# The Unofficial Academy Awards Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206 "2005-02-28T00:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/221 "2005-02-28T06:41:51Z")
Too late to participate in the live commentary, so I’ll toss out this press room tidbit (from [Oscars.com](http://Oscars.com)): Reporter: “What does she [Edna Mode] have to say about what the people are wearing tonight?” Brad Bird (as Edna): “Oh, darling, some people just look marvelous on the red carpet, and others would look better wearing it.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/222 "2005-02-28T06:42:40Z")
I should have added that the “In Memoriam” section goes from one year’s broadcast to the next, not by the calendar year. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/223 "2005-02-28T06:43:26Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Actor Ossie Davis also died in 2005 (February 4), but he was included in the “In Memoriam” section. > > Hunter S. Thompson fans: get over it. He wasn’t in this year’s, he won’t be in next year’s. You’re completely right. We’re a bunch of idiots. There, y’happy? :rolleyes: Sorry, but it seems to me the guy should be commemorated, considering he did make his mark on the “movie industry.” (By the way, are you really contesting _that_?) ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/224 "2005-02-28T11:40:56Z")
This thread has been great coffee cup reading for me this morning. I fell asleep during the _yawn_ ceremony last night, and now I almost feel like I was there. One required comment, though – Swank was in drop dead goddess mode in _that dress_ on the red carpet, and anyone who says otherwise is itching for a fight. But I’ll let her give out the actual beating Perhaps I’ll be able to stay awake next year when the awards ceremony will feature the heated **Walloon/LoganDear** debate re: HST? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/225 "2005-02-28T14:57:26Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > \ > 1)\*Hillary Swank is too thin for a backless dress > \ > 2)\*Sean Penn is a total tool (I really don’t think that Jude Law was home crying and trying to cut his wrists with a lemon zester over Rock’s jokes) > \ > 3)\*Now that Jamie Foxx has won the Oscar I guess the budget of WANDA: THE MOTION PICTURE will be $20 million higher > \ > 4)\*Has anybody else ever noticed that Johnny Depp is really hot? > > 5)\*Ditto Josh Groban > \ 1. Her flat tight hairdo didn’t help, she should have tried something softer, either loose hair or even a few loose tendrils at the side. 2. Well, Chris Rock’s comments were pretty lame considering Jude Law was a nominee last year and he had many friends in the audience. 3. You hit the nail on the head on why I cannot stand Jamie Foxx. I could not stand that Wanda character, those skits were painful top watch and they went on forever. I cannot look at the man without seeing Wanda. 4&5) Yes, and yes. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/226 "2005-02-28T15:06:09Z")
> [@LoganDear](#): > > How do you figure he was not involved in the movie industry? He wrote books that were turned into movies. He was a writer for films. I really think the reason he wasn’t included was because he died after the new year. I guess we’ll find out next year. I’ll be very surprised if they don’t honor him, actually. IIRC, authors of books who other people turn into scripts are not honored by the academy, unless they write their own screenplays to their books. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/227 "2005-02-28T15:38:27Z")
> [@LoganDear](#): > > You’re completely right. We’re a bunch of idiots. There, y’happy? :rolleyes: > Sorry, but it seems to me the guy should be commemorated, considering he did make his mark on the “movie industry.” (By the way, are you really contesting _that_?) It should also be noted that perhaps his death came AFTER the completion of that piece. You can’t expect then to include everyone who died up to one minute before the broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/228 "2005-02-28T16:18:23Z")
> [@Farmwoman](#): > > One required comment, though – Swank was in drop dead goddess mode in _that dress_ on the red carpet, and anyone who says otherwise is itching for a fight. But I’ll let her give out the actual beating Swank is a goddess because she’s an amazing talent and a gracious winner. She’s not a traditional beauty, but I think she’s awesome for the reasons listed above. You don’t have to be gawgeous to be a fine actress. That dress did nothing for her. It looked like a bedsheet, covering all the good parts and leaving her bony back for us all to see. Ick. For Pete’s sake, she’s not 80-years-old, there’s no reason to wear a dress that comes up to the neck. She looked 100% better at the SAG awards. > **[Latest Stills - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/gallery/rg1859820288?path=pgallery&path_key=Swank,%20Hilary)** > > IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/229 "2005-02-28T18:14:01Z")
I liked Swank’s dress, better than that other picture. The front was gorgeously draped and every time she turned around the room seemed to spin. When did all Hollywood actresses turn into popsicle sticks? Renee Zellwegger was the worst, but most of them looked like they were auditioning for a 1920s flapper movie. Claire Danes, Emmy Rossum, and others all looked like they were going to be propped across two cinder blocks and have a karate expert cut them in two. Isn’t it hilarious that with every other woman in Hollywood getting breast implants the lead actresses have no curves? Who says movies affect American culture? Writers of books are not writers of movies. Period. **Walloon** is right; **LoganDear** is wrong. There’s no possible debate on this. What did I expect from Chris Rock? I expected him to be funny. I was disappointed. I didn’t expect Adam Sandler to be funny, so at least I was fulfilled there. Director guy: the awards in the audience didn’t work. The massing of nominees on stage didn’t work. I loved that you got the show down to 3:05 but work it in a different way next year. And lots more pizazz. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/230 "2005-02-28T18:57:55Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > That dress did nothing for her. It looked like a bedsheet, covering all the good parts and leaving her bony back for us all to see. Ick. For Pete’s sake, she’s not 80-years-old, there’s no reason to wear a dress that comes up to the neck. OHMYGODAREYOUKIDDINGME? She was the sexiest thing there last night! That dress rocked the house! It was like blue skin…her tits were absolutely jaw-dropping! Good gracious…check your eyes! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/231 "2005-02-28T19:14:20Z")
> [@Priam](#): > > [big geek chiming in] Lord of the Rings: Return of the King [/ BGCI] A period drama. Okay, not a human historical period, but still a “period drama” with elaborate sets, costumes, Cast of Thousands, etc. Not to mention shrill authenticity geeks. 😉 Ebert says to replace “best” with “most” for your accurate Oscar predictions, and that’s generally on the mark and why I expected _The Aviator_ to win, even though I thought MDB was a better picture. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/232 "2005-02-28T20:45:51Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Rock was probably the worst host since Letterman. Am I the only person who liked Letterman as host? ---
**Author:** ![starsky79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@starsky79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starsky79)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/233 "2005-02-28T21:05:54Z")
i thought Rock did a great job of hosting. i think he was able to shake things up in a way that the oscars are rarely able to see. Granted, he was on primetime network television instead of latenight HBO so it had to be different, but i still thought he was pretty good overall. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/234 "2005-02-28T21:08:50Z")
1. Dudes- Beyonce isn’t "_all that"_. She isn’t all that sexy, nor super talented. As part of a group she was fine, however. 2. “Million Dollar Baby” (small spoiler follows): “Tha movie could depress a hyena” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/235 "2005-02-28T21:20:59Z")
As it turns out, there was supposed to be a racy song by Robin Williams and Marc Shaiman that got [cut at the last minute](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/11004672.htm?1c) (registration required): > [@](#): > > Cut From the Oscars: Cartoon Characters’ Sins > By DAVID M. HALBFINGER > > ABC executives have forced Robin Williams to drop a comic song from the Oscars show that might well have proved one of the most political and racy numbers of the broadcast, despite the fact that the network and the show’s host, Chris Rock, have been promoting the night as anything but tame. > > Mr. Williams, the presenter of the Academy Award for best animated feature, decided last week that his one minute on stage would be a prime time to lampoon the conservative critic James C. Dobson, whose group Focus on the Family last month criticized the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants for appearing in a video about tolerance that the group called “pro-homosexual.” > > …The producer of the Oscars telecast, Gil Cates, urged Mr. Shaiman to make the bit “less political,” Mr. Shaiman said, so he quickly removed any reference to Mr. Dobson’s protests - and turned Mr. Williams into a fabulous, lisping character dishing up the latest juicy gossip: > > “Fred Flintstone is dyslexic, Jessica Rabbit is really a man, Olive Oyl is really anorexic, and Casper is in the Ku Klux Klan!” Officials from ABC’s broadcast standards and practices office were not pleased. On Thursday, they detailed their objections. Some lines were opposed for “sexual tone,” as the ABC officials, Susan Futterman and Olivia Cohen Cutler, put it to Mr. Williams, Mr. Shaiman and Mr. Cates. These lines included “Chip 'n Dale are both strippers,” “Bugs Bunny’s a sexaholic,” and “Josie and the Pussycats dance on laps.” ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/236 "2005-02-28T21:21:43Z")
Could a white comedian have gotten away with a bit like the one at the Magic Theater? IMHO, all of the participants looked incredibly stupid. “No, I didn’t see MDB. White Chicks? That was great!” I thought it was a tasteless bit on lots of levels, including dissing the nominated movies. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/237 "2005-02-28T21:39:08Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > I should have added that the “In Memoriam” section goes from one year’s broadcast to the next, not by the calendar year. Cite? I’ve been looking for info on this and I can’t find any “rules” for how they determine who to include in the Memoriam (even on the Academy’s website). Did they mention Sandra Dee? She died Feb. 20. Arthur Miller (Feb 10)? While I’m not dismissing the possibility that you guys might be right (after all, that’s why I was asking), it just seems to _me_ that he would be included. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/238 "2005-02-28T21:46:25Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > I thought it was a tasteless bit on lots of levels, including dissing the nominated movies. There was a good deal of press given to the fact that none of the nominees this year was a blockbuster. None even made $100 million, and it drew worries that nobody was going to watch the show. And the ratings were off. I guess there was no point in ignoring it. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/239 "2005-02-28T22:09:36Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Writers of books are not writers of movies. Period. **Walloon** is right; **LoganDear** is wrong. There’s no possible debate on this. Wrong. Some writers of books are ALSO writers for movies, Hunter S. Thompson included. I don’t understand why you think there’s no possible room for debate on this. It’s glaringly obvious _to me_ that he was involved in the movie industry. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206/240 "2005-02-28T23:13:25Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Could a white comedian have gotten away with a bit like the one at the Magic Theater? IMHO, all of the participants looked incredibly stupid. “No, I didn’t see MDB. White Chicks? That was great!” > > I thought it was a tasteless bit on lots of levels, including dissing the nominated movies. I didn’t see that as offensive at all. I didn’t see it as talking to black people about movies, I thought it was just talking to _normal_ people about movies. You could ask those questions in about any theater and get the exact same responses. (I teach high schoolers - and they all loved “White Chicks”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-academy-awards-thread/292206.md?page=13)