet another performance of a song from the fairy tale, explaining that the tune appears in the flick when Princess Giselle falls in love with a man and becomes a real person herself.
Well, shoot. Time to take that movie off Netflix.
- Korin
Nicole Kidman jazzed up a plain black dress with a sparkling, multi-layered diamond necklace. Diamonds really are a girl's best friend, huh?
(Has anyone else noticed something about Nicole that seems to have grown lately (besides her baby bump)?)
- Korin
The Oscars are scheduled for three hours - and usually last at least a half hour longer.
Even members of the Academy complain about the length. But, well, all of those video montages and Best Song performances suck up at least five minutes each time. And "Enchanted" has three out of five nominations in the Best Song category this year.
All those in favor of cutting that segment out next year ...?
- Korin
Marion Cotillard was literally shaking as she left the stage after winning the Oscar for Best Actress.
And how 'bout that speech? "Thank you life. Thank you love! It's true there are some angels in this city," she said.
It's nice to see a heartfelt Oscar speech again. We haven't had one of those in a while.
(Ellen Page looked like she knew she didn't have a shot in heck, by the way.)
- Korin
(Javier Bardem smooches his mom, Pilar)
Javier Bardem had a special message in Spanish for his mom/Oscar date when he won for Best Supporting Actor.
According to ABC News, this is the translation:
"Mama, this is for you. This is for your grandparents and your parents, Rafael and Matilde. This is for the comedians of Spain who like you have brought dignity and pride to our profession. This is for Spain and this is for all of you."
- Korin
Ooh - Jon Stewart might be in trou-ble with famous mamas-to-be.
The Oscar host pointed out that show attendees Jessica Alba and Cate Blanchett are both with child, adding, "Obviously, the night is still young. Jack is here so perhaps, sir, we will tally at the end of the night. The compulsories are open."
After the commercial break Stewart correct himself, noting presenter Nicole Kidman is also pregnant. The mamas faces were flashed onscreen (Jessica Alba looked pretty darn embarrassed) and Stewart announced, "And the baby goes to ... Angelina Jolie!"
Was that the sound of a pin dropping we heard?
- Korin
Best Supporting Actress winner Tilda Swinton poked fun at George Clooney during her acceptance speech. Ha!
Swinton suggested her "Michael Clayton" co-star climbed into his old school "Batman" suit before work every day, after profusedly thanking her agent and director. Clooney didn't look very amused.
Someone in Hollywood teased George Clooney?! Well ... she's British.
- Korin
Jerry Seinfeld knew who won Best Animated Short before any of us.
The comedian voiced the presentation of the award via his "Bee Movie" character Barry B. Benson.
We can live with that.
- Korin
Owen Wilson presented the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. Surprisingly, he didn't get as much applause as we would have thought.
The "Drillbit Taylor" star, who tried to commit suicide last year, kept things short and, well, humorless. He skipped the red carpet on the way in, too.
Welcome back, Owen!
- Korin
The youngest performer ever to grace the stage at the Academy Awards just sang her heart out.
Jamia Simone Nash, 11, sang "Raise It Up" from "August Rush" with the IMPACT Repertory Theatre of Harlem.
So cute!
- Korin
Jennifer Hudson hasn't spent much time in the limelight since her Oscar win last year. And the "Dreamgirls" star looks phenomenal in her white dress. (See that, Andre Leon Talley?)
By the way, we'll see Hudson next on the big screen playing ... Carrie Bradshaw's assistant in the "Sex and the City" movie.
How fitting for an Academy Award winner.
- Korin
We're willing to bet Amy Adams wasn't exactly thrilled to sing "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" in front of an audience packed with Hollywood elite and, you know, Academy Award winners.
Cheese-y.
Bet the kiddies at home loved it!
- Korin
Could the Academy only find three nominees for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Makeup? Apparently so.
The nominees for Best Animatied Feature Film:
"Persepolis"
"Surf's Up"
"Ratatouille"
Makeup:
"La Vie en Rose"
"Norbit"
"Pirates of the Carribbean: At World's End"
And poor "Ratatouille" director Brad Bird was cut off during his acceptance speech after only a minute.
You know you're watching a Hollywood production when ...
Celine Dion's "Titanic" song is playing during the "80 years of Oscar" retrospective.
Is that necessary?
- Korin
(Jon Stewart)
Looks like Jon Stewart might actually redeem himself with Hollywood, following last year's disastrous Oscar hosting gig. Disastrous to those in Tinseltown, mind you.
Celebs sat on their hands last year as Stewart poked fun at their lifestyle. This time around, they actually giggled and even (gasp!) clapped.
Maybe they got a sense of humor in their goodie bags?
- Korin
(Javier Bardem)
Attention Regis Philbin: Javier Bardem's first name is pronounced "Hav-e-ehr," not "Xavier."
Big no-no, buddy.
Philbin made the faux pas just before the ceremony got underway.
Check out photos of all the Oscars red carpet fashion hits and misses by clicking here
- Korin
(George Clooney)
You're welcome.
"There Will Be Blood" star Daniel Day-Lewis with his wife, Rebecca Miller.
Yikes.
- Korin
Colin Farrell brought his mom to the Oscars. Viggo Mortenson brought his niece.
The ladies will love it!
- Korin
So ... Casey Affleck and Jennifer Garner are both at the Oscars.
Where the heck is Ben Affleck?
- Korin
Jessica Alba is finally showing.
"The Eye" star is expecting her first child with fiance Cash Warren.
- Korin
Gary Busey managed to scare the heck out of Ryan Seacrest and Jennifer Garner in less than a minute. Impressive!
Busey wrapped Garner in a hug while she chatted with Seacrest, and then did the same to the E! host mere seconds later.
Garner gives props for her graces under random hugging.
- Korin
(Left to right: Miley Cyrus, Saoirse Ronan)
Three cheers for age-appropriate style!
"Atonement" star Saoirse Ronan and "Hannah Montana" actress Miley Cyrus both are wearing modest gowns - perfect for the teen girls that they are.
Miley's in Valentino; Saoirse in Alberta Ferretti.
- Korin
(Left to right: Kristin Chenoweth, Michelle Williams)
Kristin Chenoweth's gown looks awfully familiar. Ah, yes. Her dress' twist at the hips also popped up on Michelle William's 2006 yellow Oscar gown by Vera Wang.
Hmm...
- Korin
Anne Hathaway looks stunning in a red, Grecian-style Marchesa gown. Looks like the "Get Smart" star is trying to make up for last year's scary Valentino dress.
Thoughts on the train of roses up her shoulder?
- Korin
(Heidi Klum)
Our money's on Heidi Klum for the red carpet's quote of the night.
"Who are you looking forward to seeing?" Ryan Seacrest asked the "Project Runway" host.
"Um ... nobody," came the reply.
- Korin
(Katherine Heigl)
Giuliana Rancic just threw a lovely backhanded compliment in Katherine Heigl's direction.
"You know what I love about her?" the E! host said to Kimora Lee Simmons. "She's not a size zero."
"Neither am I," Simmons said.
Neither is most of America, Giuliana.
- Korin
Lisa Rinna hit the red carpet waaay before anyone else arrived.
Um ... why's she so early?! Furthermore, what's she doing at the Oscars?
Regardless, she looks fantastic. Way less plastic-y than usual.
- Korin
(One of the few "hilarious" moments from “Titantic.")
Going into the Oscars tonight there’s a lot of buzz about the possibility of comedy/drama “Juno” taking the award for Best Picture.
Now how funny “Juno” is debatable, but what isn’t is the fact that comedies rarely take the Best Picture award.
Since 1970, only a couple of comedies took the Oscar:
"Shakespeare in Love" (1998)
"Annie Hall" (1977)
"The Sting" (1973)
But for up-and-coming screenwriters out there, the key to winning Best Picture is this: Be as depressing as humanely possible.
For example:
"Million Dollar Baby" (2004)
Watching this will stun you and drain your will to live for at least 24 hours.
"American Beauty" (1999)
Its delightful “happy” ending is as easy to bear as a paper cut — make that 10 paper cuts.
"Titanic" (1997)
Would be less sad if Rose would have let Jack lay on that piece of wood for a little while in the freezing ocean. Oh, well, she could have saved his life if she wasn’t so selfish.
"Braveheart" (1995)
Nothing like watching a guy get tortured for, like, 10 minutes.
"Schindler’s List" (1993)
No comment required.
"Terms of Endearment" (1983)
A movie made for the Lifetime channel.
"The Deer Hunter" (1978)
Who knew a game of Russian Roulette could end so tragically?
— Pete Catapano
(Editor's note: The opinions of Pete Catapano are not necessarily shared by the entire amNewYork staff.)
The Oscars have arrived! Academy Award statues were escorted into Kodak Theatre this morning by students from Inter-City Filmmakers.
Note: The kids are all wearing gloves. 'Cause, you know, the Hollywood elite isn't down with fingerprints.
— Korin
Starting now, Digital Popcorn is all Oscars, all day (and night).
Keep tuning in to check out the latest happenings on the red carpet and onstage.
Got opinions? Let's hear 'em!
— Korin
(Ellen Page and Michael Cera in "Juno")
'Juno' seems to be the little movie that could.
Oscar watchers are predicting a solid hunk of TV viewers will turn into this year's awards show to see if the indie film's star, Ellen Page, will take home a gold statue for Best Actress.
According to Variety, U.S. viewership of the Academy Awards fluctuates each year depending on the films in contention — and their corresponding star power. With serious flicks like "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" grabbing multiple noms, "Juno" is the only widely-viewed, crowd-pleaser in the bunch.
The Academy is trying to makeup for its lack of star wattage in nominees by rolling out big presenters (Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney). But really — who watches a show for its presenters?
... Which brings us back to the noms. Everyone loves an underdog and Ellen Page is it. If she has a shot in hell, people will tune in.
What do you think? Should Ellen win the Best Actress award?
— Korin
