Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, we should be in for a wild night.
The Oscars are attempting a return to normalcy.
While Covid continues to affect Award Season 2022, the Academy Awards were at least back in their regular home — returning to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood following last year’s precaution-filled celebration at Union Station in Los Angeles.
And, after three consecutive years without a host, we got three this time around: Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall.
Going into the night, “The Power of the Dog” scored the most nominations. Following close behind was “Dune” with 10 nominations and “Belfast” and “West Side Story,” which tied with 7 noms apiece.
Though it will be another star-studded show, fewer tickets were handed out this year due to the pandemic and negative tests are required for attendees. In another big and very controversial change, eight winners — for Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Subject, Film Editing, Live Action Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design and Sound — weren’t announced during the show, but were instead handed out during a non-televised pre-show.
This was done to allow for more “comedy, musical numbers, film clip packages and movie tributes” throughout the night. So, did that change pay off? Check out these viral moments and decide for yourself.
Beyonce Kicks Off the Show
The show didn’t begin with the opening bit from the three hosts — more on that in a minute — but with a (probably pre-taped) performance from Beyonce of the nominated song “Be Alive” from “King Richard.” She wasn’t in the house, however, but performed it from the tennis courts in Compton, home of Venus and Serena Williams.
It was a great way to kick off the evening — now, can the rest of the show keep up?
Ariana DeBose Makes History
Now you see why that Anita says ‘I want to live in America,” because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true and that’s really a heartening thing right now.
Imagine this little girl in the back seat of white Ford Focus, look into her eyes, you see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art. That’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate. So to anybody who has ever questioned their identity or found yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you there is indeed a place for us.
With her win and that speech, she made history.
Regina Hall Shoots Her Shot … with Everyone
In a bit after Ariana’s win, Regina Hall announced that she’d have to pull some audience members backstage for a last minute Covid test. But when she started calling names, a trend emerged: They were all men!
She called up Bradley Cooper, Simu Liu, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet, crossed off Javier Bardem because he’s married and joked about Will Smith, “you’re on the list and it looks like Jada approved you, so get up here!”
She also joked, “Denzel, Pauletta, is John David here?” Sadly, he wasn’t.
“Take your mask off … and your clothes. I’m gonna swap the back of your mouth, with my tongue,” she then told the men. “And do some other freaky stuff that I will record for Academy protocol. This isn’t up to me, we’re still in a pandemic.”
No, it wouldn’t have flown with the genders reversed, but with Hall, it was hilarious.
White Men Can’t Jump Reunion
Wesley Snipes, Rosie Perez and Woody Harrelson hit the stage to present, the same day “White Men Can’t Jump” celebrated its 30th anniversary — and they all looked incredible.
“It’s just hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since ‘White Men Can’t Jump,'” said Perez as they got to the mic. “You mean 30 years since I proved the could,” cracked Harrison, as Snipes quoted the movie by saying he still looked like “a slow white geeky chump to me.”
They then all started to joke about Woody being high — “Wish I hadn’t done that bong rip in the car,” he exclaimed — before they presented Best Cinematography to “Dune.”
This Random
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