Saturday, March 26, 2022

Watch the Oscars!

Or don't.

The 94th Academy Awards airs tomorrow night on ABC at 8PM Eastern. Official pre-show kicks off at 6:30PM, and E!'s coverage begins at 2:00PM. E! is doing a post-show immediately following the ceremony. ABC is also running coverage during the day from 1-4PM. That special is usually quite informative with lots of footage from past ceremonies and introduction to all the nominees. 

After three years of no hosts, this year will have three: Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes will co-host the festivities. Each will be making their first appearance at the Oscars. Performing during the show will be Beyonce, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Reba McEntire, and Sebastian Yatra. The cast of Encanto will also reunite to perform the smash hit "We Don't Talk About Bruno". The night will apparently see several cast reunions, a 60th anniversary of James Bond tribute, and another to the 50th anniversary of The Godfather.  

Scheduled presenters include Halle Bailey, Stephanie Beatriz, Josh Brolin, Ruth E. Carter, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Kevin Costner, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jacob Elordi, Jennifer Garner, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tiffany Haddish, Woody Harrelson, H.E.R., Anthony Hopkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Lily James, Daniel Kaluuya, DJ Khaled, Zoe Kravitz, Mila Kunis, Lady Gaga, John Leguizamo, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Shawn Mendes, Jason Momoa, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, Rosie Perez, Tyler Perry, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Scott, Naomi Scott, JK Simmons, Wesley Snipes, Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Yuh-jung Youn, and Rachel Zegler. Professional athletes Tony Hawk, Kelly Slater, and Shaun White will also present, as will King Richard subjects Serena and Venus Williams. 

Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa will present 8 categories off the air during the non-televised first hour of the show. These moments will be edited into the live ceremony. This is an Oscars first, and one that has drawn backlash from many in the industry and film lovers/Oscar watchers alike. The categories will be the Shorts, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, and Sound. 

I already have a lot to say about the changes/cuts and the genuine awfulness of that presenters list, but I will hold them for my awards season wrap-up. I'm excited for Regina and Wanda, though!

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