# The Oscar Telecast: Very Nice Indeed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717 "2003-03-24T05:17:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/81 "2003-03-25T14:17:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Equipoise \* > \*\*I’ve heard several stories about how people wouldn’t believe how shy Zellweger is. \*\* I saw her on Conan O’Brian a few weeks ago, and I was amazed at how she could barely hold her head up to talk to him when he’d kid her. She does seem genuinely (and extremely) shy, which makes her seem very sweet. Speaking of tweaked voices, what the hell was the deal with Mickey Mouse’s voice? That’s not a rough voice to imitate-I can do it pretty well myself-but whoever provide that voice surely didn’t study any cartoons at all. It didn’t sound _anything_ like Mickey Mouse! ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/82 "2003-03-25T14:21:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Equipoise \* > **My own theory, with nothing in print to back it up, is that she was nervous.** The Celebrity News section on the IMDB has this to say: > [@](#): > > Renee Zellweger backed out of performing at Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony - because of stage fright. The Best Actress-nominee was expected to join fellow nominee and Chicago co-star on stage at the Kodak Theater to sing a track from the Best Picture-winning film. But, according to gossip site Pagesix, Zellweger was too nervous. A source close to the actress tells the site, “She’s an actress, not a performer. Uncomfortable singing in front of people. Her not singing was deliberately withheld until after the nominations because no one wanted problems for Renée.” ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/83 "2003-03-25T14:38:08Z")
> [@](#): > > The fact that she isn’t a professional singer (but can carry a tune) is key to her character in Chicago. She dreams of being Velma Kelly and she knows she’s not as good. I’ve heard this theory put for by several people in defense of Renee’s purported lack of ability, and I disagree with it. Most of the numbers in which Roxie appears in “Chicago” of the ‘dream sequence’ variety. In her fantasy, she is the star and would be as talented, if not more, than Velma. I think my theory is borne out near the end, where she is weakly auditioning, dismissed by the producers, and then encounters Velma on her way out. That’s ‘real’ singing, as opposed to how she imagines herself onstage. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/84 "2003-03-25T14:49:15Z")
The things I found most amazing about the show are (in no particular order): 1. It only lasted 3 1/2 hours! 2. There were no HIDEOUS dresses. Everyone looked swell! (Except for the Costume Design winner in the red satin and black cobweb number. However, since nobody knows who she is, it doesn’t count.) Leaves for nothing to dish about on Monday. 3. Surprise winners (Brody, Polanski, Eminem’s song) 4. How wonderful Steve Martin is. The things that bugged me about the show (again in no particular order): 1. The 75th Oscar Anniversary Star Lineup stars couldn’t shut up back stage! Their muzz-muzzing was picked up by on-stage microphones and was very, very annoying! 2. Michael Moore. Shut up, Michael. We all know what you think and most of us don’t care. 3. The bumps to breaks that were iso shots of the acting winners. It looked like a mistake. Very perplexing. 4. Jennifer Connelly and Salma Hayek looking like they weren’t having any fun at all. 5. How old Paul Simon looks. 6. The fact that “Ice Age” didn’t win the animation award! ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/85 "2003-03-25T15:09:20Z")
How many of the presenters were not Oscar winners, or even nominated? There seemed to be alot of presenters who were in the business, but not Award Winning. Jennifer Lopez, Harrison Ford, Jennifer Garner probably others that I remember. What happened to the last year’s winners give the statue to this years winners?, “passing the torch” I am talking about Ron Howard - Best Director, Brian Grazer - Best Picture and Jim Broadbent - Best Supporting Actor. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/86 "2003-03-25T15:52:57Z")
Passing the torch was observed in the Best Actor categories–Denzel Washington presented Actress, Halle Berry Actor. I don’t think there’s ever been a tradition about who presents Director and Picture. Supporting categories…I’m not so sure if there was a tradition or not. If there was, it wasn’t observed. ---
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/87 "2003-03-25T16:42:19Z")
Except the cross-passing of the acting categories, I don’t think passing the torch has ever been a tradition. The trouble with having last year’s best director present this year’s best director award is the likelihood that last year’s best director is nominated again. With the acting categories divided be gender, and the passing on done across gender that’s not an issue there so they do it, but where else would it work? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/88 "2003-03-25T17:03:03Z")
Broadbent was probably invited but didn’t come for whatever reasons (travel these days may be a concern for some); Connelly presented Supporting Actor. > [@](#): > > 1. The fact that “Ice Age” didn’t win the animation award! Man-oh-man am I glad this didn’t happen. _Spirited Away_ was not only a far superior movie, it was leagues ahead of its competition. This category is already somewhat of a joke–the last thing they needed was a second-rate CG pick beat the winner of the entire Berlin Int’l Film Festival by one of the most important animators in cinema history. ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/89 "2003-03-25T17:41:21Z")
Did Eminem perform **Lose Yourself**? I thought I’d stuck by the TV all the way up through the Best Song award, and I’d only seen 4 of the songs performed when they announced it. Did I miss it, or did he choose not to perform it for some reason? I know that someone else accepted the award on Eminem’s behalf. It was all very weird. ---
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/90 "2003-03-25T17:44:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jadis \* > \*\*Did Eminem perform **Lose Yourself**? I \*\* No, he didn’t. He wasn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/91 "2003-03-25T19:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > \*\*Broadbent was probably invited but didn’t come for whatever reasons (travel these days may be a concern for some); Connelly presented Supporting Actor. \*\* Supporting _Actress_. I believe Marcia Gay-Harden rightfully presented the B. Supp. Actor award, given the cross-gender presentation. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/92 "2003-03-25T20:12:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > **Broadbent was probably invited but didn’t come for whatever reasons (travel these days may be a concern for some)** This article, [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030303/film\_nm/film\_days\_dc\_4](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030303/film_nm/film_days_dc_4) says that shooting for the remake of _Around the World in 80 Days_ was scheduled to start on March 15. Given that Broadbent is playing a leading role and “the filmmakers hope to cover more single locations than any other picture,” it may have been difficult for him to get away. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/93 "2003-03-25T20:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by singular1 \* > \*\*Speaking of tweaked voices, what the hell was the deal with Mickey Mouse’s voice? That’s not a rough voice to imitate-I can do it pretty well myself-but whoever provide that voice surely didn’t study any cartoons at all. It didn’t sound _anything_ like Mickey Mouse! \*\* Keep in mind the original Mickey Mouse (Walt Disney) has been dead for years, and the Mickey sound has evolved over the years. I don’t know what the current Mickey (who’s married to the current Minnie!) bases his sound on, but it’s quite difficult. I know over at Warners, there are many voices for the characters since Mel Blanc sounded different over the years, so I imagine the same thing happens over at Disney. “One, two, three, four…_five_ toes?” [sub](Or, for you _Daily Show_ fans: “I oppose the facist president Bush and all big businessmen-and that goes for you too, Eisner. Wait! Don’t cut me off! I’ll make a wish upon your ass!”[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/94 "2003-03-25T20:32:49Z")
Not Connery, **Connelly** , as in Jennifer–last year’s winner. I thought Harden (winner 2 years ago) presented something else. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/95 "2003-03-25T20:47:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Intaglio_**Catherine Z-J sings really well also, she also blew me away in the movie and live. Looks like i’m going to have to > get the Chicago Sound Track now to her these two girls sing. Maybe CZJ - will parlay into a singing career as well > as movie career.** Catherine Zeta-Jones also had a brief flirtation with pop stardom in the early 1990s, releasing an album in the UK. Renee Zellweger didn’t sing in Empire Records, did she? ---
**Author:** ![HazyBaby33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HazyBaby33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazyBaby33)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/96 "2003-03-25T21:00:00Z")
Okay, this isn’t really about the actual Oscars procedure or anything, but am I the only one who thought that LOTR: The Two Towers got severely screwed over on nominations and actual awards? I mean, Peter Jackson should have been nominated for best director, and they should have also been nominated for the make-up design… And I think that it should have gotten Best Picture over Chicago, but that’s just me…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/97 "2003-03-25T21:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by watsonwil \* > \*\*Supporting _Actress_. > > I believe Marcia Gay-Harden rightfully presented the B. Supp. Actor award, given the cross-gender presentation. \*\* No. Sean Connery presented the award for supporting actress and Connely for supporting actor. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/98 "2003-03-25T22:08:23Z")
**HazyBaby** –Trying to remain objective (ie, removing my Tolkien-geek goggles), but yeah, LOTR:TT got hosed. How could the same people who _won_ for cinematography and score last year not have been even _nominated_ this year…for the same work??? And makeup—jeez, they could only find two nominees; couldn’t they at least have used LOTR:TT to fill out the field? :deep breath: A year from now, all shall be made aright. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/99 "2003-03-25T22:51:51Z")
I’m very surprised that LOTR:TTT didn’t win Art Direction–I’ve not seen Chicago, but I do know that Peter Jackson’s crew had to _build_ Helm’s Deep–as in build _into_ the mountain. How does that even compare with the decor of Chicago. Please don’t tell me to see Chicago–I saw the clip of the puppet scene, and I was scared sh\*tless for about a half hour. ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717/100 "2003-03-25T22:52:59Z")
Hate to double post but I caught the tail end of **jsc1953** ’s post. I, too, think the Academy is waiting for ROTK to honor the LOTR “trilogy.” Can’t wait. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oscar-telecast-very-nice-indeed/163717.md?page=6)