Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Oscars telecast producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark sat down with Susan Wloszczyna of USA Today for a must-read interview. In the course of their conversation, the neophyte Oscarcast producers promise that they're "tossing aside tradition in favor of surprise." Among the revelations recapped by Susan: "There also won't be the same old opening monologue, endless movie clips, an abundance of canned segments, silly prefab presenter banter and embarrassing interruptions of impassioned speeches." As Mark explains, "The only thing you must do is give all the awards out live onstage. You have to respect that. But there are many ways to do that, mind you."
As Susan notes, perhaps the most controversial of their proposed changes — "that the identity of the awards presenters would be kept secret" — has meant "more than a few Oscar watchers questioned the move. Why not publicize who will appear? 'Do you actually think anyone tunes in to see someone present an award?' Mark says. 'They suddenly hear so-and-so is presenting, and young males will watch? Well, no.'" As Susan writes, "One switch: Instead of lining up last year's winners and stars with upcoming movies to tout, Condon and Mark are reaching out to those names associated with a 2008 movie. And there will be a few blasts from Hollywood's past, too."
This move means breaking with the decades-long tradition of the previous year's acting champs presenting the opposite-sex category the following year. Indeed, Walter Matthau referenced this tradition back in 1971 when he pinch-hit for George C. Scott, who had famously refused his Oscar the previous year for "Patton." Watch Matthau present an uncharacteristically subdued Jane Fonda with her first Oscar for "Klute" at the academy's YouTube channel.
And if Condon and Mark follow through with this plan, we won't see a moment like this when Halle Berry, 2001 best actress winner for "Monster's Ball," got a bigger surprise than Adrien Brody, star of "The Pianist," when she announced him as the winner of the 2002 best actor award.
But let's give these two the benefit of much doubt right now, eh? They are proven master showmen who are hatching lots of intriguing ideas, whipping up gripping suspense, trying new things and digging up old, proven chestnuts from Oscar ceremonies past that deserve to be tried again. Personally, I have a hunch — and much confidence — that we're about to behold one of the greatest Oscarcasts ever. Oh, hurry up, Feb. 22! (23 here in Manila).
Watch the Oscars Live, First & Exclusive on Velvet CH53
FEB 23, MONDAY
LIVE VIA SATELLITE
7-9am Evening at the Academy Awards: The Arrivals
9-9:30am Pre-Academy Awards 2009
9:30am-1pm The 81st Academy Awards
FEB 23, MONDAY
PRIMETIME TELECAST
6-8pm Evening at the Academy Awards: The Arrivals
8-8:30Pm Pre-Academy Awards 2009
8:30pm-12mn The 81st Academy Awards
FEB 24, TUESDAY
11am-1:30pm Evening at the Academy Awards: The Winners (delayed telecast)
FEB 28, SATURDAY
ENCORE TELECAST
3:30-5:30pm Evening at the Academy Awards: The Arrivals
5:30-6:00pm Pre-Academy Awards 2009
6-9:30pm The 81st Academy Awards
9:30pm-12mn Evening at the Academy Awards: The Winners
MAR 1, SUNDAY
9:30am-12nn Evening at the Academy Awards: The Winners
6:04 AM
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