Hitfix’s Gregory Ellwood has some news about the upcoming ceremony, as follows:
– Musical director Marc Shaiman has written an original song that will open the show centered around the “team” theme to introduce Baldwin and Martin together. Oh, and expect a glitzy number with 500 or so dancers (so much for Shankman’s promise to only do numbers if it fit with the nominees).
– A tribute to John Hughes is currently planned outside of the traditional In Memoriam segment.
– Will the show keep last year’s set up of having five previous Oscar winners present to each nominee before announcing the winner? At first, it appeared like that wouldn’t be the case. Now, after significant push back (“I wish that would have happened when I won,” says one former winner) smarter (begrudgingly?) heads have prevailed and friends of each nominee will present the two main acting categories. Yes, that’s right. Not previous winners, but friends (it’ll be just like “This is your life Helen Mirren!”).
– Big surprise, but your producers have one obsession for the show: Taylor Lautner. Seriously, if the “New Moon” star makes the date all will be well in Oscar land. Considering he’s already playing the Globes and has appeared on practically every other awards show this year its hard to imagine he won’t show up if invited. Whether he’s worth all the fuss for potential ratings is something else entirely.
Read more at Hitfix.
“When Meryl Streep and I were doing Silkwood together….”