# Oscar 5 second delay **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095 "2004-02-19T23:36:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![honkyhonky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@honkyhonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkyhonky)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/1 "2004-02-19T23:36:50Z")
What is our society coming to? The Oscars producers are talking about delaying the “live” presentation of the Academy Awards, however, ihmo that delay was fudged at the Grammy’s. Does this kind of thing bother anyone? Do you think that it is necessary to have a 5 second delay because of what went on at the Superbowl? I am curious about what you think… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/2 "2004-02-19T23:39:17Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society. . . . Actually, I moved this to Cafe Society five seconds ago. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/3 "2004-02-20T00:24:05Z")
They aren’t just talking about inserting a five-second delay, they are doing it. They don’t want Peter Jackson popping out a breast. I got that joke from _Entertainment Weekly_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/4 "2004-02-20T01:06:08Z")
A delay isn’t uncommon for a live event, with or without breast shots. However, the FCC has been coming down hard on language, as well. A five-second delay is sufficient to get rid of any offending language. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/5 "2004-02-20T01:09:18Z")
> [@honkyhonky](#): > > What is our society coming to? The Oscars producers are talking about delaying the “live” presentation of the Academy Awards, however, ihmo that delay was fudged at the Grammy’s. Does this kind of thing bother anyone? Do you think that it is necessary to have a 5 second delay because of what went on at the Superbowl? I am curious about what you think… This post has been… oh, wait. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/6 "2004-02-20T01:11:07Z")
I thought that was pretty much standard practice on most live shows. That way, no one will notice when someone says, “This is (…)ing amazing.” because apparently only deaf people can read lips and fill in the obvious verbal blank(s). Yeah, it is kind of (…)ed up, and I suppose the (…)hole censors feel it is necessary to protect the audience from the same bull(…) dialogue that is on every cable channel, and in most movies, but what the (…) are you going to do? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/7 "2004-02-20T01:17:50Z")
**DMark** , there’s something wrong with your post. I kept hearing pauses like the sound wasn’t working. ---
**Author:** ![honkyhonky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@honkyhonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkyhonky)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/8 "2004-02-20T17:20:42Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > **DMark** , there’s something wrong with your post. I kept hearing pauses like the sound wasn’t working. haha. that was funny. I am just worried that those who are doing the sensoring will sensor too much. these are our ACTORS and we are awarding them for what whey do best. What about practical jokes…by comedians?? Billy Crystal is hosting, after all. Why sensor entertainers? I think the ratings might go down if there is s 5-second delay on the Oscars. It was annoying during the Grammys… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/9 "2004-02-20T17:36:15Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > A delay isn’t uncommon for a live event, with or without breast shots. Yes, it is uncommon in American television. Sports events like football, basketball, and baseball have always been live with no delay. Likewise, _Saturday Night Live_ has always been live, except a delay was used when known foul-mouthed comedians Richard Pryor, Andrew Dice Clay, and Martin Lawrence hosted. And up to now, the Oscar, the Grammys, and the Emmys have always been live with no delay. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/10 "2004-02-20T18:14:45Z")
Maybe they should handle this like TV edits for movies… have someone who sounds vaguely like the original speaker insert words: Bono: “This is FUDGEin brilliant” Nichole Ritchie: “Do you have any idea how hard it is to get cowSPIT off of a purse?” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/11 "2004-02-20T18:50:51Z")
I won’t mind the delay, as long as they use it to bleep out **any** political commentary from **any** winner. This is an awards show, not a political forum…so shut your mouths and just say thank you. ---
**Author:** ![owlofcreamcheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@owlofcreamcheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlofcreamcheese)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/12 "2004-02-20T20:50:27Z")
I imagin its a chance to censor out any and all grapists… ---
**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:** [February 20, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/13 "2004-02-20T22:00:28Z")
> [@honkyhonky](#): > > What is our society coming to? The **Oscars producers** are talking about delaying the “live” presentation of the Academy Awards, however, ihmo that delay was fudged at the Grammy’s. Does this kind of thing bother anyone? Do you think that it is necessary to have a 5 second delay because of what went on at the Superbowl? I am curious about what you think… Just to be clear, the producers and the Academy have nothing to do with this. [They’re very much against it.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=638&ncid=762&e=1&u=/nm/20040211/en_nm/television_oscars_delay_dc) It’s ABC demanding the delay and the telecast is contractually bound to do what ABC wants. Frank Pierson, the president of the Academy, is furious. He’s, quite rightly, afraid of the attitudes of people like silenus (who would rather censor speech he doesn’t like than just not watch) > [@](#): > > Pierson wrote Academy members that “even a very brief tape delay introduces a form of censorship into a broadcast – not direct governmental control, but it means that a network representative is in effect guessing at what a government might tolerate, which can be even worse.” > > While he acknowledged that this year’s delay “would be aimed at individual words,” he warned that “once the principle of a delay has been accepted, though, how much broader a scope might be sought in subsequent years, and how long before not only words but ideas become subject to deletion?” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/14 "2004-02-20T22:15:05Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > He’s, quite rightly, afraid of the attitudes of people like silenus (who would rather censor speech he doesn’t like than just not watch) I object, sirrah, to this gross calumny! I am very much against censorship of any kind. But there is a time and a place for such speech, and to rail for or against some political ideology while accepting an award for work in film is impolite, to say the least. I would object to a speech in support of Dubya just as much as I would object to a speech excorating him. The Academy awards are not the place for politics, period. It is where people get recognized for their work in film, not their personal beliefs. Let’s keep it that way, shall we? ---
**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:** [February 20, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/15 "2004-02-20T22:24:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I object, sirrah, to this gross calumny! I am very much against censorship of any kind. But there is a time and a place for such speech, and to rail for or against some political ideology while accepting an award for work in film is impolite, to say the least. I would object to a speech in support of Dubya just as much as I would object to a speech excorating him. The Academy awards are not the place for politics, period. It is where people get recognized for their work in film, not their personal beliefs. Let’s keep it that way, shall we? I agree, but the difference is that if someone says something I don’t like I just roll my eyes and deal. You said you’d support a delay if they bleeped out political speech. That’s scary. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/16 "2004-02-20T22:59:25Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I object, sirrah, to this gross calumny! I am very much against censorship of any kind. But there is a time and a place for such speech, and to rail for or against some political ideology while accepting an award for work in film is impolite, to say the least. Since you have the good taste to quote Terry Pratchett in your .sig, **silenus,** I will simply ask you to go read _The Truth_ again (if you haven’t already). And then realize your position places you with the Vimes, and not the de Wordes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/17 "2004-02-20T23:35:49Z")
The older I get, the more Vimesian and the less DeWordeian I get. Sigh. I _used_ to be “an angry young man.” When did it all change? Yeah, **Equipoise,** sometimes what I say scares _me,_ too. I still think it’s impolite, however. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/18 "2004-02-20T23:51:41Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Frank Pierson, the president of the Academy, is furious. He’s, quite rightly, afraid of the attitudes of people like silenus (who would rather censor speech he doesn’t like than just not watch) I wonder what they’ll do next year. Obviously it’s a bit late this year for Frank to do much other than protest, but unless they have a multiyear gig with ABC, then if Pierson and the Academy are really that peeved about it, maybe they’ll put the ceremony on cable next year. 🙂 Okay, maybe not. They want the bigger audience that ABC theoretically would provide them. And, of course, if the Oscars were on HBO each winner would have a five-minute speech… ---
**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:** [February 21, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/19 "2004-02-21T02:54:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I still think it’s impolite, however. It can be. I know I’d rather see movie clips than hear political speechs. But then, I’d rather see movie clips (or hear political speech) than listen to Billy Crystal’s bad, stupid, insulting jokes. Political speeches rarely get out of hand. A few words about Tibet, Do the Right Thing, a flash of a peace sign, and president jokes here and there are hardly worth censoring. Michael Moore is an exception in that he went over the top, yet some people point to that as how out-of-control the Oscars are. Lordy. Btw, I agree with what Michael Moore said last year, but the way he said it made even some supporters cringe. He had a perfect opportunity and, IMO, blew it big time by his incoherent yelling. I was disappointed, but not by what he said. He had a right to say it though, in whatever way he chose. As Pierson has said in the past, it’s the winner’s time to do with as they please. They could recite the ABC’s forwards and backwards a few times if they wanted. They can do one-armed push-ups. They can just stand there and cry. My only beef with the Oscars telecast is they’ll spend so much time with Billy Crystal’s idiotic jokes (this year he’ll go on for about 20 minutes at the beginning of the show) and then they’ll rush the winners off the stage or make them look foolish by pleading for more time to speak. THE NIGHT BELONGS TO THE WINNERS, but you’d think they’re the least important part of it all. The Oscars always run late. ALWAYS. People should expect it and quit bitching about it. But you just know that Crystal will make some dumb jokes about the length when HE will take up more than his fair share. God I hate Billy Crystal hosting the Oscars. Bring back Steve Martin! He’s funny, quick and classy. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095/20 "2004-02-21T04:32:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I won’t mind the delay, as long as they use it to bleep out any political commentary from any winner. This is an awards show, not a political forum…so shut your mouths and just say thank you. I’m in complete agreeance with you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-5-second-delay/230095.md?page=2)