It’s become a time honored tradition, up here in the Middle-Aged Cheap Seats, to kick up our feet toward the end of every February, cocktail in one hand and popcorn in the other, and tune in for a favorite annual event: the Academy Awards, or as they are also known as, The Oscars. I host a fun little virtual viewing party over on Facebook: our gaggle of movie geeks and nerds slog through 3 to 4 hours of what can be some of the best, and worst, entertainment for the masses.
Do you also like to watch?
It’s not always unicorns and rainbows. This year’s other award presentations, leading up to this grand poohbah of award shows, have been a bit of a snore-fest. No drunken-at-the-mic train wrecks, no big upset surprises, no wardrobe malfunctions. However, Chris Rock is hosting the Oscars this coming Sunday, so I gotta believe that some real gaspers and a few Oh no, he did NOT just say that zingers are in our near future.
Being that I’ve become a bit of a connoisseur of the whole award show season, I offer as follows a few tips for this 2016 class of nominees.
Kimba’s Award Season Best Practices
Be Prepared. Come on people, you are trained actors. Don’t try to convince the world that you had no idea you were going to win or that you didn’t write a speech or that it’s just so unexpected.
Image provided courtesy of Flickr Commons (no known copyright restrictions): https://goo.gl/L0goKM
Really?! Cuz you were sitting in a big ‘ol fancy room with a bunch of other actors and Hollywood types who all seemed to be cued in that you had a shot. Don’t tell me that you haven’t practiced your speech. Every person on the planet has practiced their I want to thank… speech. Be prepared, write a speech, and if you have to read it, so be it. But honestly, we expect better.
Take Some Pointers from the Brits. The Brits do it right. They prepare for their acceptance speeches. They don’t thank a litany of people who may be important to them, but mean diddly-squat to the viewing public. The Brits are funny, witty, and know how to work a crowd. David Niven set the bar high when he famously handled a streaker during the 46th Academy Awards back in 1974.
Provided courtesy of YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIl3zSYL8k
The Brits have continued to keep it classy and fun ever since.
Make Us Fall In Love. For the past two years I’ve been in the throes of a serious girl crush on Jennifer Lawrence. She’s feisty and a klutz and swears like a sailor and I just love her. I’ve been waiting for someone to step up and steal the crush trophy and this coming Sunday it could very well go to Sylvester Stallone cuz I just want him to go out swinging, ya know? However, my gal Jennifer is going to be in the room as well, so ya never know. No matter what, I’m sure she will look beautiful, and trip over something.
Someone Please Bring George. For the love of all that is good and holy, someone please bring Mr. Clooney with you to the festivities. He’s recently been making the promo rounds for his new movie “Hail Caesar” so I know he needs the face time. Do us all a solid, get George to put on the tux, and drag him with you to the red carpet. We’ve missed seeing him out and about this last year or so.
I don’t know about you, but I have my Oscar ballot all filled out and I’m ready for the show to begin. I’m pulling for Leo for best actor (who isn’t) as well as Jennifer Jason Leigh to win best supporting actress (because she’s awesome, she’s 54 years old – go midlifers! and she deserves to win for her performance in The Hateful Eight).
Will you be watching on Sunday night? Who are you hoping will win an Oscar?
Cheers,
Kimba
I used to watch with a girlfriend every year but as the years went by it just failed to turn me on as much so not this year. Won’t be watching.
I hear ya. Some years I am living for the final award so I can just go to sleep!
I love watching the award shows! My family makes ballots and we have a prize for the winner of the most correct answers.
That sounds like so much fun! Would love to know what type of prizes you award.
I’m an awards watcher, too many probably (Oscars, Independent Spirit — the best although becoming too mainstream IMO, Emmys, SAGs, and Globes). I usually record and fast forward to the good parts (to quote Mr. Skin, don’t ask!). This year I’m actually gonna watch the Oscars in a crowd of friends at a movie theater. To beat an image to death, my skin is already crawling a bit at the idea of the WholeShebang!
I’ll see how I do.
Love to you!
Sue
Oooohhh, a whole movie theater filled with fellow movie nerds – not THAT sounds like a lot of fun. Are you allowed to throw popcorn? Boo? Applaud? Do you dress up?
I stay tuned every year–watching foro that one, brief human, emotional moment–the speech that doesn’t thank the agent, the producer, the writer but actually expresses a feeling or thought, even if it’s political. Show us you care about something, winners!
Oh, I’m with you! Funny, emotional, and definitely human. I’m wondering if the new process of scrolling all the folks the winners want to thank across the bottom of the screen will keep the winners from prattling on about people we will never know or meet.
Every year I do say to myself that this is the last year I’m watching but here I am once again preparing for Sunday night’s viewing.
There’s always a moment to remember ….
Jack Palance doing one armed push-ups.
Host Billy Crystal being wheeled on stage in Hannibal Lecter-style mask and restraints.
Native American Sacheen Littlefeather turned up on behalf of Marlon Brando, to announce he’s not accepting Best Actor for The Godfather.
and, last but not least, Ellen DeGeneres’ internet breaking selfie.
Have a great Oscar viewing night!
Love all your fave moments. Those would all be on my list as well. I love the Benedict Cumberbach photobomb of 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBT6l4Vfk24
I always catch at least part of the red carpet show on E and the opening of the show. But this year I don’t think I will be watching. I have not seen or am particularly interested in the nominated movies and I really don’t feel like listening to the potentially politically laden comments – only because it drives me NUTS when celebrities feel the need to tell me what is wrong with the world.
My dream award show would be a spectacular red carpet followed by some hilarious gags entwined with dance numbers and multiple shots of George Clooney doing his best ‘ah shucks’ smile!!
CLOONEY for PRESIDENT!!
Can you even imagine if George actually ran – I would volunteer for every single campaign event. That smile! And Amal as first lady! #dreamteam
Fun article. I don’t watch but do read the reviews and highlights. 🙂
Yeah, the after action comments are some times more fun then the actual award show! Thx for stopping by the cheap seats.
We don’t watch since we cancelled cable 6 years ago but it’s always fun watching the social media reports during it.
Well Carin, I’ll see if I can come up with some fun commentary for ya!
I always watch. I just published a blog post about Actresses Over 50 Aging Gracefully & I will be away where I can’t watch this year. Feeling lousy bout this turn of events, so I will watch the after stuff on Monday & will go to your FB page to see what you picked up on that others missed.
I’m so excited about Jennifer Jason Leigh being nominated – now she is an actress over 50 who has aged fabulously!
I always watch — especially the pre-show with all the arrivals. My daughter and I like to comment on all the outfits. Fun!
Oh yes, the dresses! I’m always a sucker for chic in black, but sometimes a beauty in red wins my vote.
We’ll definitely be watching the Oscars at our house. I, too, have a huge crush on Jennifer Lawrence. Would love to just hang out and have a few drinks with her as we shared our most embarrassing, clumsiest moments. 🙂 I’m hoping Leo wins just because he’s been passed over before and finally deserves a win.
Don’t you know that hanging out with Jennifer Lawrence would be a blast?! I just know she shoots whiskey and can sink the corner pocket. I’m hoping she wears red because she can totally pull it off.
I don’t usually watch the Oscars, but after reading your post I think I might need to just to see some mishaps and drama! 🙂
Girl, you and I both know that neither one of us needs to go looking for drama! 🙂