Everything wasn't awesome at the 87th Oscars in the elegant and opulent Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Not the strange Lego movie musical number, not Sean Penn's racist joke, not Neil Patrick Harris in underwear, nor the unusual rainstorm that deluged the star studded entourage before they entered the theatre.
But there were a few stellar moments which made up for the irreverent not-so-classy hosting by Harris; (though, in fairness, it's a tough gig.) Like John Legend singing "Glory," for example, (from the film about Martin Luther King - "Selma"), and Lady Gaga's tribute to the film 'The Sound of Music.'
Comedy has been de rigueur for being a host of the Ocars, because comedians can improvise if things go awry, and make self-effacing jokes to keep things lively. There is a lot of tension at the podium, with the glaring lights and the star studded audience hanging on your every word. You don't want to not thank someone, (it could ruin you getting another role!) and yet you can't thank everyone. There's not enough time to thank your entire family, and the doctor who delivered you. Screw up and the audience might boo you off the stage, and throw rotten vegetables at you.
Ellen DeGeneres would have been funnier than Harris, (she was the first choice of producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron), but Ellen said no because she'd already done it three times. Chris Rock, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus also declined. Another choice - Jimmy Kimmel - was apparently not an option for Zadan and Meron, though Kimmel would probably have declined the offer because he had way too many celebrities on his show that night, Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars. Though, Jimmy Fallon (host of The Tonight Show) would have been an even better choice. He may be the funniest man in Hollywood. This guy makes everyone else (except maybe Will Ferrell) look unfunny. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0zbTz8Ba-k
I am biased; I love Jimmy Fallon possibly more than Jerry Seinfeld loves him. Wouldn't Jimmy Fallon be the BEST CHOICE to host every Oscar ceremony from now on? Unconvinced? Check out this zany moment on The Tonight Show - a lip sync battle between Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, and Jimmy Fallon, with a guest appearance by Drew Barrymore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvRypx1lbR4
So, alas, on Oscar night we were stuck with Harris, and his dumb puns, male enhanced tighty-whities (a parody of the scene in the film, "Birdman," where Michael Keaton gets his robe stuck in a theater door, and walks through Times Square in his tighty-whities and black socks), and Harris's dumb predictions of who was going to win (which were in a briefcase within a locked transparent plastic case, onstage). And we survived.
Harris did do an amazing job with a musical number titled "Moving Pictures." He wasn't entirely flat. But let's not talk about Harris. Let's move along and mention the racist gaff by Sean Penn, (i.e., about "Birdman" director Alejandro G. Iñárritu - "Who gave this son of a bitch a green card?"). There was a collective gasp at that remark. However, apparently Penn did not seriously offend Iñárritu. Penn had been in Iñárritu's "21 Grams" film, though he certainly offended many citizens of Mexico, not to mention, millions of Mexican-Americans. Ah well, nobody died, or got in a fight with Penn after the program. Kudos to Iñárritu for his big heart.
The "Glory" song, sung by John Legend, did a lot to balance Penn's unsavory joke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWE2Yb_jMZg The song also did a lot to inject class to the show. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the many awards garnered by The Grand Budapest Hotel, (and Wes Anderson - one of my favorite directors). I have not seen the film, but I feel compelled to channel my inner Danny Kay before I go. Maybe they should have digitized Kay and put him in the starring role.) The set designers must have had an obsession with lavender. I assume patrons can obtain special glasses to color correct the film if you do see it. You can read the recap of winners here: http://oscar.go.com/nominees
Let's talk about Lady Gaga, and her wonderful tribute medley of songs from the Oscar winning film, "The Sound of Music." What was that like? I suppose that would be like Alice Cooper being elected President. However, based solely on the warm embrace the Grand Dame - Julie Andrews - gave to Lady Gaga after the performance, Disney will be foolish not to get Gaga on the phone ASAP. They'll probably tell her to lose the tattoos. But, maybe she is turning a corner here. Could it be she is in love? After all, Gaga is sporting a half-million dollar heart shaped diamond engagement ring. It might be a business decision to try something new. She is all of twenty-eight-years-old, and a somewhat fading pop singer with too many tattoos. Maybe she has had the epiphany she is the Julie Andrews for this generation. Maybe her fiancé, Taylor Kinney, has shown her the way back to the light. Or maybe she realizes she just wants to be a stay-at-home mom. She has Italian ancestry, (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta), so having a dozen children is practically hardwired into her DNA. Good for you, Lady Gaga, breed on!
Gaga's singing left me gaga, but if Fallon hosts the 2016 Oscars it will be better.
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