This is a bit outrageous. Mike Fleming is reporting at Deadline Hollywood Daily that the original song nominees will not be asked to perform the tracks on the telecast:
Explanations include that the songs never delivered ratings, and that is what this Oscarcast is all about. That not having the big production numbers will move the show along. That it will save money for distributors, who eat most of the costs (up to 7 figures) of schlepping singers in. That unless a song by Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Sting or U2 were nominated, most of the worldwide audience is hearing the tune for the first time when it is sung. I mean, can anybody besides Tom Bernard or Michael Barker from Sony Pictures Classics hum a few bars of “Loin de Paname” from Paris 36?
Dear Academy: I don’t think we can possibly bend over any further.
With my own ears I have heard Shankman say the nominees are “terrible,” the indication more about what livens up a show rather than what makes for a quality original track in a film, mind you. But if you read further down Fleming’s report, you’ll see that Shankman and Mechanic have apparently considered bringing in people like Taylor Lautner and Channing Tatum to reach a younger audience, and that Shankman’s little dance choreography project may include contestants from the Fox show “So You Think You Can Dance?” Shankman serves as a judge on the show.
Can you say conflict of interest? And hey, the People’s Choice Awards has a lot of this stuff covered already, guys.
Who is most hurt by all of this? In my opinion, Ryan Bingham, who was set to reach a massive new audience and perhaps kick-start his career to the next level (a level he deserves). All of this reeks of a certain lack of creativity, too. There are so many ways to have worked this out, any of them (certainly) more fetching than, say, Bob Dylan performing via satellite. This has always been a nice way to break up the telecast, so at this rate, you might as well eliminate the category altogether.
But enough about what I think. Do chime in yourself.
Comments
75 responses to “Shocker: Best Original Song nominees will not perform”
I can do without the songs, personally. Too often, they are boring and a time waster.
I bet that if “New Divide” from Transformers: Revenge of the Poorly Put Together Blockbuster Sequel was nominated that this would not be happening. This is absolutely absurd
Let’s just cross our fingers that Best Picture isn’t decided by a text-in fan vote
Great news. Get rid of the category next.
Fucking awful. You may as well take the song category off of the telecast altogether.
Oivay. With every tidbit of info they release I dread this show more and more.
Last year’s show was rather wonderful, a treat for true movie fans. This year it sounds like Shankman and Mechanic are dumbing it down to a disgraceful level.
Chad: That’s kind of my point. Half-measures. It’s bullshit. Just do away with the whole thing and stop the slow death already.
Is no one concerned with the rest, though? I suddenly get the feeling this whole thing is going to be a travesty.
Shankman is a douche.
I think this year’s ceremony will be remembered… and not for the better really. I saw where they were trying to get Lautner, but they’re also going for Tatum? What is this world coming to?!
So, depressing. Growing up, this was my favorite category. The musicians are already under appreciated by the Academy. It just gets worse and worse.
This, on top of Disney renaming their next animated film of Rapunzel “Tangled” to reach the boy audience (yeah, that’ll work), just reeks of lowest denominator thinking.
Great, one less section I have to fast forward through. My only big concern is that they go back to showing clips of the actor’s performances – I LOVE that part!
Not a shocker…
Shankman is taking great things about the ceremony and throwing them out the door. Call me old school, but I love watching the songs preformed, and was especially looking foward to hearing Down In New Orleans.
Kris, I’m sure you’ve heard that the nominees are told to keep their acceptance speech only industry based, and personalize it on a web cam back stage after they get the award. Any truth to this?
If so, then I really, really, hate Shankman.
I will admit that the song performances rarely were my favorite part, but having those be replaced by something even more uninteresting and not even relevant to the evening is just downright disgusting.
Al,
They told the nominees that at the luncheon yesterday. But in all fairness, this isn’t new. They’ve had the backstage camera for a few years, and I think the producers have asked nominees to keep it short and smart for as long as I can remember. No one likes people taking out a long laundry list of names.. This is not new.
I always knew Shankman would not be able to live up to Bill Condon’s take on the show. I mean, how could they put in charge of the show a man who has only been involved in one good project. I was seriously looking forward to seeing Ryan Bingham perform.
Al: Yes, linked ot the story in the round-up this morning. ANd like ratio says, it’s not new per se.
I recognize that it really isn’t a new concept, its just on top of everything else, its just really aggravating. The show is getting less and less awards/cinema based and more concentrated on ratings. Obviously they want good ratings, but wasn’t that what the 10 was for? Shankman is selling out tradition as much as he can just so he can come back and do it again next year.
I have been saying for awhile that I am terrified of this ceremony. Shankman clearly has no respect for the actual categories and nominees and is just pandering to the public at large. HE WANTED STEPHANIE MEYERS TO PRESENT BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY. Could you imagine being Jason Reitman about to win the biggest award of your life and you have to receive it from the lady that brought us Twilight?
Even if there is some merit to trimming the fat of the ceremony, all of the steps seem like barely thought out half measures. They aren’t going to bring in new viewers and they are completely alienating the traditional crowd.
I’m having mixed emotions Kris. Adam Shankman directed Hairspray which I feel was a success (minus John Travolta). But besides this he’s a very odd choice for a producer, I mean, he’s probably more known by his seat on the SYTYCD judge panel. And though I think that is one of the best reality shows on tv… its still just that: a reality show. There is one dancer (Jacob) who deserves to dance on the Oscar stage and he didnt even win the show. I think the whole idea of Adam Shankman just kinda raises the mediocre factor. And if he is a co-producer of the biggest award show of award shows then he should probably watch his back as far as calling Oscar nominees “terrible”.
IIIII can hum more than a few bars of Loin de Paname!!
What else concerns you Kris? Lautner and Tatum as presenters? Why not, they are movie stars just like anyone else. And I don’t see how having dancers from dancing with the stars is a break from any of the other elaborate numbers the Oscars have produced or how a presentation as insular as the Oscars can all of a sudden be accused of having a conflict of interest. I think the show is gonna be just fine.
Okay, Shankster, why don’t we just get rid of everything?
This whole grassroots, revisionist shit he’s trying to pull is going to blow up in his face if he doesn’t exercise a little restraint. I personally never invested too much into Best Song to begin with, but I’m growing tired with his monkeyshines.
Some of his ideas are about as bad as the year the winners gave their acceptance speeches FROM THEIR SEAT–that had to have been one of the shittiest ideas, ever.
Of course you do, you’re contrarian for its own sake.
Lautner and Tatum are movie stars, yes. But for obvious reasons, they bring any perceived level of prestige down a bit, and they’re being tapped is only a craven interest, vis a vis ratings.
And it all just seems so cynical. It seems like they have a formula for getting just the right group of people interested. I never hear him talking about the actual quality of the show, just what the mysterious numbers tell him people like and dislike.
Look, to me, Taylor Lautner and Channing Tatum are just as worthy presenters as Sandra Bullock and Anna Kendrick are nominees. To assume there’s honest to goodness integrity in anything the Oscars do is foolish I think. I just want to tune in, see some jokes, some awkward banter, some time filler, some unworthy winners and have some fun.
Lautner and Tatum appearing don’t bother me so much as Jessica Biel and Miley Cyrus have appeared. I don’t see that as such a drastic move.
My first thought regarding no song performances was that it removed the time suck. But I also remember a few times when the song performances were memorable such as the Paula Abdul-choreographed “Under the Sea” and Robin Williams singing “Blame Canada!” Those were enjoyable moments. The only song I’ve heard was the one from Crazy Heart. I was curious to hear what the others were.
I’ve also heard in the past that the song performances were a favorite of international viewers as they viewed the ceremony as more of a variety show. I’m not sure how true that is, but this definitely removes that element.
I’d settle for at least the appearance of integrity, Chad. But clearly I hold the Academy’s task in higher esteem than you. Perhaps too high.
I’m thrilled. The song performances are always bathroom breaks for me.
Dragging in the likes of Lautner and Tatum doesn’t strike me as any more loathsome a move than any number of blind panders that Oscarcast producers have engaged in over the year. Take nearly any other ceremony and you’re going to find presenters who are there because they’re enjoying their moment of fleeting fame, not because anyone’s deluding themselves into thinking they’re future Oscar winners. Thirty years ago Bo Derek presented Best Editing. This isn’t any newer than producers pleading with with winners to keep their speeches short and coming up with cockamamie ideas as to how they can share their respective lists of names.
While I feel bad for Ryan Bingham, the likely winner who would have undoubtedly benefited most from the exposure, I won’t miss the song performances and find they often stop the show dead. I’m a rapt viewer of this show, and the Best Song performances are usually an excuse to take a break from paying attention.
In a way, this adjustment, also hardly unprecedented, is more in keeping with how the other nominees are presented throughout the evening: a taste, not a full serving. On the music front, I’d much rather they devote times to fuller performances of selections from the original scores, which are usually more vital, integral parts of the films they’re a part of than the songs (though I’ll quickly concede that this year’s slate of song nominees are far more a part of the craft of their films that the perennial assembly of pop song afterthoughts that used to be the norm in this category, and that, evidently, Mr. Shankman longs for).
I’m cool with the songs being scrapped. I have no issue with this whatsoever.
I really really dislike this decision. I mean last year was bad enough putting three songs in some unholy mashup. But now to get rid of it all together?! And just so they can put in more dancing?! How ridiculous is that?!
Occasionally, they make choices to speed up the show that go against the whole point of the show. These choices are always bad. Remember when people weren’t allowed to come up to the stage? This is about that bad. Are the songs bad? Well, such is life. They got nominated, give them their moment in the sun!
I think if more years were like the one where Bjork showed up caterwauling with a giant limp swan wrapped around her half-naked person, keeping the category would be justified.
My issue with this scrapping isn’t really that they’re taking out the song performances; yes, I’d have enjoyed Bingham singing (and as a fan of Princess and the Frog, I’d have also enjoyed those songs being performed). The problem for me is what’s being shown instead. Do we really NEED dance segments any more than singing? At least the songs are nominees, whereas the dancing seems to just be there because Shankman and Mechanic want it there. They, of course, have every right to do what they want, but the move is pretty dumb, to me.
Kris, I agree with your statements, but I’m more cynical, I guess: I’ve been assuming the worst about this year’s ceremony for a lot longer than just today.
Megan, if Randy Newman shows up adorned in anything similar to Bjorks outfit, I will not only join you in asserting the category is justified, I will begin demanding that it be expanded to ten nominees.
Josh, the Academy justification for the dance numbers–almost always the most reviled part of the production–has long been that the dance numbers hold high appeal for the international audience that they reach with the telecast. Though the accuracy of the international appeal of the Oscars has been convincingly questioned in some quarters in recent years, that’s been the argument the Academy has previously offered for dolloping on another dreadful dance number. It may explain why they’d rather have that than Bingham sitting on a stool with a guitar. I’m not saying they’re making the right choice, but that’s perhaps why they’re making it.
As useless as the category is, and as lame as this year’s nominees are, if they would tell me that those 20 minutes of song were going to be left out all together and that she show would last 2:40, then OK, but I bet we’ll have clips, dancing and stupid jokes with the presenters to fill up those minutes that could have been filled up with actual nominees. If they insist on keeping the category than go with tradition and keep the performances too.
I don’t support eliminating the song category — or the presentation of the songs — just because there are no “famous” or “top ten tunes” this year. This is not the People’s Choice Awards. Historically, great music has come out of the movies and that tradition will continue. Frankly, I’m glad that all of this year’s song nominees are actually sung IN THEIR FILMS and not just thrown in over the credits. They are all integral to the plots of their films…as they should be.
As for the upcoming broadcast, it’s shameful that what began as an industry event in 1928 to celebrate excellence in filmmaking is being bastardized in the name of “popular viewing audiences.” I grew up loving the Oscars and watching the “legends of the silver screen” make appearances well into their twilight years. (Pun intended) If I were putting this year’s show together, I would scrap all the presenters named Taylor except for one – Elizabeth. And I would fill the show with legends who deserve to be seen on the Oscars not as a publicity stunt, but as an honor. Before they are gone, I want to see the greatest stars alive on stage one more time. The movies are supposed to be bigger than life. So, please, please, please send out invitations to Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Olivia De Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Joanne Woodward, Peter O’Toole, Sophia Loren, Albert Finney, Maggie Smith, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Michael Caine, Mickey Rooney, Rita Moreno, Julie Andrews, Julie Christie, Gena Rowlands, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Shirley MacLaine, Warren Beatty, Goldie Hawn, Jane Alexander, Ellen Burstyn, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, and of course, Betty White.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but was the last Oscar ceremony without Best Song performances the Alan Carr, ’88 show? Oy vey. Not a good sign.
This really sucks. I was really looking forward to seeing Anika Noni Rose and especially Marion Cotillard perform. I don’t have a problem with Channing Tatum, but I really hate Taylor Lautner. And if Stephanie Meyer presents Best Adapted Screenplay I don’t know what I’ll do.
I don’t know. I say, shift all the Shorts & Best Song out. Condense Sound Editing & Mixing back to just Sound. They can have their own ceremony, or a mention, or a website to check out speeches if you want. Technology has caught up, people.
And give the STARS more time. More time to talk. And show many, many more movie clips/nomination clips. That’s what we want.
It would’ve been even funnier if they decided to let Paul McCartney and U2 perform instead. But alas. I don’t really care if the songs are really that mediocre and having just one (Bingham!) perform isn’t an option either so too bad but it shortens the show.
I was looking forward to hearing Ryan Bingham do “The Weary Kind.” With a full orchestral arrangement, that could have been a really lovely performance. But usually the song performances are really lame, so I can understand why they made that decision.
I won’t miss them not performing the songs, unless they fill the time with something even less engaging. I guess I’m more a fan of how the Golden Globes do things. Most of the people I know don’t really watch the Oscars other then to see how they are doing in there respective Oscar pools anyway (and you can get updates for that online, so why watch the actual telecast?). I just don’t think the majority of the Oscar audience is into the “pageantry” aspect of the presentation as much anymore. It would make a great poll question: Will you miss the songs not being performed?
Well, if they replace that with a performance of the 5 nominees for ORIGINAL SCORE, im fine with that. Still, i think is a bad idea.
This year’s Academy awards are going to be more interesting because the show itself can FAIL so badly, and not interesting because of the nominees and winners.
Thanks ACADEMY, for making the movie business even dummier !
I would at least expect some sort of medley if they don’t want to do the songs — what else are they gonna remove — they already removed the honorary oscars — what else are they gonna fill in the show. I HOPE THEY DON”T SHORTEN THE FOUR ACTOR NOMINEE SCENES, this is what creates the most suspense of the show and it is like 10 seconds or so, you don’t see why someone got nominated, nor do you get the suspense.
I thought that this year’s Song nominees are surprisingly strong. I keep reading the nominees suck and whatnot….really?!?!? “Cinema Italiano” was the only bad song making the rounds and they didn’t even nominate it. “Take It All” is pretty wonderful and the “Princess and the Frog” songs are true Disney gems. To eliminate them for some dancing shit is ridiculous and pretty disrespectful.
I have always thought the Best Original Song category was disproportionatly represented on the broadcast. Here was a category, more often than not, that took up 30-45 minutes of airtime, while major categories such as the acting and writing awards were rushed along.
Of course there have been unforgettable performances on the Oscars. But in fairness to all the integral categories, I agree it is time for the performances to go.
And hopefully we will not have to endure another Beyonce-Jackman production number like last year.
I re-fell in love with Amiee Mann thanks to her Oscar performance…after such a wonderful show last year, I am thisclose to not wanting to watch this years. Thanks a lot reality tv judge dude.
Excellent decision not to have the songs performed. I would even go farther and eliminate the category altogether.
Let’s also hope that the inadequately talented Debbie Allen is not let on the premises.
Now i hear that they want to go back to the way the actor awards were presented last year with past winners praising the nominees — which was nice last year, but I thought that it was terrible that you didn’t get to see why an actor was nominated in the first place. Please make your feelings known at oscars.org. I’d rather see the actors nominated scenes.