# Last night's Oscars: how did the wrong envelope get opened for best pic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2017, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942 "2017-02-27T12:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/1 "2017-02-27T12:52:47Z")
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were reportedly handed the wrong envelope to open for the best picture award; [they had been given the “best actress” envelope,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/89th_Academy_Awards#Best_Picture_announcement) listing Emma Stone and “La La Land,” when the actual winner was “Moonlight.” But [“best picture” was the last award to be given for the evening.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/89th_Academy_Awards#Best_Picture_announcement) So how was there more than one envelope left to choose from? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/2 "2017-02-27T13:02:30Z")
On the main Oscars 2017 thread, it is cited that there are TWO sets backstage - a main one and a backup. So the question is: why was the backup accessed when the main stack was being used? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/3 "2017-02-27T13:02:31Z")
There are two PwC accountants, each on one side of the stage, each with a complete set of envelopes. Somehow, the second Best Actress envelope was given to Warren Beatty. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/4 "2017-02-27T13:43:29Z")
By the way, if it seemed like a clusterfuck last night, that’s because it was. > [@](#): > > Incidentally, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz spoke with the Huffington Post about this exact (then-hypothetical) situation a few days before the Oscars. They said there was no exact procedure because such a mistake had never occurred in the Academy Awards’ 89-year history. > > “We would make sure that the correct person was known very quickly,” Cullinan told HuffPost. “Whether that entails stopping the show, us walking onstage, us signaling to the stage manager — that’s really a game-time decision, if something like that were to happen. Again, it’s so unlikely.” > **[Close-up of Warren Beatty's Hand Shows He Got the Wrong Best Picture Card](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/closeup-of-warren-beattys-hand-shows-he-got-the-wrong-best-picture-card-w469194/)** > > Close-up photos of Warren Beatty's hand appear to show he got the wrong envelope prior to the 'La La Land'-'Moonlight' Best Picture mix-up — read more theories about the shocking blunder So, how’s that “We don’t have a contingency plan because we never fucked up before” working out for you, Brian? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/5 "2017-02-27T15:47:21Z")
I blame Bender. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/6 "2017-02-27T16:13:07Z")
As I said in the other thread, I blame Mr. Peanutbutter. [[Obscure reference]](https://twitter.com/BoJackHorseman/status/836082284348366849) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/7 "2017-02-27T16:16:35Z")
In deference to aging stars, too vain to wear their glasses, inside the printing is quite large for them to read. However, on the outside of the envelope that Warren was handed, somewhere in smaller, discreet writing it WAS labelled at Best Actress. He either didn’t even glance at what envelope he had, or without his glasses could not read it. But at least he knew something was amiss when he opened it, and just stared at it. His copresenter then read out the wrong name, as a result. He knew something was wrong, so I think this is really her fault!😃 (This is my best guess at what really went down! But who really cares? It was entertaining anyway! And it all got sorted!) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/8 "2017-02-27T16:43:09Z")
Sadly, my faith in Price Waterhouse Cooper has been shattered. Permanently, I fear. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/9 "2017-02-27T16:49:58Z")
Don’t they keep the envelopes in a sealed mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnell’s porch? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/10 "2017-02-27T17:21:01Z")
Methinks a couple of CPAs should be polishing up the old resume… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/11 "2017-02-27T17:24:15Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Methinks a couple of CPAs should be polishing up the old resume… Or at least making sure it doesn’t say “Emma Stone”. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/12 "2017-02-27T17:28:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Or at least making sure it doesn’t say “Emma Stone”. In a future interview for a job: “I am stoned… I mean, I \*was \*stoned when that happened!” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/13 "2017-02-27T19:26:37Z")
**The Ballad of Warren and Faye** You’ve read of the Oscar of Marisa Tomei Of all the mean things implied If you’re still in need of something to read Here’s the story of Bonnie and Clyde. Now Bonnie and Clyde are Warren and Faye, I’m sure you all have read How they read the wrong winner on Oscar day, And now they both wish they were dead. There’s lots of untruths to these write-ups PricewaterhouseCooper screwed up— They all felt it right, with Oscars So White, That La La Land was runner-up. The blogs call them senile morons, They say the misfire was their fault, But soon we will learn, that some unpaid intern, Just was not worth his or her salt. They announced La La Land, which was pleasant and bland, When everyone wanted Moonlight. But Faye jumped the gun, said, “hand it here, hon,” While Warren just froze with stage fright. The Klieg lights get brighter and brighter Sometimes you can hardly see When Faye saw “Emma Stone,” she should have known It wasn’t what it oughta be. Such heartbreak poor Horowitz suffered When they snatched his award right away, But all in all, his troubles are small Compared to poor Warren and Faye. In the ‘60s they costarred together But all we can talk of today: La La Land came to grief, for Moonlight it’s relief, But it’s death for Warren and Faye. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/14 "2017-03-01T04:40:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There are two PwC accountants, each on one side of the stage, each with a complete set of envelopes. Somehow, the second Best Actress envelope was given to Warren Beatty. It sounds like the guy was tweeting, and presumably was distracted by that, and so handed off the wrong envelope. [The Best Picture Debacle May Have Been Caused By A Tweet About Emma Stone](http://uproxx.com/movies/oscars-best-picture-emma-stone-tweet/) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/15 "2017-03-01T14:15:12Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > **The Ballad of Warren and Faye** > > You’ve read of the Oscar of Marisa Tomei > Of all the mean things implied > If you’re still in need of something to read. BRAVO! I read it in the original voice, but for those who may not know, that’s a take-off of a poem the real Bonnie Parker (played by Faye Dunaway) wrote while she was on the lam with Clyde Barrow (played, of course, by Warren Beatty). Here’s the original. I’m asuming it’s in Public Domain. > [@](#): > > You’ve read the story of Jesse James > of how he lived and died. > If you’re still in need; > of something to read, > here’s the story of Bonnie and Clyde. > > Now Bonnie and Clyde are the Barrow gang > I’m sure you all have read. > how they rob and steal; > and those who squeal, > are usually found dying or dead. > > There’s lots of untruths to these write-ups; > they’re not as ruthless as that. > their nature is raw; > they hate all the law, > the stool pigeons, spotters and rats. > > They call them cold-blooded killers > they say they are heartless and mean. > But I say this with pride > that I once knew Clyde, > when he was honest and upright and clean. > > But the law fooled around; > kept taking him down, > and locking him up in a cell. > Till he said to me; > “I’ll never be free, > so I’ll meet a few of them in hell” > > The road was so dimly lighted > there were no highway signs to guide. > But they made up their minds; > if all roads were blind, > they wouldn’t give up till they died. > > The road gets dimmer and dimmer > sometimes you can hardly see. > But it’s fight man to man > and do all you can, > for they know they can never be free. > > From heart-break some people have suffered > from weariness some people have died. > But take it all in all; > our troubles are small, > till we get like Bonnie and Clyde. > > If a policeman is killed in Dallas > and they have no clue or guide. > If they can’t find a fiend, > they just wipe their slate clean > and hang it on Bonnie and Clyde. > > There’s two crimes committed in America > not accredited to the Barrow mob. > They had no hand; > in the kidnap demand, > nor the Kansas City Depot job. > > A newsboy once said to his buddy; > “I wish old Clyde would get jumped. > In these awfull hard times; > we’d make a few dimes, > if five or six cops would get bumped” > > The police haven’t got the report yet > but Clyde called me up today. > He said,“Don’t start any fights; > we aren’t working nights, > we’re joining the NRA.” > > From Irving to West Dallas viaduct > is known as the Great Divide. > Where the women are kin; > and the men are men, > and they won’t “stool” on Bonnie and Clyde. > > If they try to act like citizens > and rent them a nice little flat. > About the third night; > they’re invited to fight, > by a sub-gun’s rat-tat-tat. > > They don’t think they’re too smart or desperate > they know that the law always wins. > They’ve been shot at before; > but they do not ignore, > that death is the wages of sin. > > Some day they’ll go down together > they’ll bury them side by side. > To few it’ll be grief, > to the law a relief > but it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/16 "2017-03-01T23:36:39Z")
It probably didn’t help that the PwC guy was handing the wrong envelope to a couple of people who, at 75 or 80, are too vain to put on their reading glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/17 "2017-03-01T23:52:41Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > By the way, if it seemed like a clusterfuck last night, that’s because it was. > > > [@](#): > > > > Incidentally, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz spoke with the Huffington Post about this exact (then-hypothetical) situation a few days before the Oscars. They said there was no exact procedure because such a mistake had never occurred in the Academy Awards’ 89-year history. > > > > “We would make sure that the correct person was known very quickly,” Cullinan told HuffPost. “Whether that entails stopping the show, us walking onstage, us signaling to the stage manager — that’s really a game-time decision, if something like that were to happen. Again, it’s so unlikely.” > > [Close-up of Warren Beatty's Hand Shows He Got the Wrong Best Picture Card | Us Weekly](http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/closeup-of-warren-beattys-hand-shows-he-got-the-wrong-best-picture-card-w469194) > > So, how’s that “We don’t have a contingency plan because we never fucked up before” working out for you, Brian? I’ve been assuming Brian was just a screw-up. But given those remarks, made a few days earlier…is there any possibility that Brian will be collecting a large pay-out on a bet? It would have to be through an intermediary, of course: who would take a bet from the guy with the power to make the unlikely eventuality (wrong winner announced; Brian appearing onstage) come true? I’m just saying, I hope interested parties keep an eye on ol’ Brian’s spending habits from here on out. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-nights-oscars-how-did-the-wrong-envelope-get-opened-for-best-pic/780942/18 "2017-03-02T00:28:42Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I’m just saying, I hope interested parties keep an eye on ol’ Brian’s spending habits from here on out. Brian’s a partner at PWC. I suspect the Oscars gig is a perk rather than scut-work, so I doubt he needs to place a shonky bet to buy a new Ferrari.