I just read Nikki Finn’s blog about the Oscars (She writes for the LA weekly) and she blasted it from head to toe. She also said that those commenting on her blog were in league with her opinion as well... I have checked other sites as well for reactions... most are negative or at best ok about last nights telecast.
I have to ask... what show where they (the detractors) watching? I though it was one of the best produced Oscars in a very, very long time. Sure it was imperfect... what live show is perfect? Or as my mother always said... “Nothing are perfect.”
No big surprises last night except perhaps best foreign picture. But the lack of surprises within the context of winning/losing is not the telecasts fault.
Was the show as funny as some of the past ones? No. Sure funny is great and last night had it’s share from the teaming of Fey-Martin to the Pineapple Express redux and some of the comments sprinkled throughout the night. But the oscars isn’t a roast nor a send-up. It needn’t be funny 24/7 it just needs to conduct it’s true business and entertain and at times surprise us.
Hugh Jackman did what any good host should do... didn’t stink-up the place or embarrass himself but kept things moving along as well as possible and knew when to get out of the way.
The best thing about last night? The actual production it’s self. The use of the staging, backdrops and original use of TV screens. Loved it! I also liked having past winners acknowledge the hopeful contenders.
What did I miss? Film clips of the actors doing what got them nominated.
Heck I even thought doing a medley of original score and even best song was a new and good idea. I’m sure had there really been a ‘great’ song that had already connected with radio etc we could have argued for a stand alone performance but all in all I liked they way the went this year.
I also liked the flash of images from this coming year running above the closing credits.
I could go on and on... but you get the drift. Sure there were issues like at the beginning when they were going to announce the best supporting actress bit and the curtains were not cooperating. And there was a directorial mistake at the beginning of the memorial tribute and another one when eddie was introducing jerry and the camera showed us he had already left his balcony... but it’s a live telecast dang nab it... stuff happens... and the show goes on.

