With the big night still over two months away, it’s rather early for us to be thinking of Oscar telecast details, but you can bet the show’s frantic producers aren’t feeling quite so calm about it all. As we speak, Rolodexes and little black books are being frantically rifled through as the list of presenters is drawn up, and today, we were given our first taste of what manner of star power will be joining hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco (still doesn’t sound right, does it?) on stage.
No surprise that reigning Oscar champs Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges will be on hand, presumably to present the lead acting awards — the question is whether the producers will stick to the awkward “Logan’s Run”-style five-way presenting scheme they’ve used, to sharply diminishing effect, the last two years running. In the 2008 ceremony, they had the previous winners present their own category: Bridges’ likely repeat nomination this year should prevent that, though it’d be fun to watch him eulogize himself.
Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry (who, despite that day-long flutter of online buzz for “Frankie and Alice” a few weeks back, probably won’t be attending as a nominee) and the perennially awesome Marisa Tomei have also been added to the slate. It’d be nice if the selection of Tomei is the first of a few character actors brought into the mix — I know I’d love to see Stanley Tucci given an envelope to open, for example.
Anyone you’d particularly like to see all dressed up on stage?
Comments
27 responses to “First Oscar presenters announced”
Without checking it, I knew this was written by Lodge simply by his misquided taste. There was nothing wrong about the 5-presenter set-up and I hope they bringit back. It added the much needed sense of things being personal.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt presenting, possibly dancing and singing. yessss.
Wonder if they’re trying to get Mark Zuckenberg. Nah, probably not.
Would love Meryl Streep to present something (Best Picture? YES PLEASE). Just doesn’t seem like the Academy Awards if Streep isn’t around.
I hate the 5 presenter set-up. Just awkward.
Yeah, I’m ready for them to axe the five presenter set-up. It was cute two years ago, but last year it was awkward and redundant, in my opinion. Also, please don’t bring the best actor and actress nominees out at the beginning…so random and self aggrandizing! And I don’t want to see one of the nominees (a la Gabourey Sidibe last year) strut some stupid model pose on the stage.
I second the motion for Meryl Streep. I don’t think she has ever presented a competitive Oscar, that I can remember. She has done Honorary Oscars (Peter O’Toole and Robert Altman), though.
If I were running this show, I would have each of the acting winners present the opposite category with a legendary actor who won in it. For example:
Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks for Actor
Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep for Actress
Mo’Nique and Michael Caine for Supp. Actor
Christoph Waltz and Vanessa Redgrave for Supp. Actress
Obviously there are lots more presenters to be announced, but I wonder if Tomei could be subbing for Mo’Nique, as a fellow winner in that category. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Mo passed on the presenting gig (which, to avoid even *cracking* that can of worms open, I’d like to say I wouldn’t judge her for doing).
The 5 presenter set-up IS awkward. It was handled much better the second time around than the first but still, I wouldn’t miss it. /2-cents
Guy, Did they really have the 2007 winners presenting to the 2008 nominees in their same category? Or did the best supporting actress from 2007 present the best supporting actor nominees and so on? My guess is that they could easily have Jeff Bridges present the best actress award even if he is a nominee for best actor. By the way, I saw “Logan’s Run” again just a few years ago, but I don’t get the reference.
The 5-presenter things is total crap. It’s bad enough when they don’t show clips of the performances, but then when they replace them with schmaltzy kiss-assing it’s just downright annoying.
“Bridges’ likely repeat nomination this year should prevent that, though it’d be fun to watch him eulogize himself.”
This MUST happen. Somebody please make it happen.
Frank: Yes, Marion Cotillard presented to Kate Winslet and Tilda Swinton presented to Penelope Cruz. (The male winners from 2007 weren’t in attendance.) If you don’t remember, look it up on YouTube.
And obviously I was being facetious about the Jeff Bridges “problem.”
As for the “Logan’s Run” reference, it’s because somehow the whole staging setup reminded me of this.
Can we please let Johnny Knoxville and co. present something?
Well I personally love the 5-person preaenters and I hope they at least keep it if not have it done for the supporting awards again. Just adding my opinion but I found it touching and fascinating seeing actors praise their fellow actors.
@6: You don’t how much I now want to hear Mo’Nique and Michael Caine discuss film together. I would pay a large sum to be a fly on the wall for that.
***It’s bad enough when they don’t show clips of the performances, but then when they replace them with schmaltzy kiss-assing it’s just downright annoying.***
They did show clips last year. Many. But I agree with your sentiment.
Chad,
Ridley Scott Glenn Close. These are my picks for presenters. What do you think?
Glenn Close ftw! Also, I’d like to add Emily Watson into the mix. It’s been a while since she’s done anything big so I think it would be nice, and also a bit refreshing, to see her face.
What does Fox Searchlight have to do in order for the industry to take notice of her Supporting work in Cyrus?
Last year I was very disappointed hey didn’t actually use a legend to present best picture – somebody who was around when they had 10 best picture nominees in the beginning! I would have chosen Olivia De Havilland since she was portraying one of the four leads in the actual 1939 best picture winner GONE WITH THE WIND. And 1939 is considered the strongest year for the best picture race. So why don’t they go with two actresses – a legend from Hollywood’s Golden Age and a modern day legend? I would love to see Olivia de Havilland and Meryl Streep take the stage together! And I’ve read in an Olivia de Havilland’s interviews that she’s a huge admirer of Streep and would watch her in anything! So they’d be a nice couple of presenters.
Other than that, I second a legendary winner and the year’s previous winner of the opposite sex presenting acting Oscars, like:
Best Actor – Bullock (it feels like a joke! I can’t help it!) & Jack Nicholson.
Best Actress – Bridges (and probably Meryl Streep or Julie Andrews).
Best Supporting Actor – Mo’Nique and probably somebody like Michael Caine or Gene Hackman.
Best Supporting Actress – Christoph Waltz and Celeste Holm (I know, my All About Eve addiction speaking.)
Actually, I’ve wondered why they don’t pay more attention to Honorary Oscar winners? They could play the clip highlighting the Governers Awards ceremony and then they could have this year’s winners on stage and they could all present a competitive category together – since they’re from different areas of filmmaking, I think presenting writing awards would be a nice idea, since an actor, two filmmakers (writers as well) and a film historian all need a script – it’s the basis, the genesis of a film. So it would be nice to have them as best original screenplay and best adapted screenplay presenters. And actually, I believe writers will enjoy receiving their Oscars from Coppola & Godard (even though he maybe won’t attend).
Actually I’ve always liked the idea of famous movie couples presenting:
Julie Andrews & Christopher Plummer
Julie Christie & Omar Sharif
Jack Nicholson & Louise Fletcher (love this one!)
(even a trio) Jessica Lange & Sissy Spacek & Diane Keaton (Woody & Diane would be orgasmic, but it won’t happen!)
Meryl Streep & Kevin Kline
Shirley MacLaine & Jack Nicholson
Dustin Hoffman & Jon Voight
(even more temporary)
Kristin Scott Thomas & Ralph Fiennes
Gwyneth Paltrow & Joseph Fiennes
Cate Blanchett & the two Fiennes brothers
Cate Blanchett & George Clooney
Natalie Portman & Jude Law
Javier Bardem & Josh Brolin
They could come up with tones of ideas. There are so many more and maybe I’m forgetting some of the best ones.
AND CAN’T THEY FINALLY REALIZE THAT AN ACTOR WHO PRESENTS BEST COSTUME DESIGN SHOULD BE SOMEHOW LINKED TO THE CATEGORY?
Get Meryl Streep to present it! You know why.
Get Audrey Tautou or Kate Winslet! Kate Winslet would be an ironic choice, but I think she’ll enjoy the idea.
And actually if they’re doing the five previous winners tribute, PLEASE DO IT IN DIRECTING! In acting it gets boring! Do it in directing!
SpidermanUpdate- You know I can handle that. Were you on the show or did you just see it?
AND CAN’T THEY FINALLY REALIZE THAT AN ACTOR WHO PRESENTS BEST COSTUME DESIGN SHOULD BE SOMEHOW LINKED TO THE CATEGORY?
Considering that this year, the category was co-presented by fashion-designer-turned-filmmaker Tom Ford (as well as chief industry clotheshorse Sarah Jessica Parker), this is a weird complaint to make.
Speaking English: They only showed clips for the supporting categories this year. None for lead.
I thought they did weird montages for the Lead categories…
I would like to see Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mcgregor presenting an award :)
Chad, I saw the YouTube clip you’ve posted on this site :) . For some reason this name (a twister) stayed in my memory and this seemed like an interesting opportunity to use it.
Glenn Close!