Team Experience - Favorite Presenter Moments from the Oscar Show
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 4:00PM The Academy has announced the names of many presenters for the big night on February 28th. The list includes the best actress nominee who gave us this often used gifable funny moment, reacting to the makeup in The Wolfman (2010).
A few writers from The Film Experience share 7 more favorite moments from the presenters after the jump, including Meryl, Jim Carrey and Emma Stone...
Richard Dreyfuss presenting Best Actress at the 1979 Oscars
It's wonderfully, but not maliciously awkward on Dreyfuss's part. He's clearly...altered, in his defense. And I love the look all all the nominees faces (especially Clayburgh) as they pretend to be amused as he delays the opening of the envelope with a cheeky "I'm not gonna tell you!" -Kieran Scarlett.
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Mercedes Ruehl, Best Supporting Actor a the 1992 Oscars
It's brief, but Ruehl's delivery of the punchline to her joke about the best supporting actor field with its wink to The Crying Game's secret twist, proves that despite Oscars and Tonys to her name, Mercedes Ruehl deserves a far better career than the one she got after winning for The Fisher King (1991). One couldn't get away with this gag today, but the slyness with which she delivered it in 1992 keeps it as a favourite presenting moment of mine. -Glenn Dunks.
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Jim Carrey, Best Film Editing at the 1998 Oscars.
Not as show-hijacking as his previous appearances, where he made Toy Story dolls act out Midnight Cowboy and made his butt do a gum commercial, Jim Carrey gave his best awards presentation in a career filled with them at the '98 Oscars. Brilliantly lampooning his presenter-only status in the year of his award-worthy performance in The Truman Show -"Winning the Oscar is not the most important thing in the world, it's an honor just to be nom- oh God." - before effortlessly threading in recent events (Roberto Benigni winning Best Actor) and transitioning seamlessly into the scripted speech, Carrey gave a master class in how to be a good presenter. In fact, it's a perfect example of what a good HOST should do. Given his success with presenting gigs (his recent bit at the Golden Globes was a highlight), it's a wonder he hasn't hosted an award show yet. He certainly has the chops, as this ever-watchable clip (and others) proves. -Dancin' Dan.
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Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep, Robert Altman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Oscars
This is one of the perfect Oscar moments. Streep and Tomlin were both Altman veterans, most recently having worked together on 2006's A Prairie Home Companion--Streep's only foray into Altman's films. Instead of just rattling off why Altman is so great, they embodied it. They allowed themselves the freedom, the natural awkwardness, and yes, the overlapping dialogue, that are the hallmark of Altmanesque acting. And since, as they say in the presentation, it's about NOT acting, you can feel how genuine their nerves, their pleasure, and their regard for each other are. Plus, it's just so damn witty to do it that way. I mean, I'd enjoy watching these two read the dullest teleprompter, but this is SO much better. -Deborah Lipp.
It's always a good idea to get Meryl involved when you're up on the Oscars stage, but few had as good a reason - and as good a result - as Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt did, fittingly presenting Costume Design in the year of The Devil Wears Prada. It's a sharp, smart riff on their popular movie, delivered as a perfect balance between committed character work and amused in-joke, and the visual moments of pleasure range from Emily's awkward smile to Meryl's instant reappropriation of her character's icy stare. (Also, the whole presentation of this category is wonderful, with the presenting duo taking us through a live fashion display of each nominee.) -David Upton.
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Emma Stone and Ben Stiller, Best Visual Effects at the 2011 Oscars
This was the year after Hathaway and James Franco’s awkward hosting debacle and Stone sends up Hathaway’s theatrical high energy perfectly. It’s very funny because it’s very true.The play on being desperate to please is palpable yet not ungenerous. She makes fun but clearly aims to please too. Stiller, and Jonah Hill in the audience, play their droll parts well but the moment is all Emma. She nails it. -Murtada Elfadl.
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John Travolta and Idina Menzel, Best Original Song at the 2014 Oscars
It was supposed to be a charming wink to the Adele Dazeem oopsy that Travolta had made the previous year when presenting the wick-ed-ly talented Idina Menzel's performance of the ultimate Best Song winner "Let It Go". What it ended up becoming was an even more awkward ickfest where Travolta was drawn to Menzel's face like Nell to a mirror. It was later claimed to have been a fully rehearsed moment, but tell that to Idina's body language. A can't-look-away moment so uncomfortably hilarious we forgot about the mispronunciation that made it happen. -Chris Feil.
What's are some of your favorite presenter moments from the big show?
Reader Comments (32)
Julia Roberts declaring she loves her life before announcing Denzel Washington as the winner.
Both times Streisand presented Clint with his Oscars,she says something camp before each one.
1970 Oscars ceremony, presenting the screenplay award to "Patton", Sarah Miles and George Segal. Even at 10 years old I could tell Miles was tipsy, but so refreshingly candid. In her full "Vivat Vivat Regina" costume, which she was appearing in at the time, Miss Miles stole my heart, and never again appeared at the Oscars.
I have a soft spot for Spielberg presenting Best Picture at the 2010 Oscars. He reminded everyone of all the great films that won Best Picture... and then reminded everyone of all the great films that lost Best Picture. I'd like to think he did that because he was a Social Network voter, and he knew it was going to lose.
Tina Fey and Steve Martin presenting the screenwriting Oscars in 2009 has got to be up there. Sure, it was all scripted but the timing was spot-on!
In 1986, Cher showed up to present in that Bob Mackie creation - the one with the big headdress of feathers. She assured the audience that she had received her booklet on "How to dress like a serious actress". Then she presented the best supporting actor trophy to Don Ameche for "Cocoon".
Now that was style. Who would dare do that now?
Sharon Stone at the '95 awards. Wearing a t-shirt from GAP. Flirting outrageously with Quincy Jones. Misplacing the envelope (giving it to the preceding categories winners). Entertaining the audience while Quincy ducks off stage to find out who the winner is. Clapping like an over excited seal when Quincy comes back to tell her that the winner is II Postino.
I miss the Stone Age (the '90's).
Emma Stone is just delightful in that clip. I remember people asking for her to host the next year. And poor Idina. Her eyes just seem to be saying "Why won't someone help me?"
Woody introducing the New York montage at the 2002 Oscars. He's hilarious and charming. Anyone clueless to his appeal (understandable these days) should watch it. It would at least explain why he's so well liked
This one from last year's Blanchett: Okie Dokie Smokie!
Sammy Davis Jr. presenting the 1963 (OK, I'm old!) music score awards. He was given the wrong envelope. When the audience shouted, "Wrong envelope!", Sammy quipped, "Wait until the NAACP hears about this." For those of you too young to remember this, it can be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmi9ksOtt4
All those except the creepy Travolta one are terrific but my favorite remains Bette Midler presenting Best Song at the '82 Oscars. She's loose and sassy and works the crowd like the pro she is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7hIt26LV3U
Robin Williams comedic shtick ("Before I present Guns and Moses, with Charlton Heston...") before presenting Dame Judi Dench with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar ("There is nothing like a dame, the Oscar goes to Dame Judi Dench") was also pretty memorable.
The 2008 acting presentations, with five former winners coming out to individually celebrate each of the nominees - especially the Best Actress presentation, with Marion Cotillard, Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Shirley Maclaine, and Sophia Loren. What a lineup.
Sylvester Stallone is surprised by Muhammad Ali while presenting Best Supporting Actress at the 1976 Oscars.
Jim Carrey is so fucking talented
Seriously, too too many. I've watched the actress and particularly supporting actress '09 ones way too much. So many stars on stage saying such great things!
I also love how funny Jennifer Aniston found the Altman presentation.
Can we not have John Travolta at the Oscars ever? He's fucking creepy.
I enjoyed Will Ferrell and Steve Carell presenting Makeup. It worked because they didn't overplay it (for once!) and let the sight gag do the work:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GwAIb_Ui0
"Happy birthday Marga" - Julia "Me, Me, Me" Roberts
Bette Midler!!!
I have a soft spot for Coppola, Lucas and Spielberg presenting Best Director to Marty Scorsese for The Departed at the '07 ceremony. It helped that Scorsese was visibly excited to be in that company in such a moment.
Clint Eastwood at the 1970 ceremony announcing at the podium he was filling in for Charlton Heston who was running late, then trying to talk biblical, and exasperatedly telling the cue card dude to wake up. Cute.
jon lovitz 1993: as an actor, people ask me: "are you always on?" and the answer, of course, is no....NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NOOOO!!!
Peggy Sue-Bette doing Best Song at the 81 Oscars is my favorite as well! 😊
Bette's classic line while reading the nominees: Endless Love from the endless movie Endless Love
Murtada that Blanchett gif is my new go to! Thanks for such a fun post!
I love Midler, Keaton, and Hawn presenting Best Original Song like it's a presentation in school.
Sharon Stone and Quincy Jones not having the envelope and Sharon declaring "let's all have a psychic moment" was a truly amazing save.
Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr. presenting Best Original Screenplay at the 2010 Oscars was hilarious.
I loved Sandra Bullock presenting Best Actor the year after she won. Almost made her win worth it!
Bette Midler presenting Best Song and saying "I've been waiting two years for them to call and tell me they made a mistake" referring to her Best Actress loss for The Rose.
Bette Midler presenting Best Song at the 1982 Academy Awards.
"How do you like it so far, kids?" CLASSIC!