THE LAST OSCAR ROUND-UP (HOPEFULLY)

Henry Golding--Best Dressed Man

    

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THANK YOU, YES, AND OH, HELL NO..........

Gemma Chan--Best Dressed Woman

Extra Comment: 

I think it's a riot when a nominated actor or actress has plastic surgery AFTER the film to look better at the Oscars---like no one will know.

ROMA'S YALITZA APARICIO


FILM:

AFTER:

THANK YOU

BLESS YOU, MELISSA

BLESS YOU, BILLY PORTER

YES

 

 

 

OH, HELL NO

Kasey-this came so close to being a yes....bu

 

Doesn't hide stomach. It calls attention to it!

THE OSCARS DON'T NEED A HOST EVER AGAIN

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR'S PRODUCERS--DONNA GIGLIOTTI AND GLENN WEISS. YOU DID A GREAT JOB UNDER VERY TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES.

FYI--There was a very strong yet secretive behind-the-scenes campaign this year by persons and organizations to make sure that blacks won as many Oscars as possible. It wasn't talked about in the open, but it was happening. With movies like BEALE STREET, BLACK PANTHER, AND BLACK KKKLANSMAN, it was hardly needed. I loved every one of those movies. And, yes.....they won multiple Oscars.

If ROMA was named Best Foreign Film, I knew that it might not win Best Picture. Honestly, I was expecting Panther or KKKlansman for the upset. When it turned out to be GREEN BOOK, I, and the whole party room jumped up and screamed with joy. It's so wonderful to see what should be BEST Picture get Best Picture.

Same with Olivia Colman--jumps and screams. She deserved it by far. That business of "It's Glenn Close's turn" sickens my stomach. Remember when Elizabeth Taylor won an Oscar for Best Tracheotomy--oops---I mean BUTTERFIELD EIGHT? Julie Andrews, who should have been in MY FAIR LADY won the next year for whatever? I guess it was her turn. I love Julie and Elizabeth, by the way.)

To have GREEN BOOK and OLIVIA COLMAN win, restored my faith in genuine recognition of talent instead of PR campaigns.

I'm sorry, but, as Lucie Arnaz said, Glenn Close showed up looking like she was wearing Carol Burnett's GONE WITH THE WIND curtains. She's a wonderful actress and deserves an Oscar. I hope the Academy won't wait so long like they did with Debbie Reynolds where she was too old to come get her honorary one. I'll never forget that moment when I was at Debbie's table that night and she was home in bed. We were all heartsick.

It was a really good night. Bette Midler, Jennifer Hudson, Queen and Adam Lambert , and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper killed.

But how did you feel that the "classic stars brought back as presenters" turned out to be Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand??? How old did that make YOU feel???

And---we all understand that the Oscar show desperately needs to appeal to younger viewers. Therefore, they had younger presenters. Only one problem----

NO ONE AT THE PARTY HAD ANY IDEA WHO 50% OF THE PRESENTERS WERE!!!!????  ( I did, but that's my job. I also didn't care about seeing any of them except Amandla Stenberg.)

Hey, Academy---you cry out diversity! Well, how about diversity in ages, too?

Yes, I won the ballot pool at the party, but only by one vote. Kudos to the hostess who came in second:)


CODA: Just heard Spike Lee was bitching back stage that he didn't win Best Picture. It would have been fine with me if he had. But hey, buddy, you did win an Oscar, and you've been very vocal against the Academy and in some cases, downright insulting. Take your statue and go home.

MY VERY FIRST OSCARS----1966

MY VERY FIRST OSCAR SHOW WAS IN 1966.              I WAS TWO.

Winners-Lee Marvin, Julie Christie, Shelley Winters, Martin Balsam

Here's the video of Julie winning.

https://youtu.be/noWGhOFDL1Q


I was a young cub reporter and out of my mind that I was covering the Oscars. I was carrying a large Rollie camera, a green steno pad and a pen. I had a pass that would let me go anywhere. I mean anywhere.

Outside the press entrance a very cute guy in a tuxedo came over to me. His name was Durmond Blatnik. He saw I was having trouble carrying everything and he asked if he could help me. I gratefully told him yes. We walked into the red carpet area together. No one questioned whether he had a pass or not. That's how easy it was to get into the Oscars then. He went with me everywhere, holding my purse when I needed to shoot or write.

You have to understand, in those days there were almost no controls on press. We wandered everywhere back stage. Eventually you went into the big press room which was for both print and TV. It was fantastic bedlam. Print reporters were seated at long tabes tht had pads and pens for them, plus a press release on who won. All the cameras and lights were behind us on risers of different levels. All the reporters had to scream to be heard. There were no "private set-up/rooms" for certain reporters or shows. Now, in the press area, it's almost Fascistic. Behave or we lock you up.

I followed Kim Novak, Audrey Hepburn, and Julie Christie all night. It was a dream come true. My sadness was that Katharine Hepburn didn't show up. I took incredible photos of everyone there, and I have all the original negatives and prints in a vault. That vault isn't in Palm Springs, so I can't put them in this story today.

Come to think of it, I have all original negatives of all my photos from Elvis, the Beatles, The Stones, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and so many movie stars of over 40 years. I think I know what my next book will be!!!

Shirley and Warren

Julie back stage

Audrey back stage

Beloved Natalie

KIm Novak, Laszlo Kovacks, Richard Johnson. The day before this photo was taken Kim told Richard she wanted a divorce.

For a kid who grew up in the 50s, it was beyond all comprehension to be able to see all the stars in their native habitat. I got over that quickly as many became my life-long friends.

And, by the way, after the evening was over, Durmond confessed that he had no pass and used me to walk in. I thought it was hilarious. He was so sweet about it, and we're still friends.

I have since been to the Oscars more than a dozen times. It's still exciting--even with all the public relations nightmares and mistakes made.