The final preparations for the 81st Annual Academy Awards are underway at the Kodak Theater at Hollywood and Highland Blvds. in Hollywood, CA this gloomy Sunday as we begin counting down the final hours to Hollywood’s Biggest Day. In an effort to drum up ratings and get more people to watch this year’s Oscars, producers are promising all sorts of changes to the show’s usual format in an effort to shake things up and get people interested. To be honest, their selection of hottie Hugh Jackman as host is enough to get me to tune in :) Here are a few photos from the Kodak Theater as Oscar prep continues and some deets about what we can expect from this year’s telecast:
Psst: Have you heard that the Oscars are going to be a little … well, different this year? Oh. You have. The worst-kept secret in Hollywood this awards season has been how first-time producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, in a bid to build buzz and bounce back from last year’s ratings nadir, are keeping their Oscars overhaul plans a secret. From promising sweeping format changes without elaborating to shrouding presenters’ identities and shutting the press out of rehearsals, they’ve largely succeeded. At the secrecy part, anyway. “When (the producers) told me what they were going to do, I said, ‘Look, if it works, you’re geniuses, and if it doesn’t, you’re the putzes who sank the show,’” longtime Oscars show writer Bruce Vilanch said. But lest cloaks and daggers become this year’s hot red carpet couture, here are the details about the show that — whether by design, or loose lips — have come to light over the past week:
SONG-AND-DANCE (JACK)MAN: “Hugh (Jackman, the host) is going to come out and say a few things, but he’s not going to do a 10-minute monologue … He’s going to be doing a lot of musical stuff, so that will have a different feel to it.” — Vilanch, in an interview with The Associated Press.
NEED A MONTAGE: The original song nominees will be presented together in a medley-style performance, rather than sprinkled throughout the show and played in their entirety. — Nominee Peter Gabriel, who announced in a video blog on his Web site that he was declining to perform “Down To Earth” from “WALL-E” to protest the one-minute limit for his part.
I’M WITH THE BAND!: The band will be onstage for at least part of the show, rather than in the orchestra pit. A circular ministage juts into the audience. The set is surrounded by a glittering circle of white lights and crystals, and is flanked by enormous chandeliers. — Seen in renderings released by the firm of architect and first-time Oscars set designer David Rockwell.
NIGHTCLUB JITTERS: “The look of the theater is very different. It’s more like the nightclub of your dreams. It’s very intimate. … It’s got to be a lot closer.” — Jackman, in an AP interview.
NEVERENDING STORY: “The show’s got a narrative line this year, so all the awards are grouped around that. The sequence in which they’re given is dictated by this narrative.” — Vilanch.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: Five LED flat-screens will move in and out of the set to help carry out the show’s “narrative.” The entire sets will change and evolve, “powered by a visual narrative that will unfold through 12 transforming sets throughout the night.” — The Rockwell renderings.
PRESENTING … PRESENTERS!: “There are different people doing groups of awards instead of a different set for each one.” And at least some of the presenters who’d been lined up have backed out, emboldened by the anonymity they were afforded by the producers. — Vilanch, who didn’t name names.
MUSIC, MAKES THE PEOPLE, COME TOGETHER: The original-song medley will have a vibrant, world-music theme driven by nominee “Slumdog Millionaire,” and includes a drum line made up of Indian, African, Japanese and Chinese percussionists. The “giant extravaganza” also has a full orchestra and choir. — DJ Ravi Drums, the leader of the drum line for the number.
To be honest, I’m not sure if any revamp is going to do enough to bring people in any more than they have in any previous year. All of these changes just sound like more of the same. I highly doubt people will care enough to change their plans to watch or not. The folks who generally watch will watch again, the ones that don’t … well, won’t.
I, for one, am very excited for this year’s Academy Awards. David and I are hosting our first party in our new home in honor of the Oscars and we are very excited to celebrate with our friends ;)
Woot!!! Good luck to all the nominees … and I can’t wait to see if that leaked list of “Oscar winners” turns out to be genuine or not ;)
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