# The 81st Annual Academy Awards **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977 "2009-02-22T21:12:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/1 "2009-02-22T21:12:11Z")
I didn’t see another thread on this yet, so does that mean I get to start the watch-along this year? Perhaps I will be lonely here, given the general lack of enthusiasm for the nominees this year. [The nominees are…](http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=nominees) I don’t get E! so I can’t watch the “real” red carpet show. Any recommendations for the best basic-cable option? It has to be one of the major networks, PBS, CSPAN or the TV Guide channel (or NY1). I would love it if CSPAN had a red carpet show - no annoying commentators, just a parade of dresses - add your own snark! Anyone else watching? Rooting for anyone in particular? Can’t wait to see someone’s outfit? How are your snacks? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/2 "2009-02-22T21:36:53Z")
And join the Doper Oscar Pool if you haven’t done so! You have 3 1/2 hours to put your picks in! It’s at the following link: [Doper Oscar Pool](http://www.funofficepools.com/) Group is Dopers Password is cecil Last chance! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/3 "2009-02-22T23:03:53Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > I didn’t see another thread on this yet, so does that mean I get to start the watch-along this year? Perhaps I will be lonely here, given the general lack of enthusiasm for the nominees this year. > > [The nominees are…](http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=nominees) > > I don’t get E! so I can’t watch the “real” red carpet show. Any recommendations for the best basic-cable option? It has to be one of the major networks, PBS, CSPAN or the TV Guide channel (or NY1). I would love it if CSPAN had a red carpet show - no annoying commentators, just a parade of dresses - add your own snark! > > Anyone else watching? Rooting for anyone in particular? Can’t wait to see someone’s outfit? How are your snacks? I’m watching, and rooting for Kate Winslet who gave a great performance in _The Reader_. Probably not the greatest she’s done, but she’s quite due for an Oscar. My wife and I will be talking on the phone to each other while watching the ceremony. Since we’re separated (no, not that kind of separated, our lives are in a bit of a transition with my new job in San Antonio and her still being in Knoxville, selling the house) we’re charging up the cell phones as we speak. It’s an annual tradition that she fall asleep around 10:30, only to be cross at me when I wake her up (at her request) when the B. Picture is awarded. 🙂 ---
**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 22, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/4 "2009-02-22T23:07:56Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > I didn’t see another thread on this yet, so does that mean I get to start the watch-along this year? Perhaps I will be lonely here, given the general lack of enthusiasm for the nominees this year. I have enthusiasm for the _nominees_, just not for the show itself. Even though my favorite film of the year (The Fall) was totally ignored, my 2nd favorite, Milk, is right up there in the mix. I love Slumdog Millionaire, I’m thrilled for Melissa Leo and Richard Jenkins and plenty of others. The only thing that ruins the Oscars for me before they even start is knowing how horrible Bill Condon is going to fuck things up. This will be one for the ages, trumping Rob Lowe and Snow White, finally. We already know that he’s screwing over the song nominations, choosing to have dorky, stupid and awkward production numbers of songs that don’t have anything to do with the nominated films, while treating the vibrant, exciting and interesting actual nominated songs like bastard black sheep 3rd cousins twice removed, truncating them into meaninglessness. Oh dear lord in heaven I loathe and despise Bill Condon, jealous dickhead. He got all 3 songs from his film Dreamgirls performed in their entierty, then plays god to not have better and more interesting songs played except as a short, frustrating medley. And to diss Peter Gabriel, a beloved and highly-respected artist, to the point where he boycotts performing, that takes a special kind of dickheadishness. I’ve heard rumors of other things Condon is going to do that made my eyes bug out, but I’m not going to share them because they’re too horrible for words and maybe they were wrong. It’s gonna be a cringe-fest though. Of course I’ll watch. I always watch, because I love the movies. We’ll be watching in high def in our home theater, so I won’t be participating here during the show. And at least I’ll finally get to see Kate Winslet win her Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/5 "2009-02-22T23:50:56Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > The only thing that ruins the Oscars for me before they even start is knowing how horrible Bill Condon is going to fuck things up. This will be one for the ages, trumping Rob Lowe and Snow White, finally. We already know that he’s screwing over the song nominations, choosing to have dorky, stupid and awkward production numbers of songs that don’t have anything to do with the nominated films, while treating the vibrant, exciting and interesting actual nominated songs like bastard black sheep 3rd cousins twice removed, truncating them into meaninglessness. Oh dear lord in heaven I loathe and despise Bill Condon, jealous dickhead. He got all 3 songs from his film Dreamgirls performed in their entierty, then plays god to not have better and more interesting songs played except as a short, frustrating medley. And to diss Peter Gabriel, a beloved and highly-respected artist, to the point where he boycotts performing, that takes a special kind of dickheadishness. I’ve heard rumors of other things Condon is going to do that made my eyes bug out, but I’m not going to share them because they’re too horrible for words and maybe they were wrong. It’s gonna be a cringe-fest though. I suspect I’ve read many of the things you have, but I’m going to reserve judgement until it all plays out. While it is a bummer that they won’t play out the Song nominees in their entirety (there are only 3, after all!), I don’t think it’s going to be nearly as bad as you make it out (honestly, that Rob Lowe/Snow White business will never be matched). Condon has some interesting ideas and while it may sound dubious on paper, it’s all in the execution. And anyway, what’s an Oscar night without something to dish about, eh? Clock’s ticking… ---
**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 22, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/6 "2009-02-22T23:57:32Z")
One of my favorite moments from past award ceremonies was when the director Stanley Donen received an Honorary Oscar a few years ago, and gave a really classy speech. Fortunately, it’s one of the videos that the AMPAS uploaded to YouTube (they even have their channel). If you’re bored, I recommend watching it. [Here is a link to it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMC8kHycgwM) There are some others, but not as many as I’d like. (For example, I saw an article complimenting Emma Thompson’s acceptance speech, but I couldn’t find a clip of it.) ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/7 "2009-02-23T00:46:51Z")
We were making/eating dinner for the red carpet and we’re now sitting down to the rest of Barbara Walters’ special. I love Barbara’s description of Wolverine in her introduction of Hugh Jackman: “A sort of moody Elvis with cutlery” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/8 "2009-02-23T01:01:31Z")
I’m somewhat interested in the awards, being interested in the film biz and all, but I just turned on the TV and caught a few minutes of the “red carpet pre-show” and it made me want to hurl. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/9 "2009-02-23T01:05:56Z")
Red Carpet begins on ABC! Love Kate Winslet, love the dress, hate her hair. Amy Adam’s dress looks like it could stand up without her. I hate it when they build a boob-shelf in a dress that the woman doesn’t fill properly. Actually I liked the dress but the poorly-fitting boobage bothers me. Ooo, I don’t even have HD and Sarah Jessica Parker is looking old. Taraji P. Henson - my favorite so far. Such a pretty balance of elegance and glam. ---
**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 23, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/10 "2009-02-23T01:15:46Z")
I just saw Danny Boyle with some of the cast from Slumdog Millionaire, and I was amused at how excited Dev Patel was to be there. It was much nicer than the blase attitude of some others. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/11 "2009-02-23T01:26:24Z")
How interesting that Miley Cyrus is willing to come back to the Oscars next year to pick up an award. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/12 "2009-02-23T01:31:54Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > Amy Adam’s dress looks like it could stand up without her. I hate it when they build a boob-shelf in a dress that the woman doesn’t fill properly. Actually I liked the dress but the poorly-fitting boobage bothers me. I thought the same thing. Couldn’t she put something under her boobs to lift them up so there’s no gap between her body and the dress? I’d be worried that something would fall down the front – there’s such a gap. But she looked gorgeous, and the dress is a stunner. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/13 "2009-02-23T01:32:52Z")
The show begins! Every other year: song-and-dance montage by a comedian. This year: monologue by a song-and-dance man. Hm. ETA: ah, so it begins. Love the pizza-box & glitter set. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/14 "2009-02-23T01:33:31Z")
Wolverine blows as a host. Why couldn’t they get Jon Stewart again? ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/15 "2009-02-23T01:37:24Z")
Very lounge lizard presentation, can work nicely. I admit I am laughing pretty hard at “I haven’t seen the reader”. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/16 "2009-02-23T01:38:25Z")
I want to have Hugh Jackman’s baby. Joe ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/17 "2009-02-23T01:41:11Z")
That opening bit was brilliant. I wouldn’t mind an entire low-budget Oscar show. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/18 "2009-02-23T01:41:37Z")
This is great so far. The opening number was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/19 "2009-02-23T01:41:59Z")
I thought Hugh Jackman was a good sport with that musical intro and concluding it with “I’m Wolverine!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977/20 "2009-02-23T01:43:24Z")
I wondered why they were re-repeating the actreses, and then I saw. Ooh! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-81st-annual-academy-awards/486977.md?page=2)